How to Update Game Components on Windows

What is Game Component?

Components are designed to achieve some complicated functions of a certain program. Game components are indispensable for a game. While designing games, developers normally will use the existing solutions like API, SDK, Framework etc to achieve special gaming effect. That may save time on repeatedly setting a module, and also avoid of duplicate work. Those existing solutions belong to game components.

The Necessity of Updating Game Components

It’s necessary to keep the game components up-to-date, following are the reasons. First, fix known bugs. Some known bugs will be easily used by attackers, especially in some paid games. While updating game components can help avoid of being attacked randomly. For instance, Adobe Flash Player was reported to fix the critical “zero-day” vulnerability, which prevents users’ PC from attacking and protect the private data. Second, improve gaming performance. Updating game components can speed up your game loading in a great way, which makes the gaming process smoother and more stable. Such as OpenAL updating, it renders 3D sound quickly, which provides better experience when watching a movie or gaming. Third, explore new features. Any programs, including game components, are updated with new features added. These new features can better adapt to the development of the games.

How to Update Game Components?

There are two methods to update game components. Update from the official website or through a third-party program. As for manually updating game components, remember to download it from the official website and choose the best match.

You can also try a tool to update all outdated components. Driver Booster helps. All drivers and game components come from their official website. Besides, Driver Booster will test the compatibility before updating, which ensures the normal operation of the programs. So far, Driver Booster supports updating several game components, including:

1. Java Runtime Environment

JRE(Java Runtime Environment), which includes the java virtual machine and the java base class library. It is a game/software environment required for programs written in java language to be used by users who want to run java programs. It supports 32-bit and 64-bit systems.

2. Microsoft DirectX (Patch/Runtime)

Microsoft DirectX is a collection of application programming interfaces (APIs) for handling tasks related to multimedia, especially game programming and video, on Microsoft platforms. Generally, Windows Update will provide DirectX update. Driver Booster offers the update for some lower versions of Windows.

3. NVIDIA PhysX

PhysX is a proprietary real-time physics engine middleware SDK. It was authored at NovodeX, an ETH Zurich spin-off. The term PhysX can also refer to the PPU expansion card designed by Ageia to accelerate PhysX-enabled video games.

4. OpenAL

OpenAL (Open Audio Library) is a cross-platform audio application programming interface (API). It is designed for efficient rendering of multichannel three-dimensional positional audio. It gives the best sound effects to OpenAL-based games.

5. Unity Web Player

Unity is a cross-platform game creation system developed by Unity Technologies, including a game engine and integrated development environment (IDE). It provides proper conditions for games developed with Unity Engine.

6. Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable

Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable is the library that is having components that are required by many applications to run, and the Apps which you develop on Visual C++ require components of the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable. These packages are used to run the contents that are developed or written in the C++ programming language. Driver Booster supports updating Microsoft Visual C++ 2017/2015/2013/2012/2010/2008 Redistributable, and gives technical support for 32-bit and 64-bit systems.

7. Microsoft .NET Framework

.NET Framework is a software framework developed by Microsoft that runs primarily on Microsoft Windows. It includes a large class library named Framework Class Library and provides language interoperability across several programming languages. It’s used to ensure the normal operation of .NET-based games or programs. Driver Booster Pro supports updating Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0 and Microsoft .NET Framework 4.7.

With Drive Booster Pro, the update can be finished in just two steps.

1. Run Driver Booster Pro and wait for the scanning result;

2. Click “Update Now” to get all the latest updates.

Windows Update: FAQ

Note: If you’re looking for Microsoft Office update info, see Install Office updates.

In Windows 10, you decide when and how to get the latest updates to keep your device running smoothly and securely. When you update, you’ll get the latest fixes and security improvements, helping your device run efficiently and stay protected. In most cases, restarting your device completes the update. Make sure your device is plugged in when you know updates will be installed.

If other questions come up when you update Windows 10, here are some other areas that might interest you:

When you only want info about updating Windows 10, you’ll find answers to many of your questions here:

When the Windows 10 May 2020 Update is ready for your device, it will be available to download and install from the Windows Update page in Settings. Choose a time that works best for you to download the update. You’ll then need to restart your device and complete the installation. After that, your device will be running Windows 10, version 2004.

To manually check for the latest recommended updates, select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Windows Update .

To get help updating to the latest version of Windows 10, go to the Microsoft software download page and download the Update Assistant.

Some updates may not be available on all devices at the same time—we’re making sure updates are ready and compatible.

To stay up to date, select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Windows Update , and then select Check for updates.

If a feature update is available for your device, it will appear separately on the Windows Update page. To install it, select Download and install now.

Here are a few things you can try if you’re having trouble installing updates:

Make sure that your device is connected to the internet. Downloading updates requires an internet connection.

If you’re connected the internet, try to install the updates manually. Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Windows Update , and then view available updates.
Check for updates

Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter. Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot . Under Get up and running, select Windows Update.

