Windows 7 ESU installed but missing some February updates

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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!:

• https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4537820
• https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4537813

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:

1. 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?
2. 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.

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You do not see the Oct Rollup in Installed Updates because it was superseded by the later Rollups. They are cumulative and the Oct Rollup is contained in the later ones. That is normal. The installation shows up in Update History because it was installed (before it was superseded).

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randallj2877

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Double double check that it fully got activated.  Microsoft has made this horrific.

 

1. Open a command prompt.
2. Type slmgr /dlv then press Enter.

Both the base Windows 7 and the additional security key should be activated.  Double check that first and make sure they both say activated.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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randallj2877, woody

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January 2020 Servicing Stack Update KB4536952 is mandatory to get February updates

in March, February SSU KB4537829 will be mandatory to get March updates

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windbg, randallj2877, woody

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A big THANK YOU to Susan Bradley for helping me to resolve this issue!

Apparently, I was missing this patch:  https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB4536952

After installing it manually (and rebooting), I now see the following patch available in Windows Upate:

2020-02 Security Monthly Quality Rollup for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB4537820)

Download size: 315.7 MB

You may need to restart your computer for this update to take effect.

Update type: Important

And apparently that is all I need. It seems that KB 4537820 is the full Monthly Rollup, whereas KB 4537813 is the Monthly “Security-Only” update. So, presumably, the latter is included in the former patch.

(And Susan has confirmed this.)

I hope this helps someone else who has a similar issue.

Thanks again!

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windbg

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