Performing Windows updates on stand alone computers

Question

I have two computers that are stand alone and can not be attached to my network or the internet.  What is the process for performing windows updates?  Both pcs are Win 7 64bit.

Answer 1

I'd use a flash drive or external hard drive rather than CDs or DVDs, but the manual process I described is what you'll have to do. 

 I understand bureaucracy very well, and if you've been told you can't connect to the Internet, you can't do it.  However wherever you get the updates from IS going to have to be connected to the Internet, and by putting updates on from whatever computer you download onto is no less likely to introduce malware than having the computer connected in the first place.

  What I'd do in your case would be to just get another computer at the same maintenance level as the isolated ones and download the updates to that, carefully recording the KBxxxxxx IDs of each one, then manually download them from the MS web site, copy them onto some media, then install them where needed.  Of course if they really need to be that isolated, maybe they don't need the updates at all?

  Oh well, you probably have no say in the matter, and whoever you're working for doesn't want to hear anything about it anyway.  :-)  If you've never read the short story "Pigs is Pigs" by Ellis Parker Butler, you ought to download it and read it.  You'll get a big chuckle out of it.

 Good luck.

Answer 2

There was a stand alone installer for IT, with all the updates, sorry it was discontinued. Last time I checked there was over 150 file updates in windows update.

 I do not like to think of time and how difficult to manually find, download, install all those gigabytes of updates.

 Have you considered a virtual machine?

Microsoft has discontinued most of the old, bulk installers from cd, external hd, usb flash, etc.

 Tell your boss it might not be possible to install windows updates with out the internet, due to Microsoft rules changing.

I guess you could slip stream them into the windows cd.

Answer 3

I am not having a problem using Windows updates but due to the project these computers are being used for they can not be attached to my network nor can they be linked to the internet by any means.  This is a security issue so they must always be updated manually via a CD/DVD.  I am looking for a process by which I can do this on a monthly or bi-monthly basis.

Thank you for your suggestions.

Answer 4

You could always get a list of the new updates and download them manually from the MS web site.  Personally I don't think I'd have the patience to do that on a continuing basis, but if I had to I guess I could do it every few months or so.  I've done it in the past to help with a place I did some volunteer work.   I assume you've rulled out WiFi and 4G networks?  You can get a dongle for 4G networks, plug it into a USB port and have a wireless connection to a cell phone service for around $30/month last time I checked.  Download speeds with 4G are up10 Mbps, which is pretty decent.

 I hope this helps.  Good luck.

Answer 5

Here are some notes that may help resolve problems encountered when installing Windows Updates.

The process of installing updates comprises downloading, installing and configuring the operating system to use the new updates. Some updates require the computer to be restarted and when this occurs configuring occurs as the system is shut down and is completed when the computer is restarted. It is important not to interrupt the configuration process as configuration involves making changes to the registry. If interrupted, the result can be a computer that will not boot.

A lot of problems arise from setting Windows Update to automatically update. You may prefer to change this setting. Select Start, All Programs, Windows Update, Change Settings. Under Important Updates is a box showing the current setting. Click on the Arrow down to the right and change the selection to “Check for Updates but let me choose whether to download and install them” and click on OK.

If you encounter problems updating or you are not using the Automatic Update you should manually update by selecting Start, All Programs, Windows Update, Check for Updates. Check the boxes before the updates you want to install, click on Install and click again on Install in the next window and the process of installing starts. You should let the process proceed without interruption. Multi-tasking at the time updating is in progress is unwise. The progress window will tell you what is going on. You need to be patient.

If you have a number of updates to install break the task of updating into two or more tasks. If you have been having problems with Windows Update run Disk CleanUp (or better still cCleaner) and Disk Defragmenter ( or better still Defraggler) before installing any large download.

If the measures above fail to resolve your problem select Start, All Programs, Windows Update, View Update History and post the Failure Code and Update reference number to the Windows Update Forum at Microsoft Answers.

You can also try the Windows Update Troubleshooter:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Open-the-Windows-Update-troubleshooter