Free programs for Windows download for free. Free programs for Windows free download Windows 10 updates

Updated: 07/29/2019 12:41:05 PM

Judge: Mikhail Kats

The release of Windows 10 marked the transition of Microsoft to a new development strategy. Safety has become one of the top priorities. Windows as a Service (WaaS), which translates as "Windows as a Service", suggests new way distribution and service operating system. The modified license agreement provides for the mandatory installation of updates, which cannot be opted out. On the one hand, it looks like a service imposed without any alternative, and on the other hand, the user receives a constantly up-to-date and threat-protected version of the OS. Our experts show you how to install windows updates 10 making this process as convenient and comfortable as possible.

Verification and delayed installation

The operating system automatically polls Microsoft servers on a regular basis. First of all, the presence of up-to-date anti-virus definitions necessary for the operation of Windows Defender and critical fixes is checked. It then searches for less urgent updates. Unless a reboot is required to apply changes to the system, all operations are performed in the background. If you wish, you can check for updates manually.

We launch a new panel of operating system parameters using the keyboard shortcut "Win + i". Go to the section indicated in the screenshot.

The first item that opens is called Windows Update. A green icon in the location indicated by the arrow indicates that the OS is up to date. Click on the button highlighted by the frame to manually start checking for fresh fixes.

When it detects a new update available, Windows downloads it and installs it as soon as possible. The process shows the name of the downloaded package, a short description, and an identification number. Below is a status bar showing the progress of the current operation.

When user intervention is required, an exclamation mark appears on the Update Center icon. A description of the required action is displayed next to it. In this case, shown in the screenshot, the system requires a reboot to apply all update options. You can complete it immediately or reschedule for a convenient time. Having chosen the option of delayed installation, we press the hyperlink indicated by the number "3".

In the new window, we enable the scheduler by changing the state of the switch indicated by the number "1". After that, the date and time parameters become active. You can select any day within a week from the current one. Reboot time is set to the nearest minute.

Advanced settings

In addition to delayed installation, you can edit a number of other parameters that determine the behavior of the operating system.

Under the manual check button there are three links to the settings sections.

The first allows you to set the boundaries of working hours. During this period, Windows will not restart automatically, even if the received fix requires it to apply changes. The activity range should not exceed 18 hours from the initial value.

In the log, all fixes received and installed on the computer are divided into five groups. Opposite each figure indicates the number of points contained in it. By expanding the group, you can see a brief description of each package and the date it was installed.

Additional options allow you to enable notification of the need for user intervention and agree on the installation of related components. For example, you can allow checking and getting fixes for Microsoft office. The switch marked with an arrow is for restricting downloads when using a metered internet connection.

Scrolling down in the advanced settings section, you can pause updates for up to 35 days. The number "2" shows a drop-down menu with two items. The one marked in the screenshot is the default. Fixes and feature builds are delivered to your computer as they are ready. The choice of Semi-Annual Channel makes it possible to receive them after passing an additional series of tests they will be found suitable for installation on corporate versions of the OS. The number "3" indicates the counters of days. Checking and receiving updates will be delayed for the selected period. It is one year for operating system components and 30 days for security patches. Windows Defender antivirus definitions are not affected by these settings.

Delivery Optimization

Delivery Optimization creates distributed network receive updates. It uses not only Microsoft servers, but also user computers running under Windows control 10.

Having finished with the automation settings, we go down one item in the navigation area. We move the marked switch to the “On” position and select delivery from other computers on the Internet. For fine tuning, go to the hyperlink below.

In the advanced settings section, you can set the bandwidth usage of the channel as a percentage. Setup is done separately for downloading and uploading the patch and components.

Manual installation

If you do not have constant access to the Internet, you can use the option to manually download updates from the Microsoft Update Catalog.

To quickly find a correction on the page, you need to know its identification number. For example, let's take the latest cumulative update released for Windows 10. Its full number is KB4493509, but for the search it is enough to enter only the numbers in the field marked with an arrow. There are four options in the list that opens: for servers (Server), mobile platform (ARM), 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) systems. Select the appropriate option and click the "Download" button.

A pop-up window will open with a link to the selected update.

By default, you are prompted to immediately open the resulting file in the offline installer. Switch the switch to the local save option.

The received update package has the extension MSU. We find it in the downloads folder and run it as a regular program. The offline installer will first check for it on your computer.

After making sure that the selected update was not received automatically, the system will prompt you to start installing the package.

