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Can't update Windows 7 installs

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I think that's old news but apparently it doesn't work on all systems. TechWizzard said it didn't work for him.

Can confirm. Did not work on any computer that I had with a broken updater on Windows 7 Enterprise 64 bit. Never tried to use it on Pro or Home though.
 
I think this should be the best fix again this month: http://wu.krelay.de/en/

Good read. Seems like different groups are working on this issue while coming to much the same point as far as reasons for the problem and solutions to it. I think the approach c6, TW and myself are working on offers the additional tool of instructions for building a slipstreamed installer with enough detail to be usable by people with a wide range of technical skills. We are covering both bases: from scratch installation with fix built in and a quick fix for in place installs.
 
I have an odd Win7 Home update issue. My system did the forced update to Win10 after I clicked the Close box during the free period. The update failed & I came home to boot loader missing black screen. I was able to get the bad Win10 update to roll back to Win7 (dumb luck on my part), but now the only Win7 update I have is Win10 which fails because it is no longer free.

What method do you guys think I should try to get Win7 updating properly again?

This is the PC with the update problem...
4670K, ASRock Z87 Extreme 4, 2x8GB Crucial PC3-1600, GTX 650, Intel 335 240GB, WD Black 1TB, Seasonic S12-650W
 
Then do this:

FOR ALREADY INSTALLED WINDOWS 7 on which Windows 7 Update is broken:

....However, we can now freely say, based on tests, that if you did not update Windows 7 since April 2015, your Windows 7 Update is very likely very broken.
You need four things to fix it:

• April 2015 servicing stack update for Windows 7 file
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3020369

• April 2016 Windows 7 SP1 Convenience Rollup update file

• May 2016 update rollup
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3156417

• July 2016 update rollup file (which includes June 2016 updates).
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3172605



April 2016 Windows 7 SP1 Convenience Rollup update file can only be downloaded using Microsoft Internet Explorer and no other browser from
http://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=3125574

[You need to install the Microsoft Update Catalog Add-on to be able to Add the downloads to download "basket"...]
You need either a 32-Bit file or a 64-Bit file.
32-Bit Update for Windows 7 (KB3125574) 5/16/2016 316.0 MB
or
64-Bit Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB3125574) 5/16/2016 476.9 MB
 
Do you want to start fresh?
Get all personal files off the laptop. Factory reset the laptop.
If you don't know how post model and someone may find it in the manual for you.

Then download SP1. Post if you don't know where.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/15090/windows-7-install-service-pack-1-sp1

Do I just run all these on the laptop and it will download what I need?

Then do this:

FOR ALREADY INSTALLED WINDOWS 7 on which Windows 7 Update is broken:

....However, we can now freely say, based on tests, that if you did not update Windows 7 since April 2015, your Windows 7 Update is very likely very broken.
You need four things to fix it:

• April 2015 servicing stack update for Windows 7 file
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3020369

• April 2016 Windows 7 SP1 Convenience Rollup update file

• May 2016 update rollup
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3156417

• July 2016 update rollup file (which includes June 2016 updates).
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3172605



April 2016 Windows 7 SP1 Convenience Rollup update file can only be downloaded using Microsoft Internet Explorer and no other browser from
http://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=3125574

[You need to install the Microsoft Update Catalog Add-on to be able to Add the downloads to download "basket"...]
You need either a 32-Bit file or a 64-Bit file.
32-Bit Update for Windows 7 (KB3125574) 5/16/2016 316.0 MB
or
64-Bit Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB3125574) 5/16/2016 476.9 MB

Do I run all these files on the laptop to get the updates?
 
If you have already installed Windows 7 SP1, you will need four files to fix Windows 7 Update on your laptop:

• April 2015 servicing stack update for Windows 7 file
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3020369

• April 2016 Windows 7 SP1 Convenience Rollup update file
This file can only be downloaded using Microsoft Internet Explorer and no other browser from http://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=3125574
You need to accept the installation of the Microsoft Update Catalog Add-on to be able to Add Microsoft downloads to the download "basket":
64-Bit Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB3125574) 5/16/2016 476.9 MB
[Or for 32-Bit Systems: (KB3125574) 5/16/2016 316.0 MB]

• May 2016 update rollup file
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3156417
• July 2016 update rollup file (which includes June 2016 updates):
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3172605

Applying these four downloads ↑ and after rebooting, your Windows 7 Update should be fixed.
 
