Windows Update through Dial up

[Robert Neville]

Please let me know if one could download all the Window updates from a
broadband connection and load them on a computer without broadband or
network capabilities. My family just built my mother a new computer.
On her first outing, she encountered spyware, which has disrupted her
system. Now, I am retrofitting her system with all the necessary
protection software (spybot, HijackThis, etc.); but the Windows
Updates have me stumped. Her system has Windows XP Pro SP1.

Microsoft offers a security CD, yet it generally does not include all
the updates and may consume more time than I desire. MS update scheme
is cumbersome. It serves their marketing interests by letting them
release less than robust software. Unfortunately, I often wipe my
drive clean and start over. Drive images use to provide me with a
quick reinstallation, but the Windows Update makes this approach less
attractive (unless you have a current image or broadband connection
nearby). I wipe out the drive less frequently. Now, I need to create
a CD with all the patches and mail it to my mom. Then I could walk
her through the process of diagnosis, removing parasites, and
protecting her system. She is less than thrill about the inter-working
of software or computers. So the challenge will be significant.

Please help update my mother's computer, which happens to be 2000
miles away.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

The Security Update is the best option but it is current to about 8
months ago.
You would need to get the rest of the updates separately#1 on this
link:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/wufix.htm

Service Pack 2 will be out most likely within the next month or so.
That will include ALL the necessary updates.
SP 2 will likely be available on CD from various sources.
As well you will be able to download the Network Installation and burn
to CD.

 

[Guest]

The updates range in size between 300k and 2000k. And it is NOT a big deal even for a dial-up.

Disable Automatic Updates. Ask your mother to click Start - > Windows Update once a week. That will take her to MS website where she can select Critical Updates and Service Packs (nobody needs the rest anyway), push Next few times, and keep the Internet connection alive for 20-30 minutes.

More time-consuming and less effective way:

Go to the same site (MS Windows Updates).
Let it scan your computer.
When it’s done, click Critical Updates and Service Packs on the left.
At this point the list of updates (text) on the right will be gray (dimmed and inaccessible).
But when you push Next (or Install) button in the middle, the text on the right will turn black.
Now you should clearly see all updates with “more info†(or something similar) blue link next to each.
If you click the link, it will take you to direct file download page.
Download files.
Copy files to CD.
Mail.

The latest method seams to be more suitable for Service Packs, due to large download size.

Good Luck!

 

[Robert Neville]

Thanks,

This information has help a great deal.

The updates range in size between 300k and 2000k. And it is NOT a big deal even for a dial-up.

Disable Automatic Updates. Ask your mother to click Start - > Windows Update once a week. That will take her to MS website where she can select Critical Updates and Service Packs (nobody needs the rest anyway), push Next few times, and keep the Internet connection alive for 20-30 minutes.

More time-consuming and less effective way:

Go to the same site (MS Windows Updates).
Let it scan your computer.
When it’s done, click Critical Updates and Service Packs on the left.
At this point the list of updates (text) on the right will be gray (dimmed and inaccessible).
But when you push Next (or Install) button in the middle, the text on the right will turn black.
Now you should clearly see all updates with “more info” (or something similar) blue link next to each.
If you click the link, it will take you to direct file download page.
Download files.
Copy files to CD.
Mail.

The latest method seams to be more suitable for Service Packs, due to large download size.

Good Luck!