Windows Update and Office Update are available for all versions of Windows 9x as well as Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000. There are several pre-requisites for using Windows Update and Office Update, however:

• Internet Explorer 4.0 or above must be used to connect to Windows Update and Office Update
• ActiveX controls and Active scripting must be enabled for the .microsoft.com domain (in IE go to Tools or View >> Internet Options... >> Security)
• Cookies must also be enabled for the .microsoft.com domain (in IE 5.x go to Tools >> Internet Options... >> Security; in IE 4.x go to View >> Internet Options... >> Advanced)

If you have Windows 98, Windows 98SE, Windows Me, or Windows 2000, and you haven't uninstalled or disabled Internet Explorer (or ActiveX controls, Active scripting, and Cookies), you should be able to access Windows Update and Office Update without incident. If you have Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0, you'll need to make sure that Internet Explorer 4.0 or above is installed first.

Should you use Windows Update?

There are several major advantages to using the Windows Update and Office Update services:

• users need not have a great knowledge of their installations or the complete catalog of updates that are available
• a minimum of user intervention is required
• Windows Update often includes updates that are unavailable for standard download

There are also several major disadvantages, however, to using the Windows Update and Office Update services:

• critical security updates may take days or even weeks to become available on Windows Update or Office Update
• updates that are installed via Windows Update and Office Update will not be available later on the user's system should the user need to reinstall Windows; those updates will have to be downloaded anew
• some users report seemingly insurmountable difficulties connecting to Windows Update or Office Update and getting the service to work
• some users may not want to have Internet Explorer on their systems or may not want to enable ActiveX controls, Active scripting, and Cookies for security reasons

If you'd rather not spend the time or effort to identify and track down all the updates that are necessary and available from Microsoft for your system, and if you are not interested in archiving updates for future reinstallation, and if you have little concern over using Internet Explorer (as well as ActiveX controls, Active scripting, and Cookies), then Windows Update and Office Update are probably for you.

By contrast, if you prefer to retain maximum control over your system's configuration, or if you prefer to save updates and patches for future use, or if you disdain the security risks of Internet Explorer (as well as ActiveX controls, Active scripting, and Cookies), then this page is for you. Below you will find a wealth of information about updates that are available from Microsoft for all versions of Windows 9x, as well as the most important Windows add-ons and components, including Microsoft Office.

This page can be especially helpful when using the Windows Update Catalog, a service from Microsoft that allows you to search for and download patches for Windows 98, 98 SE, Me, 2000, and XP. 

• http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/catalog

Note: the Windows Update Catalog does require you to install an ActiveX control (much like the standard Windows Update service), but the Windows Update Catalog does not force you to install the updates and patches themselves online -- you can download and save them for future use. Moreover, you can download patches and updates for versions of Windows other than the one you happen to be running.

Having trouble using Windows Update?

If Windows Update or Office Update is refusing to work for you, review the pre-requisites for using Windows Update above. An excellent first place to check for advice on troubleshooting Windows Update difficulties is:

• MrScary's Windows Update Resource Page

The above page provides a handy checklist of troubleshooting tips, as well as links to many Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB) articles on Windows Update. Some of the more important Microsoft KB articles are:

• MS KB Q193657: Troubleshooting Windows Update Connection and Download Problems
• MS KB Q241783: Errors Using Windows Update Through a Proxy Server or Firewall
• MS KB Q241234: Third Party Products That Conflict with Windows Update

Another helpful resource from Microsoft is:

• Windows Update Troubleshooter

You might also find these other pages helpful in troubleshooting Windows Update problems:

• Uninstalling & Reinstalling Windows Update Software
• Windows Update Advice

Versions of Windows

This web page provides information about updates to base OS and networking components for:

• Windows 9x (incl. Windows 95, 98, 98SE, and Me)

This page does NOT include information about base OS or networking updates for:

• Windows NT 4.0 (incl. Workstation and Server versions)
• Windows 2000 (incl. Professional and Server versions)
• Windows XP (incl. Professional and Home versions)

This page also provides information about updates to major Windows add-ons and components. These updates are usually compatible with:

• Windows 9x (incl. Windows 95, 98, 98SE, and Me)
• Windows NT 4.0 (incl. Workstation and Server versions)

Updates to earlier versions of some Windows add-ons and components may not be compatible with Windows Me. Compatibility issues may also exist between Windows 98SE and some updates to earlier version of components. Always read documentation that accompanies updates or patches that you download and respect all warnings and restrictions.

