XP Professional SP3(SP3 installed separately after installing XP Pro SP2)
Hi, On a new installation, I had already installed SP3 and .NET Framework, Internet Explorer 8 and Windows Media Player 11, I have a bunch of files downloaded already, which are updates for XP, IE8, .NET, WMP 11, etc. The thing is I thought that the WSUS program will FIRST check the system and list what is to be updated and list the updates with check marks, so that we can manually select the files to download instead of it just randomly downloading all the files first, which gives the user no control at all over what is to be downloaded or not because it downloads first and does not check what is already installed.
My humble suggestions would be, like the old Windows Update Programs first scan the computer and only list the updates according to chosen components for download that are needed and not the ones already downloaded and installed. There should also be separate options for each windows component to choose before giving start for checking, for example say, Windows XP SP3 as a separate option and Windows XP updates separate option (since SP3 is already downloaded and installed), Internet Explorer 8 separate and its updates separate option under it, WMP 11(Player alone one option with Updates as a separate option), .NET main packs separate option and Service packs/hot fixes separate option pertaining they again don't download the ones that are already installed.
The problem arises because it first downloads everything(what a waste of bandwidth and double work checking already downloaded files) and then only we can see that it has downloaded what is already there. This would enable the person to select only what is needed or be able to check with a documented list/files folder of the updates they already have downloaded and select only the ones needed instead of getting SP3, XP Updates, Windows Media Player with its updates, IE7 IE8 IE9 all together, especially when already downloaded/installed!
Also instead of being server based, the files that are downloaded can be downloaded in a serial number format (as .exe files) in the correct install order with superseding updates in the correct order so that manual installation can be done accordingly from a local folder or be put on a pen drive or external drive to use on computers to be installed in the future, with say a script or .exe file in the main folder to check the windows update database if there are any additional updates from the web before installing for another computer according to its requirements. And also detect and install only the files needed for each computer based on requirements. This way there will be a complete set of files till the latest updates and it can be installed accordingly.
As of now, the program has downloaded all the files to the computer I actually want to install the updates on and I want to know how to start going about and executing the updates. I see cab files in there too so am wondering if the files can be as .exe to install directly on another computer when the updates are saved onto a pen drive, or is there a file that has to be opened to install the updates from the folder. Problem is because there was a WSUS program update and I had given the option to save to another folder with browse, I have two folders as WSUS offline with the updates under client folder or something. Which folder should I backup onto a pen drive to attach to other computers and install (any particular files to look out for in particular to identify the same)?
I already have created an excel sheet with around 427 updates, I found in Windows Add/Remove Programs on my own system and have to sit now and double check if anything is left out/or needed to be installed, and moreover check the files with my already downloaded files to clear up the unnecessary loss of disk space, but boy is it going to be a tedious task due to this inconvenience.
Thanks and Regards, Michael