How to Safely Update Windows and Drivers on Your Computer
Keeping your Windows computer and drivers up-to-date is important for security, stability, and performance. However, updating can sometimes cause issues if not done properly. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to safely update Windows and device drivers on your PC.
Back Up Your Data
Before updating, it is crucial to back up your important files and data. This gives you a restore point in case something goes wrong during the update process.
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Copy important files to an external hard drive or cloud storage. Focus on documents, photos, videos, and other irreplaceable data.
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Use the Windows Backup and Restore utility to create a system image backup. This saves a snapshot of your entire system drive.
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Enable File History to automatically backup files to another drive.
Proper backup ensures you can restore your system if the updates cause problems.
Check for Driver and Firmware Updates
Before updating Windows, check if your hardware components need any driver or firmware updates. Outdated drivers can sometimes cause conflicts with new Windows updates.
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Go to your computer manufacturer’s website and search for available updates.
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Alternatively, use a free driver update utility to automatically detect any out-of-date drivers.
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For components like SSDs, motherboard, or graphics card, check their manufacturer websites for firmware updates.
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Update components one by one and restart your PC after each update.
Updating drivers and firmware eliminates potential driver-related issues.
Disable Antivirus Temporarily
Some antivirus softwares can interfere with the Windows update process. To avoid this:
- Open your antivirus program settings
- Look for the option to disable virus scans or real-time protection
- Temporarily disable these features
You can turn your antivirus back on after the Windows updates complete. This prevents potential conflicts during the update process.
Check Windows Update History
Before beginning updates, check your Windows Update history to see if any previous updates failed to install properly:
- Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update
- Click on “Update history”
- Review the list and check for any failed or uninstalled updates
If you find any important failed updates, try installing them individually before proceeding.
Update Windows
With your backup, drivers, and antivirus ready, you can now safely install Windows updates:
- Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update
- Click on “Check for updates”
- The system will scan for the latest cumulative updates and patches
- Select all important updates and click on “Download and install”
Be patient as downloading and installing may take 15-60 minutes. Your PC may restart multiple times.
Update Other Microsoft Products
In addition to Windows, also update other Microsoft products like:
- Office – Updates can be downloaded from Office account settings
- .NET Framework – Updates will appear in Windows Update
- Visual Studio – Updates available in Visual Studio installer app
Keep these crucial frameworks and tools updated along with Windows itself.
Re-Enable Antivirus
Once the updates are complete, you can turn your antivirus protection back on:
- Open antivirus settings
- Find the option to re-enable virus scanning and real-time protection
- Click on it to turn your antivirus back on
This secures your system against threats again.
Check Device Manager
The final step is to check Device Manager for any issues:
- Type “Device Manager” into the Windows search box
- Expand each device category and look for any warning symbols
- These indicate driver problems – you may need to reinstall the drivers
- For removable devices, try unplugging and reconnecting them
Resolve any driver-related issues before restoring your backup. With that, your system is now fully updated! Be sure to regularly check for new Windows and driver updates each month.
