How to update a fresh Windows 7+SP1 install in 2024

Mostly taken from http://www.freenode-windows.org/resources/vista-7/windows-update (archived)

Windows 7 Ultimate (SP1) SHA1 hash: 36ae90defbad9d9539e649b193ae573b77a71c83

1. Download rollup updates

First, manually download (but don’t install) these updates from the Microsoft Update Catalog:

1. KB3125574
2. KB3172605
3. KB3020369

2. Disable Windows Update

1. Disable the internet connection
2. Disable the Windows Update service (stop-service wuauserv in admin PowerShell)
3. Remove cached update files (remove-item C:\windows\softwaredistribution\WuRedir in admin PowerShell)

3. Install rollup updates

1. Install KB3020369
2. Install KB3172605 and reboot
3. Install KB3125574 and reboot

3. Updating via Windows Update

Reconnect to the internet and launch the standard Windows Update program.

Many updates will fail, but if you retry and restart enough, they will eventually succeed.