This is one of those damned if you do - damned if you don't areas.
Microsoft is constantly publishing patches, fixes, tweaks to your Windows operating system. Many of them won't pertain to you. But once in awhile there's fix that you need. You may not even know you need it but the update will make your computer run better.
So turning on Automatic Updating is a good thing.
Except ... when Microsoft publishes something you aren't ready for or don't want such as Internet Explorer 7. One night I went to bed with IE6; the next morning I woke up with IE7. It wasn't a morning where I had time to figure out the new look, the new terms or the new restrictions IE7 "helped" me with. Furthermore, I don't like to try any new Microsoft product until it's been out at least six months.
A second nuisance is that Windows does the installation at shutdown. It never fails that I'm in a client's office finishing a work session when it decides to install the updates. The client and I have to stand around and wait for the installation to finish. Because you DO NOT EVER stop the installation. It takes forever to get your computer working right again.
Automatic updates takes away my ability to choose what I want to update and when.
If you prefer not to use Automatic Updating, sign up for my Computer Maintenance Reminders service. I'll send you a reminder quarterly. You can then go to the update center (I'll include instructions!) and you can choose your updates and do them at your convenience. OK, maybe convenience is not quite the right word but you understand what I mean!
If you want to turn on the automatic updating, here are the instructions from Microsoft for Windows XP. Visit the Windows Update Solutions Center if you have another version.
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