Microsoft Completely Moves to Cumulative Updates for Windows 7 and 8.1

Microsoft will make complete cumulative update packages available to Windows 7 and 8.1 users on a monthly basis. These packs do not yet contain security updates, but they will be included as of October.

Microsoft will announce the switch on Monday. Since May, the company has been doing monthly rollups for non-security-related updates, also known as feature updates, but now security updates are also added. Microsoft says to keep the download size small by using express packages. While this would be easier and faster, it deprives users of the option to decline a particular individual update. In the new situation, which also applies in Windows 10, it is all or nothing.

Microsoft is making the same change to the .Net Framework and the rollups are also coming to Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2012 R2.

In time, Microsoft will also add updates from the past, after “the last baseline”, by which the company presumably means Windows 7 SP1 and Windows 8.1 rtm, but before the monthly rollups started. These updates are added little by little to the cumulative update packages, so that ultimately users only need to download the most recent month’s cumulative update package from that baseline. Until then, it is recommended that you first install the convenience rollup from last May on Windows 7.

The new way of delivering updates should make it easier and faster for systems to be at exactly the same update level, which should primarily be a burden reduction for Microsoft’s testers and for the IT departments of large companies. There is also the option for companies to download only the security updates in cumulative packages. Microsoft will soon only publish these via WSUS, SCCM and the Microsoft Update Catalog. This maximizes security and minimizes the size of downloads. The Redmond-based company is also working on making the Microsoft Update Catalog work with browsers other than Internet Explorer.