Windows Thin PC has no "Optional" Windows Updates

Discussion in 'Windows Embedded' started by tf, Jun 13, 2023.

  1. tf

    tf MDL Junior Member

    Dec 21, 2013
    72
    13
    0
    Dear All,

    After installing Windows Thin PC, Windows Update does not offer any Optional updates, it offers just the important upades. Is it normal?

    Windows Optional Updates have valuable drivers and other updates.

    When I install Windows 7 Ultimate or any other Editions on the same Laptop the "check for updates" finds a large number of Optional updates including hardware drivers and Windows updates.

    Regards
     
  2. tf

    tf MDL Junior Member

    Dec 21, 2013
    72
    13
    0
  3. ExiledRose6084

    ExiledRose6084 MDL Junior Member

    Apr 14, 2023
    96
    52
    0
    #4 ExiledRose6084, Jun 14, 2023
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2023
    From what I understand thin pc is lacking features, services, & other things to keep it light. I mean if you want a lightweight system do you really need all those optional updates? Plus you really can't update services, components, & etc that aren't there lol.

    Though what I noticed you don't even get driver updates so you have to manually install them. I mean thin PC was never intended for public use just for businesses to revive old laptops, desktops, & etc with low end hardware from windows XP, Vista, & maybe even older then that.

    I mean if you notice you even have to have administrator privilege to change the power settings.

    So to keep thin pc able to run on low end hardware they removed services, features, & other things you would find in regular windows 7. Though for drivers you would think that would be a important needed feature but eh you really can't go back in time to tell Microsoft to don't remove the ability to update drivers with windows update.

    So it's seriously a bare bones windows 7 & why your not seeing as many optional updates because windows thin pc has no use for them. Driver updates like I said your intended to do that yourself manually sadly.
     
  4. acer-5100

    acer-5100 MDL Guru

    Dec 8, 2018
    4,003
    2,923
    150
    Oh, I see.

    Not that I have bothered with those, but I guess that in a system which is made entirely of optional components (thin PC is just a special pre-assembled WES7 flavor) such category doesn't make sense.
     
  5. tf

    tf MDL Junior Member

    Dec 21, 2013
    72
    13
    0
    @ExiledRose6084 @acer-5100

    Thanks to you both. This all makes sense, though I am still curious. After all, Windows Thin PC is an interesting OS and an excellent choice for old/low-specs laptops. Actually it is super-fast responsive for my old laptop (HP Pavillion dv5 1116em). Thank you @acer-5100 for pointing that "unknown" OS out to me. I even never have come across the (Windows Embedded) sub-forum.
     
  6. ohault

    ohault MDL Member

    Dec 27, 2022
    192
    53
    10
    It would be interesting to figure out what exactly is missing to generate ISOs for "Windows Thin PC" and "Windows Embedded POSReady 7" from WES7.
    Any idea ?
     
  7. acer-5100

    acer-5100 MDL Guru

    Dec 8, 2018
    4,003
    2,923
    150
    I never installed Personally POSReady 7, but I made a "ThinPC" x64. It requires a little patience but is feasible.

    That said I don't understand what do you mean for "missing". Missing where? Missing compare to what?
     
  8. ohault

    ohault MDL Member

    Dec 27, 2022
    192
    53
    10
    I don’t know yet for Windows Thin PC iso, but for WinFLP, you can find a /setup directory.

    In this directory, there is a setup app with a EXE and some DLLs written for running on .NET Framework. This lean setup is not generic but it is one able to deploy this flavour of Windows XP from the provide win file.

    This is really interesting because as far as I know, Windows Embedded toolkits does not provide a setup app to be used to install custom images.
     
  9. acer-5100

    acer-5100 MDL Guru

    Dec 8, 2018
    4,003
    2,923
    150
    Never used the old way to make an image offline for Win 6.1.

    I just boot the IBW and follow the instructions.


    Eventually packages can be added and removed later just like any normal windows 6.1. Using dism.
     
  10. ohault

    ohault MDL Member

    Dec 27, 2022
    192
    53
    10
    #11 ohault, Jul 11, 2023
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2023
    IBW was indeed bringing the interesting concept of the DistributionShare (/DS) directory and the « Embedded core » minimal install.wim

    I will find very useful to provide this to Windows 10 /11 too. Any attempts / research in progress?

    Another project idea would be to push the IBW+DS event further by providing an user experience during setup similar to nlite and/or NTLite but not limited to Embedded.

    This include support for Packages type like Feature package but also for Foundation packages
     
  11. acer-5100

    acer-5100 MDL Guru

    Dec 8, 2018
    4,003
    2,923
    150

    Well in this thread xinso has developed various techniques that are close to what you ask, but he as it's own way to do things.

    There is no ready meal, you need to follow constantly the thread to learn about them.