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General discussion

Windows 7 updates offline? Your opinions on how to update.

Jul 24, 2010 3:20AM PDT

I just purchased a new notebook. When I receive it, I want to install a clean copy of Windows 7 Pro Retail. By the time I receive the notebook I will be in a remote area without internet. What is the best way to update it?

I have a similar notebook with Win 7 Pro and I have a list of all of the updates it has taken. The only think I can think of is to download them all and install them one by one hoping I get as many as possible. I have all of the drivers and software I need already.

What would you do?

Discussion is locked

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Don't bother.
Jul 24, 2010 3:23AM PDT

Almost all the updates are for security and since it's offline there is no reason to install the updates. When you do get online then you can let it update.

The one thing about this that will pummel this effort is ACTIVATION. As you can't get online you'll have to call Microsoft for an offline activation code.
Bob

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I do understand that...
Jul 24, 2010 3:27AM PDT

I will have tons of time on my hands just sitting around. I know it sounds like a crazy project, but it will keep me occupied and provide me with something to do.

The activation is not a problem, I will have a phone.

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Then the goal is?
Jul 24, 2010 3:30AM PDT

Sorry but most folks have a goal of using their machines. As you have plenty of time you can research how to find and download the updates manually. I know better than to do that as it's some 100 items long.

If I was to do that, that would be all I would do!
Bob

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Thanks Bob
Jul 24, 2010 3:54AM PDT

I now understand that most folks visit this forum trying to get computer back up and running This was more of an exercise in picking brains to see if some has a better way of doing it.

In the past, I have deployed OS upgrades and new system by slip streaming service packs and installing remaining updates by downloading them once and them using a batch file to mass install; it was a great bandwidth and time saver.

I guess this is the wrong forum for such an exercise.

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Mobile phone?
Jul 24, 2010 4:59AM PDT

If you have a phone where you are going to be, is it a mobile phone? If so, could you use that to access the internet on the Notebook?

Don't ask me how. I've just seen it done on TV shows and the like.

About Windows 7. Since this is a fresh install it will be pretty much up to date. There is no Service Pack for Win 7 yet so that is not a problem. As I understand SP1 is due out sometime next year. There are security updates, but if your notebook will not be internet capable they really will not be needed.

The only other thing I can think of is virus transmission via CD/DVD or USB media, but since you would not be able to keep any anti-virus up to date, care would be needed there.

But then, if you are able to connect the notebook using your cell phone, then everything changes;
http://mobileoffice.about.com/od/phonesformobileworkers/a/how-to-tether.htm

Good luck with your isolation, enforced or otherwise, Devil

Mark

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Got it.
Jul 24, 2010 11:23PM PDT

The topic is one that has been discussed before. Rather than duplicate this why not do your research and go get the updates? Unless there was some other question here?

Again, most of the updates could be ignored if the machine has no internet connection.
Bob

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thanks again Bob
Jul 25, 2010 12:35AM PDT

Bob,
You have weighed in your opinion "why not do your research and go get the updates", I don't know why you are fixated on this topic but let it go.

Their are different ways of approaching this. A few programs including one called, WSUS Offline Update is available, I have not tried and their are also Windows 7 update packs that various websites are offering for Windows 7 x86 and x64. Not to mention complete lists of the updates that have been pushed to Windows 7 since release. This I know, but who here has tried one of the above mentioned methods? Did it work for them? What do they recommend?

Bob, the only thing your are bringing to this discussion is harassment which is against the forum policies unlike starting a second discussion on the same topic. As a moderator you should know that rather than belittle someone who is new to the forums maybe you should strive to ensure your solution is up to date, informative, and innovative.

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Would it be ok if
Jul 25, 2010 12:41AM PDT

I could remove my replies if you found them unacceptable.

Why I noted the above was that a few want to try to offline update and end up spending all their time with that effort rather than using the machine. My effort is to help folk get back to using the machine rather than being used.
Bob

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What We Do Here...
Jul 29, 2010 7:03AM PDT

I've recently installed eight separate Windows 7 machines in the office and one of them will be in a remote location where there is nothing but a dial-up connection. As such, while setting up each computer in the office which has a fast connection, I installed all our required programs, then visited the "Microsoft Updates" site (which installs updates for Windows, Office, and other MS programs), and I installed all updates to the current date. (This was a big help because the initial set of updates totaled about 55.) I then took the single machine out to the remote location and setup the machine. Now, at each month's "Patch Tuesday", I visit the "Microsoft Update" site in the main office, run the updates scan, then download the manual installer for each Critical Update that is listed.. The manual installer for each update can be found in the "Details" section of each update's listing or by visiting the Microsoft Security Bulletin Search page at the link below.:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/current.aspx

Granted, my situation is a little different because I was able to download the first set of updates by using a fast connection, but you could install ALL of the updates without using the connection simply by downloading each one manually.. I've done it before. I takes a long time but does allow you to download each of the needed update files, copy them to a flash drive, then install them on the remote computer. In addition to taking Windows Updates on the flash drive, I also take other critical updates such as those on Adobe Reader, Flash, Java, Virus Defintions, etc.

But Bob's point is good.. If the computer is going to be offline constantly, why not simply wait till you get to a broadband connection in the future and update then?

Hope this helps.

Grif

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Thanks Grif
Aug 3, 2010 10:45AM PDT

Thank you for taking the time to suggest a solution. The notebook will be online, but airtime on a sat phone is expensive. I'd rather not pay to download a backlog of updates.

Check out my previous post. If you deploy Win7 boxes regularly you might find the program mention above helpful. Not only does it save time, but bandwidth as well (that's starting not to matter these days).

I have the updates, drivers, and a few software programs in an unattended USB install package, good to go. I was able to grab the updates from "Patch Tuesday" in August and my flight leaves in 2 days. Thanks again for all of the suggestions people.

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Windows 7 update
Jul 31, 2010 1:53AM PDT

windows 7 should not restrict itself to 64 bits programs but also allow 32 bits programs to be used
Ramudu

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Solution found; if anyone is ever in the same situation.
Aug 3, 2010 10:24AM PDT

I stumbled across a program called Windows Update Downloader. With the WUD program you can download all of the updates for Vista, XP, Win 2000 Pro and 2003 Server (http://www.windowsupdatesdownloader.com/). The updates lists at the website look to be aging, but a few members from MSFN are keeping the update lists alive.

You can find current update lists for Windows 7 at the following link. (http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/128393-post-rtm-updates-for-windows-7-updated-02082010/)

Until a SP is released this will also be great for Win7 deployments.

Thank again for all of your help people.