Update Windows System Image using Seamless Boot

This article describes necessary processes for installing the latest security updates or feature updates in a ggRock System Image.

Problem

Microsoft has released security and/or feature updates that are desirable to install in your System Image for compatibility, security, or other reasons.

Solution

General Outline

  • Turn On the VM you would like to apply changes from

  • Install Windows Security, Critical, or Feature Updates

  • Shut down the VM you would like to apply changes from

  • Commit Writebacks

  • Reboot all systems to ensure the changes propagate to them

Full Procedure

1. Create a VM.

Create (if not already created) and Turn On a ggRock VM with desired Image in local drives mode (This is for compatibility purposes - if the VM were booted in network mode and the network driver were removed during the OS upgrade, the System Image would be rendered un-bootable over the network - not to worry, there are mitigations for this if the issue presents itself, but we need to side-step the issue here while installing OS updates). (See the Virtual Machines Administration Manual for more information). Additionally, please refer to "Controlling a Virtual Machine" for more information on how to control VMs.

NOTE:

If you do not yet have a VM set up on your ggRock server, please follow the steps in "Creating a Virtual Machine" to do so.

2. Enable "Keep Writebacks" in the Settings of the VM.

(See the Machines Administration Manual for more information).

NOTE:

This is a precautionary measure in the event that an update you are installing requires a reboot - without "Keep Writebacks" enabled the changes will be lost on reboot.

3. Turn on the VM.

4. Control the VM.

5. Enable Windows Update

(It is recommended to keep Windows Update disabled during normal operation)

There are multiple methods to achieve this goal - please refer to "Disabling Windows Updates" for further information.

NOTE:
If you are using a Windows 10 Home image downloaded through ggRock, please use the "WUB" method to enable Windows Update, or if using the "Pro" image, please refer to the Microsoft Article on Configuring Windows Update.

6. Check for Updates

Open the "Check for updates" facility from the Start Menu.