How do I download Windows XP updates just once and install them from the local source after that?
December 11, 2012 4:59 AM Subscribe
How do I save all Windows XP (32 bit) updates on my PC, burn them to a DVD, and then use that DVD so I don't have to download them again?
I find myself installing XP (32 bit only, home and pro) not infrequently on different HDDs and machines for reasons I won't bore you with. This is a real pain because I have a slow DSL connection so it can consume a lot of time downloading all the updates from MS after the installation is complete.
I'd like to download all Windows XP updates from Microsoft's update site to a directory(folder) on my PC, and periodically update it by downloading only updates that are released after my first mega download.
Then, whenever I perform a new installation of XP, I could install XP from an installation CD, and then somehow point Windows Update on the fresh installation to the above folder, or a DVD copy of it, or whatever (somewhere local) so the machine with the fresh install grabs the updates locally rather than downloading them over my DSL line, thus saving me an enormous amount of time.
From the research I've done, I think the first part is probably doable, but I'd like to hear ideas for how to do that best.
The second part, where I need to point windows update on the fresh install to the local location, seems to be much tougher to do since I don't see a way that windows update can be forced to look at a local folder before going out to MS's update site.
Ideally, I'd like to accomplish the above without installing any 3rd party utilities that may infect the machine with malware.
Any relatively painless way to do this? Many thanks in advance.
I find myself installing XP (32 bit only, home and pro) not infrequently on different HDDs and machines for reasons I won't bore you with. This is a real pain because I have a slow DSL connection so it can consume a lot of time downloading all the updates from MS after the installation is complete.
I'd like to download all Windows XP updates from Microsoft's update site to a directory(folder) on my PC, and periodically update it by downloading only updates that are released after my first mega download.
Then, whenever I perform a new installation of XP, I could install XP from an installation CD, and then somehow point Windows Update on the fresh installation to the above folder, or a DVD copy of it, or whatever (somewhere local) so the machine with the fresh install grabs the updates locally rather than downloading them over my DSL line, thus saving me an enormous amount of time.
From the research I've done, I think the first part is probably doable, but I'd like to hear ideas for how to do that best.
The second part, where I need to point windows update on the fresh install to the local location, seems to be much tougher to do since I don't see a way that windows update can be forced to look at a local folder before going out to MS's update site.
Ideally, I'd like to accomplish the above without installing any 3rd party utilities that may infect the machine with malware.
Any relatively painless way to do this? Many thanks in advance.
You can patch the install disk with all the updates. Google "patch XP install disk" or similar; there are lots of tutorials. You can also 'slipstream' the service packs in.
Example tutorial: lifehacker
posted by katrielalex at 5:37 AM on December 11, 2012
Example tutorial: lifehacker
posted by katrielalex at 5:37 AM on December 11, 2012
You could roll your own copy of the Windows install disc with nLite to accomplish the second part of your question. That way the OS is updated as soon as it is installed.
posted by deezil at 5:39 AM on December 11, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by deezil at 5:39 AM on December 11, 2012 [1 favorite]
You don't have to use Windows Update or any third party utilties to install Windows updates. For Windows XP, the files are just simple .exe files, and you can just run them all at the command line or in a huge batch file.
For example, Microsoft Security Bulletin MS11-011 lists Windows XP SP3 as an affected software. You can get the download link for the update file there.
Also if you scroll down on the page to the Update Information -> Security Update Deployment -> Windows XP section, it will list the two options that you can hand to the exe file:
WindowsXP-KB2567053-x86-enu.exe /quiet /norestart
These options will suppress the patch from popping up a whole bunch of prompt windows and also the prompt to restart the system immediately after, so you can run a bunch of these files without restarting every single time. You will have to restart at the end, of course, to actually apply the changes. And I would recommend running Windows Update or Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (a security-focused business version of Windows update) at the end to make sure you didn't miss anything.
Keep in mind that this will always be a moving target, as Microsoft releases updates on a regular basis - and monthly for security bulletins (on the second Tuesday of each month).
posted by meowzilla at 7:52 AM on December 11, 2012
For example, Microsoft Security Bulletin MS11-011 lists Windows XP SP3 as an affected software. You can get the download link for the update file there.
Also if you scroll down on the page to the Update Information -> Security Update Deployment -> Windows XP section, it will list the two options that you can hand to the exe file:
WindowsXP-KB2567053-x86-enu.exe /quiet /norestart
These options will suppress the patch from popping up a whole bunch of prompt windows and also the prompt to restart the system immediately after, so you can run a bunch of these files without restarting every single time. You will have to restart at the end, of course, to actually apply the changes. And I would recommend running Windows Update or Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (a security-focused business version of Windows update) at the end to make sure you didn't miss anything.
Keep in mind that this will always be a moving target, as Microsoft releases updates on a regular basis - and monthly for security bulletins (on the second Tuesday of each month).
posted by meowzilla at 7:52 AM on December 11, 2012
I've successfully used Autopatcher to do this successfully. It's very automated and straightforward - 11 years of patches in just a few minutes after you download.
posted by owls at 8:20 AM on December 12, 2012
posted by owls at 8:20 AM on December 12, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by devnull at 5:00 AM on December 11, 2012 [2 favorites]