• April 2016 Windows 7 SP1 Convenience Rollup update file
This file can only be downloaded using Microsoft Internet Explorer and no other browser from http://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=3125574
You need to accept the installation of the Microsoft Update Catalog Add-on to be able to Add Microsoft downloads to the download "basket":
64-Bit Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB3125574) 5/16/2016 476.9 MB
[Or for 32-Bit Systems: (KB3125574) 5/16/2016 316.0 MB]

The Microsoft Update Catalog site can be used by non-IE browsers but it's a little long-winded, use the RSS version search result: http://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Rss.aspx?q=KB3125574&lang=en <-- change the KB# and hit Enter for whichever KB# you're looking for.

You could add the search result link to your Bookmarks/Favorites, use it as a template for future searches.
 
If you have already installed Windows 7 SP1, you will need four files to fix Windows 7 Update on your laptop:

• April 2015 servicing stack update for Windows 7 file
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3020369

• April 2016 Windows 7 SP1 Convenience Rollup update file
This file can only be downloaded using Microsoft Internet Explorer and no other browser from http://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=3125574
You need to accept the installation of the Microsoft Update Catalog Add-on to be able to Add Microsoft downloads to the download "basket":
64-Bit Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB3125574) 5/16/2016 476.9 MB
[Or for 32-Bit Systems: (KB3125574) 5/16/2016 316.0 MB]

• May 2016 update rollup file
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3156417
• July 2016 update rollup file (which includes June 2016 updates):
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3172605

Applying these four downloads ↑ and after rebooting, your Windows 7 Update should be fixed.

Would like to say a big thank you my friend for the help, after I installed each update with a reboot in between Windows Update finally worked and searched for updates and brought up around 236 over 1.6GB. One thing I did noticed was the BITS service wasn't running at all in fact it was set to manual which is fine but it wouldn't start when I asked WU to scan for updates so I set it to AUTO (delayed start), can I ask the 3 updates be slip stream into a Win 7 SP1 disc I was going to do a fresh install myself on my own system but my W7 SP1 slipstreamed disc is like from 2014 I think ??
 
To avoid multi GB downloads after a fresh install of Win7, make an October 2016 iso like this, and problem solved:
http://www.overclockers.com/forums/showthread.php/775169

Sorry for sounding stupid but when I create my new up to date Win 7 64bit SP1 do I have to download all the rollup files and then add them to my ISO project or just the October 2016 rollup?? And does nLite still work with ISO disc it's what I used last years ago
 
You can ask this as many times as you'd like, it's a good question. You need all the files.
You need to do all this.


...instructions on how to fix your own Windows 7 installation media. This will shorten the time you need to spend installing Windows 7 from scratch.
[If you are making a 32-Bit installation, you will need to use 32-Bit downloads instead of 64-Bit downloads. Initial set of instructions are for 64-Bit installation.]
Create a new folder called Updates on C: drive.
Download, rename and copy these files so that the contents of C:\Updates folder are these eight files:

• 64-Bit April 2015 servicing stack update for Windows 7 file:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3020369
Windows6.1-KB3020369-x64.msu

• 64-Bit April 2016 Windows 7 SP1 Convenience Rollup update file:
http://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB3125574
In case of any problems downloading that file, the same file can be downloaded using Microsoft Internet Explorer add-on from http://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=3125574
You need to use IE and accept the installation of the Microsoft Update Catalog IE Add-on to be able to Add Microsoft downloads to the download "basket":
64-Bit Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB3125574) 5/16/2016 476.9 MB
AMD64-all-windows6.1-kb3125574-v4-x64.msu


• 64-Bit September 2016 servicing stack update for Windows 7 file:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3177467
Windows6.1-KB3177467-x64.msu

• May 2016 update rollup file:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3156417
Rename the downloaded file to may2016.msu

[SKIP JUNE 2016 because July 2016 includes all June 2016 updates.]

