Windows Update (WU), a service offered by
Microsoft, provides
updates for
Windows components. It can be replaced with
Microsoft Update, an expanded version of the service which provides for other Microsoft
software as well, such as
Microsoft Office,
Windows Live Essentials and
Microsoft Expression Studio. Windows Update clients normally download updates over an
Internet connection, although Microsoft makes provision for installing updates on computers without an Internet connection and a range of alternative methods and programs also exist to install updates.