How do I force Windows to check for updates?

Question

After a fresh Windows install – XP or 7 – how can I "force" Windows updates?

I don't want to have "old" Windows updates after a week, so could it be done in "one step"? Are there any "magical" commands that force Windows to check for updates, and if there are any, install them?

Answer 1

You can check for and install updates automatically using a script. This will work in either XP or Windows 7.

There are a number of scripts available for download, here is mine:

' Written in 2007 by Harry Johnston, University of Waikato, New Zealand.
' This code has been placed in the public domain.  It may be freely
' used, modified, and distributed.  However it is provided with no
' warranty, either express or implied.
'
' Exit Codes:
'   0 = scripting failure
'   1 = error obtaining or installing updates
'   2 = installation successful, no further updates to install
'   3 = reboot needed; rerun script after reboot
'
' Note that exit code 0 has to indicate failure because that is what
' is returned if a scripting error is raised.
'

Set updateSession = CreateObject("Microsoft.Update.Session")

Set updateSearcher = updateSession.CreateUpdateSearcher()
Set updateDownloader = updateSession.CreateUpdateDownloader()
Set updateInstaller = updateSession.CreateUpdateInstaller()

Do

  WScript.Echo
  WScript.Echo "Searching for approved updates ..."
  WScript.Echo

  Set updateSearch = updateSearcher.Search("IsInstalled=0")

  If updateSearch.ResultCode <> 2 Then

    WScript.Echo "Search failed with result code", updateSearch.ResultCode
    WScript.Quit 1

  End If

  If updateSearch.Updates.Count = 0 Then

    WScript.Echo "There are no updates to install."
    WScript.Quit 2

  End If

  Set updateList = updateSearch.Updates

  For I = 0 to updateSearch.Updates.Count - 1

    Set update = updateList.Item(I)

    WScript.Echo "Update found:", update.Title

  Next

  WScript.Echo

  updateDownloader.Updates = updateList
  updateDownloader.Priority = 3

  Set downloadResult = updateDownloader.Download()

  If downloadResult.ResultCode <> 2 Then

    WScript.Echo "Download failed with result code", downloadResult.ResultCode
    WScript.Echo

    WScript.Quit 1

  End If

  WScript.Echo "Download complete.  Installing updates ..."
  WScript.Echo

  updateInstaller.Updates = updateList

  Set installationResult = updateInstaller.Install()

  If installationResult.ResultCode <> 2 Then

    WScript.Echo "Installation failed with result code", installationResult.ResultCode

    For I = 0 to updateList.Count - 1

      Set updateInstallationResult = installationResult.GetUpdateResult(I)
      WScript.Echo "Result for " & updateList.Item(I).Title & " is " & installationResult.GetUpdateResult(I).ResultCode

    Next

    WScript.Quit 1

  End If

  If installationResult.RebootRequired Then

    WScript.Echo "The system must be rebooted to complete installation."

    WScript.Quit 3

  End If

  WScript.Echo "Installation complete."

Loop 

You run this from the command line like this:

cscript wsusupdate.vbs

My script is only minimally functional but may still be useful. There are other such scripts available with many additional features, try a Google search.

Answer 2

Beyond the usual way of using Windows Update, you can force a check from a command-line.

Open an administrator command prompt and run:

C:\> %windir%\system32\wuauclt.exe /detectnow

Wuauclt.exe is the AutoUpdate Client of Windows Update and is used to check for available updates (for the various versions of the MS Windows platform) from Microsoft Update.

This won't force an install.

Answer 3

TO check for updates, go to Control Panel, Security, Windows Update, then click "Check for updates."

Answer 4

Another way to force a true rescan for updates is to wipe the slate clean, by deleting all updates stored in %windir%\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download:

    NET STOP wuauserv
    RD /S /Q %windir%\SoftwareDistribution\Download
    NET START wuauserv

Then go to Windows Update, and "Check for updates". It may take an hour, because every updateable file on your system volume is checked (subsequent "Checks for updates" will be fast). This approach eliminates errors, botched updates, and yields a clean, up-to-date system, at least insofar as MS sees it.

Answer 5

i am using a second party tool called wuinstall for updating fresh windows installation. with that you can automate the whole updating process, including automatic reboots. i think it is one of the fastest ways to get a fresh windows up-to-date without user attendance.

Answer 6

I've found that if, as part of your fresh install on Windows 7, you upgraded IE or you haven't run IE yet and answered the introductory questions, that Windows Update will give you an error. I also haven't found a way to switch Windows Update to Microsoft Update without going through the GUI, so I manually fire up IE, get it initialized and then setup Windows Update through the GUI, so I can switch to Microsoft Update and avoid the initial error. Your mileage may vary.

Answer 7

I had success following the steps on this post, by installing IE8 & WI4.5, it will trigger automatic updates to start downloads.

Answer 8

[Win 10 and above] Assuming you've tried all the other answers (which are good but haven't quite worked for me) and it's still not working -> Pause Updates and then Resume Updates.