Searching, Downloading, and Installing Updates
The scripting sample in this topic shows you how to use Windows Update Agent (WUA) to scan, download, and install updates.
The sample searches for all the applicable software updates and then lists those updates. Next, it creates a collection of updates to download and then downloads them. Finally, it creates a collection of updates to install and then installs them.
If you want to search, download, and install a specific update that you identify by using the update title, see Searching, Downloading, and Installing Specific Updates.
Before you attempt to run this sample, note the following:
WUA must be installed on the computer. For more information about how to determine the version of WUA that is installed, see Determining the Current Version of WUA.
The sample can download updates only by using WUA. It cannot download updates from a Software Update Services (SUS) 1.0 server.
Running this sample requires Windows Script Host (WSH). For more information about WSH, see the WSH section of the Platform Software Development Kit (SDK). If the sample is copied to a file named WUA_SearchDownloadInstall.vbs, you can run the sample by opening a Command Prompt window and typing the following command at the command prompt.
cscript WUA_SearchDownloadInstall.vbs
Note
When conducting scans, you may experience higher than normal memory usage. It is recommended to make necessary adjustments to your system to allocate sufficient memory resources for the scanning process. This may include configuring additional processors and modifying the pagefile. Ensuring adequate memory allocation will help in completing the scan efficiently and effectively.
Example
Important
This script is intended to demonstrate the use of the Windows Update Agent APIs, and provide an example of how developers can use these APIs to solve problems. This script is not intended as production code, and the script itself is not supported by Microsoft (though the underlying Windows Update Agent APIs are supported).
Option Explicit
WScript.Echo "This script is provided by Microsoft Corporation to demonstrate techniques that can be used to search, download,"
WScript.Echo "and install updates through the Windows Update Agent API."
WScript.Echo ""
WScript.Echo "This script is not intended as production code."
WScript.Echo ""
' Supported parameters:
' /AppName: Name to pass to the WUA API as the 'calling application';
' this appears in the Windows Update logs
' Default: "WUA API Sample Script"
' /Criteria: Search criteria to be used (see the WUA documentation for
' IUpdateSearcher::BeginSearch for examples)
' Default: Search for all non-installed, non-hidden software
' /Automate: Don't prompt the user for various actions
' Default: Prompt the user
' /IgnoreSupersedence: Display all applicable updates, even those
' superseded by newer updates
' Default: Ignore supersedes updates
' /Offline: Path to WSUSSCN2.cab file that should be used for offline sync
' Default: Don't do offline sync
' /Service: Update service that script should scan against
' Available values: WU, MU, WSUS, DCAT, STORE, or an
' identifying GUID of another service
' Default: Default service (WSUS if machine is configured to
' use it, or MU if opted in, or WU otherwise)
' Ignored if /Offline is set
' /Hide: Hide updates found by the scan. Hidden updates will not
' normally be installed by Automatic Updates.
' /Show: Unhide any hidden updates found by the scan.
