SuMac,
If you don't know how to configure Windows updates, there are instructions for Windows 7 here
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2797-windows-update-settings-change.htmlThe link to the screenshot mj2c posted is where you actually choose how you want Windows update to work.
You can use the Start Search to run Windows Update manually by typing "windows update" or just the word
update
into the Start search. From there you can select "Windows Update" to run it manually.
Check this page for pictures
http://www.wikihow.com/Run-Windows-Update-in-Windows-7When you get to step 4 on that page, don't choose the "install updates" button yet. Instead click the link for "important updates are available" so you get the list.
Uncheck the ones you don't want to install. (You can either try to install half of them at a time, or install them one by one). Then install the update or updates you've selected.
I had a group of updates that didn't want to install. It turned out one of them was supposed to be installed before one of the others, so none of them would install. Installing them one at a time eventually got them all in.