• July 2016 update rollup file:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3172605
Rename the downloaded file to july2016.msu

• August 2016 update rollup file:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3179573
Rename the downloaded file to august2016.msu

• September 2016 update rollup file:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3185278
Rename the downloaded file to september2016.msu

• October 2016 update rollup file:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3185330
Rename the downloaded file to october2016.msu

In addition to the eight files listed above, in order to make a fixed Windows 7 installation media, you will also need to download and install KB3AIK_EN.iso:
• Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) for Windows 7:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=5753
[Microsoft .NET is required to run it.]

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE AT LEAST 20GB OF EMPTY HARD DRIVE SPACE

Copy/paste command lines below and pay strict attention to command lines you are executing, and the process will take about 15 minutes. However, if you experiment with or make a single typo in the command lines below, the process may take several hours since you may have difficulty deleting the installation files from your system as they will get locked if you make a typo. This is why it's important to look over command lines two or three times before executing them.

00. The objective is to fix your own Windows 7 + Service Pack 1 integrated .iso
Owners of retail, non-OEM Windows 7 licenses can download the (now broken) Windows 7 + Service Pack 1 integrated .iso from:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows7

01. Extract your own Windows 7 + Service Pack 1 iso to C:\Win7SP1ISO
This means, go to C: drive and create a folder named Win7SP1ISO

02. Make a new folder C:\Win7SP1ISO\offline
This means, go to C: drive and inside a folder named Win7SP1ISO, create a folder named offline

03. Run this command from Command Prompt as an Administrator:
Dism /Mount-WIM /WimFile:C:\Win7SP1ISO\sources\install.wim /Name:"Windows 7 ULTIMATE" /MountDir:C:\Win7SP1ISO\offline

If you have a different version of Windows 7, then replace the word ULTIMATE with the version of Windows 7 you have.
If you do not know which version of Windows 7 you have, use this command to see what is next to Name:
Dism /Get-WIMInfo /WimFile:C:\Win7SP1ISO\sources\install.wim

04. Make sure that April 2015 servicing stack update for Windows 7 file and April 2016 Windows 7 SP1 Convenience Rollup update file are inside C:\Updates:
Windows6.1-KB3020369-x64.msu and AMD64-all-windows6.1-kb3125574-v4-x64.msu

05. Integrate April 2015 Servicing Stack Update:
Dism /Image:C:\Win7SP1ISO\offline /Add-Package /PackagePath:C:\updates\Windows6.1-KB3020369-x64.msu
[Change name of .msu file if you are integrating a 32-bit / different version file.]

06. Integrate Convenience Rollup update package:
Dism /Image:C:\Win7SP1ISO\offline /Add-Package /PackagePath:C:\updates\AMD64-all-windows6.1-kb3125574-v4-x64.msu
[Change name of .msu file if you are integrating a 32-bit / different version file.]

[This step takes a while.]

07. Windows 7 Update will still be broken, unless at least May 2016 through July 2016 rollups are included.
For the five renamed monthly rollup files included inside C:\Updates
may2016.msu, july2016.msu, august2016.msu, september2016.msu and october2016.msu

Execute these five lines:

Dism /Image:C:\Win7SP1ISO\offline /Add-Package /PackagePath:C:\updates\may2016.msu
Dism /Image:C:\Win7SP1ISO\offline /Add-Package /PackagePath:C:\updates\july2016.msu
Dism /Image:C:\Win7SP1ISO\offline /Add-Package /PackagePath:C:\updates\august2016.msu
Dism /Image:C:\Win7SP1ISO\offline /Add-Package /PackagePath:C:\updates\september2016.msu
Dism /Image:C:\Win7SP1ISO\offline /Add-Package /PackagePath:C:\updates\october2016.msu

08. Make sure that September 2016 servicing stack update for Windows 7 file is inside C:\Updates
Windows6.1-KB3177467-x64.msu

09. Run this command from Command Prompt as an Administrator:
Dism /Image:C:\Win7SP1ISO\offline /Add-Package /PackagePath:C:\updates\Windows6.1-KB3177467-x64.msu
[Change name of .msu file if you are integrating a 32-bit / different version file.]

