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This simple tips will show you on how to manually download updates and patches for Windows.

First method: AutoPatcher

AutoPatcher is a great software to update your Windows especially if you frequently reinstall Windows or updating multiple Windows PCs without the need to re-download the updates for each PCs.

Before the project was shut down, AutoPatcher provided the alternative way to Windows Update to update your Windows. The updates were usually bundled in one download and monthly patches were provided to provide Autopatcher with latest updates from Windows Update. After AutoPatcher has been downloaded, the updates can be performed offline and without any internet connection.

Now, AutoPatcher is back! This time, the updates are downloaded directly from Microsoft servers and saved to your local drive to create the AutoPatcher package instead all being downloaded as complete package before this.

It should took you sometimes to download all the updates from Microsoft servers depending on the updates that you choose. If your download stuck, the AutoPatcher updater has the ability to detect the updates that has been downloaded so that you don't have to download the same update if the download process is interrupted. AutoPatcher also provides extra addons and registry tweaks that can be used to improve and optimize Windows.

After the download finished, all you need is run the autopatcher.exe program to update your Windows offline. You can burn it to a DVD or store it in a network drive so that you can perform the update to other Windows PCs as well.

You can update Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 2003, Windows XP/2003 x64, Windows Vista and Microsoft Office with AutoPatcher

[Download: AutoPatcher Updater]

Second Method: Microsoft Security Bulletin

This method is not very convenience as the first method (AutoPatcher), and more technical way. This method will only let you to download the security patches for Windows (and Microsoft software) only.

- Go to Microsoft Security Bulletin website. Click Get the latest Security Updates (1).

- As you can see in the Security Updates page, each update and patch are given a code. For example, MS08-028. Take notes of the update code.

- To download the update, enter this into your browser URL:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/<update code>.mspx

Example, to download MS08-028 update, go to:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS08-028.mspx

- In the update page, you can find the link to download the update. Select the update according to your operating system. For example, if I want to download the update for Windows XP Service Pack 2, I choose this link (2).

- Different version of Windows may not required certain updates, and certain updates and patches are only for certain version of Windows. For example, the MS08-028 update is not required for Windows Vista.

- To browse the update from previous month, change the address.
For example:
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/updates/bulletins/200804.mspx
The address will bring you to updates for April 2008 page, and

http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/updates/bulletins/200803.mspx
will bring you to updates for March 2008 page.
As I mentioned before, this method involves more technical way. If you are unsure, use AutoPatcher instead. If you download the wrong update, the update won't be installed so you don't have to worry you are corrupting your system by installing the wrong update.

I recommend you to sort the updates that you have downloaded by month by saving the updates from different month in different folders.

[Microsoft Security Bulletin]