Solving problems with Windows Update. Different ways to update Windows manually Windows 7 downloads updates

The usual situation that many people encounter after reinstalling Windows 7 or resetting a laptop with a pre-installed seven to factory settings is the subsequent download and installation of all released Windows 7 updates, which can take a really long time, prevent you from turning off the computer when you need it and fray your nerves.

However, there is a way to download all updates (almost all) for Windows 7 once as one file and install them all at once within half an hour - Microsoft's Convenience Rollup Update for Windows 7 SP1. How to use this feature - step by step in this manual.

Preparing for installation

Before proceeding directly to installing all updates, go to the Start menu, right-click on Computer and select Properties from the context menu.

Make sure you have Service Pack 1 (SP1) installed. If not, you need to install it separately. Also pay attention to the bitness of your system: 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64).

If SP1 is installed, then go to https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3020369 and download the April 2015 Servicing Stack Update for Windows 7 and Windows Sever 2008 R2 from there.

After installing the servicing stack update, you can proceed to install all Windows 7 updates at once.

Download and install Windows 7 Convenience Rollup Update

The Windows 7 Convenience Rollup is available for download from the Microsoft Update Catalog site as KB3125574: http://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=3125574

It should be borne in mind here that you can open this page in a working form only in Internet Explorer (moreover, the latest versions, that is, if you open it in IE preinstalled in Windows 7, you will first be prompted to update the browser, and then enable the add-on to work with the update catalog).

In case, for some reason, downloading from the update catalog is difficult, below are direct download links (in theory, the addresses may change - if it suddenly stops working, please notify me in the comments):

After downloading the update (it is one single file of the standalone update installer), run it and just wait for the installation to finish (depending on the performance of the computer, the process may take different times, but in any case it is much less than downloading and installing updates one at a time).

In the end, all that remains is to restart the computer and wait for the settings for updates to turn off and on, which also does not take too long.

Note: this method installs Windows 7 updates released before mid-May 2016 (here it is worth noting that not quite all - some of the updates, the list is on the page https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3125574 , Microsoft for some reason did not include it in the package) - subsequent updates will still be downloaded through the Update Center.

Not all computer and laptop users have actually tried Windows 7. Many of those who belong to the IT community use other versions of Windows as their operating system. For those who remain faithful to the reliable "seven", it is important to know which Windows 7 updates cannot be installed. We will understand the advantages and disadvantages of this OS and determine whether it is worth continuing to work with it.

Windows 7: pros and cons

The biggest advantage of Windows 7 is that it works on legacy hardware. This operating system is less demanding than Vista. She does not need a lot of RAM and free space on the C drive. If the computer was previously running Windows XP, it can easily be upgraded to the seventh version without updates and replacing the PC. The peculiarity is that Windows 7 works with 32-bit processors that are becoming obsolete, and this is considered a kind of delay before the global transition to 64-bit ones. According to experts, there will soon be an insignificant percentage of computers in the world that work on a 32-bit architecture.

The disadvantage of Windows 7 and the weakest point of the operating system are hard drives. With improvements in computers over the past few years, the seven does not meet the overestimated requirements of new PCs. The slow mechanical part of hard drives in conjunction with Win7 reduces performance. A common solution to improve computer performance is virtualization (a technology that is rarely used in the Russian Federation). However, in practice, this further reduces the performance of the machine. The problem is solved with the help of SSD devices, which have no moving parts, are endowed with a small capacity and, compared to conventional hard drives, are unreasonably expensive.

An excellent solution for corporate users is the storage of information and other data in the corporate network. Servers provide access protection to valuable information and backup. You can improve the performance of Windows 7 by using the multi-monitor feature. Using multiple monitors with support for widescreen resolution, improved graphics, user interface is a good corporate option. If you decide to upgrade to the seventh version, first find out which Windows 7 updates cannot be installed.

Windows 7 update issues

The main problem that occurs in the operation of this operating system is the inability to install updates. Before you eliminate it, take care of the possibility of changing the changes made in the system. To do this, create a restore point or backup using Win7 Backup. The main reason why the Windows 7 update installer does not work is the failures in the update service system. You can fix this if you go to "Start", find "Services", select "Windows Update" and run. If the service was already running, stop it. Next, press the key combination Win + R - Run - (enter SoftwareDistribution in the empty line) - OK. After this command, a folder will open, the contents of which should be deleted. Then sign in to the W7 update service and run it again. Restart your computer and start manually downloading updates with the installation.

The Windows 7 Service Pack may fail to install if there is a problem with the download. Failure during the installation process on a PC or laptop is a common situation faced by users. All updates are first downloaded into the cache and stored there until installed. If they were unsuccessfully downloaded from the Internet, for example, not completely, they will not be able to be installed. Also, when downloading and installing, problems may arise due to the system registry, lack of Internet, blocking access to Microsoft resources, insufficient space on drive C, and damage to the storage of system components. Experts advise you to find out which Windows 7 updates cannot be installed before downloading them.

