Microsoft Update is a free online service that allows Microsoft users to detect and install updates for all Microsoft products. These include security updates that can help protect your PC from Trojans, malware, viruses, spyware that destroy or disable critical functions of your hard drive and operating system. Windows Update also keeps your computer up to date with the latest software for your computer’s installed components: new or updated drivers for video card, audio card, network (LAN), wireless, modem, web camera, bios updates, chipset, cd/dvd and many others.

Updates are provided over an Internet connection, though there is provision for updates to be installed on computers without an Internet connection.

Windows Update Support ended for some versions of Windows

Here are the dates when support ended for PCs running Windows XP and Windows Vista without the latest service packs:

• Support for Windows Vista without any service packs ended on April 13, 2010. To continue support, make sure you’ve installed Windows Vista SP2.
• Support for Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2) ended on July 13, 2010. To continue support, make sure you’ve installed Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3).

If you’re running one of these versions after support ends, you won’t get security updates for Windows.

What does it mean if my version of Windows is no longer supported?

If you have an unsupported version of Windows, it means your computer will no longer receive software updates from Windows Update.

Windows will continue to run

Even if you have an unsupported version of Windows XP or Windows Vista without any service packs, Windows will continue to start and run as usual.