Microsoft Windows is used by individuals, schools and businesses as the primary operating system in many desktop and laptop computers. Most software is compatible with it due to its popularity and this makes it one of the better options for using it.

Microsoft releases both large and small updates for its operating system to update bugs that are found or to add new capabilities or features. Many newer programs and versions of specific software require your operating system to be updated completely with the latest service pack or updates to even install or run properly.

You should check for updates on your Windows operating system on a regular basis. Many people choose to set the system to do it automatically once a week so they don’t forget. It only checks for crucial system updates and you may need to check manually for options such as driver updates.

The updates also need to have a designated time to install. It’s essential not to be doing anything important when the updates are installing because the operating system needs to restart before it can modify the necessary files. If a program is open and the data isn’t saved beforehand it can be lost for good.

Even if you set your system to update automatically, there is no harm in checking the update section if you’re experiencing a bug or problem getting certain software to run. While patches are typically released on the first Tuesday of the month, which is known as "Patch Tuesday," they can be released at any time if an issue calls for it.

Most individuals using Windows are adamant about keeping their systems updated. In 2008, over 500 million clients access the Windows Update service to keep their machines updates. The site itself receives approximately 90,000 page requests every second from individuals running the operating system regardless of which version they’re running.