Help: I want to save any found "updates" to a CD, to install later

Here is what I want:

I do fresh installs of 7 often, including service pack 1.

As everyone knows, when you try to run "windows update" after that, it takes many hours to search and find them.

Now let's assume I did the update search, and a big list of updates is now ready. What I want to know is:

a. where are these files?
b. can i save them to a CD and install the updates later from the CD? for example, when i do another fresh install of windows 7.
c. if this is possible, i presume i would just copy the files but then also the question of how to run them from the CD.


Please, I do not need advice about "just do the regular way, risky" etc. I just want to know the above.

Thanks in advance! :)

The files are in C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download. However, I don't know for sure if Windows Update would acknowledge them if they are copied there manually from a backup. I've never heard of anyone using this method.

These days, I think most people use a tool like WSUS Offline Update to get avoid updating through Windows Update. There are also other options, such as integrating updates directly into the install image (slipstreaming). I've recently been experimenting with an old but rarely used method of creating a hardware independent installable image from an installed system after updating through Windows Update.

The thing is, any method other than using Windows Update may involve a lot of research and trial and error. It may end up taking more time than just biting the bullet and sticking with Windows Update. Just FYI.

It would be much more efficient to do system images.