' /NoDownload: Do not download any updates that the scan detects
' /NoInstall: Do not install any updates that the scan detects
' /ShowDetails: Show details about the updates found by the scan
' /ShowBundle: Output information about the child updates in the
' bundled updates that are found
' /RebootToComplete: Restart the computer if necessary to complete
' installation
Function InstallationResultToText(result)
Select Case result
Case 2
InstallationResultToText = "Succeeded"
Case 3
InstallationResultToText = "Succeeded with errors"
Case 4
InstallationResultToText = "Failed"
Case 5
InstallationResultToText = "Cancelled"
Case Else
InstallationResultToText = "Unexpected (" & result & ")"
End Select
End Function
Function DeploymentActionToText(action)
Select Case action
Case 0
DeploymentActionToText = "None (Inherit)"
Case 1
DeploymentActionToText = "Installation"
Case 2
DeploymentActionToText = "Uninstallation"
Case 3
DeploymentActionToText = "Detection"
Case 4
DeploymentActionToText = "Optional Installation"
Case Else
DeploymentActionToText = "Unexpected (" & action & ")"
End Select
End Function
Function UpdateDescription(update)
Dim description
Dim I
Dim category
description = update.Title & " {" & update.Identity.UpdateID & "." & update.Identity.RevisionNumber & "}"
If update.IsHidden Then
description = description & " (hidden)"
End If
If WScript.Arguments.Named.Exists("ShowDetails") Then
if update.KBArticleIDs.Count > 0 Then
description = description & " ("
For I = 0 To update.KBArticleIDs.Count -1
If I > 0 Then
description = description & ","
End If
description = description & "KB" & update.KBArticleIDs.Item(I)
Next
description = description & ")"
End If
description = description & " Categories: "
For I = 0 to update.Categories.Count - 1
Set category = update.Categories.Item(I)
If I > 0 Then
description = description & ","
End If
description = description & category.Name & " {" & category.CategoryID & "}"
Next
description = description & " Deployment action: " & DeploymentActionToText(update.DeploymentAction)
End If
UpdateDescription = description
End Function
Dim appName
If WScript.Arguments.Named.Exists("AppName") Then
appName = WScript.Arguments.Named.Item("AppName")
Else
appName = "WUA API Sample Script"
End If
Dim criteria
If WScript.Arguments.Named.Exists("Criteria") Then
criteria = WScript.Arguments.Named.Item("Criteria")
Else
criteria = "IsInstalled=0 and Type='Software' and IsHidden=0"
End If
Dim isAutomated
isAutomated = WScript.Arguments.Named.Exists("Automate")
Dim ignoreSupersedence
ignoreSupersedence = WScript.Arguments.Named.Exists("IgnoreSupersedence")
Dim showBundle
showBundle = WScript.Arguments.Named.Exists("ShowBundle")
Dim serverSelection
Dim serviceId
serverSelection = 0
serviceId = ""
If WScript.Arguments.Named.Exists("Service") Then
Select Case UCase(WScript.Arguments.Named.Item("Service"))
Case "WU"
serverSelection = 2
Case "MU"
serverSelection = 3
serviceId = "7971f918-a847-4430-9279-4a52d1efe18d"
Case "WSUS"
serverSelection = 1
case "DCAT"
serverSelection = 3
serviceId = "855E8A7C-ECB4-4CA3-B045-1DFA50104289"
case "STORE"
serverSelection = 3
serviceId = "117cab2d-82b1-4b5a-a08c-4d62dbee7782"
Case Else
serverSelection = 3
serviceId = WScript.Arguments.Named.Item("Service")
End Select
End If
Dim noDownload
noDownload = WScript.Arguments.Named.Exists("NoDownload")
Dim noInstall
noInstall = WScript.Arguments.Named.Exists("NoInstall")
Dim hide
hide = WScript.Arguments.Named.Exists("Hide")
Dim show
show = WScript.Arguments.Named.Exists("Show")
Dim strInput
strInput = ""
Dim returnValue
returnValue = 0
Dim automaticUpdates
Dim updateSettings
Dim objWMIService
Dim colListOfServices
Dim objService
Dim secondInstallPass
secondInstallPass = false
Dim updateSession
Set updateSession = CreateObject("Microsoft.Update.Session")
updateSession.ClientApplicationID = appName
Dim updateServiceManager
Dim offlineService
If WScript.Arguments.Named.Exists("Offline") Then
Set updateServiceManager = CreateObject("Microsoft.Update.ServiceManager")
Set offlineService = updateServiceManager.AddScanPackageService(appName, WScript.Arguments.Named.Item("Offline"), 0)
serverSelection = 3
serviceId = offlineService.ServiceID
WScript.Echo "Registered offline scan cab, service ID " & serviceId & vbCRLF
End If
Dim updateSearcher
Set updateSearcher = updateSession.CreateUpdateSearcher()
updateSearcher.ServerSelection = serverSelection
If serverSelection = 3 Then
updateSearcher.ServiceId = serviceId
End If
If ignoreSupersedence Then
updateSearcher.IncludePotentiallySupersededUpdates = true
End If
WScript.Echo "Searching for updates..." & vbCRLF
Dim searchResult
Set searchResult = updateSearcher.Search(criteria)
WScript.Echo "List of applicable items found on the machine:"
Dim I
Dim B
For I = 0 To searchResult.Updates.Count-1
Set update = searchResult.Updates.Item(I)
WScript.Echo I + 1 & "> " & UpdateDescription(update)
If showBundle Then
For B = 0 to update.BundledUpdates.Count-1
WScript.Echo I+1 & "> " & B+1 & "> " & UpdateDescription(update.BundledUpdates.Item(B))
Next
End If
Next
Dim updatesToDownload
Set updatesToDownload = CreateObject("Microsoft.Update.UpdateColl")
If searchResult.Updates.Count = 0 Then
WScript.Echo "There are no applicable updates."