The time required to download updates primarily depends on internet connection speed, network settings, and update size. Make sure your device is plugged in and connected to the internet to download updates faster.

You can’t stop updates entirely—because they help keep your device safe and secure, updates will eventually need to be installed and downloaded, regardless of your update settings. Here’s how to temporarily pause updates from being downloaded and installed. Note that after the pause limit is reached, you’ll need to install the latest updates before you can pause updates again.

In the Windows 10 November 2019 Update (version 1909) or later, or in Windows version 1809 for Pro or Enterprise, select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update . Then choose one of the following options:

Select Pause updates for 7 days.

Select Advanced options. Then, in the Pause updates section, select the drop-down menu and specify a date for updates to resume.

To finish installing an update, your device will need to restart. Windows will try to restart your device when you’re not using it. If it can’t, you’ll be asked to schedule the restart for a more convenient time. Or, you can schedule anytime by following these steps:

Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Windows Update .

Select Schedule the restart and choose a time that’s convenient for you.

You can set active hours to make sure automatic restarts for updates only happen when you’re not using your device. Learn about active hours for Windows 10.

Try deleting files you don’t need, uninstalling apps you don’t use, or moving files to another drive like an external USB drive or OneDrive. For more tips on freeing up disk space, see Free up drive space in Windows 10.

We recommend keeping devices like laptops and tablets plugged in when you’re not using them. This way, if updates are installed outside active hours, your device will have enough power to complete the installation. Windows updates don’t consume more battery than other typical system processes.

An update history is available so you can see which updates were installed, and when. You can also use this list to remove specific updates, although we don’t recommend this unless it’s necessary.

Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Windows Update > View update history .

For more info about what’s included in updates for Windows 10, see Windows 10 update history.

We don’t recommend that you remove any installed updates. However, if you must remove an update, you can do so in update history.

Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View update history > Uninstall updates.

Select the update you want to remove, then select Uninstall.

Feature updates are typically released twice per year and include new functionality and capabilities as well as potential fixes and security updates. Quality updates are more frequent and mainly include small fixes and security updates. Windows is designed to deliver both kinds of updates to devices through Windows Update.

To double check that your device is up to date, open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and see your update status and available updates.

To find which version of Windows you’re running, see Which version of Windows operating system am I running?

Reserved storage is not automatically turned on by Windows in any update scenarios. It is only turned on for new devices with the Windows 10 May 2019 Update (version 1903) or later preinstalled, or devices on which a clean install was performed.

Note: If you’re looking for Microsoft Office update info, see Install Office updates.

The best way to keep Windows 8.1 up to date is to turn on automatic updates. With automatic updates, you don’t have to search for updates online or worry about missing critical fixes or device drivers for your PC. Instead, Windows Update automatically installs important updates as they become available.

To turn on automatic updates:

Open Windows Update by swiping in from the right edge of the screen (or, if you’re using a mouse, pointing to the lower-right corner of the screen and moving the mouse pointer up), select Settings > Change PC settings > Update and recovery > Windows Update. If you want to check for updates manually, select Check now.

Select Choose how updates get installed, and then, under Important updates, select Install updates automatically (recommended).

Under Recommended updates, select Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates.

Under Microsoft Update, select Give me updates for other Microsoft products when I update Windows, and then select Apply.

Click the questions below to see answers about how Windows Update keeps your device up to date.

Note: If your PC is connected to a network where updates are managed by Group Policy, you might not be able to change settings related to Windows Update. For more info, contact your organization’s technical support.

Open Windows Update by swiping in from the right edge of the screen (or, if you’re using a mouse, pointing to the lower-right corner of the screen and moving the mouse pointer up), select Settings > Change PC settings > Update and recovery > Windows Update. To check for updates manually, select Check now.

An update history is available so you can see which updates were installed, and when. You can also use this list to remove specific updates, although we don’t recommend this unless it’s necessary.

To see your PC’s update history, open Windows Update by swiping in from the right edge of the screen (or, if you’re using a mouse, pointing to the lower-right corner of the screen and moving the mouse pointer up), select Settings > Change PC settings > Update and recovery > Windows Update > View your update history.

We don’t recommend that you remove any installed updates. However, if you must remove an update, you can do so in update history.

Open Windows Update by swiping in from the right edge of the screen (or, if you’re using a mouse, pointing to the lower-right corner of the screen and moving the mouse pointer up), select Settings > Change PC settings > Update and recovery > Windows Update > View your update history.

Select the update you want to remove, then select Uninstall.

Here are a few things to try if you’re having problems installing updates:

Make sure that your PC is connected to the internet. Some updates can’t be installed if you’re using a metered internet connection.

If you’re connected the internet and updates aren’t installed automatically, wait a few minutes and then try to install the updates manually.

See the Fix Windows Update errors guided walkthrough to try to fix the problem.

Support for Windows 7 ended on January 14, 2020

We recommend you move to a Windows 10 PC to continue to receive security updates from Microsoft.

Click the questions below to see answers about how Windows Update keeps your device up to date.