Applying windows updates...

WiseÄss · Post by **WiseÄss** » Sat Oct 18, 2003 9:54 am

We have several people who aren't on the internet, but we do want them to udpate their windows. Dont ask me why, this is my boss' stupid idea. Anyway, I was able to download all the updates from microsoft's windows update site and burn them to a CD, however I had to create a front end HTML page with links to each file, and it's a pain in the ass because the user has to click each and every link, and sometimes the updates aren't even needed (security updates for outlook, when the user doesn't even have it, etc). It's a lenthy and boring process to sit on the phone with someone while they click each link.

Is there a way to get the files locally, burn them on a CD and have the user install them much in the same way they do from the M$ site? Basically they click a link, apply the updates and reboot when it's all done?

My manager wants to simplify it to as few clicks as possible. I've checked all over M$'s site and nothing. I mean it's kind of stupid.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Sat Oct 18, 2003 10:53 am

You could probably write a batch file to execute them one at a time. Never tried it/

All updates are designed to be installed in the same session without rebooting between them EXCEPT for a couple of exceptions (SP-1 being one of them).

nexus_7 · Post by **nexus_7** » Sat Oct 18, 2003 11:15 am

IE, media player, dx are other ones that need seperate installs I think.

Greg

DocSilly · Post by **DocSilly** » Sat Oct 18, 2003 1:15 pm

A lil OT ... there's a nice solution for small networks where not all PCs have internet access. It is SUS "Software Update Services", where a centralized server with internet access plays the local Windows Update Server. You can find more info at http://www.susserver.com/ .

WiseÄss · Post by **WiseÄss** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 7:08 am

Originally posted by DocSilly
A lil OT ... there's a nice solution for small networks where not all PCs have internet access. It is SUS "Software Update Services", where a centralized server with internet access plays the local Windows Update Server. You can find more info at http://www.susserver.com/ .

thx for the options, I've looked at rolling out a SUS server, but alot of these guys are not on our network and are in the middle of boofoo nowheresville and don't have a 'net connection/etc. Now the fact that they don't have internet or any kind of connection why would they need to update? Well I don't know but my boss wants them to anyway so I figure hey, gotta make him happy. Anyway, we downloaded all the updates using that windows update catalog option and you basically get each and every update in an executable.

Here's an idea of the directory structure. The guys would have to navigate into each folder and double-click the .exe to apply the update.

So I created a little html file with links to each update that auto-runs when they put the CD in. Makes it a little bit easier. But they've still got to go through and click each link individually.

Basically my boss wants to know if it's even possible to do something on CD like it's done when you goto the update site. Put the CD in, checks your system, then starts updating.

One or two clicks versus like 50.

I just don't think it's possible.

I know you can order updates on CD (at least I thought you could) direct from microsoft.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 8:25 am

Well as I mentioned before, you could run them in a batch file BUT you'd have to setup seperate batch files for each OS (one for 2K, one for XP...).

The problem is that you have to respond to some prompts during the install process unless there's a way to bypass them via a command line (the EULA accept, and there's usually an option to prevent rebooting the system whcih you want to use so that you can install them all one after another).

If I've got some time I may experiment with it myself.

I'm in the same boat - clients scattered all over yonder, some only with dialup, and so I carry around all the updates on a CD (downloaded them from the Catalog like you did). Just tedious sitting there clicking on each one and running it.

Anyone figures this out, I'll be interested.

grumpy 1 · Post by **grumpy 1** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 7:30 pm

well you can cue up as many hotfixes as you want
download qchain.exe from microsoft its about 38 kb
Put qchain in a directory along with all the hotfixes
Then i make a folder called c:\ unzipped and move the hotfix folder into that so i have a folder c:\unzipped\hotfixes but you could call it what you like.
Then make a batch file like the one i got here
the switches are for - z no reboot and - m silent i.e dosent ask you any install questions

I have a couple of syntax errors in my batch file that i have to fix yet 3 i think but mostly it works good
ill get around to fixing them soonish

to run it type cmd at the command prompt cd \
cd unzipped\hotfixes
patch.bat and away you go

hope this helps

@echo off
set local
set PATHTOFIXES= c:\unzipped\hotfixes
%PATHTOFIXES%\Q329170_WXP_SP2_EN.exe -z -m
%PATHTOFIXES%\Q329390_WXP.exe -z -m
%PATHTOFIXES%\Q329441_WXP_SP2_en.exe -z -m
%PATHTOFIXES%\Q329834_WXP_SP2_en.exe -z -m
%PATHTOFIXES%\q330994.exe /q
%PATHTOFIXES%\Q810577_WXP_en.exe -z -m
%PATHTOFIXES%\Q810833_WXP_SP2_x86_ENU.exe -z -m
%PATHTOFIXES%\Q811493_WXP_SP2_x86_ENU.exe -z -m
%PATHTOFIXES%\Q811630_WXP_SP2_EN.exe -z -m
%PATHTOFIXES%\q813951.exe /q
%PATHTOFIXES%\Q814033_WXP_SP2_x86_ENU.exe -z -m
%PATHTOFIXES%\Q815021_WXP_SP2_x86_ENU.exe -z -m
%PATHTOFIXES%\Q817287.EXE -z -m
%PATHTOFIXES%\Q817606_WXP_SP2_x86_ENU.exe -z -m
%PATHTOFIXES%\q822925.exe -z -m
%PATHTOFIXES%\Q823718_MDAC_SecurityPatch.exe -z -m
%PATHTOFIXES%\WindowsXP-KB821557-x86-ENU.exe -z -m
%PATHTOFIXES%\WindowsXP-KB823559-x86-ENU.exe -z -m
%PATHTOFIXES%\js56nen.exe /q
%PATHTOFIXES%\msjavwu.exe /q
%PATHTOFIXES%\Q323255_X86_EN.exe -z -m
%PATHTOFIXES%\Q328310_WXP_SP2_en.exe -z -m
%PATHTOFIXES%\Q329048_xp.exe -z -m
%PATHTOFIXES%\Q329115_WXP_SP2_x86_ENU.exe -z -m
%PATHTOFIXES%\Q810565_WXP_SP2_x86_ENU.exe -z -m
%PATHTOFIXES%\Q819696_WXP_SP2_x86_ENU.exe -z -m
%PATHTOFIXES%\WindowsMedia8-KB817787-x86-ENU.exe /q
%PATHTOFIXES%\Q331953_WXP_en.exe -z -m
%PATHTOFIXES%\q296861_W2k_spl_x86_en.exe -z -m
%PATHTOFIXES%\qchain.exe

WiseÄss · Post by **WiseÄss** » Thu Oct 23, 2003 10:14 am

hmmm ill look into this one grump.
.
does that also work with me/98/se?

WiseÄss · Post by **WiseÄss** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 9:46 am

Just an update, grump, I got the updates working with a batch file just like you posted above and after reading their article it seems pretty easy. Now I'm just not sure if it'll work with ME/98 updates, that's my next project

Thanks for the help!