We are waiting for the completion of the process. If the package includes multiple updates, the information window will display a numerical workflow.

If a reboot is required to apply the changes, the installer will prompt you to reboot.

An update installed in this way will be displayed in the general log, just like updates received in automatic mode.

Windows Update Mini Tool

A small utility that does not require installation when used, the utility is considered a convenient alternative to Windows Update. You can download it on this page, using direct links posted by the developer.

Windows Update Mini Tool is distributed under a free license as a ZIP archive. Inside there are two executable files. We select the appropriate bit depth and run.

Click the icon marked with the number "1" to check for updates. The program will refer to Windows servers Update and in the main window will display a list of available fixes. The number "3" in the screenshot shows a drop-down menu designed to configure the operating mode of the utility. By default, the system schema with automatic checking is activated.

To install, mark the selected updates with a checkmark. We press the icon marked with the number "2" to start the download and installation process.

The utility is extremely simple, but in terms of functionality it is in no way inferior to the built-in tools of the operating system.

Finally

Based on the advice of our experts in this article, you can configure how Windows works with updates so that receiving them does not interfere with work, and the installation is performed at a convenient time.

Given the fact that Windows 10 is a relatively new operating system, users often encounter a number of problems while working on a computer. Sometimes they don't understand the meaning of a particular system message, they don't understand how new features or functionality work, they don't fully understand the interface, or they don't know how to upgrade the system to latest version.

More recently, a new version of Windows 10 has been released. It is called the Anniversary Update or Anniversary Update. How to understand what needs to be updated and the methods of such manipulations, we will analyze in this article.

Ways to update Windows 10 to the latest version

Most often, the Update Center itself will tell you that you need to update. You will just see the corresponding message. Through the same "center" you can update the system yourself.

• To do this, we will need to go to "Settings", there we will find "Update and security"
• There you will see the Update Center. You will be able to see all the necessary information about updates, for example, when this process was last performed.

If, after checking for updates, you still do not see the latest version, you will need to look for it directly on the Microsoft website. To do this, you can click "More" in the Update Center. There you will be prompted to download all the necessary installation files for the update.

You will also need an update tool for this process. You can open it by simply clicking on "Update Now" and just wait for the installation to complete. Another way to update is to download the image to a disk or USB flash drive and boot a clean system, but this is for more advanced users.

What problems can the user face during the update?

In general, users did not have any particular problems with installing the Anniversary Update. However, there were all the same difficulties as when upgrading a computer to Windows 10 from other OS versions. We can only advise you to backup all the necessary files to be able to completely remove antivirus programs and disable virtual devices.

In conclusion, I would like to note that the decision or not is up to you. Please note that in new version you won't be able to turn off Consumer Features, delete the Windows Store, change digital signature checks, and more.

Despite the fact that Windows 10 has been on the market for quite some time, it is still considered a "young" operating system. Developers are working on its improvements every day to make the user experience more comfortable. All the changes made, no matter how useful they are, are carefully packaged and come to the computer in the form of constant updates, so it is so important to know what they contain and how to install them correctly.

Do I need to update Windows 10

The question of the need for Windows updates has always been acute, and for good reason. There is still no consensus, therefore, in order to decide whether to upgrade the system, it is necessary to consider all the arguments for and against.

Why You Shouldn't Update Windows 10

The meaning of updates for the Windows line of operating systems has always been in question.

If we talk about the Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 operating systems, then almost all updates did not bring anything new or made changes to functions that were unclaimed for ordinary users. With the release of Windows 10, this tradition has been partially preserved. Most updates to this OS add only new enterprise, server and other narrowly focused features, as well as fix old ones and add new minor bugs.

Windows 10 updates take a long time to install and require you to restart your computer. There would be nothing wrong with that if they came out less often than once every two weeks. For the most part, this frequency is to blame for Microsoft's corporate policy, thanks to which everything new is immediately packaged and sent to work without thorough verification and testing.

Windows 10 updates are installed for a very long time and at the most inopportune moment

Windows 10 doesn't ask users if they need an update or not, and installs everything automatically when the system reboots. This can come as a surprise to the user who decides to quickly restart the computer. Installing some Windows 10 updates can take up to two hours, depending on device specifications. In addition, downloading them can eat up all Internet traffic, and sometimes even computer resources.

