Win 7 Update Process as of 7-28-16

[btcg]

Based on the threads on Technibble, plus some of my own research, this is my process to update a new install of Windows 7 SP1. Not sure I need to install ALL of these updates (or if the order is correct - installing them on a date released order), so I'm looking for some input to possibly streamline this process. Thank you all for the wonderful help over the years!!

 

[phaZed]

I just disable Automatic Updates (Important!) and then WSUS the thing till it's done.. then turn Automatic Updates back on... finished. Well, finished after the Automatic updates.. but no more waiting for hours.

 

[Altster]

Based on the threads on Technibble, plus some of my own research, this is my process to update a new install of Windows 7 SP1. Not sure I need to install ALL of these updates (or if the order is correct - installing them on a date released order), so I'm looking for some input to possibly streamline this process. Thank you all for the wonderful help over the years!!

View attachment 6162

This looks about right and is pretty much the way I've been doing it now. The only difference is that I skip the Jun 2016 Rollup. It has been reported on many websites that this may cause issues with Intel's Bluetooth driver AND may cause bluescreen errors after it is installed. So I go directly to the July 2016 update / rollup.

Is it safe to assume that you have included both 32-bit AND 64-bit in this list depending on whether you are working / installing on a 32- or 64-bit system? You are not installing both 32 bit & 64 bit on each unit, are you? If so, there is no need and it probably wouldn't work anyway.

 

[btcg]

Thank you Altster, I'll remove the June 2016 Rollup from my routine.

"Is it safe to assume that you have included both 32-bit AND 64-bit in this list depending on whether you are working / installing on a 32- or 64-bit system?"

That is correct. This is actually a screenshot of the contents of my 'Windows 7 Update Fix' folder that is on a thumb drive I use when I build new Win 7 machines. I'm getting old, so that is why I put all my comments/ instructions to myself as the title of text messages. It makes life a little easier for me.

 

[GTP]

I'm using wsus offline. If/when it fails I just reboot and run it again. Its a lot faster than trying to get updates the conventional way!

 

[nlinecomputers]

I'm using wsus offline. If/when it fails I just reboot and run it again. Its a lot faster than trying to get updates the conventional way!

Of late, that has been leaving me with systems that hang trying to update the next month. Hense the need for this recipe. I run WSUSupdate about step 20 up there. But I try and keep an image file updated to avoid having to do this.

 

[GTP]

So far wsus has worked ok for me. I will take a tip from you and create some images though, just in case

 

[Altster]

Just a follow on all of this....

I just created an updated installer for W7Pro64 using RT7Lite which allowed me to incorporate all of the updates as outlined above in my posting ^^^^^^^^^ up there. Since IE11 is not considered by RT7Lite as an update file I was able to save it in a folder to the ISO to allow installation afterwards. I am currently testing this very same installer via 'VirtualBox Manager" and so far, so good. I will give it a more thorough testing today when I head into the shop.

Cheerio!

 

[GTP]

Now that you've done all the hard work, can you provide us with a download link.

 

[Altster]

It appears that you cannot download rt7lite directly from its own website, but you can get it from here (this is the 64bit version):

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Boot-Manager-Disk/RT-Seven-Lite.shtml

I also suggest that you watch this video for an excellent step by step guide on how to use it to its full potential:

There are some links below the video with important info contained in them and the author will explain how to use them. So be sure to watch the video all the way through.

May the force be with you ~~~~~~ =O

 

[jzukerman]

You can skip step 13 because step 14 supersedes it.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3161608

 

[seedubya]

But I try and keep an image file updated to avoid having to do this.

Fully updated wim FTW!

 

[GTP]

It appears that you cannot download rt7lite directly from its own website, but you can get it from here (this is the 64bit version):

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Boot-Manager-Disk/RT-Seven-Lite.shtml

I also suggest that you watch this video for an excellent step by step guide on how to use it to its full potential:

There are some links below the video with important info contained in them and the author will explain how to use them. So be sure to watch the video all the way through.

May the force be with you ~~~~~~ =O

Thank you @Altster , but I only asked in jest - hence the "wink"! But since you did kindly supply the link, thanks again, much appreciated.

 

[Altster]

Just a follow on all of this....

