How to Update PC Software

By eHow Computers Editor

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Software developers are continuously working to improve their PC software programs so they can keep up with the fast-changing pace of technology. This is especially true for developers of anti-virus programs, as there seem to be new viruses threatening the world's computers every day. Software users have to be equally fast in updating their software when updates become available. There are several ways to do this.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Update Your PC Software

Step1
Visit the developer's website and search for new updates. Look for updates meant for your operating system that you can easily download and install.
Step2
Expect to pay a fee for some software upgrades. Some of the companies that do this will sell upgrades to current owners of the earlier versions of the program at a discount. Other corporations offer upgrades to existing customers free of charge.
Step3
Use the automatic update feature of your anti-virus program. Start your anti-virus program and click on "Update." The program will take care of the details. You can also enable the program to download new updates automatically whenever you go online.
Step4
Watch for prompts from your program. Some programs, especially anti-virus programs, will send a pop-up box informing you that it is time to search for updates or that a new update is available. In such cases, the program will take care of finding and downloading the updates. All you would need to do is select "Yes" to allow the program to proceed or "No" to cancel the process. You would need to be connected to the Internet for this to work.
Step5
Prepare your computer for large downloads. Some software updates are large files that will take a long time to download. Adjust your memory cache to fit the size of the file you need to download. For Internet Explorer, select "Internet Options" from the menu, click the "General" tab and select "Settings." Adjust the slider to the amount of memory you need. For Netscape, select in the following order: "Edit," "Preferences," "Advanced" and "Cache." Adjust the memory cache.

Tips & Warnings

  • Set your anti-virus software to scan your PC on a regular basis. It is very easy for your computer to become infected with a virus while on the Internet, so this is necessary whether you go online regularly or not.
  • Make sure your computer is protected with a firewall. This will prevent hackers from gaining access to your computer while you are online.

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eHow Article:  How to Update PC Software

eHow Computers Editor

eHow Computers Editor

Category: Computers

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