https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com...17/simplifying-updates-for-windows-7-and-8-1/ It's not officially called "Service Pack 2", but I think there's not much difference between this patch and other Microsoft Service Packs.
I was testing this earlier, sadly while it works in a virgin online VM install (With the Servicing Update first), it won't integrate offline (With the Servicing Update first) and throws an error Failed to resolve execution chain. [HRESULT = 0x800736b5- ERROR_SXS_MANIFEST_PARSE_ERROR]. Looks like we have to wait for a re-release or other fix before making a 'SP2' image without using sysprep. I haven't tried it offline without applying the servicing update first, maybe I should... I didn't do much testing in the online VM but the I did check for the GWX folder. It'd be pretty silly of MS to add that to a rollup for people intending to remain on 7, eg corporations, when they are pulling it shortly anyway but I expect the telemetry point 'upgrades' might still be included. One problem at a time.... The new monthly rollup, for instance todays may rollup, included one patch I didn't want and one I did. It looks like they could/may try to use this method into pushing those of us who like to pick and choose our updates into something of a pickle once they release one with security updates & updated telemetry points together with no way to get one without the other...but time will tell.
You're assumption is correct. It contains all telemetry updates. So you have to remove the scheduled tasks and service related to telemetry.
It isn't really convenient. The catalog page told me that the package wasn't designed for my OS. I run W7HP... lol
If you really want a neat solution bundled in a pack, then go for Simplix Pack. By far the best compilation of Windows 7 updates w/o the telemetry ones, refreshed circa once a month: http://forums.mydigitallife.info/th...tem-Integrate-hotfixes-into-Win7-distribution
Where exactly did you get that information? ASKVG says otherwise: ASKVG lists the updates included in the convenience rollup package. I checked those listed updates. I found no Windows 10 pushiness updates and only one telemetry update, KB3075249, "Update that adds telemetry points to consent.exe in Windows 8.1 and Windows 7" N.B. ASKVG's "List of Updates Included in Convenience Rollup Package" also mentions KB3133977, "BitLocker can't encrypt drives because of service crashes in svchost.exe process in Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2", of which the known issue can mean a problem for some users: ASKVG offers convenient direct download links for the convenience rollup package.
The ASKVG links were indeed convenient, thank you. This looks a bit easier than Autopatcher which I've been using to do this.
I contains KB3080149 = This package updates the Diagnostics and Telemetry tracking service to existing devices. This service provides benefits from the latest version of Windows to systems that have not yet upgraded. The update also supports applications that are subscribed to Visual Studio Application Insights. KB3075249 = This update adds telemetry points to the User Account Control (UAC) feature to collect information on elevations that come from low integrity levels. KB3068708 = This package updates the Diagnostic and Telemetry service on existing devices. This package also supports applications that are subscribed to Visual Studio Application Insights. The content in this article was revised to more accurately reflect the functionality of the package and related Windows Service. Panagiotis
Ah, I see. Thanks very much. I already mentioned KB3075249. Regarding KB3068708, that's a really pesky one. Yes, it's a telemetry update, but the knowledge base article also mentions: "The Windows 7 offering also supports the kernel updates that were deployed separately to Windows 8.1 through security update 3045999." Therefore, for Windows 7, I think KB3068708 is a security update wrapped in a telemetry update. Because of the security update content for Windows 7, I consider KB3068708 as probably an essential security update, despite the telemetry content. Others may think differently. As I said, it's a really pesky one! Regarding KB3080149, I consider it as rather essential because of the fix for System File Checker tool (N.B. a fix for an issue introduced by KB3068708!), but you are right, it is essentially a telemetry update, with some fixes wrapped inside it. It is not truly essential, but I still think it is rather important. Another one about which opinions may differ. Anyhow, if one (like me) considers those updates as important, it is important to be aware of the telemetry content. So, thank you very much, once more, for pointing out that telemetry content.
"Also today we are announcing that non-security updates for Windows 7 SP1 and Windows 8.1 will be available as a monthly rollup." "We are making this change – shifting to rollup updates, to improve the reliability and quality of our updates." What do quality and reliability have to do with the delivery system? Sounds like a lot of who shot John.
It doesn't contain GWX or anything pertaining to GWX. But it does contain certain scheduled tasks pertaining to telemetry as well as that DiagTrack service. All of that can easily be disabled though, of course. This convenience pack is still quite wonderful and definitely far better in comparison to installing those hundreds of updates through Windows Updates. It's been a blessing for my VMs and slipstream images. Users just need to be aware of the servicing stack prerequisite and it's all good.
Personally, I do install those 3 updates. Windows Customer Experience Improvment program existed since 7 were released and can be turned off. The most important thing of this rollup update is to be applied after installing the Language Packs (enterprise and ultimate). Panagiotis
I did a clean install of Win 7 SP1, then installed the one prerequisite update and then the convenience rollup update. The rollup update took about an hour here, but I have a fairly slow machine (core 2 duo 2.2 GHz, 4 GB ram, etc). Then after that was done, I installed the May update rollup from MS. Seems that everything is fine here, no problems or issues at all. Much better than trying to deal with the idiotic win update system that takes 4 hours here to just check for updates. The above processes, including clean install were done in about 2.5 hours compared to my previous install the old way which took about 12 hours...
@Kerodo Thank you. It seems I'll have similar performance since I have similar processor. Can I select which updates to install, and thus de-select the "spying" ones? Or I must install the entire thing and then remove the updates I want?
To be honest, I'm not sure if there is any way to de-select any of the individual updates. You'll have to Google/search a bit and see I guess, I'm just not sure. When I installed the big rollup update, it just shows up in the update history as 1 update, no detail. So there isn't any way to uninstall individual ones from that vantage point. Perhaps someone else knows of some way to do it. There are 123 updates in the big rollup I believe. The 3 "telemetry" related updates are apparently just CEIP file updates, so I ignored them. CEIP is OFF by default here in my Win 7, and I don't really think it's an issue. Those are the only 3 I know of that some folks seem to object to. So, the upside to it all is, it makes doing a clean install and updating it much easier, but the downside is, you can't be too sure of what they're putting into the monthly rollup updates going forward, unless they list them of course. You can of course install the big rollup, and then run Win Updates normally to catch anything further. I prefer to avoid Win Updates completely, since people have said that the slow update checking is still there even after the rollup is installed. The slow update checking (4 hours here) is what I object to most. Sorry I can't be of more help on how to remove any of the individual updates in the rollup.
No problem, and thank you for the detailed explanation. I don't use WU either. Personally I like AutoPatcher. I'll do a test install of W7 tomorrow and see if I like this big update or not.
Sounds good. Remember to download and install KB3020369 prior to installing the rollup KB3125574 or you may get an error when you try to install the rollup without 369 first. See the instructions and overview here: http://www.askvg.com/install-all-po...n-windows-7-using-convenience-rollup-package/