I just created an updated installer for W7Pro64 using RT7Lite which allowed me to incorporate all of the updates as outlined above in my posting ^^^^^^^^^ up there. Since IE11 is not considered by RT7Lite as an update file I was able to save it in a folder to the ISO to allow installation afterwards. I am currently testing this very same installer via 'VirtualBox Manager" and so far, so good. I will give it a more thorough testing today when I head into the shop.

Cheerio!

Yet another follow up on all of this.

The custom installer I made works - just takes more time than a basic install (I use USB flash drives). Once the installer was done, I did the following:

Activate the O/S
Run Wsus Offline updates (takes a good amount of time, but saves using bandwidth)
Run Windows Updates (to catch most recent updates)
Install extra software titles (I use ninite.com and have a list of what we add to our builds)
Restore customer data (if there was a backup involved - I use Linux Mint and an external USB 2TB drive for doing backup and restore)
Install and run AOEMI One-Key Backup to create a fresh / updated restore partition.

As far as software is concerned, this is the way I currently do it.

When the unit first comes in, I generally remove the covers and take it to the back room and using an air compressor, blow out the insides of the cabinet and CPU heat sink(s). I will hold the fans from spinning up and blow the "yuck" out of those also. As far as the power supply fan is concerned, use a straw or something like that to hold it (fans) when you blow out the unit.

The software updates are still time-consuming, but at least you can get them started and walk away to do work on something else. I had 4 units in various stages yesterday which also allowed me time to put a small server / workstation together and do a full wipe of its 3 SAS drives.

 

[llama]

Slipstreaming is a beautiful thing. I've been using WinReducer to do it for quite awhile. It can:

• Download and push all the most current Win updates (including IE11) into the WIM
• Add in other software or custom scripts
• Make it unattended

I usually just update the image once a month. No need for WSUS. No need for Windows updates until the following Patch Tuesday. But it takes some time to create the image, I highly recommend using a SSD to create it.

just takes more time than a basic install

From my experience, If you leave the WIM in its extracted form, it seems a little faster than a normal OS reimage, as it skips the "extracting windows" phase. But, the WIM's size can get a little too big to fit on a normal DVD. You could throw it on a 3.0 USB or PXE boot it if you have a decent connection.



The site has a different version for each release of Windows, https://www.winreducer.net/software.html

Here's a tutorial from the MFG https://www.winreducer.net/ex70-integrate-sp1-and-ie11.html


Note: depending on what type of Windows Image you have, you may may need the ESD->WIM converter. https://www.winreducer.net/winreducer-es-wim-converter.html

Cheers!

 

[Slaters Kustum Machines]

I used this tutorial to create my image: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/319903-windows-7-image-customize-audit-mode-sysprep.html Here is the Windows 10 version: http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3020-windows-10-image-customize-audit-mode-sysprep.html

 

[trevm999]

Here is a bit different method, more to get the ball rolling rather than installing all the updates. There's a script provided too, and it gets updated monthly

http://wu.krelay.de/en/


Also, keep in mind that in order to have re-imaging rights for Windows, the client must have volume licensing.

 

[seedubya]

Also, keep in mind that in order to have re-imaging rights for Windows, the client must have volume licensing.

Two things regarding this:

1. Tip: Legally Deploying Images Windows To OEM Licensed PCs. This blew my mind. I know the writer professionally. He's a Microsoft Licencing pro with a big distributor over here. This is 100% legit.
2. While I don't encourage EULA breaches of any kind the reality is MS really won't have any way of knowing if you roll your own images. Just bear in mind that, depending on your location, EULA breaches can even be considered as a criminal act as they are technically copyright breaches.

 

[cypress]

I used this tutorial to create my image: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/319903-windows-7-image-customize-audit-mode-sysprep.html Here is the Windows 10 version: http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3020-windows-10-image-customize-audit-mode-sysprep.html

The link to the Windows 7 is not working.

 

[trevm999]

1. Tip: Legally Deploying Images Windows To OEM Licensed PCs. This blew my mind. I know the writer professionally. He's a Microsoft Licencing pro with a big distributor over here. This is 100% legit.

Thanks for the link, that is definitely good to know. However, I can't imagine it applies if you have the volume licence but it is your customer who owns the computer and has the OEM licence.