updating Windows 7 without activation

Question

I wonder either it is really impossible to update Windows (Win 7 in my case) without having activated it (i.e. with no product key available) or if the activation is just recommended for doing this kind of maintenance automatically.

Specifically, is there any way to know which updates I need, download and install them manually every time I decide to check them and deal with the updating process?

I also tried to check for updates manually by using windows update mini tool but every time I start the procedure I got the error message telling me that Windows is not activated:

Solution 1

It is not possible to use windows update when windows is not activated, but the exception is the grace period of a month.

Before you get the nag: You must activate windows, windows will be fully functional. Once you get the message, things like windows update will stop working.

Solution 2

Specifically, is there any way to know which updates I need

Yep. Windows will tell you when you purchase a license or provide it with a product key.

Comments

[Ramhound]

Why are you attempting to do this? You can create your own .wim file from an updated installation if your attempting to update before you activate.

[Moab]

Never tried it but this windows update mini tool may allow you to get windows updates, use version 27-01...cloud.mail.ru/public/3E95/kvd9WCbUq

[Moab]

More about this tool...wilderssecurity.com/threads/windows-update-minitool.3‌​80535

[franz1]

@Moab : it didn't work (see additional section in my question), thank you in any case.

[Daniel B]

I did this many times using WSUS Offline. That was, of course, right after installing it.

[franz1]

@DanielB do you mean that Windows lets Windows Update Mini Tool install updates only if I run it immediately after having installed the Operative System (i.e. before the notification telling me that Win is not activated)?

[Moab]

I don't see how this answers the question, it asks specifically how to do it when it is not activated.

[David Schwartz]

And "activate it" is a perfectly good answer. The OP is very careful to say "without having activated it" rather than, for example, "without activating it", and even added emphasis to make sure this was clear.