Many updates for Windows add-ons and components that are listed here will NOT be compatible with Windows 2000 or Windows XP, unless otherwsie noted. Windows 2000 usually requires different versions of patches and updates for Windows add-ons and components, and no effort has been made here to account for them on this page. Users of Windows 2000 and Windows XP should check Microsoft web sites for information about patches and updates which are specifically designed for Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

A Few Notes About Coverage

As emphasized above, this page does not aim to provide a complete, comprehensive listing of every update released by Microsoft for the software packages covered here. Rather, the idea is to give users a catalog of updates that is largely free of redundancy and obsolete updates. To that end...

• updates that have been rendered obsolete or redundant by later patches have not been included here
• versions of updates that were subsequently withdrawn and replaced with corrected or fixed versions have not been listed here
• updates for obsolete versions of software applications are generally not listed here

There are, of course, exceptions to the above rules. Still further, some updates simply don't fit neat descriptions or categories such as "valid" or "up-to-date" or "obsolete" or "redundant." Where possible I have tried to note these exceptions and provide some justification or explanation for the choices that I've made here. I've also attempted to explain how the updates for the various software packages covered here work -- that is, how to determine the order in which updates ought to be be installed, how to distinguish between various versions of software packages, ways to avoid installing redundant updates, et al. For more information on what updates have been included here and why, as well as the nature and proper use of many of these updates, please see the Notes section below.

Some Parting Thoughts...

Regrets....

As much as I wish I could, I simply haven't been able to provide a direct link to every update or patch listed on this page. The logistics of maintaining such a catalog of links would be well beyond my capabilities and resources. (Microsoft is notorious for moving things around its vast web site without warning.) Instead, what I've done is provide a URL specific to each major section or subsection. In most cases these URL's should leave you within a mouse click or two from the download you seek. Unfortunately, some of the more obscure packages may require some digging and searching on your part.

Please also keep in mind that not only may Microsoft move files around on its web site without warning (or even without apparent reason), but MS may re-package, re-label, and re-name updates and patches. This practice is especially true of the older updates for Windows 95. File names and sizes may change, and time stamps in digital certificates may differ markedly from the dates listed here.

And a few words of caution....

Updating your system with the latest bug fixes and security patches is an important part of protecting your privacy and security, however, it is a process which is unavoidably fraught with risk. That old saw, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," is particularly applicable here. The last thing you want is to install the latest and greatest updates for your system only to be left staring at a system that won't even boot into "Safe Mode."

And some advice....

Users should be cautious and wary when updating their systems. Before installing any updates, patches, or bug fixes, you should take care to...

• backup the Registry
• backup critical data and files
• close all running applications
• read any accompanying documentation and follow instructions to the letter

And always be diligent in rebooting your PC after applying a patch. Do not install patch after update after bug fix without rebooting. Indeed, when dealing with a series of major system updates, it's a good policy to wait a day or so between updates. Doing so can help you identify which particular patch was in fact the patch which lies at the root of new system problems or anomalies, should they occur.

Another good bit of advice is to keep a log or journal of changes that you make to your system so that you have a record of these changes for future reference. Again, such a log can help you nail down the exact cause of system troubles if they do strike.

And, hey....

I hope that you find this page interesting and useful. If you were to take any bit of advice away from this page, it would be the words of a certain character whose name I now forget but whose knowing grittiness graced one of those old cop shows: "And, hey, be careful out there..."