Windows Updates

Windows Updates keep workstations secure and fixes issues that Microsoft has identified within Windows and other Microsoft products (Office, Project, etc). It is important that every workstation is as up to date as possible to ensure that you, your department, and the University can protect themselves against known vulnerabilities and threats to the software and hardware we use.

How do updates work?

FASS IT runs an internal Windows Update (WSUS) server that contacts Microsoft's update server on a regular basis to check for new updates.
Updates for operating systems and software that we use are then downloaded and stored on our local WSUS server.
FASS IT reviews these updates and approves them after determining if the update(s) are applicable or waits to approve them if they might cause any issues.
- Updates are approved for the FASS Supported Units Pilot Group first to allow a limited rollout.
- Pilot group users are pre-determined and they have agreed to provide feedback if they notice any issues after the new updates are installed.
After a successful install to the Pilot group the updates are approved for all FASS Supported Units.

When does my computer get updates?

Workstations that FASS IT manages call in every so often (about every 8 hours) to the WSUS server to see if any new updates are available to install.
If updates are available then workstations download the update files and store them locally until the scheduled install time occurs.
- Pilot user workstations install updates on the 2nd Friday of each month starting at 11pm.
- All other workstations install updates on the 3rd Friday of each month starting at 11pm.
After updates are finishing installing your computer reboots after about 5 minutes to complete the update process.

What if I'm logged into my computer when updates are installed?

If you are logged into (signed on to) your computer when updates are scheduled to be installed then your computer will not reboot automatically. Instead, you will receive a pop-up reminder that your computer needs to be restarted to finish installing updates.

The notification can look different depending on what version of Windows 10 you are running. Screenshots of examples are below.

NOTE: These notifications require a user action to be dismissed and will not disappear on their own.

Restart now - Your computer will reboot immediately
Remind me later - You will be prompted again in 30 minutes to reboot, there is no limit on this option and it does not appear on more recent versions of Windows 10
Pick a time - A calendar will appear and you can select a day and time to automatically reboot regardless if you are logged in or not
Snooze - Your computer will delay the update by up to 3 days before it automatically reboots regardless if you are logged in or not

A reminder will appear letting you know your computer will restart 30 minutes prior to any automatic reboots.

What if my computer isn't powered on when updates are scheduled to be installed?

If your computer is powered off at the scheduled installation time then it will attempt to install updates approximately 30 minutes after powering back on.

Example update flow

You shutdown your computer at 5pm on friday when you leave for the weekend.
11pm rolls around and your computer isn't powered on so nothing happens.
You return to work at 8am on Monday morning and power your computer back on.
30 minutes after powering on your computer installs updates that were scheduled to be installed at 11pm the previous Friday.
Once the installation is complete you get a notification telling you your computer needs to restart to complete the updates.
You click Snooze instead of Restart now or Pick a time.
You get occasional reminders that your computer still needs to reboot and you click Snooze each time.
After 3 days your computer reboots automatically on Thursday morning approximately 72 hours after updates were installed in Monday.