Automatic grub-update

I am a Debian newbe. I am using debian in an old IBM ThinkPad(T43). I 
update the ssytem using sudo apt update regularly. When I receive 
mwssages of new package updates I go into superuser mode and use apt-get 
update && apt-get upgrade. Lately I have been getting the message that I 
need to use dpkg --configure -a, It then displays a screen which 
suggests that I need to update my grub. Unfortunately, the screen 
freezes and the only way I can get out is to terminate the window. Is 
there a command which will automatically update the packages as in Fedora.
Many thanks.
Ananda Amatya