If you go to windows update online, and go into preferences or configure I think, you can have it confirm what you have downloaded already. From there, you can set this up as a profile or computer name.

When you return, if you have reinstalled your system for example you can simply update the same stuff you did before, not having to sift through all the updates.

Althought, if you do a new install - which you probably don't need - then you might just want WU do run a scan and walk you through it. Dno't listen to the DELL guy, totally crazy and misinformed.

I mean the guy at dell technical support not the poster here!!