Speed up the Windows 7 update rollup
It can take hours or even days to update a freshly installed version of Windows 7 using Windows Update.
Windows Update displays a "checking for updates" prompt when you run the first update check after installation that seemingly does nothing at all.
This can be extremely frustrating, especially since it is not recommended to run a copy of Windows that is not patched and have that copy connected to the Internet.
Previously, there was one main option to speed up the process. Third-party tools enable you to download all updates at once, and apply them to the machine in one quick operation.
This cuts down on the time it takes to get started, but requires the use of third-party software which may not always be an option.
While you can create special media that includes all the patches, it is a complicated process and not really an option for users who require this once every other year or so.
Windows 7 update rollups
Microsoft introduced so called update rollup patches recently for Windows 7 Service Pack 1 that solves the problem.
Note: These updates are also available for Windows Server 2008 R2.
Basically, what they do is contain all patches released for the operating system after a baseline image. That baseline image is the Service Pack 1 for Windows 7 respectively Windows Server 2008 R2.
The rollup patches include all security and non-security patches released for the selected operating system, and Microsoft plans to update the rollup patches frequently to include newer patches.
So, instead of having to wait hours or even days before updates are detected and installed, it is easy as pie to push the updates to Windows 7 and Windows Server systems.
The update process
If you want to patch Windows 7 or Windows 2008 R2, the first thing you need to do is install the September 2016 servicing stack update which is a requirement for installing the update rollup patch on those operating systems.
- Windows 7 32-bit -- Servicing Stack Update September 2016
- Windows 7 64-bit -- Servicing Stack Update September 2016
- Windows 8.1 32-bit -- Servicing Stack Update July 2016
- Windows 8.1 64-bit -- Servicing Stack Update July 2016
Once done, head over to the Microsoft Update Catalog website to download the update rollups for your version of Windows.
Update: You may use any browser now to open the Microsoft Update Catalog website. Internet Explorer is no longer required.
Note: Internet Explorer displays an ActiveX installation dialog on first run. You need to allow the site to install the ActiveX component to continue.
For Windows 7 32-bit or 64-bit, and Windows Server 2008 R2, use this link to open the download options on the page. Windows 8.1 users should point the browser to this page instead on the Update Catalog website.
Add one or multiple update rollup patches to the basket on the page. This can be convenient if you plan to update machines that are not connected directly to the Internet as you can install those patches on any device as Internet connectivity is not required to install them.
Once you have added at least one package, click on the view basket link at the top, and there on the download button. You can remove patches from the basket again on the same page as well.
Microsoft Internet Explorer displays a download options popup afterwards. This is used to pick the download location on the local system for the selected patch(es).
The patches are then downloaded to the system, and may be executed once they are ready.
The update installation process starts immediately, but it will take a while before the installation completes.
It is necessary to restart the system after installing the updates. Windows will display a "configuring Windows updates" screen on start to finalize the installation of the updates.
You may want to run a check for updates on the first system start to catch any update that has not been installed yet.
Downside
The main downside to using update rollup patches is that you don't get a say in what gets installed and what does not.
This means that you cannot block the installation of certain patches or updates, so that any update included in the rollup patch will be installed on the device.
Furthermore, it is not possible to remove specific patches afterwards
The second downside is that these updates are only available via Microsoft's Update Catalog. The catalog is only accessible using Microsoft's Internet Explorer currently (not even Edge is working), but Microsoft promised to change that later this year.
Closing Words
The update rollup patches speed up the installation of patches on devices running Windows 7 SP1 or Windows Server 2008 R2.
While that is convenient, you need to weight the downside of the all or nothing approach against this. This is not only problematic if you don't want a specific update to install on a machine, but also for troubleshooting as you cannot remove updates that may cause issues on the device.
What mental age of reader are you targeting with the first sentence? 10?
Why not write an article on how to *avoid* upgrading from W10 to W11. Analogous to those like me who avoided upgrading from 7 to 10 for as long as possible.
If your paymaster Microsoft permits it, of course.
5. Rufus
6. Ventoy
PS. I hate reading these “SEO optimized” articles.
