Critical updates in "Windows Update" vs Big Fix

Windows Update shows critical updates previously installed. Big Fix tells me
those same updates are ready to be installed. Who do I believe?? A "NOTE"
in Windows Update states that although previously installed updates are
shown, it is possible they may not be there. Where do I go to finds these
updates to physically see if they are indeed installed? Do I make sense???
--
pj

What is "Big Fix"?
I would be inclined not to believe them.

However if you install an update and then Restore to time before the
update, sometimes the updates are removed but Windows thinks it is
there.
In that case, manually download and install from the Windows Update
Catalog, #1 on this link:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/wufix.htm

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/


"packingtownjohn" <> wrote in
message news:9F651068-FFAC-484A-890B-...
> Windows Update shows critical updates previously installed. Big Fix
> tells me
> those same updates are ready to be installed. Who do I believe?? A
> "NOTE"
> in Windows Update states that although previously installed updates
> are
> shown, it is possible they may not be there. Where do I go to finds
> these
> updates to physically see if they are indeed installed? Do I make
> sense???
> --
> pj

Might I also chime in on this one. I'm running Win98 and had a major problem
which prevented me from booting...even in Safe Mode! So..I repaired the OS
by going back to the Win98 CD and going through the reinstall process. I did
NOT reformat the hard drive so I could keep all my files. This seemed to fix
my problem but it seems a large part of my registry remained intact as well.
So..when I run Windows Update it tells me I have already installed all the
Critical Updates. BUT..in reading several posts, several "MVP" people have
said that if you don't reformat the hard disk Windows Update INCORRECTLY
tells you that the updates have been installed...when in fact they have not!
I too am trying to find out if this is true or not. If Windows Update is
telling me this incorrectly, is there any way to clear out the Windows Update
memory so I can use it to reinstall all the updates? Or...do I have to
reinstall all of them manually from the catalog...and it's a whole lot of
them :-) If in fact all the the updates ARE still installed it would be great
to know! Thanks VERY MUCH!!

"Jupiter Jones [MVP]" wrote:

> What is "Big Fix"?
> I would be inclined not to believe them.
>
> However if you install an update and then Restore to time before the
> update, sometimes the updates are removed but Windows thinks it is
> there.
> In that case, manually download and install from the Windows Update
> Catalog, #1 on this link:
> http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/wufix.htm
>
> --
> Jupiter Jones [MVP]
> http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/
>
>
> "packingtownjohn" <> wrote in
> message news:9F651068-FFAC-484A-890B-...
> > Windows Update shows critical updates previously installed. Big Fix
> > tells me
> > those same updates are ready to be installed. Who do I believe?? A
> > "NOTE"
> > in Windows Update states that although previously installed updates
> > are
> > shown, it is possible they may not be there. Where do I go to finds
> > these
> > updates to physically see if they are indeed installed? Do I make
> > sense???
> > --
> > pj
>
>
>

packingtownjohn wrote:

> Windows Update shows critical updates previously installed. Big Fix tells me
> those same updates are ready to be installed. Who do I believe?? A "NOTE"
> in Windows Update states that although previously installed updates are
> shown, it is possible they may not be there. Where do I go to finds these
> updates to physically see if they are indeed installed? Do I make sense???
Hi

The security bulletin that accompanies each security update lists
the file versions for the files that the update installs, that is
the safest way to check installation state.

To get to the security bulletin for an update, you can use the
KB number (also the name of the update). E.g. the latest Cumulative
security update for Internet Explorer is 867801, so I add that
number behind this URL:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=

so I get
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=867801

In that KB article, you will find the link to the security bulletin
for this update:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sec.../MS04-025.mspx



Also, take a look at the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA):

<quote>
Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA):

The Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer allows administrators to scan local
and remote systems for missing security patches as well as common security
misconfigurations. More information on MBSA is available at:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sec...s/mbsahome.asp

</quote>

and

Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) 1.2 Q&A
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sec...ls/mbsaqa.mspx


It has it own newsgroup as well:

microsoft.public.security.baseline_analyzer


In addition, if you are not able to connect to Microsoft over the
Internet when running MBSA, you need to download the latest
MSSecure_1033.CAB from another computer and place it in the
"Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer" folder before you run MBSA.
MSSecure_1033.CAB contains MSSECURE.XML that contains information
about all the security updates released by Microsoft. Then you
should not need any Internet connection while running MBSA.

Latest version of MSSecure_1033.CAB can always be downloaded
from here (it is regularly updated):
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=18922


--
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

Jupiter Jones [MVP] wrote:

> What is "Big Fix"?
> I would be inclined not to believe them.

BigFix Patch Manager
http://www.bigfix.com/solutions/solutions_patch.html



--
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