- 1). Back up the system before attempting to obtain updates for Windows XP.
- 2). Click "Start" and "All Programs" and "Windows Update" -- or click "Start" and "Windows Update" if using the classic layout for the start menu -- to launch the Windows Update utility.
- 3). Click "Custom" to search for all available updates that have not already been installed.
- 4). Select a "Service Pack" if one is available and deselect all other updates, as the service packs contain a variety of updates that can be installed at once. Click "Review and Install Updates" and click "Install Updates."
- 5). Restart the computer after the service pack has installed and check for more available updates. Select all available updates in the critical, recommended and hardware update categories, and install them. If an update says it needs to be installed separately then deselect all other updates and install the single update. Restart the computer and repeat the Windows Update process until no more updates are available after a restart, as Windows often hides updates that have prerequisite installations, showing them only after the prerequisites have been installed.
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