Windows XP: Accessing the Windows Update Catalog

Do you need to download specific updates from Microsoft without using the Windows/Microsoft update site (i.e.: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/)?

There can be several reasons why you would want to do this, for example: you have a slow modem at home and you want to get your updates from a faster computer. Or, if you're a systems administrator at a company, and you need to update Windows clients or servers.

Whatever the reason, here is how you can do it.

• Open Internet Explorer (this won't work from Firefox), and go to "http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/catalog"
• Click the link "Find updates for Microsoft Windows operating systems" or "Find driver updates for hardware devices"
• If you selected the find updates for operating system, you will need to select the OS which you're looking for the updates. Press the Search button to continue.
• Select the category, and then select updates that you want to get.
• Click the "Go to Download Basket" link.
  
• Press the Browse... button to select the download location on your local computer.
• Press the 'Download Now' button.
• Choose if you want to accept the licensing agreement, then press the appropriate button.
  

After the files finish downloading, they will be available in the location that you selected.