Lost 'Update History'

Today I installed several updates via automatic update and manually from the
(v6) windows update site. When I started several updates that I had
previously hidden showed up a 'ready' for download --I re-hid these.

After the update process completed successfully I checked on the installed
history. To my surprise (and frustration) only the 4 updates I had just
installed were listed.

Recently I was cleaning out some old files. I remember cleaning out what I
had thought were un-needed files/directories in
c:\windows\softwaredistribution. Apparently the 'history list' (as well as
the 'hide' list) is kept somewhere in 'softwaredistribution'.

1) Does anyone know where the history list is kept?

I have old/backup files from before I erroneously cleaned out these files.
3) Can the old files be merged/edited to make a single complete list?

bpa_retired wrote:

> Today I installed several updates via automatic update and manually from the
> (v6) windows update site. When I started several updates that I had
> previously hidden showed up a 'ready' for download --I re-hid these.
>
> After the update process completed successfully I checked on the installed
> history. To my surprise (and frustration) only the 4 updates I had just
> installed were listed.
>
> Recently I was cleaning out some old files. I remember cleaning out what I
> had thought were un-needed files/directories in
> c:\windows\softwaredistribution. Apparently the 'history list' (as well as
> the 'hide' list) is kept somewhere in 'softwaredistribution'.
>
> 1) Does anyone know where the history list is kept?

It is stored in the database file
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore\DataStor e.edb


> I have old/backup files from before I erroneously cleaned out these files.
> 3) Can the old files be merged/edited to make a single complete list?

No.


--
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

Thanks for the filename. Unfortunately I found that the directory tree for
that file is (by default) on the "Exclude Files" list of the windows BackUp
application --thus none of my backups had the old file. Too bad.

I have another question:
Ever since I updated to Windows Update V6, I can no longer click on the
'Details' (aka 'More Info') link to get details on the particular update. The
'Details' shows up
as a link, but clicking on it does nothing. The status bar at the bottom of
the IE window appears to be pointing to the current page instead of the link
to the new page.

Also, when the history list of applications status column shows a failed
update, indicated by a red X, the top of the page states "If an update failed
to install, click the Failed icon to learn how to solve the problem."
However clicking on the red X does nothing as above.

Any Ideas?

"bpa_retired" <> wrote in message
news4EF0011-BAF8-4B89-8760-
....
> I have another question:
> Ever since I updated to Windows Update V6, I can no longer click on the
> 'Details' (aka 'More Info') link to get details on the particular update. The
> 'Details' shows up
> as a link, but clicking on it does nothing. The status bar at the bottom of
> the IE window appears to be pointing to the current page instead of the link
> to the new page.

"Details" in what context? E.g. what is the URL in the Address bar?

FWIW here is a "Details..." that I have under
http://update.microsoft.com/windowsu....aspx?ln=en-us
after clicking on [Custom] [Hardware, Optional (1)] then expanding an
entry:

<example>
javascriptarent.fnDisplayDetails("4");
</example>


>
> Also, when the history list of applications status column shows a failed
> update, indicated by a red X,

This is ambiguous. By "red X" do you mean you are seeing the proper
icon, e.g. this one:
http://update.microsoft.com/windowsu.../failed-sm.gif

or is it the standard Red-X icon which you would see if for some reason
IE was having trouble rendering that .gif?

BTW what happens if you click on the above URL?


> the top of the page states "If an update failed
> to install, click the Failed icon to learn how to solve the problem."
> However clicking on the red X does nothing as above.
>
> Any Ideas?


It looks as if the "links" on that frame will all be constructed as
onclick= events. So, right-click Copy Shortcut, etc. won't
yield any clues. I had to use right-click View Source to see
this much but I don't have any clickable items in the Status column.

Normally in case you have an intermediate cache interfering
with some of the script components I would suggest pressing Ctrl-F5
but that won't work with this application at this depth into it because
it immediately sends me back to the first transaction each time.

In order to see the same effect at the lowest level of the application's
frames you probably will have to clear your TIF.

I suggest doing this with all IE windows and all OE windows closed.
E.g. no iexplore.exe or msimn.exe processes seen in Task Manager.
Then you can Run... control inetcpl.cpl to clear the TIF.


