Problem: Why can’t I get Windows Updates or updates to my security software and signature files?

Solution: Today, most major software such as Windows or Symantec Norton 360 receives frequent updates. When software runs, it checks for available updates automatically across the Internet and then downloads and installs the updates depending on how each program is configured. Automatic updates make it difficult to determine problems because not receiving an update doesn’t necessarily mean trouble for your PC—it may simply be that there are no updates available. We’ll outline a typical update setup and cover five steps that might help you in keeping your security updates current.

Step 1: Make Sure That The PC Is On

If Windows Vista is not providing automatic updates, be sure to check that Vista is properly configured to download and install updates as you prefer.

A PC must be on and running normally in order for automatic updates to take place. Software is often configured with a regular schedule of days and times to check for updates. If the PC is off, hibernating, or standing by when the scheduled update time arrives, the software will not execute and no update checks will occur (until you waken the PC again). It’s often most convenient to schedule update times early in the day before heavy PC use or later in the day once heavy use is over (but before shutting down).

Step 2: Run The Software

Remember that you actually have to run the software that checks for updates. For example, Windows won’t check for updates if you’re running Linux (say, from a multiboot partition). Similarly, security software, such as Norton 360 and just about any other software with automatic update capabilities, won’t update if you’ve exited the program for any reason.

Step 3: Check Internet Connectivity

Updates are downloaded from remote servers across the Internet, so you need a working Internet connection or the software won’t update. If you use a broadband (always-on) Internet connection, test it by checking your email or visiting a few Web sites. If connectivity is working normally, go on to Step 4.

Dial-up connections are trickier. It’s extremely difficult to maintain a long-term dial-up connection. Not only does this tie up your telephone line and prevent you from receiving incoming phone calls, but most dial-up ISPs (Internet service providers) will also “time out” an idle dial-up connection after a few minutes. It’s possible to dial up just before an automatic update check is scheduled, but that’s a pretty cumbersome way to check for updates. Dial-up users will generally need to forego automatic updates. Instead, establish your dial-up connection and use the manual update feature of your software. For example, click Start and select Windows Update or use the Update button on the control panel of your security software.

Step 4: Check Update Configuration

If the PC is on, the software is running, your Internet connection is solid, and you’re still not getting automatic updates, it’s time to check the software’s setup. Chances are that the automatic update feature is disabled.

If you doubt that automatic updates are taking place, there’s no harm in running an occasional update manually to be sure.

For Windows Vista, click Start, Control Panel, System And Maintenance, and Windows Update. Next, select Change Settings from the left menu. From here, you can choose how Vista handles updates. By default, Vista will download and install updates automatically. This is the recommended option, which is fine for broadband connections, but the default schedule often makes getting updates impractical—the PC would need to be on at 3 a.m. everyday. Use the drop-down menu to change the schedule so that updates can be deployed at a more convenient time.

The problem with allowing automatic installation is that Windows often has to restart and may do so while you’re working on other tasks. You can opt to download updates only and install them when you’re ready, check for updates only without downloading or installing anything, or stop automatic updates entirely. Remember to click the OK button to save any changes that you make to Vista’s Automatic Updates configuration.

For a security tool such as Norton 360, open the control panel through the icon in your System Tray and select Settings. Make sure that the Automatic LiveUpdate checkbox is selected so that Norton 360 will ping its LiveUpdate server regularly. Other software products can vary significantly in the way that automatic updates are handled, so always be sure to refer to the documentation that accompanies your software.

Step 5: Try A Manual Update

You do not need to wait for automatic updates. It’s a simple matter to run Windows Update or trigger a security update check at any time. Run manual updates if it has been awhile since you’ve received updates or if you’re working from a dial-up connection.

by Stephen J. Bigelow