Else
WScript.Echo vbCRLF & "Checking search results:"
Dim update
Dim description
Dim addThisUpdate
Dim hideThisUpdate
Dim showThisUpdate
Dim atLeastOneAdded
Dim propertyTest
atLeastOneAdded = false
Dim exclusiveAdded
exclusiveAdded = false
If noDownload And Not hide And Not show Then
WScript.Echo "Skipping downloads as requested."
Else
For I = 0 to searchResult.Updates.Count-1
Set update = searchResult.Updates.Item(I)
description = UpdateDescription(update)
addThisUpdate = false
If hide And Not update.IsHidden Then
strInput = "Y"
If Not isAutomated Then
WScript.Echo I + 1 & "> : " & description & _
" is now shown; do you want to hide it? ([Y]/N)"
strInput = WScript.StdIn.Readline
WScript.Echo
End If
If (strInput = "Y" or strInput = "y") Then
WScript.Echo "Hiding update"
update.IsHidden = true
End If
ElseIf show And update.IsHidden Then
strInput = "Y"
If Not isAutomated Then
WScript.Echo I + 1 & "> : " & description & _
" is now hidden; do you want to show it? ([Y]/N)"
strInput = WScript.StdIn.Readline
WScript.Echo
End If
If (strInput = "Y" or strInput = "y") Then
WScript.Echo "Showing update"
update.IsHidden = false
End If
End If
If exclusiveAdded Then
WScript.Echo I + 1 & "> skipping: " & description & _
" because an exclusive update has already been selected"
ElseIf Not noDownload Then
propertyTest = false
On Error Resume Next
propertyTest = update.InstallationBehavior.CanRequestUserInput
On Error GoTo 0
If propertyTest = true Then
WScript.Echo I + 1 & "> skipping: " & description & _
" because it requires user input"
Else
propertyTest = true
On Error Resume Next
propertyTest = update.EulaAccepted
On Error GoTo 0
If propertyTest = false Then
If isAutomated Then
WScript.Echo I + 1 & "> skipping: " & description & _
" because it has a license agreement that has not been accepted"
Else
WScript.Echo I + 1 & "> note: " & description & _
" has a license agreement that must be accepted:"
WScript.Echo update.EulaText
WScript.Echo "Do you accept this license agreement? (Y/[N])"
strInput = WScript.StdIn.Readline
WScript.Echo
If (strInput = "Y" or strInput = "y") Then
update.AcceptEula()
addThisUpdate = true
Else
WScript.Echo I + 1 & "> skipping: " & description & _
" because the license agreement was declined"
End If
End If
Else
addThisUpdate = true
End If
End If
If addThisUpdate Then
propertyTest = 0
On Error Resume Next
propertyTest = update.InstallationBehavior.Impact
On Error GoTo 0
If propertyTest = 2 Then
If atLeastOneAdded Then
WScript.Echo I + 1 & "> skipping: " & description & _
" because it is exclusive and other updates are being installed first"
addThisUpdate = false
End If
End If
End If
If addThisUpdate Then
If Not isAutomated Then
WScript.Echo I + 1 & "> : " & description & _
" is applicable; do you want to install it? ([Y]/N)"
strInput = WScript.StdIn.Readline
WScript.Echo
If (strInput = "N" or strInput = "n") Then
WScript.Echo "Skipping update"
addThisUpdate = false
End If
End If
End If
If addThisUpdate Then
WScript.Echo I + 1 & "> adding: " & description
updatesToDownload.Add(update)
atLeastOneAdded = true
On Error Resume Next
propertyTest = update.InstallationBehavior.Impact
On Error GoTo 0
If propertyTest = 2 Then
WScript.Echo "This update is exclusive; skipping remaining updates"
exclusiveAdded = true
End If
End If
End If
Next
End If
End If
Dim updatesToInstall
Set updatesToInstall = CreateObject("Microsoft.Update.UpdateColl")
Dim rebootMayBeRequired
rebootMayBeRequired = false
If (Not noDownload) And (updatesToDownload.Count > 0) Then
WScript.Echo vbCRLF & "Downloading updates..."
