Updating problems - Windows 7 64-bit

[Mags]

Hi all, I'm new to this board so apologies if I'm asking dumb questions or posted in the wrong bit of the forum! I couldn't find an answer to my problem below.

I've just re-installed Windows 7 64-bit to a laptop as we were having problems with the licence. When I ran Windows update it went round and round for ages. I tried a few fixes I found on the Microsoft website without any success so headed off to WSUS Offline. I've downloaded WSUS 15.07.2016 and, in theory, it downloaded 217 updates without errors. However, when I look at View Update History, nothing is showing. Is this what I should expect to see?

Not deterred, I ran Windows Update again, but it is just going round and round.

Can anyone suggest a way forward?

[boco]

The UpdateGenerator only downloads the updates and builds the repository. It does not install the updates! WSUSOU is for updating target systems different from the downloading one, mainly.

The updates are installed by the UpdateInstaller tool in the .\client subdirectory. Note that Windows Update is used to install, and thus it will suffer from the same issues (although WSUSOU will install a few prereq updates that'll lower the search time).


Also, please note that updates installed by WSUSOU UpdateInstaller will, bar a few exceptions, not appear in the Update history. They will appear in 'Installed Updates', however.

[Mags]

Thanks for your response, boco.

When you say wsusou is for updating target systems different front the downloading one, what do you mean? The 'fixes' I've read about online where users have been directed to wsusoffline.net are for the same problem I have, ie clean instal, Windows update going round and round. Have I done the wrong thing in downloading the updates to the laptop I need to instal the updates to?

Thanks for the heads up re the installer. I knew the updates needed to be installed from the wsus website, but couldn't work out how to do it. I'll check the .\client file.

Thanks again for getting back to me. I'm having a major flap!

[boco]

When you say wsusou is for updating target systems different front the downloading one, what do you mean?

WSUSOU is meant for creating update repositories and create update media. Those media can then update many target machines, on different patch levels. Of course, you can it use for updating the same system, but that's not its main purpose. For that reason, you need to start the installation manually.

The WSUSOU Installer uses the Windows Update capabilities each target OS provides, for determining what patches are missing. So, if Windows Update (or a few other dependencies) is not working at all, WSUSOU might not work, either.
Plus, the 'long search problem' applies also to this tool. It installs a few updates as prerequisites, for lowering the search time. Unfortunately, the results are a mixed bag. Some system go fast, some not.

The UpdateInstaller.exe is in the "client" subdirectory. Additionally, all downloaded patches are there. Those patches remain there, as you need to re-run the download periodically, for updating the latest patches released each month (and delete no longer needed ones).


Of course, there are other solutions, like real update packs (such as the Simplix pack for Windows 7). There are also solutions for creating complete repositories (WSUSOU only includes security patches), like the WHDownloader project.


Downloading part:



Installation part:

[Mags]

That all makes sense. Thanks, boco.

I'm just installing all the updates, and it's taking an age. It's currently stuck on KB2533623!

I've never heard of Simplix or 'real update packs' so will do a bit of research on them for future reference.