Clearing Windows Update History after in-place upgrade?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jisha
  • Start date Start date
J

Jisha

How do I find & clear out the information which Windows Update site (or
program) uses to create the "Installation History" table??

When I check the Window's Update installation history, there are tons of
entries listed as "successfully installed", but which can't be valid anymore
because their installation pre-dates a recent in-place upgrade...

Window's update can't seem to automatically distinguish this, probably
because somewhere on my computer is a record of past updates which are no
longer applicable, but were never culled out.

I noticed this only after I downloaded and ran BeLarc Advisor.
(Nice utility, BTW: http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html )

It reports the following 4 Items have "failed verification" and need to be
reinstalled, but windows update scan still thinks they're installed:
1) Q816093: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q816093
2) KB816093: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q822831
3) KB829558: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q829558
4) WM828026, Q828026:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q828026

I could figure out how to re-apply these manually, I suppose, but I'm hoping
I can delete the old references and force Windows Update to re-apply any
still necessary or desirable updates automatically.

I do wonder, however, what if I had never downloaded and run the BeLarc
Advisor?
Until then, I thought I was completely up to date... all updates, services
packs, & hot-fixes applied according to the guidance of the Windows Update
Scan of the computer?

Now, I can't be sure.

TIA,
Chris
 
The database for installed Windows Update files is in C:\Program Files\WindowsUpdate. Empty this folder. Do NOT delete the folder.
 
Hi George,

Thanks for the info... that worked quite nicely... no more useless reports
on history of installed items which are irrelevant now after the in-place
upgrade.

But, I'm still wondering if there's a way to force Windows Update to
reinstall those items which BeLarc Advisor flagged as unverified...

Thanks,
Chris


The database for installed Windows Update files is in C:\Program
Files\WindowsUpdate. Empty this folder. Do NOT delete the folder.
 
You can always try to get the updates manually using what is called the Windows Update Catalog at http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp

You have to enable that it is not there by default. In Other Options click Personalize Windows Update and check the Display the Windows Update Catalog and then Save settings. Then you search by your OS and by the KB number BeLarc is telling you there is a problem with. But in my experience it is not wise to trust third-party information such as this. Your best bet is to get QFECheck:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;282784

and use that to verify your hotfixes.
 
Thanks George,

The QFECheck says I need to reapply only 2 items... hmm... well that's a
good start.

Thanks again.

Chris



You can always try to get the updates manually using what is called the
Windows Update Catalog at
http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp

You have to enable that it is not there by default. In Other Options click
Personalize Windows Update and check the Display the Windows Update Catalog
and then Save settings. Then you search by your OS and by the KB number
BeLarc is telling you there is a problem with. But in my experience it is
not wise to trust third-party information such as this. Your best bet is to
get QFECheck:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;282784

and use that to verify your hotfixes.
 
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