Dim downloader
Set downloader = updateSession.CreateUpdateDownloader()
downloader.Updates = updatesToDownload
downloader.Download()
WScript.Echo vbCRLF & "Successfully downloaded updates:"
For I = 0 To updatesToDownload.Count-1
Set update = updatesToDownload.Item(I)
If update.IsDownloaded = true Then
WScript.Echo I + 1 & "> " & UpdateDescription(update)
updatesToInstall.Add(update)
propertyTest = 0
On Error Resume Next
propertyTest = update.InstallationBehavior.RebootBehavior
On Error GoTo 0
If propertyTest > 0 Then
rebootMayBeRequired = true
End If
End If
Next
End If
strInput = "N"
If noInstall Then
WScript.Echo "Skipping install as requested."
Else
If updatesToInstall.Count > 0 Then
strInput = "Y"
If rebootMayBeRequired = true Then
WScript.Echo vbCRLF & "These updates may require a reboot."
End If
If Not isAutomated Then
WScript.Echo vbCRLF & "Would you like to install updates now? (Y/[N])"
strInput = WScript.StdIn.Readline
WScript.Echo
End If
End If
If (strInput = "Y" or strInput = "y") Then
WScript.Echo "Installing updates..."
Dim installer
Set installer = updateSession.CreateUpdateInstaller()
installer.Updates = updatesToInstall
Dim installationResult
Set installationResult = installer.Install()
returnValue = 1
'Output results of install
WScript.Echo "Installation Result: " & _
InstallationResultToText(installationResult.ResultCode)
WScript.Echo "Reboot Required: " & _
installationResult.RebootRequired & vbCRLF
WScript.Echo "Listing of updates installed " & _
"and individual installation results:"
For I = 0 to updatesToInstall.Count - 1
WScript.Echo I + 1 & "> " & _
UpdateDescription(updatesToInstall.Item(i)) & ": " & _
InstallationResultToText(installationResult.GetUpdateResult(I).ResultCode) & _
" HRESULT: " & installationResult.GetUpdateResult(I).HResult
If installationResult.GetUpdateResult(I).HResult = -2145116147 Then
WScript.Echo "An update needed additional downloaded content. Please rerun the script."
End If
Next
If installationResult.RebootRequired And WScript.Arguments.Named.Exists("RebootToComplete") Then
strInput = "Y"
If Not isAutomated Then
WScript.Echo vbCRLF & "Would you like to reboot now to complete the installation? (Y/[N])"
strInput = WScript.StdIn.Readline
WScript.Echo
End If
If (strInput = "Y" or strInput = "y") Then
WScript.Echo "Committing installation..." & vbCRLF
installer.Commit(0)
WScript.Echo "Triggering restart in 30 seconds..." & vbCRLF
Dim oShell
Set oShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
oShell.Run "shutdown /r /t 30", 1
End If
End If
End If
End If
WScript.Quit (returnValue)