Hello,
I purchased a Windows 7 ESU license from Harbor Computer Services for my Windows 7 Pro machine last month.
At the time, I verified that the necessary patches were installed on my machine:
- KB 4490628, a servicing-stack update released March 12, 2019;
- KB 4474419, an SHA-2 code-signing support update released September 23, 2019;
- KB 4516655, a servicing-stack update released September 10, 2019;
- KB 4519976, the October monthly rollup.
Note: I can find the first 3 patches listed in Control Panel->Programs and Features->Installed Updates, but I can’t find KB 4519976 in that context. The only place I can find evidence that this patch is/was installed is in Windows Update->View update history, where it indicates that the patch was successfully installed:
2019-10 Security Monthly Quality Rollup for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB4519976)
Installation date: 11/11/2019 10:43 PM
Installation status: Successful
Update type: Important
In Windows Update history, I can also see that I successfully installed all subsequent “Security Monthly Quality Rollup for Windows 7” patches for November, December, and January.
(Moreover, I think I was operating under the assumption that any “Security Monthly Quality Rollup” after and including October’s patch would be sufficient here. I don’t remember where I read this or why I thought this.)
In any case, I decided that I had all of the patches I needed, and I proceeded with the ESU installation, as instructed. The end result was that slmgr /dlv (entered in command prompt) popped up a window that indicated that the “License Status” was “Licensed” for the “Windows(R) 7, Client-ESU-Year1 addon”.
Fast forward to about a week ago, and I noticed that only the following February update was available in Windows Update:
Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool x64 – February 2020 (KB890830)
Download size: 2.2 MB
You may need to restart your computer for this update to take effect.
Update type: Important
I was missing the following February updates!:
So I contacted Ted at Harbor Computer Services, showed him screenshots of this stuff, and he told me:
“Your license is installed and activated correctly. If you have installed the update below as you’ve indicated, then you should be all set. Here are a couple links to help you.
Here is the link to the article about the additional required update:
https://www.askwoody.com/2020/patch-lady-windows-7-esu-last-minute-requirement/
Here is a link to the AskWoody forum where more support is available.
https://www.askwoody.com/forums/forum/askwoody-support/windows/windows-7/“
I did in fact install the additional, last-minute update (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4538483/extended-security-updates-esu-licensing-preparation-package) soon after I contacted Ted, and I see that it installed successfully in Windows Update history as well as displays in Programs and Features->Installed Updates, but it did not improve the situation for me.
So here I am. :/ I’m not sure what else I can or should do at this point.
The best I can come up with is the following, and I don’t know if either option would make things better or worse:
- It seems that MAYBE the October Monthly Rollup (KB 4519976) was installed successfully, but later removed?! I have no recollection of consciously doing this. But perhaps something interfered here? Is it worth trying to reinstall this patch?
- I could try to reinstall/reactivate ESU?! I don’t know why this would be required, and Microsoft explicitly states for KB 4538483: “If you have previously successfully installed and activated your ESU key on your Windows 7 SP1 device, you do not need to re-install or reactivate it after taking this update.“
Does anyone have any suggestions? I’m fresh out of ideas here.
Thank you!
R.J.
