Win7 Office Update nonexistent as of 3-16-16

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I bought two used quad core Win7 boxes and on the 1st machine was able to do the usual shtick with adding Microsoft Update once all the Win7 updates were complete. Yesterday I went to do the same on the second but found Microsoft had destroyed the Microsoft Update functionality for Windows 7. That is, the web page that used to add MU functionality to Windows Update no longer does.

You can check this for yourself if you log into the Update Microsoft Office – Microsoft Help page from a Win7 machine. All you see is the idiotic comment that you can access Windows Update from the Start menu! Hopefully the ‘Softies rectify this soon, because any of us with Office needing to be thoroughly updated on Windows 7 machines basically have to disconnect from the internet or just turn them off till they do. (A client is still on Office 2007 so there are a LOT of missing updates.)

I have found no workarounds for this one, maybe because it hasn’t happened before in the 6 years since Windows 7 was released.

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Why don’t you go to WU and click on the link to change to MU?

Joe

--Joe

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Joe, that’s exactly what I tried to do and my point is that as of yesterday the link no longer works. See attached for the useless web page that now appears when one clicks on the link that is supposed to activate Microsoft Update.

I thought it would be obvious, but in view of some responses let me say this: you cannot verify this problem unless you have a Win7 machine WITHOUT MICROSOFT UPDATE YET ACTIVATED and you go to try to activate in the usual manner. Then you will see what I see in the attachment, a web page that is missing the widget that will activate Microsoft Update and allow Windows Update to search for updates to Office, etc.

– Will

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Windows Update is working fine for me today from Start, All Programs, Windows Update, getting 4 Optional updates and leaving GWX alone for now.

Before you wonder "Am I doing things right," ask "Am I doing the right things?"

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Works fine for me too, Berton. But that is not the point of my post.

The point is, Microsoft has disabled the ability to include additional Microsoft updates (read: Office) with the normal Windows updates, an essential feature and one I’ve never before seen disabled.

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Works fine for me too, Berton. But that is not the point of my post.

The point is, Microsoft has disabled the ability to include additional Microsoft updates (read: Office) with the normal Windows updates, an essential feature and one I’ve never before seen disabled.

My Windows Update on Win7 and the Change Settings is still checked and appears to be working, my last Office 2010 64-bit update was last week, KB3114887.
43921-Win7UpdateSettings

Before you wonder "Am I doing things right," ask "Am I doing the right things?"

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All you see is the idiotic comment that you can access Windows Update from the Start menu!

That part’s not idiotic. Try it. The web site went away years ago for Windows 7 updates (including Office).

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Try what? Windows Update works fine!

But the widget that should be on the Microsoft Update page to add the capability of adding additional Microsoft updates to Windows update including Office updates disappeared as of yesterday. It does not exist on that page I attached, as you can plainly see.

My God, man, I’ve got 25 years in tech support. I wouldn’t trouble the forum if there wasn’t a real issue here!!!!!

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I read you, Berton, loud and clear.

Every other Win7 machine I’ve ever had, the updates worked fine and such is the case with my Office 2010 on Win10 machines at home and at work, but as of yesterday, at least for the NEWLY REINSTALLED Win7 machine I described, the ability to SWITCH MICROSOFT UPDATE ON FOR THE FIRST TIME so Windows Update automatically includes updates for Microsoft Office has been disabled by Microsoft by redirecting to the wrong webpage from the Windows Update screen in Control Panel. And I was able to add Microsoft Update to an identical machine in the identical manner the day before.

So that’s the only issue – but if you’re trying to get a reinstalled machine up and running, it’s a big one!

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redirecting to the wrong webpage from the Windows Update screen in Control Panel

Using either shortcut for Windows Update never gives me the actual Web page or site it will be downloaded from. I can get a page if I know a particular KB number and search for it.

Before you wonder "Am I doing things right," ask "Am I doing the right things?"

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SWITCH MICROSOFT UPDATE ON FOR THE FIRST TIME

Do you have the check box for Microsoft Update shown in Berton’s screen shot at post #8?

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Do you have the check box for Microsoft Update shown in Berton’s screen shot at post #8?

Hey, Bruce,

If I could have switched that on (it didn’t exist on the Win7 Windows Update screen in question) there would have been nothing for me to post. But I just discovered that Microsoft has changed how people switch on Microsoft Update for the first time.

It used to be done from the Windows Update screen you reference, or something very like it. Now it’s done on first use of Microsoft Office, as shown in the PDF attached to my last post.

Thanks,

Will

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Hi, Berton,

Thanks for your help …

PROBLEM SOLVED! As the attachment shows, I just learned that Microsoft has moved the turning on of Microsoft Update into a script that runs on first use in Office 2007 (Word). It isn’t switched on any longer from Windows Update, as it had been for years.

I had searched high and low online, but the ‘Softies came up with a simple and elegant solution now that I know about it.

I used to do all updates before opening any of the Office programs, but no longer.

Take care,

Will

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Interesting theory Will but I have a Windows 7 Ultimate installation which has never had Office installed yet it has the option to download Microsoft updates.

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Interesting theory Will but I have a Windows 7 Ultimate installation which has never had Office installed yet it has the option to download Microsoft updates.

I’ve seen that when one or more of the Viewers such as PowerPoint Viewer is installed. It seems to take only one of the applications associated with Office such as OneNote to be recognized by Updates to offer those as they tend to cover the whole spectrum of the Office programs. Maybe Skype is involved [since Microsoft owns it]??

Before you wonder "Am I doing things right," ask "Am I doing the right things?"

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Sure, Browni. Every other installation I’ve ever seen had that option as well … but I think Storm hit the nail on the head: it’s probable Microsoft Update had been switched off on this machine (by the reseller before I ever saw it).

At least that seems more likely than that Microsoft, from one day to the next on identical PCs Win7 Pro machines with the same Office 2007 installation disk, suddenly changed from installing Microsoft Update through the Windows Update screen to installing it with a run-once script on first use of Office 2007.

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Browni, sorry to be so very slow responding.

Listen, in 7 years with Win7 that one week in March 2016 is the only time I’ve ever had trouble switching on Microsoft update, usually just with the checkbox on the WU page.

Now for the past 9 months SLOW Win7 reinstalls have been an absolute nightmare … don’t get me started … but this was a first for me. It was odd that either PC redirected to a website instead of using the MU checkbox selection. But for one to redirect to a website that didn’t work was what stumped me. Fortunately, the first-use script when I opened Word was what saved the day on that second machine.

Thanks again for your replies.

Will

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This seems to happen if you switch off the Microsoft Updates box. If you change your mind later using the the “Find Out More” link mentioned above no longer works.

The fix is to use a vb script which will reactivate it.

Use a text editor and paste in the following:

Set ServiceManager = CreateObject(“Microsoft.Update.ServiceManager”)
ServiceManager.ClientApplicationID = “My App”
Set NewUpdateService = ServiceManager.AddService2(“7971f918-a847-4430-9279-4a52d1efe18d”,7,””)

Save it with a .vbs extension (NOT .txt) and run from cmd

You can see the original source from Microsoft here https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa826676%28v=vs.85%29

I also have a script to reverse it if anyone wants it

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Interesting, Storm! I suppose it is possible the reseller from whom I bought the PC had switched Microsoft Update off before I ever got hold of the machine, but I never did. In any case, problem solved. But I thank you for the informative and respectful reply! Will

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It’s the help page that’s out of date though. (I think Microsoft gave up updating local help files long ago.) A web page hasn’t been part of this for years.

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One of the most interesting posts I’ve seen here. Thanks for sticking with it and providing the answer for all!

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