One of the most vexing aspects of a Windows 7 reinstall is that even after you install the operating system and Service Pack 1, you can expect to spend a ridiculous amount of time applying patches that came post-SP1. Service Pack 1 came out in 2011, and there have been dozens and dozens of fixes over the past five years.
As of November 2016, Microsoft Windows Updates are now available for download from the Microsoft Update Catalog only. As always, all updates will still be available via WSUS, SCCM, and Windows Update – this change is only for manual downloads.
The Rollup Update is available for Windows 7 32 and 64 bit and Windows Server 2008 R2. Click the view basket link at the top to review the selected downloads. Click the Download button to begin. The most recent Windows 7 service pack is SP1, but a Convenience Rollup for Windows 7 SP1 (basically an otherwise-named Windows 7 SP2) is also available which installs all patches between the release of SP1 (February 22, 2011) through April 12, 2016. Microsoft releases unofficial service pack for Windows 7; Microsoft releases unofficial service pack for Windows 7. Monthly comprehensive updates for non-security patches. Windows 7 SP1. See our image gallery for details on how to download Windows 7 Service Pack 2 Replacement. #hotfix rollup#Windows 7#Microsoft#service pack#update. Photo Gallery (6 Images) +3 more. Hot right now. Does anybody else know if Windows 7 will release a Service Pack 2, or will they continue to have patch Tuesday as a substitute My System Specs. I need to download the service pack 1 (stand alone version) for a 32 bit Windows 7 Pro version.
For the longest time, this was a sore spot among users. That and the fact that Microsoft was reluctant to issue a second service pack with just a rollup of current fixes.
Well, that wish has been granted. The company today announced a 'convenience rollup' for Windows 7 Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 that contains all of the security and non-security updates it has issued for the two operating systems since the Windows 7 Service Pack up through April 2016.
For whatever reason, it is not named 'Service Pack 2,' but who cares. At least we have it. But be warned: it will not be delivered over the Windows Update service the way Service Pack 1 is made available to a fresh Windows 7 install.
A challenge to get
Getting it, though, is currently proving a challenge. The blog post announcing the servi-, er, convenience rollup says the download is available only via Microsoft's Update Catalog site. It will not be distributed via Windows Update. On clicking on the Microsoft link, I got this error:
To use this Web site's full functionality, you must be running Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or later.
To upgrade to the latest version of the browser, go to the Internet Explorer Downloads Website.
If you prefer to use a different Web browser, you can get updates from the Microsoft Download Center.
IE 6? When was that page last revised?
Windows 7 Sp2 Manual Download
So, I loaded the page in IE 11 instead of Firefox. After installing an ActiveX add-on, I was given a catalog with either the Windows 7 rollup or the Server 2008 rollup, plus a separate Windows 7 patch. I tried to add them to the cart, and no luck. I can't download it. That's amateur hour I would not expect from Microsoft these days.
Why it isn't called Service Pack 2
One reason why Microsoft is not calling it Service Pack 2 is because it requires Service Pack 1 to be installed. You could install SP2 for Windows XP without having to install SP1 first. So, the dependency doesn't qualify it as a service pack.
Microsoft Windows 7 Sp2 Download
For updates released after April 2016, Microsoft also plans to produce monthly rollups of non-security updates for Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows Server 2012/R2. This will be a continuously evolving, cumulative batch of non-security fixes. This package will be distributed over Windows Update.
The rollup, service pack, call it what you will, is desperately needed and a good decision. But making it available from a long-abandoned web page that is accessible only via Microsoft's browser, requires an ActiveX add-on, and doesn't work is just baffling. It really gives off an air of sloppiness, and again, I would not expect that from Microsoft these days.
One of the disadvantages to using an older Microsoft operating system is the need to install several hundred megabytes of patches after the initial OS is loaded. In the past, Microsoft ameliorated this problem by releasing several service packs over the life of the OS, but Windows 7 only ever got one service pack, in 2011. As a result, the last four years of updates and patches has to be run manually.
Now, that’s changing. Microsoft isn’t calling this new “convenience rollup” Windows 7 SP2, but that’s functionally what it provides. The update will also support slipstream installations, meaning you can roll the software updates into a unified installer and bring a system fully up-to-date at base install.
No such update has been announced for Windows 8.1 yet, but Microsoft has also stated that it will begin releasing monthly comprehensive updates for non-security patches. Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1, Windows 2008 R2 SP1, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2012 R2 will all begin receiving single updates on a monthly basis (security updates will continue to be released on their own schedule).
Update availability and contents
One significant change going forward is that updates will no longer be available via the Microsoft Download Center. Instead, they’ll use the Microsoft Update Catalog. If you’re wondering what that is, it’s a Windows XP relic that currently depends on Microsoft Internet Explorer and uses ActiveX. Chrome, Firefox, and other third-party browsers can’t access it (Microsoft says they’re working to modernize this).
Anybody want some Windows XP theming?
Yeah. It’s a little… dated-looking is the kind way to put it.
One question we’re certain will come up is whether or not the Windows 7 roll-up includes the various updates and packages designed to push Windows 10. The answer to that, so far as we can tell, is no. There are a number of KB articles associated with the Windows 10 rollout and the telemetry updates to Windows 7, including:
- KB2952664
- KB2977759
- KB3022345
- KB3050267
- KB3035583
- KB3068708*
- KB3075249*
- KB3080149*
- KB3146449
An asterisk means the update is included in the rollup.
Windows 7 Sp2 Beta
We’ve gone through the included KB files in the Windows 7 convenience rollup and can confirm that the majority of these updates are not included in the software. There are three exceptions: KB3068708, KB3075249, and KB3080149. All three of these updates add additional telemetry tracking to Windows 7 to bring its reports into line with Windows 10, but they don’t add GWX.exe or any of the “Get Windows 10” adds that people have complained about since Microsoft’s latest OS went live.
While I realize that some readers won’t be thrilled with any backported changes from Windows 10 into Windows 7, the truth is, telemetry tracking in Windows 7 can still be disabled; you aren’t forced to participate in the Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP). If you’re still doing Windows 7 installations on new hardware, turning off telemetry tracking is a lot less hassle than manually performing multiple patch / reboot cycles — and it takes a lot less time.