Abstract: Installing and updating a software program module component. A determination is made whether the current date is on or after a date stored in a registry key on a computer. If the current date is on or after the date stored in the registry key, then a computer transmits a database query via the Internet to a database server. At the database server, a determination is made whether an upgrade package for the software program module component is available, such as by performing a database lookup. If an upgrade package for the software program module component is available, then an upgrade package message is sent from the database server to the computer. At the computer, a determination is made whether the user wants to download the upgrade package. If so, then an upgrade package query is sent by the computer via the Internet to a package server. At the package server, in response to receiving the upgrade package query, the upgrade package is retrieved and sent over the Internet to the computer.