Backing up Windows updates?

PermaChanged · 4 Jan 2011 at 19:20

Hi all,

I'm just about to install my new SSD and put a clean install on it of Windows 7.

I was just wondering whether it's at all possible to backup Windows updates to prevent having to re-download them all which could take a while?

Thanks,
Jonny

Draeger · 4 Jan 2011 at 19:26

I'm not sure if there is such a method available but I'll stand corrected otherwise!. If there is, I'd also be interested on how to do this. :cool:

SiriusB · 4 Jan 2011 at 19:35

It doesn't take that long.

Draeger · 4 Jan 2011 at 19:36

I know.

PermaChanged · 4 Jan 2011 at 19:38

SiriusB said:
It doesn't take that long.

On whose connection?

sturmtruppe · 4 Jan 2011 at 20:34

All the update installers are downloaded to C:\windows\software distribution\download

You could try copying the contents of that folder over to your new hdd before running windows update.

Raumarik · 4 Jan 2011 at 20:51

I'd probably do as sturmtruppe has suggested, that's essentially all a WSUS server does then it decides to hand the updates out etc in corporate environments. There isn't really an alternative for home users though. Only problem I see is you could end up with a lot of updates you don't need and with an SSD you don't want to waste space.

Senture · 4 Jan 2011 at 23:54

If you have a USB drive with a bit of free space, there is something out there that may be useful.

http://download.wsusoffline.net/

iviv · 5 Jan 2011 at 03:07

http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/downloads/pages/windows_7_sp1.aspx

SP1 should come with most of the updates included, so you could slipstream that onto a dvd and install using that, though its only the RC. Can't see it actually causing any problems though, but its your risk.

Nanobot · 5 Jan 2011 at 20:03

After a fresh install, I tend to run Windows Update just to get the catalog list of what is needed, but I don't proceed with the download/install at that point. I copy the list of critical updates and then go to the MS download site and download each KB individually that was listed when I first did Windows Update.
Have never been keen for WU to run automatically anyway, so will just run WU myself after a few months and repeat the above.

For any hardware driver updates, I let WU download and install them, but look in C:\windows\software distribution\download during the download/install process as drivers seem to be extracted into a default folder called Install. This is OK if only one hardware driver needs updating, but if WU says you need more than one hardware driver updating, it will clear and replace the contents of Install for each device, so you need to grab the folder during mid install!
I know it sounds tedious but it's how I like to do my updates.

Supernaut91 · 5 Jan 2011 at 23:48

cant wait for the Windows 7 SP1 discs to be released as this will surely save a lot of people time and effort!