Good luck

Robert Aldwinckle
---

"Robert Aldwinckle" wrote:
---snip ... edited---

> <example>
> javascriptarent.fnDisplayDetails("4");
> </example>
>
That is exactly what I get --only the numeric changes with each entry's
'Details..'


By "red X" do you mean you are seeing the proper
> icon, e.g. this one:
> http://update.microsoft.com/windowsu.../failed-sm.gif
>
Again, yes, the icon used for a 'failed' update

>
> BTW what happens if you click on the above URL?
>
I see the 'failed update' icon


>
> It looks as if the "links" on that frame will all be constructed as
> onclick= events. So, right-click Copy Shortcut, etc. won't
> yield any clues. I had to use right-click View Source to see
> this much but I don't have any clickable items in the Status column.
>
> Normally in case you have an intermediate cache interfering
> with some of the script components I would suggest pressing Ctrl-F5
> but that won't work with this application at this depth into it because
> it immediately sends me back to the first transaction each time.
>
> In order to see the same effect at the lowest level of the application's
> frames you probably will have to clear your TIF.
>
> I suggest doing this with all IE windows and all OE windows closed.
> E.g. no iexplore.exe or msimn.exe processes seen in Task Manager.
> Then you can Run... control inetcpl.cpl to clear the TIF.
>
>
> Good luck
>
> Robert Aldwinckle
> ---
>

I'm not sure there's and point in clearing the TIF, I've seen this problem
on several different PCs (XP Pro & Home), and it sounds like you are
experiencing the same thing. Since this only started with the advent/upgrade
to Update v6 I believe that it is an MS issue with the links. I had no
problems previously with v5 or v4.

"bpa_retired" <> wrote in message news:4AFC18D8-CE7F-49E7-B539-
....
> I'm not sure there's and point in clearing the TIF, I've seen this problem
> on several different PCs (XP Pro & Home),

If the problem you are seeing "on several different PCs" involves the
same ISP and if that ISP is caching files, the point of doing Ctrl-F5
would be to try to force requests past its cache, e.g. in case some
coding changes have been made since the ones which are cached
were cached. But as I noted in this application Ctrl-F5 did not Refresh
the page you are interested in; it caused the application to go back to step 1.
That's why I suggested clearing the TIF.

Alternatively, what once worked (using WUv4) in that circumstance
was to switch the initial protocol prefix to https: since that would
cause all pages to be encrypted and thus prevent intermediate caching too.
Note: you should expect using such a change to be noticeably slower.


> and it sounds like you are experiencing the same thing.

I'm not sure what gave you that impression.
I don't think that I have a problem with that page.
The circumstance which I was referring to is that I have nothing but
Green (Succeeded) icons in my History. Therefore, I can't exactly
know what you are hoping to see work (i.e., clickable Failed icons).
The closest thing to a clickable icon I have in my History frame
are the column headers which can be used to resort the list.
That is what I used to decide that (probably) "the links on that frame
will all be constructed as onclick= events".


> Since this only started with the advent/upgrade
> to Update v6 I believe that it is an MS issue with the links.
> I had no problems previously with v5 or v4.

Perhaps the (hypothetical) cache had been modified not to cache V4
and V5 files? V6 is new so a similar problem with it might still need
to be avoided. Etc.


Good luck

Robert
---

Well, I cleared the TIF (and history) to no avail. Problem still persists.

I became aware of this problem when an update failed. Clicking on the
'failed' icon (red x) to get any details relating to the failure did nothing.
I then discovered that click on the 'Details...' link also did nothing.

I'd be interested in knowing if you go to the appropriate KB article when
you click on 'Details...'.

"bpa_retired" <> wrote in message
news:C66B816B-845D-481E-87C8-...
> Well, I cleared the TIF (and history) to no avail. Problem still persists.
>
> I became aware of this problem when an update failed. Clicking on the
> 'failed' icon (red x) to get any details relating to the failure did nothing.
> I then discovered that click on the 'Details...' link also did nothing.
>
> I'd be interested in knowing if you go to the appropriate KB article when
> you click on 'Details...'.


Details... launches a popup window.
Perhaps you have a popup blocker which is preventing
that one from opening?


---

Popups --duh, Thanks for the answer --popups were being blocked; all is well
now.

Thanks again.



"Robert Aldwinckle" wrote:
<<<snip>>>
> Details... launches a popup window.
> Perhaps you have a popup blocker which is preventing
> that one from opening?