[Njtechdiv] Windows 7 updating woes

[Mario Brusco]

for those who are still wanting to hang on to using Windows 7 until 
January 14, 2020 and are experiencing a long time to get Windows Updates 
or not at all.

if you have Windows Updates set to automatic and you don't power down 
your computer during the night, chances are you won't have to concern 
yourself with this issue. however, if you regularly perform manual 
updates and have frustrations, please carefully read on. if you find 
this too confusing, the decision is up to you what you want to do:


Windows 7 Update solution - Microsoft Community
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-update/windows-7-update-solution/f39a65fa-9d10-42e7-9bc0-7f5096b36d0c

On October 11, 2016 onwards, there was a very significant change in the 
way Windows Update works.

[Instead of receiving 10 to 20 patches, a majority of the patches for 
each month will be delivered in a single rollup with a possible 
accompanying update of some sort. Optional updates will still remain 
optional, and are usually not needed.]

Some may like it a lot. Some may dislike it intensely.

We emphasize that for this to work, you must follow exactly as this 
describes.

There are two main types of Windows 7 installations: 32 bit or 64 bit.  
You need to know what is installed in your computer.  Click the Start 
globe, type system in the box. Choose System information in the list. 
  The techie shorthand for 32 bit is x86 and for 64 bit is x64

1.   Start Windows Update and change the Setting to Never check for 
updates.  Close the Windows Update window.  Some members recommend you 
return the setting to what ever you used before this operation, after 
you complete Windows Update. IF you do leave the setting at NEVER, 
Windows Update will no longer be automatic.  From this point onwards, 
you are responsible for starting and installing updates.  We recommend 
you do that a few days following the 2nd Tuesday each month.

2.   Restart your computer.

3.   You are now going to download and install either one or two updates 
manually.  In most cases only the first (KB3172605) of these is needed.  
If that produces a result that says the update is not appropriate for 
your computer, you need to first install the 2nd of these KB3020369, 
then install the first KB3172605.  Choose the one that is for your 
machine -- 32 bit (X86) or 64 bit (X64).

KB3172605:

32 bit
http://download.windowsupdate.com/d/msdownload/update/software/updt/2016/09/windows6.1-kb3172605-x86_ae03ccbd299e434ea2239f1ad86f164e5f4deeda.msu

64 bit
http://download.windowsupdate.com/d/msdownload/update/software/updt/2016/09/windows6.1-kb3172605-x64_2bb9bc55f347eee34b1454b50c436eb6fd9301fc.msu

KB3020369:

32 bit
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=46827

64 bit
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=46817

4.   After restarting your computer, wait about 10 minutes until Windows 
Update completes its tasks.  Do not use the computer for any other 
purpose during this wait period.

5.   Start Windows Update.  It will take only a few minutes (unless, of 
course it has been many months since the last update) to come up with a 
list and download the updates you select.  The process is quite normal 
as it always was from this point onward.

If your computer has not been updated for a long time, it may take longer.