How can I tell if my computer is up to date?

<div class="para" style="color: #454545; font-family: WOL_Reg, 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px;"> Your computer is up to date when you've installed the latest updates for Windows and your programs. To check for Windows updates, follow these steps:</div> <div class="procedure" style="color: #454545; font-family: WOL_Reg, 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;"> <div class=""> <ol class="ordered_dec" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <li class="step" style="list-style-position: outside; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 2.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="para" style="margin-bottom: 15px;"> <span class="phrase">Open Windows Update by clicking the <span class="ui" style="font-family: WOL_Bold, 'Segoe UI Bold', 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Start</span> button <img alt="Picture of the Start button" class="embedObject" data-id="pageContainer0_ID0EFBBFLBA" src="http://res2.windows.microsoft.com/resbox/en/windows%207/main/4f6cbd09-148c-4dd8-b1f2-48f232a2fd33_818.jpg" style="border: none; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" />. In the search box, type <span class="userInput" style="font-family: WOL_Bold, 'Segoe UI Bold', 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Update</span>, and then, in the list of results, click <span class="ui" style="font-family: WOL_Bold, 'Segoe UI Bold', 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Windows Update</span>.</span></div> </li> <li class="step" style="list-style-position: outside; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 2.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="para" style="margin-bottom: 15px;"> In the left pane, click <span class="ui" style="font-family: WOL_Bold, 'Segoe UI Bold', 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Check for updates</span>, and then wait while Windows looks for the latest updates for your computer.</div> </li> <li class="step" style="list-style-position: outside; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 2.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="para" style="margin-bottom: 15px;"> If any updates are found, click <span class="ui" style="font-family: WOL_Bold, 'Segoe UI Bold', 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Install updates</span>.</div> </li> </ol> </div> </div> <div class="para" style="color: #454545; font-family: WOL_Reg, 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px;"> You might see both important and optional updates. If you don't see the <span class="ui" style="font-family: WOL_Bold, 'Segoe UI Bold', 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Install updates</span> button when there are only optional updates, click <span class="ui" style="font-family: WOL_Bold, 'Segoe UI Bold', 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Optional updates available</span>, choose the ones you want, and then click <span class="ui" style="font-family: WOL_Bold, 'Segoe UI Bold', 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">OK</span>.</div> <div class="alertSet_outer" style="background-color: #ededf0; border: 1px solid transparent; clear: left; color: #454545; font-family: WOL_Reg, 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 26px; max-width: 100%; min-height: 0px;"> <div class="alertSet alertSet_note" style="margin: 0px 23px; min-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 12px; padding-top: 23px;"> <div class="alertSet_text"> <h3 class="title_alertset matXS" style="font-family: WOL_Bold, 'Segoe UI Bold', 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: -1px; margin-top: 0px;"> Note</h3> <ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <li style="list-style: none; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="para" style="margin-bottom: 15px;"> If language packs are available, install only the languages that you use.</div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="para" style="color: #454545; font-family: WOL_Reg, 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px;"> Important updates help improve the security of Windows and your computer, and they should be installed. Optional updates often are updated device drivers or program updates that aren't critical to their operation. You can install optional drivers if they add features (such as additional languages) or if you are having problems with an existing device or program. For more information about security updates, see <a class="navigationLink" data-id="pageContainer0_ID0EBFBA" href="http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/get-security-updates-for-windows" style="color: #0072c6; font-family: WOL_SB, 'Segoe UI Semibold', 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: 600; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Get security updates for Windows</a>.</div> <div class="para" style="color: #454545; font-family: WOL_Reg, 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px;"> To check for updates for other software programs and devices that do not appear in Windows Update, go to the software publisher's or manufacturer's website.</div> <div class="alertSet_outer lastElement" style="background-color: #ededf0; border: 1px solid transparent; clear: left; color: #454545; font-family: WOL_Reg, 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 26px; max-width: 100%; min-height: 0px;"> <div class="alertSet alertSet_tip" style="margin: 0px 23px; min-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 12px; padding-top: 23px;"> <div class="alertSet_text"> <h3 class="title_alertset matXS" style="font-family: WOL_Bold, 'Segoe UI Bold', 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: -1px; margin-top: 0px;"> Tips</h3> <ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <li style="list-style: none; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="para" style="margin-bottom: 15px;"> Here's how to get updates for Windows and other Microsoft programs at the same time, including updates for Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook , Excel, PowerPoint , and more) as well as new Microsoft software: In the left pane of Windows Update, click <span class="ui" style="font-family: WOL_Bold, 'Segoe UI Bold', 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Change settings</span>. Then, under <span class="ui" style="font-family: WOL_Bold, 'Segoe UI Bold', 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Microsoft Update</span>, select the <span class="ui" style="font-family: WOL_Bold, 'Segoe UI Bold', 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Give me updates for Microsoft products and check for new optional Microsoft software when I update Windows</span> check box. If you're already using Microsoft Update, which works with Windows automatic updating, Windows Update will automatically open and display your update status.</div> </li> <li style="list-style: none; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="para lastElement"> Some programs, such as antivirus or spyware monitoring programs, provide a link to check for updates from within the program or have subscription services that can notify you when new updates are available. It's a good practice to check for updates for your security-related programs first, and then for the programs or devices you use most often. If you use Windows Defender, see <a class="navigationLink" data-id="pageContainer0_ID0EBBBBBA" href="http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/keep-windows-defender-definitions-up-to-date" style="color: #0072c6; font-family: WOL_SB, 'Segoe UI Semibold', 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: 600; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Keep Windows Defender definitions up to date</a> for more information.</div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>

How can I tell if my computer is up to date?

Your computer is up to date when you've installed the latest updates for Windows and your programs. To check for Windows updates, follo...

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