Windows Update
Windows Updates is dependant on the following services, check these if updates are failing or having issues:
- Windows Update Service - wuauserv
- Update Orchestrator Service -usosvc
- Background Intelligent Transfer Service - BITS
- Windows Modules Installer - Trusted installer
View update logs - useful sometimes - go to this location:
%windir%\Windowsupdate.log
Updates stored in Software distribution folder, stop windows update service and delete this folder to get windows to check and download updates again.
If updates still fail do sfc /scannow to check system files
Check for any updates that are required for the updates that you are installing.
Website to download specific update packages:
https://catalog.update.microsoft.com
Registry keys for configuring Automatic Updates & WSUS:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Internet Communication Management\Internet Communication
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\WindowsUpdate
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU
Run Updates from CMD: Go to Run –> cmd Run the following command to check for new updates:
- wuauclt /detectnow
Run the following command to install new updates
- wuauclt /updatenow
Get current windows build
- Get-CimInstance -Class win32_operatingsystem | fl
Can also look at the following registry entry for windows server 2012r2:
- HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\
Get list of all installed updates and pipe to the clipboard:
- dism /online /get-packages | clip
Get all hot fixes installed:
- get-hotfix
Uninstall updates
Uninstall windows update packages with the following command:
- wusa /uninstall /kb:5009543
Updates with Powershell
Use the PSWindowsUpdate powershell module:
Get available windows updates:
Get-WindowsUpdate
Install available updates
Install-WindowsUpdate
Download and install a specific update:
Get-WindowsUpdate -Install -KBArticleID 'KB5031445'