How To Simply Install Ms017-010 To Vista Please?

Hi,

The short version of the question here is to ask whether it is possible to simply download a apply a security patch to Vista (MS017-010). Windows Update doesn't recognise that it's available, perhaps because it was released after support ended for Vista.

The back story is we have an old laptop which runs Vista, my son's old machine which has been doing not very much. By the way I am 60 and otherwise not a technical person.

I have just started to use it as a replacement for a very old XP laptop, which was used occasionally for 'downloads' (things the family want to watch that are not on Netflix/Prime).

I uninstalled the non-functioning MS Security Essentials and installed Avast, which is telling me I need to install a security patch. This is MS17-010, which corrects the vulnerability which helped spread the Wannacry virus.

I followed the instruction to update but the Windows Update Standalone Installer 'searching for updates' has taken nearly two days now.

I googled further and tried via the WSUS offline update utility, but that has also been 'listing ids of missing updates' for nearly a day.

I read that the Vista update routines are convoluted, hence the search can go on, possibly fruitlessly, for days.

So, to go back to the question, how can I simply locate, download and install this 'critical patch'?

Thank you.

 

Yep, that’s the one. That was my first route. When you press the download button, the Windows Update Standalone Installer starts, but has been searching for updates for two days.

 

Perhaps I should add that at first I thought it was a glitch on my machine and cancelled it. When it didn’t produce a result overnight, that’s when I went down the WSUS route.

 

Thanks plodr. Unfortunately mine is still 'searching' from the download button, and the main support guy for WSUS, my plan B, acknowledges that Vista can take 'days' to resolve, and may be u successful at the end anyway, something to do with how convoluted the process has to be to check Vista updates.

I was wondering if anyone knew of a quicker route to goal for Vista, maybe WuMgr, which is downloadable from this site?

 

Hi Plodr,
It’s 32 bit.
Thanks very much for the offer.
Unfortunately, I think I win the 'New Stupid Guy' award, I can’t see where to PM you ... :-/

 

I’d just like to record my thanks to Plodr for the time and effort spent helping me to resolve this.