Microsoft has released several optional updates like KB2952664, KB2977759, KB3138612; KB3138615 for Windows 7 SP1, Windows 20008 Server R2, Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 on March 1 2016. Here isa short overview what users need to know.
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Compatibility update for upgrading Windows 7 SP 1 (KB2952664)
Update KB2952664 performs diagnostics on the Windows systems that participate in the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program. These diagnostics help determine whether compatibility issues may be encountered when the latest Windows operating system (aka Windows 10) is installed. This update will help Microsoft and its partners ensure compatibility for customers who want to install the latest Windows operating system.
This update comes as revision 18. If you don't plan to upgrade to Windows 10, this update may be hidden, to prevent collecting and reporting telemetry data to Microsoft.
Compatibility update for Windows 7 RTM (KB2977759)
Update KB2977759 is for Windows 7 RTM and provides the same features (performs diagnostics on the Windows systems that participate in the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program) like KB2952664. Because Windows 7 RTM can't be upgraded to Windows 10, I would hide this update.
Windows-Update Client Windows 7 SP1/Windows Server 2008 R2 (KB3138612)
Update KB3138612 (Windows Update Client for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2: March 2016) provides several – unspecified – improvments for Windows Update Client in Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1. If you install a language pack after you install this update, you must reinstall this update. Installing this update requires a restart.
As far as I noticed (from comments in my German blog post), this update should be installed. It will improve update search time on machines, where it take hours to find and load new updates.
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Windows-Update Client Windows 8.1/Windows Server 2012 R2 (KB3138615)
Update KB3138615 (Windows Update Client for Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2: March 2016) contains some improvements to Windows Update Client in Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 R2. This update fixes an issue, that Windows Update would sometimes not restart the computer as expected when the "Always automatically restart at the scheduled time" policy was set.
Compatibility Update for Windows 8/8.1 (KB2976978)
Update KB2976978 performs diagnostics on the Windows systems that participate in the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program. These diagnostics help determine whether compatibility issues may be encountered when the latest Windows operating system is installed. This update will help Microsoft and its partners ensure compatibility for customers who want to install the latest Windows operating system. I would hide this update, because it's revision 21.
