What is the differance between Microsoft update vs Windows update in Windows 7?

Question

Is Windows Update in Windows 7 = Microsoft Update in XP?

Every link to Microsoft Updates I find flips me to the Windows update in Windows 7.  I would assume that this means they have consolidated the function which kind of makes sense, but it would be nice to verify.

Can anyone confirm my assumption?  If so does anyone know why Microsoft does not bother to explain the fact?  If if they do, where is that information found?

Thank you.

Answer 1

The difference between windows update and Microsoft update is explained in one of the questions in the FAQ's in the Microsoft link mentioned below:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/windowsupdate/FAQ.mspx

Answer 2

Windows Update at one time was targeted specifically at the operating system.  Other products, like Office, had a separate update process.  Microsoft Update included Windows Update plus the other product updates.  Over time, the two updates have merged so that Microsoft Update and Windows update are essentially the same thing.  Microsoft Update is a successor to Windows Upfate.  See if this helps: http://www.microsoft.com/canada/smallbiz/issues/sgcv2/security-guidance-centre/fastfactsaboutmicrosoftupdate.mspx

Answer 3

The difference between windows update and Microsoft update is explained in one of the questions in the FAQ's in the Microsoft link mentioned below:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/windowsupdate/FAQ.mspx

I do not find it there.

Answer 4

Actually, they consolidated it in Windows XP as well, if you installed the latest Microsoft Update tool.

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Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]