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.
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?
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.
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.
When you install Windows 7 on a new system, you traditionally have to go through a long process of downloading years of updates and constantly rebooting. Not anymore: Microsoft now offers a “Windows 7 SP1 Convenience Rollup” that essentially functions as Windows 7 Service Pack 2. With a single download, you can install the hundreds of updates at once. But there’s a catch.
This update package, which combines updates dating all the way back to February 2011, isn’t being made available in Windows Update. If you’re installing a Windows 7 system from scratch, you’ll need to go out of your way to download and install it. If you don’t, Windows Update will download and install the updates one by one–the slower, more tedious way.
Here’s how to download and install the Convenience Rollup so you don’t have to do it the hard way.
Step One: Install Service Pack 1, If You Don’t Have It Already
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The Windows 7 Service Pack 1 Convenience Rollup requires you already have Service Pack 1 installed. If you’re installing Windows 7 from scratch, you can get this in one of two days:
Microsoft Windows 7 Service Pack 2 64 Bit
- Install From an Disc or ISO That Contains Service Pack 1: Microsoft offers Windows 7 ISO images for download. These ISO images have Service Pack 1 integrated, so you’ll already have Service Pack 1 after installing from them.
- Download and Install SP1 Separately: If you installed from an older Windows 7 disc without SP1 integrated, you’ll need to install Service Pack 1 afterwards. Launch Windows Update, check for updates, and install the “Service Pack for Microsoft Windows (KB976932)” update to install it. You can also download Service Pack 1 directly from Microsoft and install it without going through Windows Update.
If you’re not sure whether you have Windows 7 Service Pack 1 installed, open the Start menu, type “winver” into the search box, and press Enter. If it says “Service Pack 1” in the window, you have Service Pack 1. If it doesn’t, you need to install Service Pack 1.
Step Two: Find Out Whether You’re Using a 32-bit or 64-bit Version of Windows 7
If you’re not sure whether you’re using a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows 7, you’ll need to quickly find out.
Click the “Start” button, right-click “Computer” in the Start menu, and select “Properties.” You’ll see this information displayed to the right of “System type” under the System header.
Step Three: Download and Install the April 2015 “Servicing Stack” Update
You can’t simply install the Convenience Rollup after installing Service Pack 1. You have to first install the April 2015 Servicing Stack Update first. Don’t ask us why; ask Microsoft.
Head to the April 2015 Servicing Stack Update download page and scroll down to the download links. Click the appropriate link to download the update for either an x86 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit version) of Windows 7.
Click the “Download” link on the next page to download the file, and then double-click the downloaded update file to install it.
Step Four: Download and Install the Windows 7 SP1 Convenience Rollup
Update: You can quickly download the Convenience Rollup using the below direct download links. Microsoft could change them at any time, so send us a note if these links appear dead. If the direct download links work, you can skip downloading the update from the Microsoft Update Catalog website. Just download the appropriate update and run it to install it.
- Download the 64-bit version.
- Download the 32-bit version.
If the direct download links don’t work or you just want to download the update in the official way, you’ll have to download the Windows 7 SP1 Convenience Rollup from Microsoft’s Update Catalog website.
Unfortunately, this website requires ActiveX, which means it only works in Internet Explorer–you can’t use Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or even Microsoft Edge on a Windows 10 PC.
After opening the site in Internet Explorer, click the yellow information bar and select “Install This Add-on For All Users on This Computer.” You’ll have to agree to a User Account Control pop-up after installing the ActiveX control.
You’ll see several update packages available for download:
- Update for Windows 7 (KB3125574): Download this if you’re using a 32-bit version of Windows 7.
- Update for Windows Server 2008 R2 x64 Edition (KB3125574): Download this if you’re using a 64-bit version of Windows Server 2008 R2.
- Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB3125574): Download this if you’re using a 64-bit version of Windows 7.
To download the correct update for your system, click the “Add” button to the right of it on the page.
If you want to download more than one update–for example, if you’ll be updating both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7 systems and want offline copies of the patch–you can click the “Add” button for more than one update to download them at once.
