regarding critical updates

From: need help in missouri (pkey_at_areatech.com)
Date: 04/30/04 

Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2004 00:06:03 -0700

I have had my computer for about 2 years and just recently had to reformat hard drive. Now I need to download all my critical updates(about 42 of them). Is there a certain order I need to do them in? Is there a faster and easier way to do this than download from update web page? I know some of these updates can take several hours to download and install.