The following tutorial is a collaboration from our Trusted Advisor flavallee and Malware Specialist askey127
1. Do a clean install of Windows 7 SP1.
Keep Windows Update turned off for now by selecting "Ask me later".
Skip the activation process for now and don't enter a product key.
If Service Pack 1(SP1) isn't part of the clean install of Windows 7, it needs to be installed first before proceeding to step #2.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=5842
windows6.1-KB976932-X86.exe (32-bit)
windows6.1-KB976932-X64.exe (64-bit)
2. Install the necessary drivers and make sure all primary devices are working okay.
3. Establish an active internet connection, then activate Windows 7 SP1.
4. Install April 2015 servicing pack update (KB3020369).
(32-bit)
(64-bit)
5. Install May 2016 convenience rollup (KB3125574).
(32-bit)
(64-bit)
6. Install July 2016 update rollup (KB3172605).
(32-bit)
(64-bit)
7. Install Microsoft .NET Framework 4.7.2.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/microsoft_net_framework_4_5_final.html
8. Load Windows Update, then change the setting to "Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them", then put a checkmark in the Recommended Updates box, then click OK.
The "checking for updates" process will start.
Windows Update should work properly now and should detect the necessary updates within 5 - 10 minutes.
9. When the list of important updates appear, uncheck and hide the Internet Explorer 8 updates, and make sure Internet Explorer 11 is selected.
Most of the optional updates can be unchecked and hidden, but there is one important exception.
If an optional update appears for the monitor, make sure to select it.
Download and install the selected important/optional updates.
10. If more important/optional updates are detected after the restart, uncheck and hide the unneeded ones and select the needed ones, then download and install them.
11. Repeat step #10 until all the needed important/optional updates are installed.
IMPORTANT! Before running each of the installers in step #1(if SP1 is needed) and in steps #4 - #7, stop the "Windows Update" service as follows:
Go to Start and type services.msc in the search box, then click on "services.msc" in the popup.
When the Services window appears, scroll down to the "Windows Update" service, then right-click it, then click Properties, then click Stop in "Service status".
After it stops running, click OK.
IMPORTANT! Most of these steps require you to restart your computer afterwards.
If you're prompted to restart your computer, make sure to do it before going to the next step.
(This tutorial was updated on May 1, 2018)
1. Do a clean install of Windows 7 SP1.
Keep Windows Update turned off for now by selecting "Ask me later".
Skip the activation process for now and don't enter a product key.
If Service Pack 1(SP1) isn't part of the clean install of Windows 7, it needs to be installed first before proceeding to step #2.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=5842
windows6.1-KB976932-X86.exe (32-bit)
windows6.1-KB976932-X64.exe (64-bit)
2. Install the necessary drivers and make sure all primary devices are working okay.
3. Establish an active internet connection, then activate Windows 7 SP1.
4. Install April 2015 servicing pack update (KB3020369).
(32-bit)
(64-bit)
5. Install May 2016 convenience rollup (KB3125574).
(32-bit)
(64-bit)
6. Install July 2016 update rollup (KB3172605).
(32-bit)
(64-bit)
7. Install Microsoft .NET Framework 4.7.2.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/microsoft_net_framework_4_5_final.html
8. Load Windows Update, then change the setting to "Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them", then put a checkmark in the Recommended Updates box, then click OK.
The "checking for updates" process will start.
Windows Update should work properly now and should detect the necessary updates within 5 - 10 minutes.
9. When the list of important updates appear, uncheck and hide the Internet Explorer 8 updates, and make sure Internet Explorer 11 is selected.
Most of the optional updates can be unchecked and hidden, but there is one important exception.
If an optional update appears for the monitor, make sure to select it.
Download and install the selected important/optional updates.
10. If more important/optional updates are detected after the restart, uncheck and hide the unneeded ones and select the needed ones, then download and install them.
11. Repeat step #10 until all the needed important/optional updates are installed.
IMPORTANT! Before running each of the installers in step #1(if SP1 is needed) and in steps #4 - #7, stop the "Windows Update" service as follows:
Go to Start and type services.msc in the search box, then click on "services.msc" in the popup.
When the Services window appears, scroll down to the "Windows Update" service, then right-click it, then click Properties, then click Stop in "Service status".
After it stops running, click OK.
IMPORTANT! Most of these steps require you to restart your computer afterwards.
If you're prompted to restart your computer, make sure to do it before going to the next step.
(This tutorial was updated on May 1, 2018)