After you do, click the “View Basket” link at the top right corner of the page.
Click the “Download” button here to download the update–or updates–you’ve selected.
You’ll need to select a download location for the update. For example, you could select your Downloads folder or Desktop.
Click the “Browse” button, select a folder, and then click “Continue.”
The update will begin downloading, so wait until it does. Depending on the update you selected, the download is between 300MB and 500MB in total.
When it’s downloaded, you can open the folder you downloaded the update to and double-click it to run it and update your Windows 7 system.
You can also copy this update file to a USB drive or network location and run it on additional Windows 7 PCs, quickly updating them as long as they already have Service Pack 1 installed.
This update package only installs all the updates released after Service Pack 1 and before May 16, 2016. Future updates won’t be added to it. If you’re downloading this package after that date, you’ll need to install the Convenience Rollup, then launch Windows Update to install any updates released after this package.
Going forward, Microsoft will offer a single large update once a month with bug and stability fixes. It will also offer smaller updates for security problems, as usual. This should result in less updates to install after you’ve installed the large Convenience Rollup package.
Since the release of Windows 7 back in 2009, hundreds of updates have been issued for the aging OS, and anyone who has done a clean install of Windows 7 knows how painful the updating process can be.
Not anymore. In 2016, Microsoft decided to package 5 years worth of updates (2011-2016) into a single update, called the 'convenience update' (although you and I can just call it Service Pack 2 because that's exactly what it is).
This article will show you how to install the convenience update.
1. Prerequistes
Before installing the convenience update, make sure:
Windows 7 Service Pack 2 Free Download
- You are running Windows 7 SP1
- You have at least 5 GB of free space available
- KB3020369 is installed (download links below)
2. Download
Once the prerequisites are met, you can download the convenience update from the links below.
3. Install
When the download has finished, double-click the file, and follow the on-screen instructions. This is a large update, so the searching and installation process may take a while. Please be patient.
Happy Patching!
Note:Installing the update won't affect the version of Windows listed in system properties. It will remain listed as Service Pack 1.
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You could hide the update.right-click update> Hide Update
Try this first: Reset_Reregister_Windows_Update_Components Kudos to Brink for the batch file
- Download attachment
- Run
- reboot
- check for windows updates.
You could also try manual uninstall sp1
At a minimum, I would create system restore point before trying or preferably full disk (image) backup before trying. I don't trust Windows backup/restore point, as it has failed me several times in the past.
I use AOMEI backupper full local download (free) I like free Simple easy to use program. You need external hdd or USB stick with enough memory to store .adi file. By the way, you can set AOMEI to copy the entire hdd (uses lot of disk space) or, as I do, copy only the systemfiles/files/programs on disk no empty space (saves gigs of space if your hard drive is partially full)
To manually uninstall sp1:
- click Start orb
- Type cmd
- Left-click cmd.exe> run as administrator
- Copy & paste: wusa /uninstall /KB:976932 /quiet /norestart
- press <enter>
- Reboot
- Try installing sp1 again either automatic or manual.
Post again and let us know your results.
If this doesn't alleviate your issue, give NoelDP a shout, he's the expert here.
There is no Service Pack 2 for Windows 7, only Service Pack 1.
The first thing you do is download Windows 7 Service Pack 1 to get your system up to a point where you can install updates like the Windows 7 Rollup which can bring your system up to date.
Step 1: install Service Pack 1:
Download the file: 7601.17514.101119-1850_Update_Sp_Wave1-GRMSP1.1_DVD.iso
Burn it to a blank DVD.
Follow instructions to install Windows 7 SP1:
If you don't have a blank DVD disc, you can download individual Service Pack 1 file for 32 or 64 bit Windows 7 from the same page:
32 bit: windows6.1-KB976932-X86.exe
64 bit: windows6.1-KB976932-X64.exe
Step 2: Install Windows 7 Rollup:
How to Install the Rollup Update for Windows 7 Service .. - groovyPostStep 3:
Download and install the following:
then