The status of Win 8.1 is still unclear, but it looks like updates to Win7 will (finally!) run much faster Credit: Shutterstock In a TechNet post called “Simplifying updates for Windows 7 and 8.1,” Microsoft engineer Nathan Mercer has wonderful news for Windows 7 customers — particularly those who’ve spent hours and hours (and days) waiting for Windows Updates. While it eschews the old-fashioned phrase “service pack,” Mercer’s announcement is exactly that. Here’s how he puts it: We’re making available a new convenience rollup for Windows 7 SP1 … [it] contains all the security and non-security fixes released since the release of Windows 7 SP1 that are suitable for general distribution, up through April 2016. Install this one update, and then you only need new updates released after April 2016…. This convenience update is completely optional; it doesn’t have to be installed and won’t even be offered via Windows Update — you can choose whether or not you want to use it. The Microsoft Update Catalog site is so ancient, it requires Internet Explorer and an ActiveX control. The downloaded package — identified as KB 3125574, at 477MB for 64-bit systems — doesn’t yet have an associated Knowledge Base article, nor are there any installation instructions for the downloaded file (double-click on the file ending in .msu to invoke the Windows Update Standalone Installer). Most confusing, the update on offer is clearly marked as a Windows 7 update. There’s no analogous update for Windows 8.1 yet. Mercer goes on to say: Also today we are announcing that non-security updates for Windows 7 SP1 and Windows 8.1 (as well as Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2) will be available as a monthly rollup (fixes rolled up together into a single update). Each month, we will release a single update containing all of the non-security fixes for that month. We are making this change — shifting to rollup updates, to improve the reliability and quality of our updates…. These fixes will be available through Windows Update, WSUS, and SCCM as well as the Microsoft Update catalog. We hope this monthly rollup update simplifies your process of keeping Windows 7, and 8.1 up-to-date. That should come as a huge relief to the 50 percent of Windows users who are still on Windows 7. I read it as Windows 7 Service Pack 2 and (possibly, at some point) Windows 8.1 Service Pack 1. But never mind. You can call it anything you like, as long as it works. Tests are underway. Related content opinion On a personal note... Woody Leonhard looks back a bit, looks ahead to retirement — and shares good news about who's picking up the Windows patching torch. By Woody Leonhard Nov 09, 2020 3 mins Small and Medium Business Computers Windows news analysis Get Microsoft's October patches installed — and seriously consider Win10 2004 Odd ancillary patches have their problems, but the mainstream October patches look pretty reliable. The big question: Is Win10 version 2004 up to your stability standards. I’m skeptical -- especially because it has few worthwhile improvements. By Woody Leonhard Oct 30, 2020 6 mins Small and Medium Business Microsoft Computers news analysis Microsoft Patch Alert: October 2020 The big news with this month’s patches – aside from the usual smorgasbord of strange errors – has more to do with the patches that are outside the regular cumulative update stream. Remarkably, we didn’t get any security fixes By Woody Leonhard Oct 22, 2020 189 mins Small and Medium Business Microsoft Office Microsoft news analysis With Patch Tuesday here, be sure Windows Update is paused With all the flotsam floating around, it’s easy to lose sight of Second Tuesdays. October’s arrives tomorrow and, with it, another round of Windows and Office patches. Take a minute to make sure you aren’t in the front lines, as eve By Woody Leonhard Oct 12, 2020 5 mins Small and Medium Business Microsoft Windows Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe