Is there a Microsoft utility which reports network users' software version & patches?

[Mike]

Hello,

At work, computer users have Windows XP.
I have been asked to find out if there is a program downloadable from
the Microsoft site which gives a status report of installed updates,
etc. on each machine.
So, instead of me physically visiting each machine, a reporting tool
would tell me which Microsoft Defender version is currently installed
on each pc and which patches have been installed for various Microsoft
software.

My boss expects that this software exists because he used something
similar on an older version of Windows.

Can anybody point me in the right direction please?

Thank you,

Mike

 

[Marcin Domaslawski]

Hi,

Try Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer - it checks security state on
selected machine - I mean checks e.g. installed security updates, weak
paswords etc..

Besides to check, report and auto updates Microsoft has Windows Server
Update Services.

Marcin Domaslawski

 

[Leythos]

Hi,

Try Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer - it checks security state on
selected machine - I mean checks e.g. installed security updates, weak
paswords etc..

Besides to check, report and auto updates Microsoft has Windows Server
Update Services.

BelarcAdvisor does a better job of telling users what software is
installed. BSA only covers MS products.

 

[Mike]

Thank you for the feedback. The purpose is not to automatically update
software.
The purpose is to display a report of software versions - including
patches.
He tried MSIA (Microsoft Software Inventory Analyzer) today and it did
not seem to report about patches.

I am not clear if
Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer
or
Microsoft Software Update Services
may be used for reporting only - to the level of patches.

It needs to show Microsoft updates history rather than what needs
updating.
It is hard to find the answer because sites emphasise the 'automatic
update' features of their software and maybe have no idea that we want
something simpler.

We would consider using free freeware that does not originate from
Microsoft.


Thank you,

Mike

 

[Gordon]

Thank you for the feedback. The purpose is not to automatically update
software.
The purpose is to display a report of software versions - including
patches.
He tried MSIA (Microsoft Software Inventory Analyzer) today and it did
not seem to report about patches.

try Belarc
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

or Aida32

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download181.html

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hello,

At work, computer users have Windows XP.
I have been asked to find out if there is a program downloadable from
the Microsoft site which gives a status report of installed updates,
etc. on each machine.
So, instead of me physically visiting each machine, a reporting tool
would tell me which Microsoft Defender version is currently installed
on each pc and which patches have been installed for various Microsoft
software.

My boss expects that this software exists because he used something
similar on an older version of Windows.

Can anybody point me in the right direction please?

Thank you,

Mike

This is one of the many capabilities of SMS.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[Nevermind]

This is one of the many capabilities of SMS.

There is an application called WinUpdatesList which will list all the
installed updates. It was apparently written by Nir Sofer.

 

[Mike]

re:
"
If you find this attitude obnoxious, condescending, or arrogant, check
your assumptions. We're not asking you to genuflect to us - in fact,
most of us would love nothing more than to deal with you as an equal
and welcome you into our culture, if you put in the effort required to
make that possible. But it's simply not efficient for us to try to help
people who are not willing to help themselves. It's OK to be ignorant;
it's not OK to play stupid.
"
I am trying. Honest!
Also looking into
http://msmvps.com/blogs/athif/archive/2005/11/20/76035.aspx
and its wmic suggestion.

Thank you,

Mike

 

[Mike]

A bit worried about that because the author's site says that some
computers have 'false positives' about the viral nature of the
software. Thank you!!!