Download Win7 Updates, but install onto a different PC

[garuda]

Searched, but couldn’t find a thread answering this question.

How can I download W7 updates to my internet-connected laptop (W7 x64 Home) without installing, then transfer and install the Updates to a desktop workstation (having legit W7 x64 Ult, SP1 installed) which is never connected to internet?
Thanks,
g

 

[UsernameIssues]

I've seen your question asked several times. I do not recall seeing it answered. While it is possible to manually download each applicable update, I'm not sure how you would obtain a list of applicable updates - unless you had a duplicate computer that was online.

I have to ask: Why patch a system that is not online? Why not use it just the way it is? If you fear that it could get infected via USB flash drives or CDs/DVDs, then install an antivirus tool and manually update that from time to time.

 

[whs]

What you could do is

1. make an VHD file from the desktop OS
2. convert this VHD to VMDK
3. install the VMDK in a VMware Player virtual partition of the laptop
4. Update that OS in virtual
5. work yourself backwards and put the updated OS back on the desktop

This is a way of doing it. But it will require a lot of skill and knowledge to do it.

 

[garuda]

I have to ask: Why patch a system that is not online? Why not use it just the way it is? If you fear that it could get infected via USB flash drives or CDs/DVDs, then install an antivirus tool and manually update that from time to time.

Hi UsernameIssues, because sporadic and frustrating glitches and slowdowns kept arising in what I thought was finally a stable system. I thought perhaps there were a few updates that might need to be installed to smooth things out. But I’m not real eager to risk too much exposure on the web. Perhaps it’s paranoia, but even Norton admits that it can’t always detect certain new signatures among the thousands of hacks/viruses/malware until they have already started creating havoc, then it’s too late, as we all know. Recent media claims even Adobe software is extremely vulnerable and needs to be re-written for security protection.

This is a way of doing it. But it will require a lot of skill and knowledge to do it.

Hello again whs. The operative comment in your solution was “will require a lot of skill and knowledge” --- which is not my strong suit. Although I have realized that it goes with the territory, I resist becoming too techie, since my primary focus and interest is in graphics arts and creativity. I don’t know much tech compared to you guys here; and yet I know more than I really care to know about the more in-depth tech stuff. I just don’t have enough time to become a techie, let alone barely keep up on the new cutting edge graphics and video stuff.

I’m currently vacillating on whether to go early adoption of 4K vid recording. It seems to take too long to do all the research, read reviews, and pick the right equip. After researching cutting-edge, trouble-shooting, and putting out brush fires, I have little time left for creating, composing, compositing, editing, and modeling --- my real passion being: using the software, not troubleshooting it (which I know is necessary to some extent). I better stop now… I’m beginning to sound like a whiny little kid.

Finally, a sincere thanks to both of you for your replies. I’ll have to weigh my timetable before choosing which direction to go, virtual or otherwise. I'll make note of your steps list, thanks.

 

[UsernameIssues]

Oh, it is not paranoia. Here is some depressing security related news:
http://www.sevenforums.com/security...ay-flaws-exist-exploit-daily-report-says.html

If you somehow found a list of updates to be applied, then problems/infections could be transferred to the isolated computer via whatever media you used to get the update files to that computer. If you follow the steps whs outlined, you are essentially putting the computer online while it is being patched. Those steps would work well if there was a physical reason not to put a computer online (e.g. computer is located in a rural setting with no internet connection). But those steps do not solve the security issues related to being online.

Do you have an antivirus tool running on this offline computer? If so, that might be the cause of periodic pauses/glitches. You could remove that software for a while just as a test. Any media (usb flash drives, DVDs...) that touches this isolated computer can be scanned using a different computer before letting it come into contact with the isolated computer.

 

[garuda]

Do you have an antivirus tool running on this offline computer? If so, that might be the cause of periodic pauses/glitches. You could remove that software for a while just as a test. Any media (usb flash drives, DVDs...) that touches this isolated computer can be scanned using a different computer before letting it come into contact with the isolated computer.

Perhaps I'll try that first. Originally, since I have Norton Internet Sec for 3 PCs, I installed it on the offline desktop just in case it ever had to go online (though it's not activated yet by Norton) -- so I assumed it wouldn't run, although I do recall seeing msgs that it was silent-running in background when at idle. I'll de-install it, and see if glitches stop.

I always Norton-scan all downloads (and the entire SD xfer card) first with my online laptop before transferring files to the offline desktop.

The frustrating aspect of all this, is trying to troubleshoot & fix when there are so many possibilities/variables to consider: virus, malware, bloat-ware, lacking updates, old drivers on supplied CD for new hardware, incompatibility even between top-shelf software, or just plain faulty hdw or hdw/software limitations. And likely others too technical for me to even consider.

Regarding 3D & video rendering/transcoding projects --- I thought lots of fast cores, big RAM for caches using RamDisk drives, and all SSDs would leave lots of multi-processing speed and headroom, but still unexplainable occasional glitches -- even when nothing has been changed, added, or updated. :shock:

ie. I can't enter BIOS settings at boot using DEL key (or any key) when the USB-3 devices are connected to USB-3 ports. ASUS suggested updating BIOS. Upon doing that, things got worse, so I reverted back to previous BIOS version. Since I seldom chg BIOS settings, it's easier to unplug four USB3 hub cables, chg BIOS settings, and reconnect the USB3s; instead of finding the problem.

Thank goodness ASUS includes large bottles of aspirin in all their shipping boxes for their dual-socket motherboards.