Q Windows 98's Update feature downloads and installs improvements and files automatically. But if you ever need to do the same update again ù say, because you have more than one PC or you must reinstall Windows ù you have to repeat the download. Is there any way I can save the downloaded files for reuse?

A Microsoft admits that's an important feature it left out of its Update program and says it is working on an improved version of Windows Update that lets you save update files to your hard disk for reuse. The official word from Microsoft is that this procedure can't be done and you shouldn't even try. So I'll tell you how to do it ù with some caveats.

Start with a clear cache: before updating Windows, launch Internet Explorer and select View-Internet Options (Tools-Internet Options in IE 5). Under the General tab, in the Temporary Internet files box, click Delete Files, then OK. When the files are deleted, click OK.

Now select Start-Windows Update. Once you're at the Windows Update Web page, click Product Updates. If asked, install and run Microsoft Windows Update Active Setup. When Windows Update asks if it may peruse your hard drive for installed components, click Yes. Select the updates you want, then click Download. At the final page, click Start Download.

When the installation's done, open the C:\Windows\Temporary Internet Files folder. Select View-Details. Click the Type column header to sort files by type. Update files will be application files (.exe) or cabinet files (.cab). Utilities like WinZip can extract files from cabinet files, but unless you know where they go (and which current files to delete), you can't use the .cab files. (That's the first caveat.)

So, only the .exe files are worth saving. If you leave them in the Temporary Internet files folder, they will eventually disappear, so copy them to another folder or to some form of removable storage. Luckily, the most critical updates tend to be .exe files. When you want to update a new Win 98 installation, simply bring over your downloaded and saved .exe files and run them as you would any other program.

The other caveat is that Windows Update can't tell how current this new installation is and will therefore offer to install features you already have. The best solution is to note the name of an update when you install it and keep a list.