Windows Offline Update 8.0 released
Our last review of WSUS Offline Update dates back almost two years and yesterday's release of version 8.0 is enough motivation to post an updated review here on the site. WSUS Offline Update is a free portable program for Windows that you can use to download all updates released for a particular version of Windows. This is interesting for a number of reasons, the core being that it enables you to have all Windows updates and patches as executable files on your system, so that you can easily distribute the updates to connected machines or burn them to disc to have them ready whenever you receive a tech support call from a friend, family or client.
Version 8.0 introduces support for Microsoft's recently released Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 operating systems which improves compatibility further. The latest version supports the following operating systems:
- Windows XP
- Windows Vista
- Windows 7
- Windows 8
- Windows Server 2003
- Windows Server 2008
- Windows Server 2008 R2
- Windows Server 2012
The program interface has not changed much. You can start it right after you have downloaded the program to your system and unpacked it there. The top half of the screen displays the supported operating system versions. To download all updates for a system check its box to do so.
I suggest you check out the options underneath the operating systems list first before you hit on the start button. The program includes service packs, if available, in the download. You can optionally add Microsoft Security Essentials, C++ Runtime Libraries, Microsoft .Net Framework updates and Windows Defender definitions in the downloads as well.
Note that downloads may take quite some time considering that they can easily be larger than 1 Gigabyte in size in total. The 64-bit Windows 7 update download for instance had a size of 1.99 Gigabyte.
The program verifies all update downloads by default which takes additional time and is set to happen once the downloads are finished. You can uncheck the option if you are in a hurry but I would not recommend that as you may end up with a broken update without owing that.
Updates are only downloaded to the local system by default - into the client sub directory - but not processed in any other way. If you are low on disk space, move the program to a partition or disk with enough space to store the selected updates.
You can configure WSUS Offline Update to create an ISO image instead which may be the more comfortable option, especially if you plan to burn the updates to disc anyway. If you prefer to use an USB Flash drive, you can copy the updates to it as well.
The download of Windows updates is the core feature of the product for obvious reasons, but it is not the only one. You can switch to the Office tab to download updates for Office 2007 and 2010 using the very same methodology. Office 2012 is missing at the time of writing but it is likely that it will be added in a future update by the authors of the program. The legacy products tab finally displays options to download Windows XP or Office 2003 updates as well.
WSUS Offline Update 8.0 What's New
Here is a short selection of the biggest changes in the release:
- Support for Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012
- Installation of IE 10 Preview no Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2
- Latest versions of .Net Framework and C++ Runtimes
- Fixed erroneous downloads
Closing Words
If you want to download all official Microsoft Windows or Office updates then WSUS Offline Update is one of your best options. It is ideal for distribution and the creation of an update DVD or Flash drive. The latest version can be downloaded from the project website.
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Hi. After Download updates and install them. Is it possible to run WSUS Offline Update after two or three month for get new updates?
In this way WSUS Offline Update download all update from Beginning or just download new updates and adds them to old ones?
I’ve used the 6.6.5 version and the 6.7. The problem I had was the 6.7 version did not make a x64bit ISO where the 6.6.5 did.
With the 8.4 version I have downloaded it does not make a x64bit ISO as well. Am I missing something or is this a feature that has been removed?
I know you can click the ISO image Per Selected product but then you have 4 or more different ISO’s.
Thank you for the valuable information, but what if I have all the updates available. How can I make an iso file for auto update?
Thank you in advance,
That’s strange, let me run some tests.
I highly recommend for those who want create custom Service Packs because they were disappointed by Microsoft’s decision not to release Service Packs anymore.
Paul B
The reply to specific posts function isn’t working with Chrome as well.
berttie,
Tried again. It doesn’t download for me. I am using Chrome Version 24.0.1312.45 beta-m and
Windows 7 64bit. Will try with IE9.
The same error “unexpected end of archive” in the zip file when downloaded with IE9.
This is a great tool, and thanks for the update. Are there any tools like vLite for Win 8 ?
This would be perfect to build a customized iso which has all the updates streamlined, I think it is better than installing the updates after a fresh Windows install.
It’s completely automatic. Will even restart the system as it goes.
(I don’t think the Reply to specific posts function is working here on Opera.)
Hallo Martin, This looks like a nice program to me and ferry handy if you want to install more than one system. I do not understand or you can install all the downloaded updates at once with one start with maybe a start up command, or do you have to install the updates once at a time?
Softpedia’s US mirror worked fine here.
I was puzzled about how to update the prog without disrupting already-downloaded windows updates though. I ended up doing a sync between new and old WSUS-o folders, which seems to have worked well. But there must be an easier way.
@ ilev
Just d/l it without any difficulty from the project website. Maybe the problem is at your end?
Sergio
I have used Softpedia mirror and other mirrors with the same result. When the source file is broken , all other sources will be broken too.
Use the Softpedia mirror and not External Mirror.
Hmm, you didn’t mention actually installing the updates, which is my favorite feature of this product.
Once you have an ISO or USB install, you can stick it in the appropriate computer and it will install all the updates automatically. Thus, you don’t have to actually sit there and watch the installs.
The same result. The source is broken. Error : unexpected end of archive.
Can’t download the zip file. End with error.
The file size is 1892 KB but download stops at 1514 KB.
Try downloading from Softpedia instead.
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Others/Signatures-Updates/ct-Offline-Update.shtml
This is an excellent tool (I used version 7.5) and I highly recommend it if you want to keep all your updates on a DVD.