Frequently Asked Questions
Looking for an answer to your questions regarding Windows Update Restored in general? The FAQ is the right place!
Doesn’t this project promote
the usage of unsupported operating systems?
No. Nobody tells you to use an operating system without support.
Fundamentally though, we believe in choice of operating system. The Windows 7
system (released in October 2009) is the last version of Windows that supports
the use of the skeumorphic Aero Glass user interface. However, many people don't
like the new oversimplified user interfaces and prefer to use the old one. We
believe that the people who bear the relevant risks have the right to use
whatever software or operating system they want, and in fact, some people will
use these older systems, whether Microsoft wants to or not. This project is
specifically aimed at making the Windows Update website usable again for Windows
XP and earlier. This project assumes no responsibility for security issues
arising from the use of an unsupported version of Windows.
Are we rivals with Legacy Update?
Absolutely not! While both service provide updates for legacy Windows
versions, we're absolutely not rivals. We kinda even collaborate at some point,
WUR using LU's proxy server for Windows Update Restored v5. We help each other
if needed, and suggest contents to each project. We. Are. Not. Rivals.
How do the Windows Update websites work?
Quite simple. The Windows Update websites offered on Windows Update Restored
work with an ActiveX control (proprietary technology belonging to Microsoft
Corporation) downloaded and installed when running the website in Microsoft
Internet Explorer 4.0 and newer. Once the ActiveX control is installed, the
websites start downloading the necessary files to work. They check for updates
and, once "Install Updates" clicked, download and install them directly to the
user's computer.
Does this work on Server editions of Windows?
Yes. The Windows Update website supports every Server edition of the
Microsoft Windows operating system, except Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter
Server. All versions newer than Windows Home Server works only with
modifications added to the system.
Does this work on Embedded editions of Windows?
Yes. These websites do work for embedded versions of Windows starting from
Windows XP Embedded all the way until Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 versions,
including Windows Fundamentals For Legacy PCs and the Windows XP Mode in Windows
7.
Do we support Compact Editions of Windows?
No. Windows Update does not support Compact editions of Windows, and never
supported it. Those editions received MSI update files with Microsoft Visual
Studio 2005-2008.
Does this work on x64 systems?
Yes. 64-bit operating systems are supported from Windows Update v5 and
onwards. The v5 website supports Microsoft Windows XP x64 Edition, Windows Vista
x64 (requires system modifications) and any other newer x64 Microsoft Windows
operating system (requires system modifications as well).
Are we hosting official updates from Microsoft?
Yes... and no. The vast majority of updates you download from the Windows
Update Restored website are official updates released by Microsoft back then.
Unfortunately, some updates are no longer available for download, and we had to
recreate them. You can find out which updates are made by Windows Update
Restored and which ones are not with the "test@example.com" or "windowsupdaterestored.com"
signature warning popup window appearing when downloading and installing an
recreated update. You are free to only install Microsoft updates by unchecking
the others in the list.
How do I know if the files I'm downloading are signed by Windows Update
Restored?
With the provider name. Windows Update Restored signed updates & CAB files
will appear to be signed by "test@example.com" on Windows 95 and 98, and
by "windowsupdaterestored.com" on Windows NT4, 2000 and newer. The files
signed by Microsoft are marked as provided by "Microsoft Corporation". If
the files (usually CAB ones) you are downloading are not signed by one of these
providers, do not download them and immediately report the issue to the Windows
Update Restored team.
Where are we getting all those updates from?
We are getting them from Microsoft, and then we move them to our custom
CabPool (repository). We get those updates from the Microsoft servers ("download.windowsupdate.com"),
and then we move them to our CabPool, to ensure that if Microsoft decides to
delete them from their servers, we still have them and you'll still be able to
download and install them. As a part of them are not on the Microsoft servers
anymore, we're also getting them from the Wayback Machine.
What's the point of such a project?
Fun and nostalgia. While this project does not offer "newly made" security
updates, and do not make Windows 95 to XP secure, it gives you the nostalgia of
the old Windows Update websites from different eras (the Windows 9x and XP ones
mainly), and we think it's funnier to use a website rather than an autopatcher
with command lines to update your old computer.
What are you looking for to restore the old Windows Update websites?
Windows Update inventories. We are looking for the contents of the
WindowsUpdate folder (located in C:\Program Files\) from old Windows 9x/Me/2000
computers with original Windows Update files on them. The inventory files are:
.INV files
.BM files
.AS files
.GNG files
.DES files
.CIF files
The file extensions mentioned
above are the ones used by the Windows Update v3.1 website. We are looking for
every of them. If you have those files in the folder, please get in touch with
us on our Discord server (left sidebar).
On the other hand, we need iuhist.xml (located in "C:\Program Files\WindowsUpdate\v4"),
and even more importantly Windows Update.log (located in "C:\Windows\"). The
file mentioned above are the ones used by the Windows Update v4 website. The
first contains titles, descriptions and other details, while the second contains
the download links for the updates.
Do we provide download links for the updates we host?
No. If you want to download the updates we host, you'll have to do it
through the Windows Update websites. If you're using Windows 98, Me, 2000 or XP,
the
Windows Update Catalog may be an
option of choice.
Are we providing updates for Windows Vista and newer?
Not officially. Windows Update Restored v5 can provide you with Windows
Vista and newer updates, but it is tricky to get to work, and requires huge
system modifications. We recommend you the
Legacy Update project for that.
How do we pay the server costs?
Not from ads or traffic. The server costs and domain names are generously
paid by a donator member (millennium_tech). Even though someone pays our server,
we do not make any money of the service. Read the
Privacy Policy and
Legal information, or contact
WULover for further information.