Creating a Windows 7 64 Bit Media Refresh December 2019 ISO

Introduction

Windows 7 Reached End of Life in January 2020.

This guide will instruct on slipstreaming the standalone security updates for Windows 7 SP1 taking it to the final standalone update in December 2019 and incorporating Intel Driver Updates for Storage Controllers and USB 3 Ports which allowed installation on up to 6th generation Intel Hardware.

7th generation Intel Hardware and newer do not have Windows 7 Driver Support and you should use a VMware Virtual Machine to use Windows 7 on newer hardware.

32 Bit scripts are also available but untested

Tutorial Video

These videos test the update scripts using Generic Microsoft SP1 Media Refresh 2010 Installation Media with a test install on a Virtual Machine and the Dell Windows 7 Professional Skylake Reinstallation ISO with a test install on a Dell OptiPlex 7040 (6th Generation Intel Hardware).

Contents

Perquisites

This guide assumes you are using a Windows 7 SP1 or later ISO Downloaded Directly from Dell and Microsoft and have made no previous modifications on the ISO. If you don't have a Windows 7 ISO see:

Copy your ISO Contents to C:\Win7

Open up your mounted Windows 7 ISO (in VMware or Virtual Clone Drive for a Physical Windows 7 Installation):

Press [Ctrl] and [ a ] (select all and [Ctrl] + [ c ] to copy the entire contents of the ISO.

On the C:\Drive create a new folder called Win7

Paste the contents into this folder.

Go to:

Right click the boot.wim and select properties, ensure that it is not read only.

Repeat with the install.wim

In this folder you can also optionally delete the EI.cfg for the Microsoft November 2010 ISO which will facilitate a select your edition screen during Windows 7 Installation. For the Dell ISO if you wish to switch edition you should modify two files using notepad++ in order to maintain OEM System Locked Preinstallation. For more details see:

Windows Updates

You'll need to download the following.

The April Servicing Stack:

The Convenience Rollup:

Perquisite Updates for IE11:

Download the Gigabyte Windows USB Tool and extract it.

Find KB2990941 and KB3087873 from the extracted folder:

Servicing Stack Updates:

December 2019 Security Rollup for Windows 7 x64:

January 2020 Security Rollup for Windows 7 x64 (still need to update the scripts):

Create a Folder

It should contain: KB3020369-x64, KB3125574-x64, KB3125574-x64, KB2729094-x64, KB2670838-x64, KB2834140-x64, KB2639308-x64, KB4474419-x64, KB4490628-x64 and KB4530734-x64.

The file names will actually be longer (you should not modify the file names) as the script calls them up using their full name.

Download IE11 as a Cab File:

Create a folder IE11

Paste the IE11 Cab File here

Basic Drivers

On the C:\ Drive create a folder:

Create a folder called Drivers. For a generic case download the following files:

You want to extract this file to the Desktop. Go to the extracted folder and copy the contents in

You want to extract this file to the Desktop. Go to the extracted folder and copy the contents in

The following folder should look like:

ISO Folder

Create a folder:

Your updated ISO will be saved here.

All System Drivers

It is also possible to Download from Dell a Driver Pack which can be slipstreamed giving all Dell Drivers for your model. These are only available for Dell Business Models such as the OptiPlex, Latitude, Precision and some XPS Models. They are not available for the Inspiron Models.

This should be extracted with 7zip and the extracted folder which includes the subfolder of the 64 Bit drivers should be named Drivers:

Lenovo also have Driver Packs for Business Models for a Lenovo use the Lenovo SCCM Driver Packs in place of the Dell Driver Pack.

Slipstream Scripts

It is recommended to use Notepad++ to create the batch file:

The Script will only run on Windows 7 64 Bit (use a VMware Virtual Machine if you don't have a running Windows 7 install).

Copy the correct script for your ISO below and paste into Notepad plus.

Ensure the total line numbers are the same as the original and the top and end lines are complete.

Ensure the script is saved as a batch file (ending in extension .bat).

Microsoft Media Refresh SP1 November 2010 ISOs

If you have a Windows 7 SP1 ISO released near the end of 2010. This ISO will be multi-edition. This script will bring the ISO up to date until December 2019 for all Editions and add driver support for all Editions. Note you need to update both the boot.wim and install.wim for this ISO.

It is recommended to delete the ei.cfg file in the folder before running this script:

Dell Windows 7 Professional Skylake ISOs

In this ISO Dell have partially updated the Professional Edition to March 2016 which is why the commands differ slightly for the Professional Edition. This script will bring the ISO up to date until December 2019 for all Editions and add driver support for all Editions.

Note by default the Installation Media is setup to install Windows 7 Professional and automatically apply Windows 7 Professional OEM SLP offline on eligible systems. To change Edition and maintain OEM SLP see:

Microsoft Media Refresh August 2016 ISOs

The guide above will work with the Microsoft August 2016 ISOs which only have a solo edition. Use the script below to update this until December 2019. Note you need to update both the boot.wim and install.wim for this ISO.

Troubleshooting Script

This will release all mounted directories and delete the folders if present. You should delete your install.wim and then try starting again with a fresh one:

If the troubleshooting script doesn't work, you may need to start on a fresh Windows 7 install.

Power Settings

This script must be run uninterrupted and it takes at least a couple of hours to run so you will want to prevent your computer from going to sleep or for interference from the likes of Windows Update during this time:

Running the Script

Right click the Script file and select Run as Administrator:

Accept the User Account Control:

You will be given details about the install.wim and each index on it:

Press any key to proceed.

On 6th generation Intel Skylake Hardware the script took about 1 hour (it may take longer on older hardware). You will be given up to date details about the install.wim:

Press any key to continue and the ISO will be created.

You should now have your new ISO.

If installing on physical hardware you will need Rufus to make a Bootable USB. You should use GPT and NTFS for a UEFI BIOS without Secure Boot and MBR and NTFS for a Legacy BIOS.