Also in Windows 10 there is such a thing as advertising. And on free versions system, it is often accompanied by the forced installation of unpopular and low-quality software from Microsoft. Updates to advertising-related services are also part of the general Windows update list.

Why you need to update Windows 10

It is necessary to install the first update immediately after installing the system. The fact is that there are many more varieties of Windows 10 than it might seem at first glance.

First, a general non-personalized version of the system is installed. After installing the drivers and updating the OS for the first time, the OS is changed to the version that best matches the hardware configuration, which improves the overall performance of Windows 10 and its compatibility with the computer.

Now let's talk about the advantages of regularly updating Windows 10. Surely you have heard about the spy functions of this system. In many ways, these services work with a single goal: collecting and sending statistics to the technical support center. This allows developers to monitor the performance of Windows 10 on different computers and under different conditions to regularly improve the system by releasing updates. It is thanks to the active collection of information that some Windows 10 updates are really valuable and allow you to make the user experience more comfortable.

Separately, it should be said about the security update. Every second Windows 10 update brings an improvement in system protection against viruses and other external threats.

Taking into account the high activity of ransomware and cyberattacks in recent times, updating security systems is relevant. Even if your computer has a good antivirus that you completely trust, this does not provide guaranteed protection against threats aimed at the vulnerabilities of Windows itself.

Windows 10 General Update includes vulnerabilities and security updates

Windows 10 updates are especially important for owners of older hardware. After Windows installation 10 most drivers are downloaded automatically: this procedure often includes some compatibility improvements to further improve the performance of your computer. Unfortunately the base Microsoft data is far from complete, which especially affects the outdated hardware. But such information is collected very quickly, and the next update may come with a package designed exclusively for one of the computer components.

All kinds of Windows 10 updates and the misconceptions associated with them

By "updating the operating system" many users sometimes understand completely different things. To avoid confusion, for starters, it’s worth taking a closer look at a couple of points: what an update is, what it can be, and what it can’t.

The confusion about the types of updates is quite serious. It arose due to inaccurate translation of English words into Russian. For example, version - version, edition - version, build - version, and the like.

Table: what is called "Windows 10 Update"

What is meant by "Windows 10 Update"

Windows Update is responsible for updating the system in Windows 10. When it starts, it automatically checks for new builds and additional resources, and if it does, it starts downloading and installing immediately. There are other ways to start the update, but the procedure itself is always the same.

"Windows 10 Update" is "Windows 10 Build Update" plus "Windows Additional Resources Update". This procedure is indivisible and the only possible option for updating your system.

Updating Windows 10 involves updating the operating system and some of its components

What methods of updating do not exist

Due to various misconceptions and memory of users about Windows 7, it is very common to find mention of update methods that do not actually exist.

Selective update

Many users mistakenly believe that selective system updates are acceptable in Windows 10. Once upon a time, there was indeed information that Microsoft would make such an opportunity for owners of the release of Windows 10 Professional. However, this idea was not continued, and no choice is expected from users in the near future.

All updates for Windows 10 are downloaded as a single package, and it is impossible to separate what you need from everything else. There are also no special programs or utilities that allow you to implement this function. And although there are ways to update the system to a certain version, excluding subsequent ones, it will not work to choose what to install from this update and what not.

All updates for Windows 10 are packaged in one package that cannot be separated in any way.

Manual update

A manual Windows 10 update can be considered a synonym for a selective update: that's exactly what it means. Windows 10 only has automatic updates that you can start manually. It's just that it either starts by itself, or at the request of the user, and Windows 10 is always updated the same way.

A manual update can be called an offline update via an MSU file downloaded from the Microsoft Update Catalog

Game mode upgrade

Game mode is enabled in the settings:

1. Click the Start button and click the gear icon to open Settings.

   Click on the "Start" button and click on the gear to open "Settings"

2. In the window that appears, click on "Games".

   In the window that appears, click on "Games"

3. On the left side of the window, click on "Game Mode" and activate the only switch.

   On the left side of the window, click on "Game Mode" and activate the only switch

If you don’t have a game mode in your settings, just update the system using any of the suggested methods and try again.

Installing a specific update

It is recommended to download only the latest Windows 10 update, which is what the system itself does. Any update package installs completely and includes changes from all previous OS updates. You won't be able to skip any particular update.

Service packs include changes from all previous ones, unless they were excluded by newer ones. Also, if you experience problems after upgrading to the latest version, you can upgrade to any previous version. How to do this is described in the "Upgrading to a specific version" chapter. However, remember that any subsequent update of the system will bring back all the changes.

