How to update several offline laptops

chez666 said:

Is there a way to OFFLINE windows update all of my laptops?

Yes. You would need latest cumulative update (it includes all previous updates). This is normally downloaded through Windows Update, but updates are also available as an offline .MSU installer from the Microsoft Update Catalog. Download it, copy it to a USB, then on each PC plug in the USB and double-click on the .MSU to install it.

To make it easier to get, Brink adds the .MSU direct download links at the bottom of each CU's post in the News forum. Here's the latest one:

KB5004237 Windows 10 2004 19041.1110, 20H2 19042.1110, 21H1 19043.1110

Chez,

1 You could, if necessary, download then copy across on USB the latest Version ISO and run it on each one to get it to the latest Version [currently 21H1] by using the Repair install [aka In-place upgrade] procedure.
- Despite its name, a Repair install is a repair-update procedure not an installation so your applications & data ought not to be disrupted.
- Do back up your data beforehand anyway.
- I tend to download the ISO using Option 5 [TechBench-WZT] and I make sure I choose the International English option because that means British English. It's still from MS, TechBench just act as a [necessary] redirection mechanism.
Download Windows 10 ISO File -TenForumsTutorials
Repair Install - TenForumsTutorials [i.e. what to do with the downloaded ISO file]


2 Once the offline computers are at the current Version, you could then download & copy across on USB the latest Cumulative update and then double-click on the .msu file to install that update. There's a download link near the end of the main article but do have a look through some of the discussions to check the experiences others have had of the current CU.
KB5004237 CU - TenForums
- The TenForums, News section always has a thread for the latest one.


3 You could then download & copy across on USB the latest .Net Framework Cumulative update and then double-click on the .msu file to install that update. There's a download link near the end of the main article but do have a look through some of the discussions to check the experiences others have had of the current .Net CU.
KB5003537 Net CU - TenForums
- The TenForums, News section always has a thread for the latest one.


4 You could then download and copy across on USB the latest consolidated Windows defender definitions file[s].
- You need to download x64 or x86 versions as appropriate. If you will need both, as I used to, then I suggest you add x64/x86 to its name as you download each one or you might easily get them mixed up later on.
- These links are direct downloads links. Your browser will offer to save or run the file so make sure you choose Save.
latest WD definitions x64
latest WD definitions x86
- They always used to be updated each Tuesday so you'd always get a pretty current version by downloading them.
- It's actually "Windows defender" / "Windows security" these days.
- When you go online you might also notice WD updating again. Those downloads are just malware definitions but when it updates automatically or manually online it will also update the WD platform itself. I gave up on searching online for then manually downloading the WD platform updates because the ones made available online didn't always include the latest one so it would be wasted effort because it would have to update itself later on anyway.
- When you run the downloaded definitions, there will be no user interface. Either stick the kettle on and let them get on with it or monitor them in Task manager, Processes tab. When this entry disappears you'll know that the update is complete. I don't think I have witnessed it taking more than a minute to complete the update but the lack of an interface to report completion is rather awkward.



5 The computers will then be in a fit state to connect to the internet themselves so that they can check for any other updates that might be required, including WD platform updates. These other updates are going to be small ones.


Best of luck,
Denis