Change how Windows installs or notifies you about updates Applies to all editions of Windows Vista.
You can set Windows to automatically install important and recommended updates, or to install important updates only. Important updates provide significant benefits, such as improved security and reliability. Recommended updates can address non-critical problems and help enhance your computing experience. Optional updates are not downloaded or installed automatically. To learn more about the types of updates that Microsoft publishes, see this
Knowledge Base article on the Microsoft Help and Support website.
If you don't want updates to be installed automatically, you can choose instead to be notified when updates apply to your computer, so you can download and install them yourself, or you can set Windows to automatically download updates, and then notify you so you can install them yourself.
1. Open Windows Update by clicking the
Start button
, clicking
All Programs, and then clicking
Windows Update.
2. In the left pane, click
Change settings.
3. Click the automatic updating option that you want.
4. To get important and recommended updates for your computer, under
Recommended updates, select the
Include recommended updates when downloading, installing, or notifying me about updates check box.
5. Click
OK.
If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
Note: If you turn off automatic updating, make sure you check for new updates regularly. For more information, see Install Windows updates.
Source: Microsoft 
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