10. Commit the changes and unmount the image:
Dism /Unmount-WIM /MountDir:C:\Win7SP1ISO\offline /Commit


= = = = =

Now you are ready to create a new Windows7Updated.iso which will include all monthly rollups through October 2016:

09. Download and install the Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) for Windows 7 under Windows Vista/7/8/10:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=5753
Microsoft .NET is required for Windows AIK to install.

10. Start > All Programs > Microsoft Windows AIK >
Run Deployment Tools Command Prompt as an Administrator.

oscdimg -m -u2 -bC:\Win7SP1ISO\boot\etfsboot.com C:\Win7SP1ISO\ C:\Windows7Updated.iso


Use any burning software to make a DVD using the Windows7Updated.iso which is already bootable.
You can also make a bootable USB, using the Windows7Updated.iso file and
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool
or
https://rufus.akeo.ie/
[Click on the disk icon next to: Create a bootable disk using ISO Image.]
 

This did not work for me today on an old Windows 7 machine someone gave me yesterday with a broken updater. Latest udpates were from September of 2016. Some new updates were in the Updater queue waiting to be installed but they would not install. I would restart the machine to complete the install but nothing would install. Same updates were waiting to be installed when I checked.

I tried the "in place fix" outlined here and couldn't get past the first step. The offline April 2015 servicing stack update just searched and searched and searched and never found anything. Same old problem. Again, the latest updates were not from April of 2016 but September of 2016. But this may be a special case I'm thinking where some update along the way didn't install completely and was broken. There but not there, if you get what I mean.

Any thoughts?
 
Everything posted here I tested personally to work and others tested it too and reported that it also worked and fixed their system.

Yours is an individual case, not the norm.
We can take a look.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3020369 page lists four updates, make sure you get the correct on, 64-Bit Windows 7, different from 32-Bit Windows 7, different from 2008 server files. Make sure your system is 64-bit if downloading 64-bit.


This entire section of the forum is filled with Windows problems that are unique to individual systems.
Rest assured that what is posted here worked for most systems, there are no mistakes, but complexities of individual systems may influence things absolutely.
Your system there may have problems that transcend this issue, it is not indicative of what happens on most other systems.
 
Yes, I checked the correctness of the update I downloaded.

Even if it is unique to my individual system, this is still very common. The update process gets broken for one reason or another on a lot of systems and it's not just at the point in time of April 2015. though that date may have a strong element of commonality, there are enough exceptions that I'm beginning to get uncomfortable promoting a universal fix for it with regard to in place installations.

My common frequent experience is that when I do a from scratch installation the updater is most often broken very shortly after SP1 is in place and that comes way before April of 2015.

The only thing I am sure of at this point is that our slipstream .iso works universally. The in place installation fixes seem to work for some and not for others. There are too many causes of the brokenness.
 
Last edited:
Very well, the original intent *was* to make the universal installer only.
The fix for already installed Windows 7 was added later after being tested and then it was included at the top.
It should be taken back to the bottom with a disclaimer added.

This was really always meant to be a fixed clean install iso, nothing else.

I have a Windows 7 image which is broken, and can be reliably fixed every time, but if yours is not a one in a hundred case, the already installed Windows 7 fix needs to be moved to the end, and otiginal intent needs to be at the top: a fixed installation .iso.

re is no reason why
 
Yes, I checked the correctness of the update I downloaded.

Even if it is unique to my individual system, this is still very common. The update process gets broken for one reason or another on a lot of systems and it's not just at the point in time of April 2015. though that date may have a strong element of commonality, there are enough exceptions that I'm beginning to get uncomfortable promoting a universal fix for it with regard to in place installations.

My common frequent experience is that when I do a from scratch installation the updater is most often broken very shortly after SP1 is in place and that comes way before April of 2015.

The only thing I am sure of at this point is that our slipstream .iso works universally. The in place installation fixes seem to work for some and not for others. There are too many causes of the brokenness.

Have you tried the Windows 7 Readiness Tool? I found that often when the updater broke after SP1 is was because I was missing this.
 
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