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Windows Update Known Issues
Following are known issues with the Windows Update Web site. If you find a problem that is not listed below, please let us know by clicking Write Us on the black toolbar, and then clicking Windows Update.
  1. Windows Update refreshes the Product Updates catalog every time you visit this area of the site. This enables you to see the most current condition of your computer. For example, if you download two new themes and then return to the Product Updates catalog, your view is updated and you no longer see the two themes you downloaded as available updates. These will still appear in the Show Installed Updates view, but will now be shown as installed.

  2. You will not be able to use the left navigation bar while a download is in progress. This is to ensure that your download happens successfully. When the download is complete, the navigation bar is available again.

  3. The links on the Windows Update home page will not change color after you have selected them.

  4. Keyboard access for certain functions on the site, for accessibility purposes, is not fully implemented.

  5. In very rare instances, if you choose to run multiple instances of this site and have the Product Updates control run simultaneously to check for updates, it will lock your browser for a long period of time.

  6. After you download a component from the Product Updates catalog, don't open a new browser window while the "Download Confirmed" page is on the screen. Otherwise a script error message will appear.

  7. In rare cases, when you connect to the Internet via a modem, you may see a script error. If this happens, try your connection again.

  8. If your security settings are set to High, you will not be able to gain access to the Product Updates catalog. In order to use the Product Updates area of the site, you need to set your security settings to Medium or Low. To change your security settings:
    1. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
    2. Click the Security tab.
    3. Choose the Medium setting.

  9. If you receive a message about Critical Update Notification before you have logged on to the network or Windows, accept the notification after logging on. Do this by moving the dialog box, or by clicking Notify me later and then logging on. This message may appear only if your computer is connected to a local area network (LAN).

  10. In Windows 98, if you have downloaded security patches or the IME/SR1 component, reinstalling Windows 98 overwrites the security patches and the IME code. However, the Windows Update catalog will continue to show IME components and security patches as installed. To reinstall the security patches or IME components:
    1. Go to the Product Updates section of Windows Update.
    2. Click Show Installed Updates, and then select the box next to the patches and IME components you want to install.
    3. Click Download, and then follow the instructions.

  11. In some cases, after you install Critical Update Notification, the catalog might not reflect the installation. Check Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel to make sure your installation was successful.

  12. When you choose to install the Windows 98 Customer Service Pack, the Outlook Express Year 2000 update (included in the Customer Service Pack) is not installed. The component will appear as "not installed" after the Customer Service Pack installation is complete. To install the Outlook Express Year 2000 update, go back to the Product Updates Catalog, choose Outlook Express 4.0 Year 2000 Update from the Critical Components section, and download it separately.
  13. The Windows Update site may appear in a language other than the language of your browser or operating system. For example, your browser and operating system might be in English, but the Windows Update site is in French. The Windows Update site appears in the language for which your browser's language preference is configured. To change the language preference of your browser:
    1. In Internet Explorer, click the Tools menu.
    2. Click Internet Options.
    3. On the General tab, click the Languages button.
    4. Select the language you want, then use the Move Up button to place your selection at the top of the list of languages.
  14. Anti-Virus Software Users: Please note that some anti-virus software programs may interfere with the download and installation of some components. To prevent this interference, disable the anti-virus software before downloading items from the Product Updates catalog.
  15. An Internet Explorer Favorites link to Windows Update may not function properly. For best results, access Windows Update by using the link in your Start menu (click Start and then click Windows Update), or type windowsupdate.microsoft.com in your Internet Explorer address bar.
  16. If you upgraded your Internet Explorer browser recently, when you return to Windows Update you may see updates that you installed when you were running an earlier version of Internet Explorer. The updates you are offered now are provided specifically for your upgraded browser. To ensure that your new Internet Explorer browser has the highest level of security, Microsoft recommends that you install these updates for your new browser.



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