[HOWTO] Installing Cactus in Windows 7

[fearedbliss]

This guide will show you how to get Cactus running in Windows 7 x64. Cactus requires .NET Framework 4.6.2 for it to function, however, Windows 7 will need to have several updates installed before you are even able to install .NET Framework 4.6.2. I'll be showing you what to do and how to get there. I've mirrored all of these files on my server, but you can also acquire all of these files directly from Microsoft by searching for the KB#s in the Microsoft Update Catalog. You'll also need to download the Microsoft Root Certificate 2011. For your convenience, I've provided direct links for all of these files to both, Microsoft's official servers, and my mirror.

You can use my Windows 7 SP2 Images (Unofficial) to get Cactus up and running quickly. It already includes all of the updates so you'll just need to install .NET Framework 4.6.2 in order to launch Cactus. No other steps are necessary!

Required Files

1. KB2533552 (Update for Windows 7) - (Microsoft | Mirror)
2. KB976932 (Windows 7 Service Pack 1 for x64-based Systems) - (Microsoft | Mirror)
3. KB4490628 (2019-03 Servicing Stack Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems) - (Microsoft | Mirror)
4. KB4474419 (2019-09 Security Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems) - (Microsoft | Mirror)
5. Microsoft Root Certificate Authority 2011 (MicRooCerAut2011_2011_03_22.crt) - (Microsoft | Mirror)
6. .NET Framework 4.6.2 Offline Installer - (Microsoft | Mirror)

* KB2533552 - The whole thing actually worked without me installing this but Microsoft recommended it in the Microsoft Update Catalog as part of the SP1 update. We'll go ahead and install it to make sure we don't get any unforeseen consequences.

*.NET Framework 4.6.2 Offline Installer - We'll use the offline installer rather than the web version so that we are more future proof and also so that you don't have to re-download the whole thing if something goes wrong during the .NET install process.

Preface

All of the Windows 7 images from my current Windows 7 DVDs contain pristine, unpatched, Windows 7 (SP0 aka Version 6.1 (Build 7600)). .NET Framework 4.6.2 has a minimum requirement of Windows 7 SP1, so if you aren't already running SP1, we will need to get there first.

Without doing any of the updates, there would be various errors you'll get such as:

Code: Select all

Blocking Issues: The .NET Framework 4.6.2 is not supported on this operating system.

Final Result: Installation failed with error code: (0x800B0109), "A certificate chain processed, but terminated in a root certificate which is not trusted by the trust provider. " (Elapsed time: 0 00:03:07).

Final Result: Installation failed with error code: (0x80096005), "The timestamp signature and/or certificate could not be verified or is malformed. " (Elapsed time: 0 00:00:08).

Each of these are due to changes Microsoft has made over time to the OS and to their certificates (i.e: SHA-2 instead of SHA-1, or adding more sources to their trusted certificate chain). Thus Windows 7 will also need to receive these updates to support this functionality.

Updating to Service Pack 1

You can skip this section if you are already running Service Pack 1.

To check if you are on SP1, you can either:

• Run "winver" and see if it says: Version 6.1 (Build 7601: Service Pack 1). If it does, then you are good. If it says: Version 6.1 (Build 7600), then you'll need to update.
• Click "Start" -> Right Click "Computer" -> Click "Properties". If you don't see "Service Pack 1" under the "Windows edition" section, then you are running SP0.

We'll perform the first two updates now.

1. Run KB2533552 (Update for Windows 7).
2. Run KB976932 (Windows 7 Service Pack 1 for x64-based Systems).

Update for SHA-2 Support

You'll now install the updates for SHA-2 support which will be required for the Microsoft Root Certificate Authority 2011 to function properly since it's using SHA-2.

1. Run KB4490628 (2019-03 Servicing Stack Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems).
2. Run KB4474419 (2019-09 Security Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems).

Install the Microsoft Root Certificate Authority 2011

1. Double click the "MicRooCerAut2011_2011_03_22.crt" certificate.
2. Click "Install Certificate...". Click "Next".
3. Click "Place all certificates in the following store". Click "Browse"
4. Select "Trusted Root Certification Authorities". Click "Ok". Click "Next", Click "Finish".
5. Click "Ok".

Install .NET Framework 4.6.2

Finally, we can click the .NET Framework 4.6.2 installer and install .NET successfully. Once finish, you can launch Cactus. Have fun!

Screenshots