Windows 7: Fresh Win7 Pro Install: Best way to get Updates?

Hi,

At what point during the install process is it best to install Updates and Service Paks for:

- OS
- NIC
- Drivers
- Apps

After windows security essentials is installed? If so, is it safe to launch a browser and navigate to microsoft to download Essentials, or should this be done off USB stick?

I download before hand and save all of the above to thumb drives.
This is my routine for a clean install is once windows is installed and I'm at my desktop.
I start with the latest drivers for my key hardware, motherboard first, then video card, sound card, NIC and so on. I do printers and such later on as I need them.
The I do the major Microsoft updates, service packs if there are any, DirectX, IE, Media Player, Silverlight, Microsoft Security Essentials, Microsoft Office. Then I hit Windows update and keep patching until there aren't any left.
Then I move onto other stuff like Adobe Reader, Flash player, Java, etc. stuff I use right away.
The rest of my programs I just install as needed.

Yes. Use the USB to install MSE before opening browsers.

You can download the latest stand alone definition files here if you're interested.
Get the latest definitions - Microsoft Malware Protection Center

Ohh +1. Install MSE from USB, then run the updates from the same USB.

Or you can use WSUS Offline Update to install MSE and all critical updates for Windows & MS Office from usb/whatever: WSUS Offline Update - Update Microsoft Windows and Office without an Internet connection

I actually do the above each month on a Windows 7 image I keep here in a VHD that I do not update. I download all the updates to a folder, download the latest MSE and definitions, and then use an MDT 2010 task sequence to install Windows 7, then the updates, then MSE+latest definitions, all from a USB key offline. Only then do I plug the system into a network or Internet connection.