Upgrading Windows before Logging on to the Web

[WWGD]

Hi All,
Just curious, how can Windows install upgrades before I set up a web connection? How are the upgrades uploaded to my PC?

 

[jedishrfu]

Its possible that the base OS loaded on your machine had later upgrades which the manufacturer added to the base distribution. In this way, they can remain current without going through an actual install and let you do the work when you unbox the machine.

 

[WWGD]

Its possible that the base OS loaded on your machine had later upgrades which the manufacturer added to the base distribution. In this way, they can remain current without going through an actual install and let you do the work when you unbox the machine.

I see, so these are " time-unlocked" upgrades? Still, I assume there will be some point at which these run out and it is necessary for the upgrades to be uploaded. Or maybe some are unlocked and others , e.g., containing security patch ups, must be uploaded, since I doubt all possible vulnerabilities can be predicted.

 

[jedishrfu]

What?

No, computers built in January have OS 9.9 but then in March MS released some patches and so they are added to the OS image copied to the March built computers and so on.

So when you unbox and start the install process they are ready to be installed after the OS is configured.

 

[WWGD]

But I bought mine in January 2015, with 8.1 .

 

[stoomart]

But I bought mine in January 2015, with 8.1 .

Windows 8.1 was released in October 2013, it is likely the factory image included updates to the OS from late 2014.

 

[WWGD]

OK, sorry for my dumbness here @jedishrfu , the whole factory Image copy thing is new to me ( I am still clueless about it), it threw me of, did not know it was available before 9.9 OS.

 

[Nidum]

There is another possible explanation . Windows often downloads updates in background mode . Some of these upgrades are installed immediately , some get installed at shut down and some sit there until the next time that you start up the computer .

 

[jedishrfu]

The factory image thing is how MS got its OS everywhere so pervasively. It cut out all other possible OS installs. You can’t buy a computer today without a preinstalled OS which means each vendor charges an extra $50 or so for something you don’t need if you plan to go Linux and there’s nothing you can do about it unless if you decide to build your own computer.

 

[rbelli1]

You can’t buy a computer today without a preinstalled OS which means each vendor charges an extra $50 or so for something you don’t need if you plan to go Linux and there’s nothing you can do about it unless if you decide to build your own computer.

There are a number of vendors that will sell you a computer with Linux pre-installed. I was going to come here and say that it is not worth it because in the past you paid more for the Linux PC because the vendors can't get paid for the crapware on Linux.

I just looked up Dell laptops and the selection chart had two systems at the same price nearly identical. One was Linux and the other Windows. The Linux one had twice the storage. Those were the only differences.

BoB