Windows 2003 Post-Install Updates

Having completed the recipes for Installing Windows 2003 and some post-install actions, it’s time to update the OS with security, functionality, and driver updates. Since this installs a new version of IE, we take a moment to perform basic configuration of that as well.

Ingredients

  • Windows 2003 installed and configured as per these previous recipes: installation, post-install. (However it is certainly possible to do the post-install step after these updates.)
  • About 2 hours of time. Much of this is waiting for the progress bar, so you can be doing other things. Really only about 10 minutes of user interaction is needed during this two hours.

Instructions

    •  green-down-arrow  Notice the timestamps!
        • To see any step, move the video slider to that timestamp.
        • You can pause there or watch video.
        • Go fullscreen for greater detail; remove captions if they obscure something.
  • Opening (discussion)
    • 0:00 In prior videos we installed and configured W2003.
    • 0:03 In this video we manually perform security updates.
    • 0:08 Here's the server as we left it.
    • 0:10 Create a snapshot. Always a good idea!
    • 0:45 Log in.
  • Service Pack (discussion)
    • 1:00 The security updates nag screen is still there. Click "Update this server."
    • 1:09 Internet Explorer starts, nags about IE protected mode. Read and acknowledge.
    • 1:14 Need to install the update to Windows Updates itself.
    • 1:20 Do so by allowing the ActiveX installer, and clicking the "Install" button.
    • 1:26 Click the resulting "Install Now" button on the WU website. The update takes a few moments.
    • 1:41 Choose the "Custom" button, and wait for the screen to update with a list of needed patches.
    • 2:07 Dialog warning about sending information to websites. Read and acknowledge.
    • 2:13 Windows Updates offers the latest Service Pack. Click "Download and Install Now."
    • 2:18 Read and agree to the license terms.
    • 2:22 Download of the SP begins.
    • 2:29 About 10 minutes later, the download is complete and the SP install wizard starts. Click "Next."
    • 2:36 The SP install begins. It will take awhile!
    • 2:44 About 17 minutes later, the install has completed. A reboot is required before we can go on.
    • 3:00 The system has rebooted. (It took about 2 minutes, not shown.)
  • Updates, Round 1 (discussion)
    • 3:07 The "Manage Your Server" page displays. Click "Don't display this page at logon" and close it.
    • 3:16 You'll be able to open the "Manage Your Server" page from the Start menu anytime you need it.
    • 3:30 Start IE and go to "update.microsoft.com"
    • 3:56 Click the "Custom" button.
    • 4:01 In this example, WU suggests 78 updates. We want to get as many of them as possible in one go. 
    • 4:10 Leaving those updates which must be installed separately, choose all others...
    • 4:20 ... including optional and device driver updates.
    • 4:42 Click the "Install Updates" button.
    • 4:45 Read and acknowledge the license agreement.
    • 4:52 43 minutes later, the IE8 installer appears.
    • 4:58 Choose whether or not to participate in the Customer Experience Improvement Program (we choose not to), and click "Install."
    • 5:05 Read and acknowledge the license terms. Click "Next" at the following screen.
    • 5:18 About 17 minutes later, all selected updates have been installed. A reboot is required.
    • 5:32 The login after reboot takes about 45 seconds to reconfigure account settings for IE and other updates.
  • IE8 Configuration (discussion)
    • 6:02 Logged in at the desktop again, use the Start menu, "All Programs," and finally "Windows Update."
    • 6:17 IE8 starts up. Take a moment to answer its welcome screen questions, get that out of the way.
    • 6:34 We declined 'Suggested Sites' and chose "Express Settings" in the name of expediency.
    • 6:49 The browser opens to the WU site *and* a Microsoft home page. No need to add the latter to trusted sites.
    • 6:57 Additionally IE8 opens its home page. Take a moment to surf to Google.com ...
    • 7:09 ... add it to the Trusted sites list (removing the HTTPS requirement there) ...
    • 7:24 ... and set Google.com as the home page.
  • Updates, Round 2 (discussion)
    • 7:43 Again on the WU site, choose the "Custom" button.
    • 7:49 While the update list populates, take a moment to hide IE8's menu and favorites bars, gaining a little display space.
    • 8:05 Again select all updates which do not need to be installed separately, and click "Install Updates."
    • 8:25 Read and acknowledge the license terms.
    • 8:33 About 13 minutes later, this batch of updates is complete. A reboot is required.
    • 8:41 About two minutes later the reboot is complete and we've logged in.
  • Updates, Round 3 and beyond (discussion)
    • 8:50 Once again, select "Windows Update" from the Start menu.
    • 9:13 Once again, select "Custom" updates.
    • 9:22 Again select remaining updates, and click "Install Updates."
  • Completion (discussion)
    • 9:30 You may need to repeat the process a few more times to complete all high priority, recommended, and optional updates.

Do you agree/disagree with these procedures? Have more to add? Want to share your wisdom? Add your comments below!