Sorry, it's true: Microsoft's update site requires IE.

But, actually, Microsoft would prefer that you use the updater built in to Windows rather than relying on you to visit using a browser: How to configure and use Automatic Updates in Windows.

My Automatic Updates are configured properly (I think, gone over them). But I still don't get them.

So......I have to make I.E. my default browser it seems? I can do that, as long as I can continue to get FF, by www.firefox.com? IE is on my computer, but not updated as not used.

Will that work?

Thanks.

The built-in Windows Update connects directly, it doesn't use a browser. However, if the automatic updater has flaked out, I do recommend that you go ahead and get your updates using IE on a regular basis. You don't need to make IE your default browser unless you want links in external applications (e.g., MS Word, Adobe Reader) to open pages in IE.

Thank you so much. Why would Windows Update 'flake out'?

If it has 'flaked out', then I would type www.internet explorer.com into my FF brower, then find an "Update Windows" link?

If the above is not right, please tell me how to do it. (Sorry, bit challenged in this).

I have to admit I have forgotten quite a bit about Windows XP. You could get support on Windows Update from other forums, such as Windows Secrets: http://windowssecrets.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/38-Windows-XP-Forum

To start Internet Explorer, it's simplest to use its blue "e" program icon. This might be on your Quick Launch toolbar or on your desktop. Although there are add-ons to intermingle IE with Firefox, that makes things more complicated than necessary. It is cleaner to simply start up the program you want to use when you want to use it, then close it when you're done.

Forgot the last step. One you have Internet Explorer up and running, you can use

Tools menu > Windows Update

to get your updates. If the menu bar is hidden, tap the Alt key to reveal it.

Hi there - this morning I closed all FF, and opened IE, searched for windows updates, and got the page......to the left was something like "check for installed updates", so I clicked on that, and lo and behold, up came a whole list of successful updates for March 2013, using automatic updates.

It's a bit of a mystery to me, but for some reason I have them, although I did not configure them to do that.

Thank you for your help. I'll attach a screen shot.....had to resize it, so hope it will be clear enough.

Hopefully this might help others w/similar problem. In my case it was already done.

Thanks for your help.