Reinstalling & Updating Windows 7 Ultimate OS

Hey guys,

Are there many updates for windows 7 ultimate 32bit I should be aware of? I am planning on doing a clean install on my PC. Are there alternate methods for downloading the updates and installing them without being connected to the internet? I was thinking somewhat along the line of downloading the updates at work [fast internet] and transporting them home onto a flash card.

If internet is required, my only option is using my phone as a modem and download the directly to my PC. But it doesn't represent much

After having installed the updates, is there any way to save the updates so they can be installed at a later time whenever I feel like doing a clean install of windows 7 again? What about making a restore disc with the updates installed?


Thanks ahead,
Gin

You can get pretty much anything offered in the way of an update as an individual download, but you have to know what you're looking for.

Yes you can keep what you've downloaded for future reinstalls, but some updates get superseded by later updates, so your updates could become outdated.

An image would work, but be prepared to do additional updates as soon as you restore if any time has passed since the image was created. I don't let my images get more than a couple of months old before I replace them.

Go to this site: Microsoft Update Catalog

Type Win7 into Search Box

Click on the Date heading to order them backward from current. You will see SP1 beta which is an option to have its Updates rollup, although it will have to be uninstalled when SP1 is actually released.

Or you can select all of the Updates you want to add to Download basket.

This is stuff that I have downloaded and saved to a thumb drive to speed things up after a clean install. All the latest drivers for my hardware. The latest redistributable (full) version of DirectX, Microsoft Security Essentials and Microsoft Silverlight. I don't bother with the SP1 beta but you might want to consider it. You can always un-install it latter on when the final version comes out. Other stuff I save are Adobe Reader, Adobe Flash Player, Java IE plugin, 7-Zip, etc.