Malicious OS updates

There is a whole list of settings that cause a system error or completely disable it. Malicious Windows 7 updates can harm your computer, so read their names carefully when downloading. Deselect update "KB3045999". Harmful and dangerous installations for Win7 2016 are as follows: KB3121212, KB3126587, KB3126593, KB3140410, KB3133977 , KB3153171, KB3035583, KB971033, KB3161608. If you do not know which Windows 7 updates cannot be installed, contact the experts, and also try to disable the automatic search for new ones yourself.

How to get rid?

To troubleshoot the system, uninstall malicious updates manually. Use the Microsoft - Fix it utility, which automatically deals with OS problems. Run the installation file of the utility. Next, a system restore point is automatically created and the troubleshooting process starts.

Possible consequences

Malicious updates can cause a system crash, malfunction of the computer, inability to run .exe files, and even boot the PC. In turn, valid and timely updates to Windows 7 eliminate computer vulnerabilities, improve its security, stability, and performance. The Win7 operating system is subject to the lowest level of infections and malfunctions compared to XP. Remember that the main threat comes from the Internet and the browser. Be careful what you download from the web. Clear the cache regularly, check your computer for viruses. Do not download questionable programs and installations. Often they lead to system crashes and harm the condition of the PC.

Today we will tell you how to solve one of the strangest problems that interfere with users of the Windows 7 operating system. And this problem lies in an excessively long, even eternal search for new updates.

Description of the problem

When trying to find and install new system updates, users are faced with the fact that the search takes too long and continues even after many hours after the start, i.e. becomes endless. At the same time, the Windows Update indicator continues to work, making you think that the process is in progress. However, the search does not complete even after several hours of tedious waiting - the Update Center just hangs at the "Searching for updates" stage.

The reason for the eternal search for updates in Windows 7

It is believed that the reason for everything is the update of the Windows Update client program, as well as the subsequent changes on the Windows Update servers. It appears that Microsoft has changed the way it checks for and downloads updates, so older Windows Update clients can no longer search for and download updates from the company's servers. This explains the fact that in most cases the problem occurs after a clean installation of the operating system.

Ways to solve the problem

There are several working solutions, all of which are described below. Do them one by one until the problem is fixed.

1. Manual update of Windows Update Client

This is the most efficient and simple solution to the problem. In order for Windows Update to start looking for and installing updates again, you need to download the necessary updates for the Windows Update client program and install them manually. These updates are available for both 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) versions of Windows 7. You can view the operating system's bit depth in the system properties.

For Windows 7 32-bit (x86):

For Windows 7 64-bit (x64):

Note: You may need to temporarily stop the Windows Update service before installing updates. You can do this by executing the following command from a command prompt running as administrator:

When the updates are installed, restart your computer and then search for new updates. After 10-60 minutes, Windows Update should show a list of all available updates. But if that doesn't work for you, read on.

2. Installing Convenience Rollup

In 2016, Microsoft released a large cumulative update package that contains almost all updates released after Windows 7 SP1 (Service Pack 1). Thus, you can try to solve the problem of an endless search for updates by installing Convenience Rollup.

Again, for your convenience, we publish direct links to download the Convenience Rollup:

It is important to note that this service pack includes updates released after SP1, so you must have SP1 installed to install Convenience Rollup. To verify that Service Pack 1 is installed, look at the system properties.

5. Edit DNS settings

A long search for updates can be caused by problems on the side of the provider's DNS server. Therefore, you can try to solve the problem by using free public DNS servers that provide a more reliable connection to the Internet.

To change the DNS address, open the Network and Sharing Center.

Open the connection/adapter properties.

In the properties window, find the TCP/IPv4 protocol. Double-click the left mouse button to open the properties of this protocol.

Activate the option "Use the following DNS server addresses" and enter any of the following addresses:

Google Public DNS:

Preferred DNS Server: 8.8.8.8
Alternate DNS Server: 8.8.4.4

Yandex.DNS:

Preferred DNS Server: 77.88.8.8
Alternate DNS Server: 77.88.8.1

opendns:

Preferred DNS Server: 208.67.222.222
Alternate DNS Server: 208.67.220.220

The new settings should take effect immediately upon application. But if you don't notice any change, try clearing the DNS cache. To do this, open a command prompt window with administrator rights, and then run the command ipconfig /flushdns.

6. Checking the integrity of system files using the SFC utility

The endless search for updates can be caused by corrupted or missing Windows Update files or settings. You can check and restore the integrity of these files using the built-in SFC tool. We talked about how to work with him.

Have a great day!

Since the release of Windows 7, only one comprehensive service pack has been released for it - service pack 1 (Service Pack 1 or SP1). This package includes more than 800 different fixes that improve the security, performance and stability of the OS. A number of updates of the first service pack fixes errors that lead to crashes and crashes of the system and programs, but the main part closes vulnerabilities, that is, prevents the introduction and execution of malicious code hidden from the user. SP1, like other service packs for Windows, is distributed free of charge, but it is not always included in official distributions. To install, you need to download it from the official Microsoft website or simply enable the automatic update feature in Windows 7. If there is a problem with Internet access or the inability to download large amounts of traffic - SP1 can also be purchased on DVD.

