Servicing stack update for Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1: March 12, 2019

This update makes quality improvements to the servicing stack component that installs Windows updates. Key changes include:

• Addresses an issue in the servicing stack when you install an update that has been signed by using only the SHA-2 hash algorithm.

Microsoft strongly recommends you always install the latest servicing stack update (SSU) for your operating system before installing the latest monthly security update. Installing servicing stack updates (SSU) makes sure that you have a robust and reliable servicing stack so that your devices can receive and install Microsoft security fixes.

Restart stuck on "Stage 2 of 2" or "Stage 3 of 3"

After you install a servicing stack update together with other updates, a restart may be required to complete the installation. During this restart, you may find yourself stuck at a particular stage and see a "Stage 2 of 2" or "Stage 3 of 3" message.

If you experience this issue, press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to continue to log on. This should occur only one time and does not prevent updates from installing successfully.

Note In managed environments, such as by using Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), you can avoid this issue by deploying this update as a standalone update.

Microsoft strongly recommends that you install the latest servicing stack update (SSU) for your operating system before you install the latest rollup. SSUs improve the reliability of the update process to mitigate potential issues while you install the Rollup and while applying Microsoft security updates.

Method 1: Windows Update

This update is available through Windows Update. When you turn on automatic updating, this update will be downloaded and installed automatically. For more information about how to turn on automatic updating, see Windows Update: FAQ.

Method 2: Microsoft Update Catalog

To get the standalone package for this update, go to the Microsoft Update Catalog website.

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for installing this update

Registry information

To apply this update, you don't have to make any changes to the registry.

Restart requirement

You do not have to restart the computer after you apply this update.

Update replacement information

This update replaces the previously released update 3177467.

Learn about the terminology that Microsoft uses to describe software updates.

For more information about SSUs, see Servicing stack updates.

File information
The English (United States) version of this software update installs files that have the attributes that are listed in the following tables. The dates and the times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The dates and the times for these files on your local computer are displayed in your local time together with your current daylight saving time (DST) bias. Additionally, the dates and the times may change when you perform certain operations on the files.

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 file information