How much do updates weigh and how long does installation take

The Update Center downloads only the latest update, which is enough to keep the operating system up to date. Several packages are downloaded at the same time only if the internal Windows versions 10. In this case, their weight is summed up. The updates themselves do not accumulate in any way, but simply replace each other. They are approximately 500 MB for x86 systems and 1 GB for x64 systems.

After applying the changes, the update package itself is deleted, but the amount of free space on the hard disk will change:

• the size of the operating system can change within 1 GB up or down (the weight of the update itself does not affect this);
• the update cache will remain on drive C, which by its weight is 50-80% of the update itself.

The update cache is designed to restore the system in case of failure. Usually it is deleted on its own after some time when there is not enough free disk space. The update cache is located at C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\. This is the only trace left. To remove it, you need to disable the "Update Center" and start the system in safe mode. How to do both is written in the chapter "How to stop updating Windows 10".

Deleting the update cache will not harm the system in any way

It is difficult to predict the time that the system will spend on updating, since it depends on the capabilities of the computer and the speed of the Internet. The update can take from 15 minutes to two hours.

If you run a check for updates yourself, the weight of the update will be shown before it starts downloading. If the system starts the process itself, and there is not enough space on the computer, it will notify the user about it. The table below shows the latest service pack sizes for all internal versions of Windows 10 that the system will boot.

Table: Weight of latest Windows 10 update packages

How to update Windows 10

Usually, Windows 10 update starts without the knowledge of the user. Either the system receives a message about the appearance of something new, or it checks for updates on a timer on its own. If the information about the availability of updates is confirmed, their background download will begin, and the user will know about it only after the computer is rebooted.

However, you can also request to check for updates yourself.

Basic way

The easiest way to run a scan is through Windows Update, which is located in the Settings window.

1. Click on the "Start" button and open "Settings" by clicking on the gear icon.

   Click on the "Start" button and open "Settings" by clicking on the gear

2. In the window that opens, click on "Update and security".

   In the window that opens, click on "Update and Security"

3. Click on the "Check for Updates" button.

   Click on the "Check for Updates" button

Video: How to check for updates in Windows 10

Through the "Command line" (forced)

Checking for updates can be disabled through various system settings. If this is the case, you will not be able to update in a general way. In this case, you should use the "Command line" to force the search for updates.

Through utilities

Windows 10 can also be updated through special programs designed just for this purpose.

The utilities will not provide special features. They do not contain updates themselves, but only redirect the system to the Microsoft server to search for them.

Both of the applications described below are located on the official Microsoft website in the "Software Downloads" section.

Utilities for updating Windows 10 can be downloaded from the official Microsoft website

Media Creation Tool

Windows10Upgrade (+ upgrading to Windows 10)

Everything is even simpler here, since in the application itself you will have to press only one button, but it will be installed on your computer. It also allows you to upgrade to Windows 10 from version 8.1 and earlier.

Download the application from the official Microsoft website, run it as an administrator and click "Update Now".

Run Windows10Upgrade as administrator and click "Upgrade Now"

Upgrading to a specific version

These methods can also be considered as updating without an internet connection. They differ from the previous ones in that now the search for the current version of Windows 10 will be carried out not on the Microsoft server, but on a Windows 10 image or a special file.

Through the ISO image

Video: How to Download the Official Windows 10 Image

Via CAB or MSU file

CAB and MSU files are special Windows 10 updates that are designed to update systems that do not have access to the Internet. You can download them from the official Microsoft website. The update files should open like regular .exe files, but if this does not happen, they can be run through the "Command Prompt".

Run "Command Prompt" as an administrator and enter one of the following commands:

Changing the edition of Windows 10 (without reinstallation and data loss)

Changing the edition of Windows 10 is only possible for a more “expensive” version of the system. If you want, for example, to change from Enterprise to Professional, only a complete reinstallation of the system will help you: Enterprise is the most expensive edition. But from the Home version, the transition is more than possible.

1. Click on the "Start" button and click on the gear to go to "Settings".

   Click on the "Start" button and click on the gear to go to "Settings"

2. In the window that opens, click on the "Update and security" section.

   Click on the Update & Security section

3. On the left side of the window, select "Activation" and click "Change Product Key".

   Select the "Activation" tab and click "Change Product Key"

4. Enter one of the following keys (the keys are conditional: they allow you to change the version, but do not activate it):
   
5. If the update does not start automatically, select Windows Update on the left side of the window and click Check for Updates.