Checking for Service Pack 1

To find out if the latest version of the system is installed on your PC, open its properties by selecting the item of the same name in the context menu of the “Computer” folder. At the top of the properties window, in the “Windows edition” section, there is information about the installed service pack.
If there is a mention of Service Pack 1 here, then you have the latest version of Windows 7. If not, the service pack must be installed separately.

Installing Service Pack 1 via Windows Update 7

Preliminary preparation

Before downloading SP1, it is important to make sure that there is enough free space on your hard drive for it. If you have a 32-bit version of OS Windows 7, you will need 4100 MB of disk space, if you have a 64-bit version - 7400 MB.
Next, in case of failure, you need to make backup copies of all important data. An external drive or a non-system hard drive partition is best suited for this.
If you are installing the service pack on a laptop, fully charge the battery and connect the machine to the mains.
Some anti-virus programs can block the installation of the service pack, so to avoid possible problems, after downloading the package, temporarily unload the anti-virus and, in order not to leave your computer unprotected from threats from the network, disconnect it from the Internet.

If Windows reports that this version of the service pack is already installed, or you encounter errors during the installation, it is possible that some parts of this service pack or its pre-releases are present on your system. In this case, the old release of the package must be removed. For this:

launch the “Programs and Features” control panel applet, click “View installed updates”;

select KB 976932 (Microsoft Windows Service Pack) from the list and click “Remove”;

after restarting the computer, you can install the new package.

If the computer has unlimited Internet access, it will be most convenient to use the system auto-update function: the service pack will be downloaded and installed automatically.

Expand the "System and Security" section in the control panel.

Next to Windows Update, click Check for Updates.

After the check is complete, click on the link “Important updates: #available”

Select KB 976932 (Microsoft Windows Service Pack) from the list, check and click OK.

Next, go back to the "System and Security" section, next to the "Windows Update" item, click on "Turn automatic updates on or off."

From the "Important updates" drop-down list, select "Install automatically". Below this list, set up a convenient schedule for checking and installing them.

After completing these steps, the operating system on your PC will be constantly kept up to date.

Installing Service Pack 1 from the Microsoft Download Center

Open the Windows 7 Service Pack 1 download web page from the Microsoft Download Center. Select the language you need and click "Download".

Check the package that matches the bitness of your system and click "Next".

After downloading, run the setup file and follow the instructions on the screen. At the end of the installation process, the system will restart. After it boots up again, do not forget to turn on the antivirus.

Installing Service Pack 1 from DVD

This method is useful when the computer on which you intend to install SP1 is not connected to the Internet. If it is not possible to burn a disc yourself, you can order it on the Microsoft website. However, it's not free: there is a $10.50 shipping fee. After selecting the update package of the desired language, enter the recipient's data in the appropriate forms on the site, pay for the order using a bank card and wait for it at the post office. To install SP 1, place the DVD in your drive and follow the installer's instructions. Anyone can handle it, since this whole procedure is no different from installing conventional programs from a disk. You will know about the success of the operation after the system is rebooted, when a notification appears on the screen that Service Pack 1 is now installed on your computer. And this is the latest, updated version of Windows 7.

Although this figure may vary depending on the study, it becomes clear that Windows 7 is a popular solution with users. There are good reasons: stable operation of the system even on old computers, nice appearance and full support for modern software.

If you're using Windows 7, you're running into one major problem: system updates.

Windows 7 was released in October 2009 and since then users have to update their computers every month. If automatic updating was disabled, then getting all the latest updates was like a nightmare - the computer downloaded hundreds of updates, constantly rebooted, and it all took a decent amount of time.

Microsoft addressed this issue in February 2011 with the release of Service Pack 1, which included all previous updates and patches. Users could now install all updates at once, without having to go through a lengthy, incremental update process.

Since then, many users have expected a second service pack, but Microsoft had other plans for this.

Hundreds of updates for a clean install of Windows 7

If you're doing a clean install of Windows 7 today, you've probably noticed that it takes two hundred updates to get a fully up-to-date version of the OS. This process can take a couple of hours at best. This is due to the fact that since the release of Service Pack 1 in February 2011, Microsoft no longer released cumulative updates for Windows 7, so you had to get updates released in 5 years in pieces.

Microsoft solved this problem with Windows 10 by releasing cumulative updates (which include all previous patches and installing a cumulative update installs all available updates), and now this work is being done with Windows 7. However, without the release of Service Pack 2.

Redmond recently released an update called “Convenience rollup update” for Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 (KB3125574). The update includes all updates released between the release of Windows 7 Service Pack 1 and April 2016. To get the most up-to-date OS version, you need to install updates released after this date.

To install the Convenience rollup update, you must first install the Service Stack Update for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 (KB3020369). This is a prerequisite in order to see the download. You will need at least 4 gigabytes of disk space to install the update.

What awaits users of Windows 7? It's hard to predict, but don't expect a new cumulative update anytime soon. Microsoft promised to release non-security update packages for Windows 7 and 8.1 every month, but did not provide information about cumulative updates.