Sticking with Windows 7? The forecast calls for pain

[Brink]

For small businesses and consumers without enterprise deployment tools, a clean install of the aging Windows 7 can take a full day. And the problem's getting worse. Here's why.

On Monday morning, I began installing Windows 7 Pro on a clean virtual machine.

On Tuesday morning, more than 24 hours later, the installation was still not finished.

That, in a nutshell, is the unpleasant reality that consumers and small businesses face in sticking with Windows 7 as it counts down to the end of support, 1398 days from today.

The biggest problem, of course, is that Microsoft released Windows 7 Service Pack 1 on February 22, 2011, more than five years ago. Despite occasional rumors and hopes, Microsoft has never released a Service Pack 2 or even a post-SP1 update rollup. Which means that if you try to do a clean install using the most recent installation media, as I did on Monday, this is what you see when you run Windows Update.

Yes, 216 Important updates are available even with Service Pack 1 installed, and you'd have to be crazy to connect to the Internet without installing those patches first.

But that's not the worst of it...

Read more: Sticking with Windows 7? The forecast calls for pain | ZDNet

   Tip

How to Remove 'Get Windows 10' Icon from Taskbar in Windows 7 and 8.1

Enable or Disable Upgrade to Windows 10 in Windows Update for Windows 7 and 8.1

 

[Barman58]

I personally believe that Microsoft has lowered the allocation of bandwidth, which is understandable on one level, Windows 7 is in extended support you you would logically expect a reduction in the bandwidth, and of course they will need a considerable amount of updates bandwidth to cope with the Windows 10 downloads.

I cannot prove this but it does make some sense

I did a windows 7 in a virtual PC, a few days ago and it was up and running all updated in about two hours so I don't think it's as bad as was reported in the link

 

[Brds7t7]

Easiest and quickest way I've found to install updates. Windows 7 Update Pack by DrWindows - März 2016
While this may not be much use to business users, it will save home users a lot of time. Used it on many installs.
It also helps to install the latest Windows update client too.

 

[Brds7t7]

I personally believe that Microsoft has lowered the allocation of bandwidth, which is understandable on one level, Windows 7 is in extended support you you would logically expect a reduction in the bandwidth, and of course they will need a considerable amount of updates bandwidth to cope with the Windows 10 downloads.

I don't remember Windows XP ever having downloads taking 24+ hours. I can still update my XP VM's pretty quickly. Seems strange that they've only done this to Windows 7.

 

[Barman58]

As I stated above mine took an hour or so recently on a virtual machine (1 core 4GM ram), so times are variable to say the least

Also can you please provide links only to English sites as this is an English language site as stated in the rules

 

[Brds7t7]

I've had much better luck with the latest windows update client installed. Updates were painfully slow before that but improved a lot on my VM's whenever those updates are installed.
It can also depend on the time of day too. I've noticed here in the UK I can get updates really quickly in the morning compared to taking hours in the evening.

Also can you please provide links only to English sites as this is an English language site as stated in the rules

Sorry about that Barman, completely forgot about the English rule. Feel free to remove.

 

[Barman58]

I'll leave it for a while as I'm a bit busy at the moment

 

[ThrashZone]

I reinstalled win-7 last weekend it was a breeze
You just have to manually load a couple updates and it brings up 159 Important updates in 10 minutes

 

[whs]

Also can you please provide links only to English sites as this is an English
language site as stated in the rules

This is an international site where people can deal with many languages. I myself have no problem with 5 languages. So I don't think links should be restricted to English only.

 

[Barman58]

Wolfgang, please reread the rules

12) This is an English based site. Please only post in English, or provide an English translation in your posts.

We reserve the right to ban anyone who willfully violates the forum rules or whose presence is deemed detrimental to the community or staff morale, as access to our support forums is a privilege and not a right.
We also reserve the right to modify, close, remove, delete, or take any other action we deem necessary and appropriate to ensure these forums are not disrupted or abused in any way

 

[ThrashZone]

Here is what I did
Before you start download KB3083710 and KB3102810 in advance, and store on a flash drive
Start and complete the install without an internet connection
Immediately after install is complete
Manually install KB3083710 and restart.
Manually install KB3102810 and restart.
Change your windows update settings I used Automatic and Unchecked Give me recommended updates the same....
Restore the Internet connection and Activate windows
Then launch Windows Update search
After about 5-10 minutes you should have plenty of updates to download and install.

Another thing is if you see this update make sure it is not installed with any other updates
It needs to be installed all by it's self
It was not uncheck automatically which caused many others to fail to install
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3020369

Windows 8 pro upgrade was the bitch
I finally had to do 50 at a time until finished :/
Then finally got to download 8.1 pro which went fast as 7 did

 

[whs]

I understand the rules for posts and that is OK. But an occasional link to a foreign language page should not hurt. There are members that do understand other languages. And those who do not understand can always ask for a synopsis in English. I just hate if we are more catholic than the pope on problems that can be easily accommodated.

 

[ThrashZone]

I dang near needed a translator for this one
Snatch. (2000) - IMDb

 

[Barman58]

Thank you for your opinion Wolfgang, it has been noted

 

[whs]

Thank you for your opinion Wolfgang, it has been noted

I will be glad to help out wherever I can.

 

[lehnerus2000]

I reinstalled win-7 last weekend it was a breeze
You just have to manually load a couple updates and it brings up 159 Important updates in 10 minutes

My systems (2x desktop, 1x laptop) often take > 30 minutes to determine if there are any updates available.
Downloading the updates can take a few minutes or several hours.

 

[Digital Life]

I recently made a Windows 7 VM and used WSUS Offline Update it was quick and painless for most updates although I had to use Windows 7 update to install about 20 more, not sure why.

 

[RoasterMen]

I only have 3.52 GB of storage left in my 38.9 GB OS Partition. I'm trying to squeeze all out installation leftovers and still can't reach 4GB mark

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Also can you please provide links only to English sites as this is an English
language site as stated in the rules

This is an international site where people can deal with many languages. I myself have no problem with 5 languages. So I don't think links should be restricted to English only.

Since German is your first language, mayhap you could help us out by translating the key points on the site and point out what the links are for? Not all of us are gifted with the ability to deal with more language like you are (I'm not being sarcastic, just jealous ).

 

[OvenMaster]

And this is the reason I have saved the installers for each and every update I have installed since I first got Win 7, just over 2GB.