Microsoft is changing the way updates to Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 systems are distributed. The software giant will release one cumulative update each month. Skipping or deinstalling individual updates is no longer possible.
The monthly cumulative update will be called the 'Monthly Rollup' and will contain both updates for stability and reliability as well as hotfixes for security issues. The new method makes that users can no longer decide which patches they want or don't want to install. Uninstalling an individual update is also no longer possible. In the past it happened several times that a patch caused new problems or that Microsoft added unwanted functionality such as Windows 10 advertisements.
Today's announced 'Monthly Rollup' follows the earlier announced 'Convenience Update' which Microsoft announced earlier this year. The Convenience Update contains all updates that were released in the last 5 years for Windows 7. When that update was announced, Microsoft already stated it would provide monthly updates for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1.
Back then it was understood that it would be an additional option, besides the possibility to install individual updates. The then announced Monthly Rollup also appeared to be an optional download that contained all non-security updates of the last month in one separate update. Microsoft today announced that it entirely switches to cumulative monthly updates and that these will also contain security fixes.
In case of issues that users are aware of before installing the update, they will have to reject the entire Monthly Rollup, which might also contain fixes to critical issues. When users find out about issues after the update is already applied, they will also have to deinstall the entire Monthly Rollup which again might also remove fixes for critical vulnerabilities.
