How to update Windows 7 Ultimate that can't use Windows Update?

[Z_Light]

I have this old Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit PC that I want to update to the latest version of Windows 7. 

 

Windows Update doesn't work anymore and it gives a Code 80072EFE error when I try to check for updates.

 

For all I know it has never been updated since 2011(When this machine was setup) because it says "Updates were installed: Never" and I'm not even sure if it's a legit copy of Windows at this point and that worries me a bit. It does say Windows is activated though, I think it uses a Volume License key, but the store sold the prebuilt as a individual system

 

Is it possible to update this machine using a bootable USB? If it is possible, how? And to roll it back to a restore point just in case.

I did something similar to a Windows 10 machine that wouldn't update, but Microsoft's Media Creation Tool basically did that for me.

 

Will this method from howtogeek work? The problem is the "Downoad and Install SP1 Separately" link that direct to Microsoft's site no longer work, does anyone have an alternate link?

 

Is there a different method I don't know of?

 

I know it's easier to do a clean install but this machine has different old programs and data still in use, and yes, I keep constant backups using AOMEI because I expect it to fail. I'm just trying to prolong it as much as possible before it gets a replacement.

 

To sum it up: What method to use to update a possibly not legit copy of Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit?

[BetteBalterZen]

7 minutes ago, Z_Light said:

To sum it up: What method to use to update a possibly not legit copy of Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit?

Pretty sure this is against forum rules. 

[Guest]

16 minutes ago, Z_Light said:

I have this old Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit PC that I want to update to the latest version of Windows 7. 

 

Windows Update doesn't work anymore and it gives a Code 80072EFE error when I try to check for updates.

 

For all I know it has never been updated since 2011(When this machine was setup) because it says "Updates were installed: Never" and I'm not even sure if it's a legit copy of Windows at this point and that worries me a bit. It does say Windows is activated though, I think it uses a Volume License key, but the store sold the prebuilt as a individual system

 

Is it possible to update this machine using a bootable USB? If it is possible, how? And to roll it back to a restore point just in case.

I did something similar to a Windows 10 machine that wouldn't update, but Microsoft's Media Creation Tool basically did that for me.

 

Will this method from howtogeek work? The problem is the "Downoad and Install SP1 Separately" link that direct to Microsoft's site no longer work, does anyone have an alternate link?

 

Is there a different method I don't know of?

 

I know it's easier to do a clean install but this machine has different old programs and data still in use, and yes, I keep constant backups using AOMEI because I expect it to fail. I'm just trying to prolong it as much as possible before it gets a replacement.

 

To sum it up: What method to use to update a possibly not legit copy of Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit?

What does it say in the properties? Does it has SP1?

[GDRRiley]

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Edited August 6, 2021 by GDRRiley
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[Z_Light]

23 hours ago, WickedThunder86 said:

What does it say in the properties? Does it has SP1?

I didn't say it has SP1 in the System info under Windows Edition.

 

It only says,

Windows 7 Ultimate

 

Sorry for the delayed response. This post got locked for a bit.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Z_Light said:

I didn't say it has SP1 in the System info under Windows Edition.

 

It only says,

Windows 7 Ultimate

 

Sorry for the delayed response. This post got locked for a bit.

First Install Service Pack 1

Link to download (You will probably have to use Internet explorer for this)-https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB976932

And then Install latest Windows update cilent

https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB3138612

 

 

And then install Windows 7 update rollup which will automatically install all updates from 2011-2016

But before that you need to install 2015 SSU:- https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/april-2015-servicing-stack-update-for-windows-7-and-windows-server-2008-r2-437ee749-51e0-6265-be9e-73fbd115d315

And then the rollup itself:- http://download.windowsupdate.com/d/msdownload/update/software/updt/2016/05/windows6.1-kb3125574-v4-x86_ba1ff5537312561795cc04db0b02fbb0a74b2cbd.msu

 

And then Windows update should start working.

[Z_Light]

5 hours ago, WickedThunder86 said:

First Install Service Pack 1

Link to download (You will probably have to use Internet explorer for this)-https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB976932

And then Install latest Windows update cilent

https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB3138612

 

 

And then install Windows 7 update rollup which will automatically install all updates from 2011-2016

But before that you need to install 2015 SSU:- https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/april-2015-servicing-stack-update-for-windows-7-and-windows-server-2008-r2-437ee749-51e0-6265-be9e-73fbd115d315

And then the rollup itself:- http://download.windowsupdate.com/d/msdownload/update/software/updt/2016/05/windows6.1-kb3125574-v4-x86_ba1ff5537312561795cc04db0b02fbb0a74b2cbd.msu

 

And then Windows update should start working.

