Do not force Safe Mode with MSCONFIG

Keep your system updated

Microsoft releases patches for Windows and Office products regularly to patch up Windows and Office products loopholes and fix any bugs found. Please ensure that you visit the following websites regularly or do update your system regularly.

Install the updates immediately if they are found. Reboot your computer if necessary, revisit Windows Update and Office update sites until there are no more updates to be installed.

To update Windows

Go to Start > All Programs > Windows Update

To update Office

Open up any Office program.

Go to Help > Check for Updates

Alternatively, you can visit the links below to update Windows and Office products.

Windows Update
Office Updates

If you are forgetful, you can change some settings so that you will be informed of updates. Here's how:

[*]Go to Start > Control Panel > Automatic Updates
[*]Select Automatic (recommended) radio button if you want the updates to be downloaded and installed without prompting you.
[*]Select Download updates for me, but let me chose when to install them radio button if you want the updates to be downloaded automatically but to be installed at another time.
[*]Select Notify me but don't automatically download or install them radio button if you want to be notified of the updates.

Java is another program that updates regularly to fix bug issues and loopholes in it. Here's the instructions for updating Java:

[*]Click here to visit Java's website.
[*]Scroll down to Java Runtime Environment (JRE) . Click on Download .
[*]Select Accept License Agreement . The page will refresh.
[*]Click on Windows Offline Installation, Multi-language and save it to a convenient location.
[*]Run this installation to update your Java.

Remember to remove all previous versions of Java when you update it to a new version to prevent exploitation of the older versions left on your system.

Besides Windows and Java that need regular updating, antivirus, anti-spyware and firewall programs update regularly too.

Please make sure that you update your antivirus, firewall and anti-spyware programs at least once a week.