diff --git a/update/currentReleaseVersion.js b/update/currentReleaseVersion.js
index 312a9f71..9532de45 100644
--- a/update/currentReleaseVersion.js
+++ b/update/currentReleaseVersion.js
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 function currentReleaseVersion() {
-	return 2.0;
+	return 200;
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/xpfe/global/resources/content/aboutHome.css b/xpfe/global/resources/content/aboutHome.css
index 0873e328..e370beb0 100644
--- a/xpfe/global/resources/content/aboutHome.css
+++ b/xpfe/global/resources/content/aboutHome.css
@@ -31,6 +31,15 @@ body, html {
 #rzFooterText {
 	text-align: center;
 }
+ /* updater styles */
+#updateNotifier {
+	display:none;
+}
+
+.showUpdate {
+	display: block !important;
+}
+
 a:link { color: blue; }
 a:hover { color: blue; }
 a:active { color: blue; }
diff --git a/xpfe/global/resources/content/aboutHome.html b/xpfe/global/resources/content/aboutHome.html
index 376b0e70..296131f1 100644
--- a/xpfe/global/resources/content/aboutHome.html
+++ b/xpfe/global/resources/content/aboutHome.html
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@
 			<button id="rzSearchSubmit" onClick="rzSearch();">Search</button>
 		</div>
 		<div id="rzFooter">
+			<p id="updateNotifier">
+				new version available
+			</p>
 			<p id="rzFooterText">
 				<a href="http://retrozilla.no-ip.org" class="rzFooterlink">
 					RetroZilla
diff --git a/xpfe/global/resources/content/aboutHome.js b/xpfe/global/resources/content/aboutHome.js
index 525ffe6a..c229cc58 100644
--- a/xpfe/global/resources/content/aboutHome.js
+++ b/xpfe/global/resources/content/aboutHome.js
@@ -4,11 +4,28 @@
 
 // about:home JS
 
+
+/* 
+
+WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE HERE:
+================================
+- the current version is taken from prefs and stored in cUV (ln 28)
+- a way needs to be found to access cUV from a function
+- source code from test needs to be incorporated into here and the .html
+- a more elaborate update notification needs to be designed and properly placed in the rzHome page
+- then it needs to be hidden
+- build and test this source code
+- bitch at XUL when it tells you that you can't access outside scripts from a chrome process (hopefully not, but it's likely)
+- once this all works clean up this clusterfuck of a script
+
+*/
+
 // XPCOM preferences integration
 var prefs = Components.classes["@mozilla.org/preferences-service;1"].getService(Components.interfaces.nsIPrefBranch);
 
 var aboutHomeAutofocus = prefs.getBoolPref("rzHome.autofocus");
 var searchEngineURL = prefs.getCharPref("keyword.URL");
+var currentUsedVersion = prefs.getIntPref("retrozilla.version");
 
 //check to see if custom search pref url exists
 var prefServiceBranch = Components.classes["@mozilla.org/preferences-service;1"]
@@ -26,15 +43,45 @@ function autoFocus() {
 	document.getElementById("rzSearch").focus();
 }
 
+// update checker function
+function checkForUpdate() {
+    var img = document.createElement("img");
+    img.onload = function() {
+        // connected
+		
+		// add JS file with newest version # to page
+		var h = document.getElementsByTagName('head').item(0);
+		var newScript = document.createElement('script');
+		newScript.src = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/rn10950/RetroZilla/master/update/currentReleaseVersion.js";
+		h.appendChild(newScript);
+		// wait for script to load
+		setTimeout(function () {
+			//alert(currentReleaseVersion());
+			var currentUsedVersionn = 1;
+			if(currentUsedVersionn < currentReleaseVersion()) {
+				// used version older or equal 
+				alert("using older version");
+				document.getElementById("updateNotifier").setAttribute("class", "showUpdate");
+			}
+		}, 500);
+    };
+    img.onerror = function() {
+        // not connected
+    };
+    img.src = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/rn10950/RetroZilla/master/update/ping.gif";
+}
+
 // onload function (used to allow for autofocus)
 window.onload = function() {
 	if (aboutHomeAutofocus == true) {
 		autoFocus();
 	}
+	alert(currentUsedVersion);
 	// set current year
 	var d = new Date();
 	var cYear = d.getFullYear();
 	document.getElementById("currentYear").innerHTML = cYear;
+	checkForUpdate();
 };
 
 // function that runs when the "Search" button is clicked