Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Windows Updates

Patch Tuesday! This is the label attributed to the monthly Windows updates. It occurs on the second Tuesday of every month and contains security updates as well as other operating system fixes and updates. The updates run behind the scenes but often require one or more restarts to complete the installation. The computer will generally slow down and sometimes features will not work until the updates are complete. Eventually you will be forced to restart your computer and the timing will likely be inopportune. 

Best practice is to restart your computer weekly at a minimum and to complete lingering Windows updates immediately after Patch Tuesday. 

First you need to understand what is and is not restarting your computer. Closing the lid usually does not shutdown your computer. Even the Power button might not shut down your computer or trigger pending updates.

Use either of the following methods to ensure your computer is restarted and updates are installed:

Note: Make sure to close all applications prior to running updates. Running applications can cause the update process to fail.

If you are logged on right click on the Windows icon in the lower left corner of your screen to see the restart and update options. 
Select Update and shut down or Update and restart to start the update process. Note: if no updates are pending you will not see Update options. 




If you are not logged on go to the logon screen and the power button should be displayed in the lower right corner of your screen. Right-click on the power button to see the restart and update options menu. You will have the same options as listed above.


Note: After the updates are completed and the computer restarts it may take a couple minutes for the update options to be removed from the menu. If the update options remain after a few minutes complete the process again; sometimes updates take more than one restart to complete the updates.

Troubleshooting
  • Be patient, sometimes the updates can take up to 20 minutes or longer to complete. 
  • If the update looks stuck, the update completions percentage has not changed in 30 minutes press and hold the power button until the computer shuts down (usually 10 seconds or less). Power on the computer, the updates may automatically continue, the updates may be complete, or you may need to run the process again.
  • If you continue to have problems contact technical support.

If you shutdown or restart your computer weekly and make sure your Windows updates are complete at a time of your choosing you will save yourself from it happening when you need your computer functioning optimally.  

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