I used Rufus to create an installer for a 6th gen intel i5 that had MBR. It upgraded using Setup. No issues except for Win 11 always prompting me to replace my local account. Still using Win 10 Pro on all my other PCs to avoid the bullying.
bit pointless to upgrade for the sake of upgrading as you never know when you’ll get locked out because ms might suddenly not provide updates to unsupported systems.
ps…. time travelling?
written. Jan 15, 2023
Updated • Jan 13, 2023
This happens when you schedule a post in WordPress and update it before setting the publication date.
Anyone willing to downgrade to this awful OS must like inflicting themselves with harm.
I have become convinced now that anybody who has no qualms with using Windows 11/10 must fit into one of the following brackets:
1) Too young to remember a time before W10 and W11 (doesn’t know better)
2) Wants to play the latest games on their PC above anything else (or deeply needs some software which already dropped W7 support)
3) Doesn’t know too much about how computers work, worried that they’d be absolutely lost and in trouble without the “”latest security””
4) Microsoft apologist that tries to justify that the latest “features” and “changes” are actually a good thing, that improve Windows
5) Uses their computer to do a bare minimum of like 3 different things, browse web, check emails, etc, so really doesn’t fuss
Obviously that doesn’t cover everyone, there’s also the category that:
6) Actually liked W7 more than 10, and held out as long as possible before switching, begrudgingly uses 10 now
Have I missed any group off this list?
You have missed in this group just about any professional user that uses business software like CAD programs or ERP Programs which are 99% of all professional users from this list.
Linux doesn’t help anyone who is not a linux kid and apple is just a fancy facebook machine.
Microsoft has removed KB5029351 update
only from windows update though
KB5029351 is still available from the ms update catalog site
1. This update is labaled as PREVIEW if it causes issues to unintelligent people, then they shouldn’t have allowed Preview updates ot install.
2. I have installed it in a 11 years old computer, and no problems at all.
3. Making a big drama over a bluescreen for an updated labeled as preview is ridiculous.
This is probably another BS internet drama where people ran programs and scripts that modified the registry until they broke Windows, just for removing stuff that they weren’t even using just for the sake of it.
Maybe people should stop playing geeks and actually either use Windows 10 or Windows 11, but don’t try to modify things just for the sake of it.
Sometimes removing or stopping things (like defender is a perfect example) only need intelligence, not scripts or 3rd party programs that might mess with windows.
Windows 11 was a pointless release, it was just created because some of the Windows team wanted to boost sales with some sort of new and improved Windows 10. Instead, Microsoft cannot support one version well let alone two.
Windows 11 is the worst ugly shame by Microsoft ever. They should release with every new W11 version a complete free version of Starallback inside just to make this sh** OS functionally again.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released a statement regarding the “unsupported processor” blue screen error for their boards using Intel 600/700 series chipsets & to avoid the KB5029351 Win11 update:
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/MSI-On–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–Error-Message-of-Windows-11-Update-KB5029351-Preview-142215
check out the following recent articles:
Neowin – Microsoft puts little blame on its Windows update after UNSUPPORTED PROCESSOR BSOD bug:
https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-puts-little-blame-on-its-windows-update-after-unsupported-processor-bsod-bug/
BleepingComputer – Microsoft blames ‘unsupported processor’ blue screens on OEM vendors:
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-blames-unsupported-processor-blue-screens-on-oem-vendors/
While there may be changes or updates to the Windows 10 Store for Business and Education in the future, it is premature to conclude that it will be discontinued based solely on rumors.
My advice, I left win 15 years ago. Now I’m a happy linux user (linuxmint) but there is Centos, Fedora, Ubuntu depending on your needs.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released new BIOS/firmware updates for their Intel 600 & 700 series motherboards to fix the “UNSUPPORTED_PROCESSOR” problem (Sept. 6):
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/Updated-BIOS-fixes-Error-Message–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–caused-BSOD-on-MSI-s-Intel-700-and-600-Series-Motherboards-142277
I try to disable the Diagnostics Tracking Service (Connected Devices Platform User Services) but it wont let me disable it, any help will be greatly appreciated.
Tank you for your help