Fix installation history incorrect

After downloading and installing some SP2 hotfixes, I had multiple problems
and decided to delete ALL fixes and start over. Having done so, I went to the
download site and it shows every fix as still being installed, so I can't
find and install the ones I want. Anyone else have the same problem? Can't
find any way to clear the installation history and have it rebuilt based on
what's currently installed(nothing).

Thanks,
Karl

Additional: While searching for this problem, I found several posts and
renamed folders V4 and Datastore. Now, when checking installation history, it
doesn't show anything installed, but it also doesn't show any fixes(critical
or otherwise) available. What's going on? I'm stumped!

Thanks,
Karl

On Sat, 14 Aug 2004 13:01:01 -0700, "Karl" <>
wrote:

>Additional: While searching for this problem, I found several posts and
>renamed folders V4 and Datastore. Now, when checking installation history, it
>doesn't show anything installed, but it also doesn't show any fixes(critical
>or otherwise) available. What's going on? I'm stumped!

The installation history (like iuhist.xml in the V4 folder) are "window
dressing" only (pun intended). They are meant for humans to read. When you
renamed the folder(s) the "show installation history script" on the update
website couldn't find the files to display, so it doesn't show anything,
installed or otherwise. The only two times the update site accesses the history
files are when it writes a success or failure to it, and when you ask to view
it.
The update website does not use the installation history files in determining
what "fixes" to offer. Since the installation history has nothing to do with
what updates are offered, it made no difference when you made those history
files unavailable. Since you were up to date, you were still up to date after
renaming the history files and so were shown no "fixes" available.
It was an apples (history) and oranges (installed) situation, no matter how
much you chop up the apples it doesn't affect the oranges at all. )
To the best of my recollection you'll have to edit your registry to change the
status of the updates for them to become available again. I don't know what or
where, offhand.
Your other choice is to use one of the various ways or programs to see what
updates/fixes are installed and then download and install them manually from the
catalog.
My preference is the free Belarc Advisor
<http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html>. It gives a lot of useful
information other than just installed updates.

--
dak