Installed W7 In Virtual Box: What Updates To Install?

[michael diemer]

I installed Windows 7 HP 64 bit in Virtual Box, in a Linux host. The disc I used to install it did not have SP1. I assume I should install that, but what other updates should I install? Can someone direct me to one of the packages that will do this? I will be running it inside Linux, so it should be safe, but I would assume I still need the Spectre and Meltdown updates, right?

 

[michael diemer]

Well, I installed SP1, the Service stack update from April 2015 (KB 3020360), the convenience rollup (KB3125574), and a hotfix (KB981889). I'm not sure how the last one got installed, since I don't recall installing it. I did try to run Windows Update, and as it was taking forever I canceled it. It's possible it pulled it off though and installed it.



In any case, having Windows as virtual system is so limited that I don't think it's practical. None of my USB drives work. There is a program you need to install for that, but it fails to install. and there is no default file-sharing. To do that you have to jump through quite a lot of hoops.


I think I'll keep my original Windows drive as an archive. I update the AV (MSE) every month or so. I use Linux anyway as my daily driver. I also have a computer I only use for music, and that has W7 but I keep it offline by default. I also have paid AV on that.

 

[townsbg]

You won't be able to install using windows update until you install the SHA-2 cert. See 2019 SHA-2 Code Signing Support requirement for Windows and WSUS


Ideally you would install all of them, especially if you will be going online. However I would leave off the rollups and the updates listed here: Remove telemetry updates for Windows 7 and 8.1 . GitHub

 

[michael diemer]

You won't be able to install using windows update until you install the SHA-2 cert. See 2019 SHA-2 Code Signing Support requirement for Windows and WSUS


Ideally you would install all of them, especially if you will be going online. However I would leave off the rollups and the updates listed here: Remove telemetry updates for Windows 7 and 8.1 . GitHub

Thanks, that's exactly what I was looking for. I probably knew this at one time, or how to find it easily, but when you migrate to Linux you lose your windows skills to some extent.

 

[townsbg]

You can install any update you want after the sha-2 update and then run the bat file on that page and in theory it'll remove the unwanted updates. I haven't done that though. In the past I've just taken the list and looked for the updates but I have a new install now so I might just try it. Windows didn't even offer most on the list. Some might have been superseded or discontinued. For example M$ isn't trying to force 10 on anyone anymore so it probably won't offer the windows 10 prep updates.