Windows Server 2012 R2 Updates to Windows 8.1

[WayneNathaniel2600]

Since Windows 8.1 Went to EOL on January 10 2023. Now Windows 8.1 no longer receives security updates, While Windows Server 2012 R2 Continues to receive Until October 10 2023. And it's extendable until 2026 But i find out somethings interesting. So yeah i did is to replace the Windows 8.1 basebrd.dll and shellbrd.dll to the Windows Server 2012 R2's then change some registry and tried sideloading some updates.

Here are the updates i sideloaded.

kb5011263
kb5006067
kb5017220

after i do that and Windows Update still don't receive the Windows Server 2012 R2 updates. By the way i made the branding replacement to install these updates successfully. It seems to be pointless to do but To be sure i decided to do that.

Do anyone know how to fully trick Windows update that we run Windows Server 2012 R2 ?


This is the code for the registry i do :

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion]
"InstallationType"="Server"
"EditionID"="Datacenter"
"ProductName"="Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter"

[Meow]

Since Windows 8.1 Went to EOL on January 10 2023. Now Windows 8.1 no longer receives security updates, While Windows Server 2012 R2 Continues to receive Until October 10 2023. And it's extendable until 2026 But i find out somethings interesting. So yeah i did is to replace the Windows 8.1 basebrd.dll and shellbrd.dll to the Windows Server 2012 R2's then change some registry and tried sideloading some updates.

Here are the updates i sideloaded.

kb5011263
kb5006067
kb5017220

after i do that and Windows Update still don't receive the Windows Server 2012 R2 updates. By the way i made the branding replacement to install these updates successfully. It seems to be pointless to do but To be sure i decided to do that.

Do anyone know how to fully trick Windows update that we run Windows Server 2012 R2 ?


This is the code for the registry i do :

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion]
"InstallationType"="Server"
"EditionID"="Datacenter"
"ProductName"="Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter"

You can’t make 8.1’s Windows Update receive Server 2012 R2 updates. You probably have to replace the ENTIRE windows update system with 2012 R2’s for it to work. Either that or you have to download and install all of the updates manually.

[dixieLH]

i'm pretty sure such easy trick was ended with NT4

[MyFaceNeverWhen]

i'm pretty sure such easy trick was ended with NT4

You could give POSReady 2009 updates to Windows XP with the same trick, so it doesn't seem like that's the case.

[WayneNathaniel2600]

If i heard Windows Server 2008 Updates on Windows Vista exist and Windows POSReady 2009 Updates on Windows XP. The similar fashion should be also done

[WayneNathaniel2600]

Since Windows 8.1 Went to EOL on January 10 2023. Now Windows 8.1 no longer receives security updates, While Windows Server 2012 R2 Continues to receive Until October 10 2023. And it's extendable until 2026 But i find out somethings interesting. So yeah i did is to replace the Windows 8.1 basebrd.dll and shellbrd.dll to the Windows Server 2012 R2's then change some registry and tried sideloading some updates.

Here are the updates i sideloaded.

kb5011263
kb5006067
kb5017220

after i do that and Windows Update still don't receive the Windows Server 2012 R2 updates. By the way i made the branding replacement to install these updates successfully. It seems to be pointless to do but To be sure i decided to do that.

Do anyone know how to fully trick Windows update that we run Windows Server 2012 R2 ?


This is the code for the registry i do :

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion]
"InstallationType"="Server"
"EditionID"="Datacenter"
"ProductName"="Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter"

You can’t make 8.1’s Windows Update receive Server 2012 R2 updates. You probably have to replace the ENTIRE windows update system with 2012 R2’s for it to work. Either that or you have to download and install all of the updates manually.

Which file should i replace

[WayneNathaniel2600]

FYI :

I was able to install Windows Server 2012 R2 Updates successfully on Windows 8.1 since they share the same codebases, Same kernel NT (6.3) and the same Build Number (9600)

[Meow]

You can’t make 8.1’s Windows Update receive Server 2012 R2 updates. You probably have to replace the ENTIRE windows update system with 2012 R2’s for it to work. Either that or you have to download and install all of the updates manually.

Which file should i replace

It’s not just files, you’d have to replace part of the Windows registry. I don’t know what parts of the registry or files would need to be replaced, but it would probably be well over 100 entries in the registry. I would like to imagine it wouldn’t be the same for files, but who knows.

[WayneNathaniel2600]

Or maybe we should wait MS To put updates after January 10 2023 for Windows Server 2012 R2. And try sideloading that

[anonymous74]

Best way would just to slipstream the Server 2012 updates into a Windows 8 image using NTLite or similar. Would save a lot of time. especially if you're installing 8.1 on multiple systems. Not sure if you'd have to modify anything or not to get them to install automatically though, being server updates and all.

[AlphaBeta]

Windows Update still don't receive the Windows Server 2012 R2 updates.

Yeah no, there is no way you will be able to get Windows Update working without breaking half of the OS.

Changing the branding is certainly not enough, you would have to actually change the SKU in order to get anywhere near. And at that point you would be better off just using regular Windows Server 2012 R2...

[WayneNathaniel2600]

Okay. I was actually making somethings called *Windows 8.1 Extended Edition* Which extends updates till 2026. I Better advice some users using that project i am making is to always sideload it if they can. But i am slipstreaming some updates that are important

[WayneNathaniel2600]

Here's how it looks like after i did this. It just nothing happened. But No updates from Windows Server 2012 R2 is still received

[WayneNathaniel2600]

That's Windows 8.1 Pro. I decided to open slmgr just to not confuse someone.

[WayneNathaniel2600]

BTW There are a lot of updates on Microsoft Update Catalog. I recommend you get updates there if you need to slipstream

[AlphaBeta]

Here's how it looks like after i did this. It just nothing happened. But No updates from Windows Server 2012 R2 is still received

You're not getting anywhere as long as slmgr says it's activating "Windows (‍R), Professional edition".

[WayneNathaniel2600]

You actually can receive updates on Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and Windows 11 regardless if it's activated or Not. The Update restrictions on Unactivated systems is for Windows Vista and Windows 7 only. With Windows 8 it's dropped just you will get the full screen popups every 6 hours. It's bit annoying but you always can close it

[RainyNights12]

You can also use Windows embedded 8.1 it still receives updates till
Jul 11, 2023

[AlphaBeta]

I am not talking about activation. I am talking about the fact the system still thinks that it is Windows 8.1 Pro.



You even used that to prove that it, in fact, still is Windows 8.1 Pro.

How do you expect it to fetch server updates if it still identifies as client?

I am probably just watching my energy here...

[WayneNathaniel2600]

How can we make it think it's a Server

[Meow]

How can we make it think it's a Server

That’s the problem. AFAIK no one has ever done this with anything past pre reset longhorn. This used to be an easy task with XP and down, but that has not been the case for 16 years now.

[PivotGuy246]

How can we make it think it's a Server

Here's the thing, there were zero update checks for detecting a specific operating system edition before Windows 10 came out. You can install Win2k12(R2) updates on a regular install of Win8.1 without any consequence.

[WayneNathaniel2600]

Yes i do that to Windows 8.1 but i find out TweakNT. I hope this works

[WayneNathaniel2600]

TweakNT Doesn't work.

[MyFaceNeverWhen]

TweakNT Doesn't work.

that's because it was ment for Windows XP/Server 2003...