How to harvest list of dowloaded patches without third-party software

[Support]

Hello:
We have laptop users and we want to check if they have downloaded particular
service packs +KB's and Q's.

I have found some records in two places:

1) In c:\windows\ you can find a log of numerous Q and K's installed BUT
NOT all are there.

2) In registry ->HKLM -> Software -> Micorosft ->Updates you will find many
more but the layout is painful!

I could write recursive code to extract all the KBs, WM's K's and Q's but I
was wondering if there was a more linear repository somewhere.

My application harvests that type of information including anti-virus
definition dates into an XML file which is then remoted to a SQL database
where reports can be generated.

I do not want to use any third party software - just trying to find out
where the information is located...

Thansk for any suggestions.
Terry

 

[Haggis]

Hello:
We have laptop users and we want to check if they have downloaded
particular
service packs +KB's and Q's.

I have found some records in two places:

1) In c:\windows\ you can find a log of numerous Q and K's installed BUT
NOT all are there.

2) In registry ->HKLM -> Software -> Micorosft ->Updates you will find
many
more but the layout is painful!

I could write recursive code to extract all the KBs, WM's K's and Q's but
I
was wondering if there was a more linear repository somewhere.

My application harvests that type of information including anti-virus
definition dates into an XML file which is then remoted to a SQL database
where reports can be generated.

I do not want to use any third party software - just trying to find out
where the information is located...

Thansk for any suggestions.
Terry

open a command prompt window and type "qfecheck"

 

[jt3]

No authority on the subject, but having hunted this beast myself, I came to
the conclusion that there isn't (wasn't at the time, about 6 mos. ago) any
consistent policy at MS on the matter. Most things are covered either by
what you mention, and Haggis, but I've found a case or two that defied that,
e.g., 'root certificate update.' Additionally, others, e.g. Intel, will
occasionally provide an update with the same sort of numbering--also caused
me some trouble, so, if you write an app to do it, it would be a public
service!

Good Luck,
Joe

 

[Alex Nichol]

We have laptop users and we want to check if they have downloaded particular
service packs +KB's and Q's.

I have found some records in two places:

1) In c:\windows\ you can find a log of numerous Q and K's installed BUT
NOT all are there.

2) In registry ->HKLM -> Software -> Micorosft ->Updates you will find many
more but the layout is painful!

The second of those is the only one I would rely on. There is a log
maintained by Windows Update itself (in Program Files\Windows Update),
*but* it is capable of being incorrect if system restores have been
done, removing the updates and leaving the record. (and its layout in
XML is far worse)