So you need to fiddle a bit with Windows Update, the reasons can be many;
- you want to centrally initiate an update
- you are paranoid and want to script a daily/weekly or monthly Windows Update (in case the automatic detection fail).
Well, for help on how to launch it on different remote machines I suggest you visit Dave’s Blog;
http://skatterbrainz.blogspot.com/2009/01/script-code-batch-running-wuauclt.html
A Desktop shortcut;
You could also simply create a desktop shortcut linking to
wuauclt.exe /resetauthorization /detectnow
This would force a Windows Updates detection to run upon clicking the shortcut, somewhat easier than launching the website.
The script you would need locally could look something like this;
@Echo off Echo Stopping Windows Update Service net stop wuauserv Echo Starting Windows Update Service net start wuauserv Echo Forcing Windows Update detection %windir%system32wuauclt.exe /detectnow
I also stumbled across some neat commands to try in case you are debugging Windows Update (update not working);
http://www.techsupportforum.com/microsoft-support/windows-xp-support/279270-automatic-update-not-started-error-1058-a.html
net stop wuauserv del /f /s /q %windir%SoftwareDistribution*.* net start wuauserv wuauclt.exe /detectnow _____________________ net stop bits net stop wuauserv %windir%system32 egsvr32.exe /s %windir%system32atl.dll %windir%system32 egsvr32.exe /s %windir%system32jscript.dll %windir%system32 egsvr32.exe /s %windir%system32msxml3.dll %windir%system32 egsvr32.exe /s %windir%system32softpub.dll %windir%system32 egsvr32.exe /s %windir%system32wuapi.dll %windir%system32 egsvr32.exe /s %windir%system32wuaueng.dll %windir%system32 egsvr32.exe /s %windir%system32wuaueng1.dll %windir%system32 egsvr32.exe /s %windir%system32wucltui.dll %windir%system32 egsvr32.exe /s %windir%system32wups.dll %windir%system32 egsvr32.exe /s %windir%system32wuweb.dll net start bits net start wuauserv wuauclt /resetauthorization /detectnow _____________________________ net stop bits net stop wuauserv regsvr32 /u wuaueng.dll /s del /f /s /q %windir%SoftwareDistribution*.* del /f /s /q %windir%windowsupdate.log regsvr32 wuaueng.dll /s net start bits net start wuauserv wuauclt.exe /resetauthorization /detectnow
PPS. Vista/Win2008 users beware.
Stopping services etc under windows vista/2008/7 require the scripts to be run as an administrator.