====== Windows Updates At Olin ======

===How can I determine if my system is configured for automatic updates?===

  -Navigate to the **Start Menu -> All Programs -> Windows Update -> Change Settings** (on the right panel)
  -You should see that **Automatic (Recommended)** is selected.
    * It is normal for all of the choices to be grayed out: Olin's domain policy forces Automatic Updates to be on and prevents users from changing it.
  - If **Automatic (Recommended)** is not currently selected, you should change your settings to ensure that your computer stays up-to-date.

===An easy check to determine whether or not your system is updating properly===

  *Navigate to the **Start Menu -> All Programs -> Windows Update -> View update history**
  *Your system is not updating properly if you find either of the following:
    * Your last updates are not recent – within the last week or so.  Microsoft released patches mid week, every week which should be applied to your system.
    * You have various patches whose status is listed as failed.

===How can I run Windows Updates?===

Windows updates are automatically configured to run every day on systems configured for our Olin domain.  You can also run them manually at any time.

  - Navigate to the **Start Menu -> All Programs -> Windows Update -> Check for Updates**
  - If any important updates are available, select **Install Updates**
      * Otherwise, you may be able to select optional updates

===What if Windows Updates aren't working?===

If Windows Updates aren't working, it's likely due to a problem with the BITS service not running on system startup. If you're having a problem with BITS, refer to [[bits_fix|this article]].

If that doesn't work, feel free to contact the IT Help Desk.