MS-DEFCON 2: Non-security Office updates due today

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Which means it’s a good time to check and make sure you have Automatic Updates turned off. If you’ve been following along, you already have Automatic
[See the full post at: MS-DEFCON 2: Non-security Office updates due today]

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Office is buttoned up on this end and I’m waiting till Sunday or Monday to install last months (Oct) updates just before November ones hit. I assume that we’re still  green for go on these and at DEFCON 2 for Office only ?

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You should be OK. Kinda skating close to the edge, but…

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Yep..I try to give M$ as much time as I can to pull the bad ones and hope they don’t slip me a nasty before I can get updated. Just a big gamble. Image Image and Image some more

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Fred

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I got an update for Microsoft Office Publisher 2007 and there is KB2976987 as Optional again…

Fractal Design Pop Air * Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 750W * ASUS TUF GAMING B560M-PLUS * Intel Core i9-11900K * 4 x 8 GB G.Skill Aegis DDR4 3600 MHz CL16 * ASRock RX 6800 XT Phantom Gaming 16GB OC * XPG GAMMIX S70 BLADE 1TB * SanDisk Ultra 3D 1TB * Samsung EVO 840 250GB * DVD RW Lite-ON iHAS 124 * Windows 10 Pro 22H2 64-bit Insider * Windows 11 Pro Beta Insider

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Compatibility Appraiser update are back

kb2952664/kb2976978

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walker, Woody posting as an MVP

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This signals that now is the right time to upgrade to 1709

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Wait, i thought those are to keep Win7/8.1 up-to-date

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I finally got around to installing the Oct. updates for my three WIN 10 Anniversary Edition 1607 computers yesterday — a week later than usual, but I was giving Microsoft as long as possible to get any outstanding patches with problems fixed — and found myself in an unbelievable situation that has left me completely exhausted and bumfuzzled. I’ll try to keep it as short as possible.

After doing my maintenance cleanup which I always do before tackling the updates, I merrily proceeded along installing the updates in my usual order and manner using WUMT. All went as smooth as silk until I got to the Oct. Cumulative update for 1607, x64, KB4041691. Suddenly everything slowed to a crawl — I mean a really, really, slow crawl, on all three computers.

I stuck with it, though, until all three had gotten to the re-boot stage, at various times, of course — very long various times. Finally they popped up the “working on Windows (or something similar to that) please don’t turn off your computer” screen. Again, all three computers showed that screen for a really, I mean a really, really long time.

Finally though, my desktop was the first to reboot to the sign-in start screen. Ahhh, finally, I thought as I logged in to Windows. Feeling much better, I checked the OS Build number and my heart sank. It still read 14393.1715. I hastily went to the Update History screen and saw that the update had failed. After waiting for the two laptops to re-boot to the sign-in screen, I checked and found that the update had failed on both of them, too.

By that time about five hours had gone by. So, in order to save time on downloading and installing, I went to the Windows Update Catalog and downloaded the update onto each computer. The downloads went as fast as expected, and I proceeded to install the update on each computer again, after clearing out the update caches and whatever other system files with Disk Cleanup.

Same exact story … updates went as slow as molasses in Northern Minnesota in January, and the update failed again on all three computers. By the time my slowest, the HP 2-in-1, finished, it was a few minutes past 4 a.m. this morning. I had spent over 12 hours going through my monthly update routine, and trying to install two failed updates on each computer.

I’m sorry for the lengthy post, but I need help. Has anyone else ever had a similar experienced installing Cumulative Updates, and if so, how did you get the updates to install successfully? Or did you just wait for the next month’s Cumulative Update. If so, did that one install successfully?

ANY help and/or comments from anyone will be most welcome. Please, I need help. I’m getting too old to keep doing battle with Microsoft and their #@%^&* WaaS every month.

Thanks for listening.

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walker

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@ dononline,
Looks like the resident Windows Update experts here at Ask Woody are of no help to you.

Remember, through Windows Update, M$ know everything about your Win 10 Version 1607 computers and M$ may not like what you have been doing with your Win 10 computers, ie refuse to upgrade to Version 1703 or 1709. Maybe M$ refused to “service” your Win 10 Version 1607 computers with correct updates because M$ found that your computers were;
1. too old and no longer supported by the OEMs wrt device drivers, as per the EULA = need to buy new computers.
2. supposed to be already running Version 1703 or 1709.

Presently, only the Win 10 Version 1709 ISO is available at M$’s website. The Win 10 Version 1607 ISO is still available at other websites. If there are still no solution to your problem, ….
… Try a clean reinstall of Version 1607 and then update. This is because M$ may see your clean-installed computers as new users and so will be “duped” into sending you the latest and very large cumulative update correctly.
… Last resort is to toe the M$ line and try to upgrade to Version 1703 or 1709 through Windows Update or do a clean install.

If still unable to solve the problem, try to revert to Win 7/8.1 or use other OS.

