Technical

How to use WuInstall?

WuInstall is a command line tool, so you have to run "cmd" to get to the command line. If you double click on WuInstall, you only get a window showing a short description of the parameters. We recommend to run WuInstall as administrator to avoid troubles with access rights.

Basically, you can do three things with WuInstall:

• Searching for Updates: WuInstall /search
  → searches for all available updates, either (if configured) on the internal WSUS or in the internet on the Microsoft Update Server and gives a list of the updates found
• Downloading updates: WuInstall /download
  → does a search like in a), and downloads the updates found
• Installing updates: WuInstall /install
  → does a search first, then it downloads and finally installs the updates found

There are several options for selecting not all, but only specific updates: /severity, /match, /nomatch, /matchfile, /nomatchfile, /classification, /product, /criteria

Beyond that, there are some other very useful options:

• /bypass_wsus: switches the WSUS off while executing WuInstall, to force going for the Microsoft Update Server in the internet
• /autoaccapteula: automatically accepts EULAs for all updates which have to be installed → no user interaction required
• /reboot [nseconds]: after executing WuInstall, the system is rebooted after n seconds

For more infos, see also the WuInstall HowTos

How do I call WuInstall on a remote machine using psexec?

Use the following command:

psexec \\server -c -s 
-u domain\administrator -p password \\share\path_to_wuinstall\WUInstall.exe /search

• \\server → the remote Windows machine
• \\share\path_to_wuinstall\ → path to WuInstall executable
• -u domain\administrator → local admin oder domain admin user on the machine \\server
• -p password → password of the user
• -c → copies WuInstall on the remote system
• -s → executes the command (wuinstall.exe) on the local system

How to get "Important" Updates only?

To get the same updates as you get when selected "Important" Updates on the windows update page, please try the following criteria option:

wuinstall /search /criteria "IsHidden=0 and IsInstalled=0 and IsAssigned=1"

How to use WuInstall with a proxy server?

• When using a proxy which needs authentifcation, the user who executes wuinstall has to have the right to access the internet via the proxy.
• When using a WSUS via proxy, the wsus should be in the proxy exception list

Does windows reboot automatically after WuInstall installed updates which need to reboot the machine?

No!

But WuInstall returns a status code, which indicates whether a reboot would be necessary or not.

There is also the /reboot-option in WuInstall (it can be used in combination with all other options). It reboots windows, after executing WuInstall, at any case.
WuInstall /reboot just reboots the system, without doing anything else.

How does the /criteria option work?

For a detailled description of the query strings see MSDN
Some common examples:

• WuInstall /search /criteria "IsInstalled=0 and Type='Software'": searches updates of type software, which are not yet installed (default-setting when the /criteria option is not specified)
• WuInstall /search /criteria "IsInstalled=1": searches all updates, which are already installed on the machine (here, the options /install or /download are obviously not applicable, they will have no effect)

Why are Updates marked as hidden also installed?

The default criteria option (see above) includes hidden and non-hidden updates. If you add “IsHidden=0” then the updates you marked as hidden will be skipped. An example would be: WuInstall /install /criteria "IsInstalled=0 and Type='Software' and IsHidden=0"

Where does WuInstall download the updates?

The file location where WuInstall downloads the updates depends on your Windows Version and System Configuration. It is the same directory the "ordinary" Windows Update uses as well.
Usually, this directory is Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download

Does WuInstall work with Windows 7?

Yes, WuInstall has been tested with Windows 7, 32-bit and 64-bit, and it works just as well as with all other Windows versions. We recommend to run WuInstall as administrator to avoid troubles with access rights.

How to search for special Updates or how to use Regular Expressions for /match /nomatch?

If you want to select special Updates by using regular expressions (e.g for the switches /match or /nomatch), then have a look at the following URL for Perl - Style regular expressions: http://www.cs.tut.fi/~jkorpela/perl/regexp.html.

