Critical Software Updates
The Virus Updates, Windows Updates, and Office Updates
listed below need to be repeated periodically.
NOTE: Make sure you are connected to the network
before doing any of the updates described below.
1. Virus Updates
Computer viruses pose a constant threat to the security and
safety of the data stored on your laptop, and it is your
responsibility to keep your laptop virus-free. The Symantec
AntiVirus package has been installed on your laptop. You need
to keep it up-to-date to provide the
protection for which it has been designed. Symantec continually
publishes updates to the virus signature databases used to
detect or clean a new virus, should it find its way to your
system. For your own security and peace of mind, update
your anti-virus software often by doing the
following:
- Either right-click the shield on the quick-launch toolbar
(bottom right of your screen) and select Open
Symantec AntiVirus... or left-click on the
Start menu, select All
Programs, scroll to Symantec Client Security, and
left click on Symantec AntiVirus.
- In the window that appears, click the
LiveUpdate… button.
- A LiveUpdate window appears. Click the
Next button to begin downloading the
anti-virus software files.
- When the downloading is finished, click the
Finish button. Wait for the update process
to complete.
- Finally, click Exit to close Symantec
AntiVirus.
The default configuration is set to automatically update the
virus signature database daily at 8pm provided your laptop is
connected to the network. If you disable this setting, you must
follow the steps above at least once a week.
2. Automatic Windows Updates
Windows XP recognizes when you are on line and searches for
high priority downloads from the Microsoft Update Web site.
Each time high priority updates are available, an icon appears
in the notification area on the task bar at the bottom right of
the screen. You will also receive pop-up reminders that "New
updates are ready to download".
Note: Some updates must be installed by
themselves. In those cases, you will need to restart the
computer after installing the update. You will have to go back
to the Microsoft Update screen and install any
remaining updates.
Note: Windows Update will update Internet
Explorer to version 7. However, we recommend that you do not
install Internet Explorer 7 at this time since other software
might not be compatible. If Internet Explorer updates to
version 7, you do have the option to uninstall it which will
revert Internet Explorer to version 6.
- When the reminder pops up, click as instructed, or else
click on the appropriate icon on the taskbar.
- Click on Start Download.
- After a short wait, a window will pop up saying, "New
updates are ready to install. Click as instructed to bring up
the Install window.
- In the Install window, click on Install.
Wait while the installation takes place.
- When the installation is complete, click
OK.
The default configuration is set to automatically update the
Windows daily at 3 am provided your laptop is connected to the
network. If you disable this setting, you must follow the steps
above at least once a week.
3. Microsoft Update for Windows XP and Microsoft
Office
Microsoft issues updates for Windows and Microsoft Office.
Some of these updates increase the security of your computer.
Other updates fix bugs, improve performance, and add
functionality. The ThinkPad T60 is configured to automatically
install high priority Windows XP updates. To obtain the most
current Microsoft Windows XP updates and Microsoft Office 2003
updates.
- Click on Start and left click on
Control Panel. The first time you run
Microsoft Update (or Windows Update) you will be prompted to
install the Genuine Windows Validation tool and to validate
your version of Windows XP.
- On the left side of the window, under See Also click on
Windows Update. This will bring you to the
Microsoft Update window.
- Click on Custom to view the complete
list of Windows and Office updates.
- Review the types of updates listed on the left side of
the window. The number in parentheses after each type
indicates the number of updates available. Click on a type to
display the available updates in the right side of the
window. Select the updates you want to install. Repeat this
process for other types of updates. It is strongly
recommended that you install all High Priority and Office
2003 updates. Click on Review and install
updates.
- In the Review and Install Updates window, review the
selected updates and click on Install
Updates. Follow the screen prompts to complete the
download and installation of the updates.
printer-friendly