Configuring auto update

[Doug Stratton]

I run Windows XP Pro. A co-worker has a Dell laptop with
XP Home. He wants to configure the Auto Update feature to
prompt him when updates are available the way he's seen it
happen on my computer.

The MS knowledge base says that for *both* Pro and Home,
you right click My Computer > Properties and go to the
Automatic Updates tab. The problem is he (XP Home user)
doesn't have that. For him, the Properties display shows
just as a simple, conventional shortcut.

Can anybody tell me how to help him out?

[Dan DeStefano]

i dont think this is because it is xp home, but rather that the user
probably dragged the 'my computer' icon from the start menu to the desktop
and created a shortcut instead of the my computer applet on the desktop. i
imagine that network places, my documents and ie are also either missing or
are shortcuts. for some odd reason, all of these applets no longer appear on
xp desktop by default. however, they are easy to get back. simply
right-click an open area of the desktop and select properties, then in the
'desktop' tab, click 'customize desktop', then, under the 'desktop icons'
heading, check the icons you want to appear on the desktop. thats it, now
the real my computer, my network places, ie and my documents applets should
appear on the user's desktop.

note: an alternate way to get to system properties instead of right clicking
my computer, is to doubleclick the 'system' applet in control panel.

hope this helps,

Dan DeStefano


"Doug Stratton" > wrote in message
...
> I run Windows XP Pro. A co-worker has a Dell laptop with
> XP Home. He wants to configure the Auto Update feature to
> prompt him when updates are available the way he's seen it
> happen on my computer.
>
> The MS knowledge base says that for *both* Pro and Home,
> you right click My Computer > Properties and go to the
> Automatic Updates tab. The problem is he (XP Home user)
> doesn't have that. For him, the Properties display shows
> just as a simple, conventional shortcut.
>
> Can anybody tell me how to help him out?

[Dan DeStefano]

i dont think this is because it is xp home, but rather that the user
probably dragged the 'my computer' icon from the start menu to the desktop
and created a shortcut instead of the my computer applet on the desktop. i
imagine that network places, my documents and ie are also either missing or
are shortcuts. for some odd reason, all of these applets no longer appear on
xp desktop by default. however, they are easy to get back. simply
right-click an open area of the desktop and select properties, then in the
'desktop' tab, click 'customize desktop', then, under the 'desktop icons'
heading, check the icons you want to appear on the desktop. thats it, now
the real my computer, my network places, ie and my documents applets should
appear on the user's desktop.

note: an alternate way to get to system properties instead of right clicking
my computer, is to doubleclick the 'system' applet in control panel.

hope this helps,

Dan DeStefano


"Doug Stratton" > wrote in message
...
> I run Windows XP Pro. A co-worker has a Dell laptop with
> XP Home. He wants to configure the Auto Update feature to
> prompt him when updates are available the way he's seen it
> happen on my computer.
>
> The MS knowledge base says that for *both* Pro and Home,
> you right click My Computer > Properties and go to the
> Automatic Updates tab. The problem is he (XP Home user)
> doesn't have that. For him, the Properties display shows
> just as a simple, conventional shortcut.
>
> Can anybody tell me how to help him out?

[Sharon F]

On Mon, 14 Apr 2003 13:14:31 -0700, "Doug Stratton" >
wrote:

>I run Windows XP Pro. A co-worker has a Dell laptop with
>XP Home. He wants to configure the Auto Update feature to
>prompt him when updates are available the way he's seen it
>happen on my computer.
>
>The MS knowledge base says that for *both* Pro and Home,
>you right click My Computer > Properties and go to the
>Automatic Updates tab. The problem is he (XP Home user)
>doesn't have that. For him, the Properties display shows
>just as a simple, conventional shortcut.
>
>Can anybody tell me how to help him out?

Have him press Windows key+E to bring up Windows Explorer. Click the
Folders button in the standard toolbar or choose View> Explorer Bars>
Folders. Right click on the My Computer item there.

NOTE: He should be logged on with an account in the Administrator group
to work with the Automatic Update settings.

Sharon F
MS MVP [Shell/User]

[Sharon F]

On Mon, 14 Apr 2003 13:14:31 -0700, "Doug Stratton" >
wrote:

>I run Windows XP Pro. A co-worker has a Dell laptop with
>XP Home. He wants to configure the Auto Update feature to
>prompt him when updates are available the way he's seen it
>happen on my computer.
>
>The MS knowledge base says that for *both* Pro and Home,
>you right click My Computer > Properties and go to the
>Automatic Updates tab. The problem is he (XP Home user)
>doesn't have that. For him, the Properties display shows
>just as a simple, conventional shortcut.
>
>Can anybody tell me how to help him out?

Have him press Windows key+E to bring up Windows Explorer. Click the
Folders button in the standard toolbar or choose View> Explorer Bars>
Folders. Right click on the My Computer item there.

NOTE: He should be logged on with an account in the Administrator group
to work with the Automatic Update settings.

Sharon F
MS MVP [Shell/User]