   Select the "Winodws Update" tab and click "Check for Updates"

How to stop updating Windows 10

If you need to urgently interrupt a Windows 10 update that has begun, quickly disconnect your Internet connection. Now you need to run the “Command Prompt” as an administrator and enter the following commands in turn: net stop wuauserv, net stop bits and net stop dosvc.

Open the start menu, type "cmd" in the search box, right-click on "Command Prompt" and select "Run as administrator"

If you want to prevent updates from being downloaded, the easiest way to do this is through services.

1. Open the Start menu, type "services.msc" and run the found utility.

   Expand the Troubleshooting tab and select your problem

Regular updating of Windows 10 is a useful thing, but not always convenient. Nevertheless, periodic updates for this system are almost a vital necessity. It’s better to endure an hourly system update once again than to try to deal with more serious computer problems later.

In fact, updating the Windows 10 operating system to the latest, current version is very simple. You do not need to have any professional skills in order to do this. computer technology. The whole process is quite simple and is performed in a few mouse clicks.

In general, Windows 10 uses an automatic update system. And all fresh and actual updates automatically downloaded and installed on your computer. If for some reason this did not happen, then we will do it manually. This can be done in several ways, but we will analyze 2 of them - the most popular and working ones.

Method 1: Via Windows 10 Update.

• Open the Start menu and click on the "Settings" gear:

• In the window that opens, open the "Update and security" item:

• Windows Update will open;
• Here you need to click on the button "Check for updates":

• The process of searching for the latest updates will begin;
• If there are any, the download and installation of updates will begin (a reboot may be required):

Upon completion, you will update Windows 10 to the latest version.

Method 2. Using the Update Assistant utility.

If the first method does not suit you or does not work, then the official utility from Microsoft called Update Assistant. This program detects your version of Windows 10 and looks for more recent versions of the system. This Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant is very easy to use:

1. Download it from the official site ("Update now" button): https://www.microsoft.com/ru-ru/software-download/windows10;
2. We launch, the program will automatically start searching for the latest version of "Tens";
3. When detected, it will start downloading and installing.

As a result, we have analyzed the most common ways to update Windows 10 to a new version. If you have any difficulties, then write in the comments - we will figure it out together.

Windows 10 update to the latest version. Windows 10 updates are now downloaded automatically and installed when you turn off or on your computer without additional prompts.

On the support page from Microsoft, you can find a list of updates released for different builds of the operating system.

If for some reason your computer has not been automatic updates, then you can first check which assembly you have installed.

To do this, you need to run the command line. This is done either by pressing the Win + R key combination, or by typing "Command ..." with the Start menu open.

In the first case, there will immediately be a window for launching command line(It will be enough to click the "OK" button).

In the second case, you first need to find the utility.

One way or another, a window for entering commands should open, where we write "winver" to determine general information operating system (assembly, license) and press the "Enter" button.

A window will open in which you can clearly see the assembly and version of your Windows systems 10.

It is possible to compare which service packs were on the official resource and what you have installed.
If the versions do not match, then you can update manually by going to the settings through the Start menu.

In the Settings window, click on Update & Security.

In the window that opens, select the "Windows Update" section.

At the first step, we will check the updates with the corresponding button (“Check for updates”). For some time, the system will check the installed assembly with the Microsoft server.

If differences are found, Windows will notify you and update automatically to the latest release of Windows 10 Anniversary Update (for version 1607, build 14393.1198). The process is divided into the following steps:
Downloading files;
Package installation;
System reboot.

You may already have this package installed. Then the update center will offer you an upgrade to Windows 10 Creator. You need to go to the official support site from Microsoft in the section to download the operating system update https://www.microsoft.com/ru-ru/software-download/windows10

It is proposed to either immediately proceed to the update, or pre-download and then install.

In the second option, the Media Creation Tool will be downloaded to install Windows 10 Creator.

Once launched, the installation will begin. And in the language in which you originally installed the operating system.
At the first step, the utility informs you about the license terms.

The second one offers installation at this point in time or the creation of media for installation if the operation will be performed later or for another computer.

By selecting the first option, the utility will start updating the operating system.

Before starting the operation, the utility will also check for free disk space.

And only after that you can click the "Install" button.

The process will affect various aspects of the operating system with a restart of the computer.