How to Clear Update History? How to Clear Single History Update Item That Failed?

How can I clear the Windows Update History? I want to start off with a
clean slate when SP2 appears.

Alternately, how can I clear a specific WU History item that Failed to
install but was later in the history was installed with Success?

IIRC, the history could be deleted by deleting all the files and subfolders
and files under Program Files | WindowsUpdate. I did so and rebooted but
the History now remains.

**I need to know where this WU History is now kept and how, if I choose to,
I can edit it to remove an item in it please?**

Today my Windows Update site updated itself but I noticed that SP2 for XP
is still not available?

Thank you for the help,

Susan

Susan wrote:
> How can I clear the Windows Update History? I want to start off with a
> clean slate when SP2 appears.
>
> Alternately, how can I clear a specific WU History item that Failed to
> install but was later in the history was installed with Success?
>
> IIRC, the history could be deleted by deleting all the files and subfolders
> and files under Program Files | WindowsUpdate. I did so and rebooted but
> the History now remains.
>
> **I need to know where this WU History is now kept and how, if I
> choose to, I can edit it to remove an item in it please?**


WU5 History is stored in the %windir%\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore folder.

Deleting this folder will clear the history completely. Currently there
is no method available that lets you remove only selected items from it,
but David Herman is looking into creating a program that will do this:

http://groups.google.com/groups?thre...TNGP12.phx.gbl


Note that you will need to stop the "Automatic Updates" service before
you are allowed to delete the folder mentioned above, here is how:

Start/Run --> services.msc

Then find "Automatic Updates" in the list, and double click on it.

If the service status is "Started", press the Stop button. You can now
delete the %windir%\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore folder.


> Today my Windows Update site updated itself but I noticed that
> SP2 for XP is still not available?

Here is the distribution plan:

10. August Release to Automatic Updates (for machines running
pre-release versions of Windows XP Service Pack 2 only)

16. August Release to Automatic Updates (for machines NOT running
pre-releases versions of Windows XP Service Pack 2)

Later in August Release to Windows Update for interactive user
installations


--
torgeir, Microsoft MVP Scripting and WMI, Porsgrunn Norway
Administration scripting examples and an ONLINE version of
the 1328 page Scripting Guide:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scr...r/default.mspx

"Torgeir Bakken \(MVP\)" <Torgeir.Bakken-> wrote:

>WU5 History is stored in the %windir%\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore folder.
>
>Deleting this folder will clear the history completely. Currently there
>is no method available that lets you remove only selected items from it...

That all worked fine. Thank you.

Susan

Hello,

I suggest that you rename the Datastore folder rather than delete it.

Greig [MSFT]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.


"Torgeir Bakken (MVP)" <Torgeir.Bakken-> wrote in message
news:%...
> Susan wrote:
> > How can I clear the Windows Update History? I want to start off with a
> > clean slate when SP2 appears.
> >
> > Alternately, how can I clear a specific WU History item that Failed to
> > install but was later in the history was installed with Success?
> >
> > IIRC, the history could be deleted by deleting all the files and
subfolders
> > and files under Program Files | WindowsUpdate. I did so and rebooted
but
> > the History now remains.
> >
> > **I need to know where this WU History is now kept and how, if I
> > choose to, I can edit it to remove an item in it please?**
>
>
> WU5 History is stored in the %windir%\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore
folder.
>
> Deleting this folder will clear the history completely. Currently there
> is no method available that lets you remove only selected items from it,
> but David Herman is looking into creating a program that will do this:
>
>
http://groups.google.com/groups?thre...TNGP12.phx.gbl
>
>
> Note that you will need to stop the "Automatic Updates" service before
> you are allowed to delete the folder mentioned above, here is how:
>
> Start/Run --> services.msc
>
> Then find "Automatic Updates" in the list, and double click on it.
>
> If the service status is "Started", press the Stop button. You can now
> delete the %windir%\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore folder.
>
>
> > Today my Windows Update site updated itself but I noticed that
> > SP2 for XP is still not available?
>
> Here is the distribution plan:
>
> 10. August Release to Automatic Updates (for machines running
> pre-release versions of Windows XP Service Pack 2 only)
>
> 16. August Release to Automatic Updates (for machines NOT running
> pre-releases versions of Windows XP Service Pack 2)
>
> Later in August Release to Windows Update for interactive user
> installations
>
>
> --
> torgeir, Microsoft MVP Scripting and WMI, Porsgrunn Norway
> Administration scripting examples and an ONLINE version of
> the 1328 page Scripting Guide:
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scr...r/default.mspx

Greig [MSFT] wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I suggest that you rename the Datastore folder rather
> than delete it.
Hi

Is there any specific reason for why you suggest this?


--
torgeir, Microsoft MVP Scripting and WMI, Porsgrunn Norway
Administration scripting examples and an ONLINE version of
the 1328 page Scripting Guide:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scr...r/default.mspx