I did a test clean install yesterday of Windows 7 Pro SP1 64-bit to see if I would run into any post-EOL issues.
The entire process went fine and eventually updated it to its official January 2020 EOL.
These are the steps that I used:
1. Boot from your install media and do a clean install of Windows 7 SP1.
Skip the activation process for now and do not enter a product key.
Keep Windows Update turned off for now by selecting "Ask me later".
2. Install the necessary drivers (chipset, graphics, audio, ethernet, wireless, etc.) and make sure all primary devices are working okay.
3. Establish an active internet connection, then activate Windows 7 SP1.
4. Install the September 2019 SHA-2 code update (
KB4474419)
Microsoft Update Catalog (32-bit)
Microsoft Update Catalog (64-bit)
5. Install the March 2019 servicing stack update (
KB4490628)
Microsoft Update Catalog (32-bit)
Microsoft Update Catalog (64-bit)
6. Install the May 2016 convenience rollup update (
KB3125574)
Microsoft Update Catalog (32-bit)
Microsoft Update Catalog (64-bit)
7. Install
Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8
Download Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8
8. If you plan to turn any Windows features on or off, or if you plan to make any changes in the various settings, this is a good time to do it.
Also go into the Services window and make sure the "Windows Update" and "Background Intelligence Transfer Service" entries are both set on Automatic (Delayed Start) and have started.
9. Load Windows Update, then click "Change settings", then select "Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them", then uncheck "Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates".
After you click OK, the "Checking for updates" process will start.
Windows Update should display a list of important and optional updates within 5 - 10 minutes.
10. In the list of important updates, hide these updates:
All updates associated with
Internet Explorer 8
KB890830
KB971033
Make sure
Internet Explorer 11 is selected with the rest of important updates.
Do not select any optional updates.
11. After the initial list of important updates are installed, restart the computer.
When the "Your Windows 7 PC is out of support" alert appears, click "Don't remind me again".
12. When the "New updates are available" alert appears in the taskbar, load Windows Update.
Select the remaining important updates and hide the
KB890830 update.
Do not select any optional updates.
13. After the second list of important updates are installed, restart the computer.
14. When the "New updates are available" alert appears in the taskbar, load Windows Update.
From this point on, the list of important updates that appear will probably be very outdated.
If they are, hide them and do not install them.
15. The January 2020 servicing stack update (
KB4536952) should eventually appear in the list of important updates.
When it does, make sure to select and install it.
Windows 7 SP1 will now be completely up-to-date to its official January 2020 "end of life".
IMPORTANT! Before running each of the installer files in steps #4 and #5 and #6, make sure to stop the "Windows Update" service from running.
And make sure to restart the computer after each of those steps is finished.
IMPORTANT! Before you do a clean install, make sure all optional external devices (printer, USB storage drive, USB flash drive, webcam, etc.) are disconnected from the computer.
