Good news for Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Server 2003 and 2008 users. Microsoft has released an updated "Windows Update Agent" for all these OS which brings the new advanced Windows 7's "Windows Update" feature to these older Windows OS.
Following is a preview of Windows 7's "Windows Update" window:
You'll get a similar interface in Windows Vista and Server 2008 after installing this new update but remember Windows 2000, XP and Server 2003 users will not get this new interface, they'll only find some performance improvements as mentioned below.
This updated Windows Update Agent brings following new advanced features:
- Improved scan times for Windows updates
- Improved user interface for Windows Vista-based and Windows Server 2008-based computers that are running Windows Update
- More visible and detailed description of updates
- Improvements in how users are notified about service packs
You can download the new "Windows Update Agent" using following links:
Download Link (32-bit or x86)
Download Link (64-bit or x64)
Download Link (Itanium)
This article was posted by VG in following section: Windows Vista, Windows XP.
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Bango
Add some screen shots please?? ^^
oreo27
Is this included as an update in Windows Update (critical or recommended?)
VM
If you install this Update Agent on Win Xp it will install a suite like vista or 7 instead of updating from a site?
VG
^^ Can you please clear where are we misleading people? Its clearly mentioned in the main topic that its an updated Windows Update Agent for Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Server 2003 and 2008 which backports Windows 7's advanced "Windows Update" features to these older Windows OS.
The screenshot has been taken from Windows 7 to show people how "Windows Update" looks in Windows 7.
logos
you got a point it's from Seven, not Vista. The article is presented in such a way that some people are believing they will get Vista/Seven Windows Update GUI in XP OK ?
SCBright
@VG
I received this update yesterday, via automatic update, I am using the Windows Vista Ultimate and where I can see, the interface seems SEVEN one.
I do not know how it would seem in XP, because I don't have it.
Thanks for the very useful information! :)
@Logos
For me, is clear in the article that this update brings to WU the new functionalities of W7 and not it proper GUI. I am not so dull and I know to read.
Why so serious? (Joking) :(
Paultx
I downloaded and installed it on a XP Pro system, but the result brought no interface change. I still have to go to the Windows/Microsoft Update site to do the thing.
Jay
Same here. Works just fine with Vista. But I installed it also on an XP system and while there were no errors of any sort and appears to have installed fine, nothing's changed. Trying to run the installer again only confirms that its already installed on the system, but any tangible change is nowhere to be found.
SCBright
@Paultx and Jay
Guys, please read VG's article carefully:
- Improved scan times for Windows updates
** Improved user interface for WINDOWS VISTA-based and Windows Server 2008-based computers that are running Windows Update
- More visible and detailed description of updates
- Improvements in how users are notified about service packs
So, the improved user interface will work on Vista and Server 2008, for XP the improvements are for performance.
Paultx
Alright, SCBright, but the post as a whole is kind of misleading because of the WU interface image shown. I'd make it a bit more accurate, saying that THAT window won't show on XP. Or simply, as you've put, "For the XP the improvements are for performance"--only.