Problems with Windows 7 Updates on MBA

[iRun26.2]

I have been using Windows 7 on my MBA installed on Bootcamp. I am having major problems, however, when I let Windows 7 install updates. I continue to get 'Blue Screens of Death' and must revert to a previous restore point.

Windows 7 continues to want to install updates which make it crash.

I am very frustrated. I've heard such good things about Windows 7 but now I am finding it isn't any better than Vista. I wish all I needed to use was OSX.

Is anyone else having trouble with Windows 7 updates on their MBA? I can't be the only one, can I?

 

[Starlights]

I have been using Windows 7 on my MBA installed on Bootcamp. I am having major problems, however, when I let Windows 7 install updates. I continue to get 'Blue Screens of Death' and must revert to a previous restore point.

Windows 7 continues to want to install updates which make it crash.

I am very frustrated. I've heard such good things about Windows 7 but now I am finding it isn't any better than Vista. I wish all I needed to use was OSX.

Is anyone else having trouble with Windows 7 updates on their MBA? I can't be the only one, can I?

Block Windows 7 from Automatic Updates and you should be fine.
Watch out for when Apple releases new updates for Windows updates via BC.

I have turned automatic updating off, in windows on my MBA and all is well

 

[KPOM]

For some odd reason I can install Windows Updates when I'm in Parallels, but in Boot Camp they won't download. It goes through the motions but then doesn't actually download them. I'm thinking it has something to do with Parallels Tools.

In any case, in Parallels, I am actually able to download Windows 7 and have had no problems with it. I do recall that one of the early updates created an issue for which there was a workaround, but I didn't run into the issue. Count me as a member of the "Windows 7 is significantly better than Vista" club.

My suggestion is that since Win 7 SP1 just came out, consider downloading the full SP1 installation onto a USB key (it's 7GB) rather than trying to "catch up" a brand new installation of Windows 7. That might help get around the BSOD issues.

 

[iRun26.2]

Block Windows 7 from Automatic Updates and you should be fine.
Watch out for when Apple releases new updates for Windows updates via BC.

I have turned automatic updating off, in windows on my MBA and all is well

I guess that is what I am going to have to do (complete disable Windows 7 updates). It just seems ridiculous that I should have to pay $300 for Windows 7 Professional and then have it be unable to work properly (for even one week) on my MBA.

Maybe I should start again from scratch and reinstall Windows 7 Professional. I can't recommend using windows on a MBA. I expected better.

 

[KPOM]

Here are some old discussions I found. It might have something to do with the multitouch driver.

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=12515185&#12515185

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2633636

Did you download the latest version of the Boot Camp drivers (3.2) and install them within Windows 7?

 

[iRun26.2]

Here are some old discussions I found. It might have something to do with the multitouch driver.

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=12515185&#12515185

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2633636

Did you download the latest version of the Boot Camp drivers (3.2) and install them within Windows 7?

You know, I suspect that you are right about it being the drivers. At first, I'm pretty sure that 'two finger scrolling' worked. Then, later, I saw that it was not working any more so I deleted the drivers to force Windows to reload them. Then, they did work, but now, after endless Windows 7 updates, my computer eventually gets the blue screen of death and needs to be restored to a previous point.

I don't like the idea of tons of updates eating up my hard drive space either. Maybe I need to filter out the updates that would affect the multi-touch input. It is super convenient to run Windows on my MBA. I just wish it ran as reliably as OSX.

 

[RRmalvado]

I guess that is what I am going to have to do (complete disable Windows 7 updates). It just seems ridiculous that I should have to pay $300 for Windows 7 Professional and then have it be unable to work properly (for even one week) on my MBA.

Maybe I should start again from scratch and reinstall Windows 7 Professional. I can't recommend using windows on a MBA. I expected better.

Why would you pay $300.00 for Windows 7 Pro?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116758

Have you updated Bootcamp to the latest version?
What does the BSOD state? It could be a bad install or even bad RAM.

 

[iRun26.2]

Why would you pay $300.00 for Windows 7 Pro?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116758

I didn't know I could legally do that.

 

[KPOM]

I didn't know I could legally do that.

Technically it's only for resellers, and not for personal use, though they don't seem to enforce it. Microsoft clarified that about a year ago.

Anyway, the SP1 update is about 750MB-1GB, but the full package is about 7GB if you download it from Microsoft's site. It might be worthwhile doing that, and then that way you'll bypass any intermediary updates that might be causing the BSOD.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/learn-how-to-install-windows-7-service-pack-1-sp1

 

[iRun26.2]

Anyway, the SP1 update is about 750MB-1GB, but the full package is about 7GB if you download it from Microsoft's site. It might be worthwhile doing that, and then that way you'll bypass any intermediary updates that might be causing the BSOD.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/learn-how-to-install-windows-7-service-pack-1-sp1

I downloaded and installed SP1 just fine. Then it immediately wanted to download some updates when I shut it down. I rebooted Windows 7 and back came the BSOD.

Unless anyone has any additional suggestions, I think I am just going to turn off automatic updates. Maybe I need to download the most recent Apple drivers??? This is frustrating!