Is there a reason why I need to use Internet Explorer specifically?

 

I'm assuming I only need to download the ones for x86 Windows 7? or will using IE make the choosing process automatic?

 

Does that mean I need to directly download from all 4 of these links on the machine I want to update using Internet Explorer? I can't download these files on a different machine and copy it over?

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Z_Light said:

Is there a reason why I need to use Internet Explorer specifically?

 

I'm assuming I only need to download the ones for x86 Windows 7? or will using IE make the choosing process automatic?

 

Does that mean I need to directly download from all 4 of these links on the machine I want to update using Internet Explorer? I can't download these files on a different machine and copy it over?

You need to use IE because that site uses ActiveX which is not supported by other browsers..

You can just copy and move the files to that pc 

[Z_Light]

2 hours ago, WickedThunder86 said:

You need to use IE because that site uses ActiveX which is not supported by other browsers..

You can just copy and move the files to that pc 

That's good. I can download it beforehand. I just have to install Internet Explorer on Windows 10.

 

The problem is I have to wait a week before actually trying it. I wanted to do it this weekend but plans changed and I have to go somewhere else. 

[WhitetailAni]

https://www.techpowerup.com/download/microsoft-windows-7-service-pack-1/

Download and install SP1 directly.

[Z_Light]

17 hours ago, FakeKGB said:

https://www.techpowerup.com/download/microsoft-windows-7-service-pack-1/

Download and install SP1 directly.

Is this the same file for the broken link on the howtogeek guide? If so, I can just use their step by step guide?

[WhitetailAni]

Just now, Z_Light said:

Is this the same file for the broken link on the howtogeek guide? If so, I can just use their step by step guide?

No, it's a file hosted on TechPowerUp's servers. Just download and run the .exe.

[Z_Light]

18 minutes ago, FakeKGB said:

No, it's a file hosted on TechPowerUp's servers. Just download and run the .exe.

I was too vague. Let me clarify.

 

If I run the file you linked to install SP1, I can just follow the steps of the howtogeek guide afterwards to update Windows 7 using Microsoft's Convenience Rollup starting Step Two, right?

 

The guide I'm referring to: https://www.howtogeek.com/255435/how-to-update-windows-7-all-at-once-with-microsofts-convenience-rollup/

[WhitetailAni]

20 minutes ago, Z_Light said:

I was too vague. Let me clarify.

 

If I run the file you linked to install SP1, I can just follow the steps of the howtogeek guide afterwards to update Windows 7 using Microsoft's Convenience Rollup starting Step Two, right?

 

The guide I'm referring to: https://www.howtogeek.com/255435/how-to-update-windows-7-all-at-once-with-microsofts-convenience-rollup/

Yep, you should be able to. Cracked Windows can be weird though so I can't say for sure.

[Z_Light]

2 minutes ago, FakeKGB said:

Yep, you should be able to. Cracked Windows can be weird though so I can't say for sure.

Thanks. Also, after looking into it further, I don't think it's actually cracked Windows. 

 

Seems like the computer shop that sold this Prebuilt PC in 2011 used Volume Licensing to activate Windows and sold the machine as a standalone unit. So, technically it got activated legitimately, but is no longer connected to the PC that activated the Volume License on it.

 

I don't know if that will cause any issue.

[contora]

On 8/6/2021 at 7:56 AM, Z_Light said:

I have this old Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit PC that I want to update to the latest version of Windows 7. 

 

Windows Update doesn't work anymore and it gives a Code 80072EFE error when I try to check for updates.

 

For all I know it has never been updated since 2011(When this machine was setup) because it says "Updates were installed: Never" and I'm not even sure if it's a legit copy of Windows at this point and that worries me a bit. It does say Windows is activated though, I think it uses a Volume License key, but the store sold the prebuilt as a individual system

 

Is it possible to update this machine using a bootable USB? If it is possible, how? And to roll it back to a restore point just in case.

I did something similar to a Windows 10 machine that wouldn't update, but Microsoft's Media Creation Tool basically did that for me.

 

Will this method from howtogeek work? The problem is the "Downoad and Install SP1 Separately" link that direct to Microsoft's site no longer work, does anyone have an alternate link?

 

Is there a different method I don't know of?

 

I know it's easier to do a clean install but this machine has different old programs and data still in use, and yes, I keep constant backups using AOMEI because I expect it to fail. I'm just trying to prolong it as much as possible before it gets a replacement.

 

To sum it up: What method to use to update a possibly not legit copy of Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit?

 

Follow the following tutorial in order to update Windows 7 Ultimate manually:

 

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/how-to-download-a-windows-update-manually-9f939f2d-c136-8533-cf83-39292c44bffa