Example:

• WUInstall /install /nomatch "(Internet Explorer).*8 ": Install all Updates except the ones for the Internet Explorer 8.

Is it possible to deploy IE8 without user interaction using WuInstall?

With this command, you should get the absolute minimum of user interaction (=none) when installing IE 8:

wuinstall.exe /install /autoaccepteula /match "Internet Explorer 8" 
/disable_ie_firstruncustomize /quiet /disableprompt
 

• /install ... installs the update
• /match "Internet Explorer 8" ... Filters only for Updates with tilte matching "Internet Explorer 8"
• /autoaccepteula ... Accepts any EULAs automatically (surpresss user interaction on that)
• /disable_ie_firstruncustomize ... Disables the internet explorer 8 set up dialog.
• /quiet ... The update-installer is forced to do an installation without user interaction
• /disableprompt ... Disable showing source prompts to a user when installing the updates

Why does WuInstall crash/generate failures during the download or installation of updates?

Are you using the show_progress option? This feature is not recommend for common usage. It might cause under certain circumstances on some machines problems. It is only intended for manual testing on single machines. Please, try it without this option.

WuInstall doesn't install updates properly when starting with "runas administrator", why?

When using Windows XP it might cause problems using the "runas" command together with WuInstall. To prevent this you should use the /quiet and /disableprompt option on the end of your command.

WuInstall exits with error code 0x80072EFD, why?

This error usually indicates a connection problem. There is no connection to the WSUS or to the Windows Update Server. Probably, the WSUS - address is just configured incorrectly or there are proxy problems.

See also http://support.microsoft.com/kb/836941/en-us

WuInstall exits with error code 0x8024400A, why?

This Problem sometimes occurs with new Windows XP SP 3 Machines, when the Windows Update Agent is not properly installed. Just download according to http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949104 the latest Version of the Windows Update Agent and install it

WuInstall exits with error code 0x80240044, why?

This error code occurs when administrator privileges are necessary to perform the wanted operation. Get sure that you run WuInstall with an administrator user.

Windows 7 Service Pack 1 installation fails, why?

Do you use the option /quiet when executing WuInstall? The installation of Windows 7 Service Pack 1 with the option /quiet could cause some error. Please try to execute WuInstall without /quiet.

Installation of updates with WuInstall does not work on my Windows XP machine, why?

If you get unexplainable errors (like for example 0x80240022 - WU_E_ALL_UPDATES_FAILED) installing updates with WuInstall on Windows XP - even though running it with admin rights - try the following workaround:

1) If you are using the educational version, download the trial version of WuInstall Pro
2) Then just add the parameters /quiet /disableprompt to your WuInstall call - this should fix the issue. See also this faq

WuInstall PRO Licensing

How is the WuInstall license price calculated?

You can calculate the price of your WuInstall licence using the licencse calculator. The price depends on the number of machines which you want to patch within your organization using WuInstall, and the type of machine (client or server).

A workstation counts for one point, a server for 8 points, so the number of points is:
e Total Points = Number of Workstations + (Number of Servers x 8)

The current pricing model is then like this:

• up to 150 points: USD 390 – WuInstall PRO Basic
• 151 to 500 points: USD 590 – WuInstall PRO Small
• 501 to 1000 points: USD 990 – WuInstall PRO Medium
• 1001 to 2000 points: USD 1.790 – WuInstall PRO Large
• 2001 to 4000 points: USD 3.290 – WuInstall PRO Enterprise
• more than 4000 points: Please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for an individual offer.

How do i obtain updates?

You get all updates on WuInstall PRO on request, just by dropping an e-Mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . A download portal for WuInstall customers is in preparation.

How long is the WuInstall license valid?

The WuInstall license is valid for an unlimited amount of time within your organization for the licensed number of servers and workstations.

Are there any recurring costs for WuInstall PRO?

No. In the current WuInstall license model, there are no recurring costs, only the purchase price. However, you can order additional support or individual features, just contact us under This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it