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dononline, walker

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Thank you for your thoughtful input. I have, in fact, been planning to upgrade to either 1703 or 1709 in January, when MS support for 1607 runs out. (I think that’s true, isn’t it?) At any rate I’m hoping 1709 will be in good enough shape by then. I just don’t want to upgrade every 6 months. I’d prefer every 18 months to whatever the current recommended for everyone version is at the moment, if possible. But, looks like I may have to just bite the bullet and go with 1703 if November’s Cumulative is a no-go, which I suspect it will be. (Please see my response to Woody’s comment below … after I’ve had time to post it.)
Thanks again.

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walker

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Hi anonymous,

I found the answer for my update problems from … hold your breath … the Microsoft Community Support folks! First time ever!

It was my Spectrum Security Suite, that I have had no problems with it running while updating all these years, but it sure stopped KB4041691 cold! Go figure.

At any rate, I turned it off and re-ran the update on all three computers (one at the time) and all went as smooth as silk. I’m now updated through Oct. Just wanted you to know, and thank you again for your input.

Best Regards,
Don

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I read your post but, man, I don’t have a clue!

Anniversary Update is still supported, but you aren’t going to get too many folks at Microsoft overly concerned about slow updating.

I haven’t seen other reports – but then I don’t know anybody else who’s still on 1607.

I think the anonymous suggestions above are about the best you’re going to do — try a clean install (if you still have the installation media!). Then apply only the latest cumulative update. If that doesn’t work, you don’t have much choice but to move on to 1703 — if you can. I’m still not ready to recommend 1709.

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Thank you for your input, Woody. Please see my comment to anonymous above for what my plan is for future updates. I’m hoping it will work out.

One more thing I can add that might be of interest to the folks here: The only thing I can think of that might shed some light on why KB4041691 is failing on all three of my computers is that a little while back, I don’t remember exactly when (maybe two or three weeks?), I dropped out of the Insiders Program. I haven’t really been participating for a long time, anyhow. But, while researching what could possibly have gone wrong, I ran across an article on ZDNet, I think, about an earlier Cumulative Update that would not work for some people. The problem? They had all recently dropped out of the Insiders Program.

Supposedly, when they quit the program, MS, in it’s infinite wisdom, made a change in their registries that made that particular update not install. The author even included a script with his instructions on how to get the registry repaired. Just for the heck of it, I tried it on one of my laptops and tried running KB4041691 on it while I watched TV for three hours. No cigar, though. That fix must have been good for just that one particular update.

Anyhow, it’s all just bazaar, isn’t it? Who knows what caused this crazy problem for me? We’ll most likely never know. I do plan on waiting for the Nov. Cumulative and see if it installs just for the heck of it. If not, which I suspect will be the case, my plan is to just wait until January and upgrade to, hopefully, 1709 if it’s ready by then, or 1703 if it’s not.

But, dang it, I’m still not giving up on working out a schedule to upgrade every 18 months, as opposed to MS’s WaaS six month schedule. If anything, I’m a stubborn cuss and refuse to bend over for MS’s !@#$R%T!!!

Thanks again for your input, Woody. It’s always most welcome.

Oh, and your website, and the folks who participate here, are nothing short of a Godsend. Ya’ll keep up the great work!

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woody, walker

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Hi Woody,

Please post https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/ms-defcon-2-non-security-office-updates-due-today/#post-144885 above.

Just wanted you to know, and thank you again for your input.

Best Regards,
Don

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Whatever you try, I would suggest you try it on only one computer and see if it works before risking all three at once.

BACKUP, BACKUP, BACKUP
Before you start – AT LEAST, backup your data under your User ID first. Even better, also make an image of the computer as well.

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dononline, walker

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Thanks for your input, PK. Please see my comments to anonymous and Woody above for more of the story, if you’d like.

Yep, you’re right on with your excellent advice: “BACKUP, BACKUP, BACKUP”. Unfortunately, I’ve been bitten by the lazy bug a few times … and lived to regret it! I’ll also definitely do just one computer to see if whatever I do works.

However, now I do follow your excellent advice … well, kinda. I have always regularly backed up my data and files that I don’t want to lose. I keep it in three different places … just in case. Now, however, I need to get to know a good Disk Image program — free, if possible, but I’ll pay if I must to get a good one (suggestions appreciated) — and use the darn thing!

Thanks again.

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walker

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Take a look at Macrium Reflect – it’s free and has good references.
I’ve always used Acronis, but it’s a paid version.

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walker, dononline

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Hi PK,

Please see post https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/ms-defcon-2-non-security-office-updates-due-today/#post-144885 above.

Just wanted you to know, and thank you again for your input.

Best Regards,
Don

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i’ve seen it right now: did you go defcon 3? so now i’m a bit confused…
which patches to install? there is no explanation and also there are no november patches listed on:
https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/2000003-ongoing-list-of-group-b-monthly-updates-for-win7-and-8-1/

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anonymous wrote:

i’ve seen it right now: did you go defcon 3? so now i’m a bit confused… which patches to install? there is no explanation and also there are no november patches listed on: https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/2000003-ongoing-list-of-group-b-monthly-updates-for-win7-and-8-1/

The site has had problems again.

WE ARE STILL ON DEFCON-2 – DO NOT INSTALL ANYTHING

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woody

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