Windows Update uninstall problem

I tried to uninstall an update using a C++ application I made. I use the
Windows Update Agent API to create an IUpdateSession then an
IUpdateInstaller; I
set the update collection for the installer and then use the
IUpdateInstaller->Uninstall method but I get the 0x80240028 error message. I
understand that this means an uninstall can be started only by WSUS but is
there any way I to send a command to the WSUS to uninstall the update or to
"associate" my application with the WSUS server?
I noticed that the IUpdateSession interface has an ClientApplicationID
property that should be set; does anybody know what is it used for? I didn't
set it because I'm not sure what value should it have.
May this be the problem?
Thank you!

"katanel" <> wrote in message
news:B2D4786B-01AD-49F2-AC81-...
>I tried to uninstall an update using a C++ application I made. I use the
> Windows Update Agent API to create an IUpdateSession then an
> IUpdateInstaller; I
> set the update collection for the installer and then use the
> IUpdateInstaller->Uninstall method but I get the 0x80240028 error message.
> I
> understand that this means an uninstall can be started only by WSUS but is
> there any way I to send a command to the WSUS to uninstall the update or
> to
> "associate" my application with the WSUS server?
> I noticed that the IUpdateSession interface has an ClientApplicationID
> property that should be set; does anybody know what is it used for? I
> didn't
> set it because I'm not sure what value should it have.

What update are you trying to uninstall?


--
Lawrence Garvin, M.S., MCITP:EA, MCDBA, MCSA
Principal/CTO, Onsite Technology Solutions, Houston, Texas
Microsoft MVP - Software Distribution (2005-2010)

My Blog: http://onsitechsolutions.spaces.live.com
Microsoft WSUS Website: http://www.microsoft.com/wsus
My MVP Profile: http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/pro...awrence.Garvin

"Lawrence Garvin [MVP]" wrote:

> "katanel" <> wrote in message
> news:B2D4786B-01AD-49F2-AC81-...
> >I tried to uninstall an update using a C++ application I made. I use the
> > Windows Update Agent API to create an IUpdateSession then an
> > IUpdateInstaller; I
> > set the update collection for the installer and then use the
> > IUpdateInstaller->Uninstall method but I get the 0x80240028 error message.
> > I
> > understand that this means an uninstall can be started only by WSUS but is
> > there any way I to send a command to the WSUS to uninstall the update or
> > to
> > "associate" my application with the WSUS server?
> > I noticed that the IUpdateSession interface has an ClientApplicationID
> > property that should be set; does anybody know what is it used for? I
> > didn't
> > set it because I'm not sure what value should it have.
>
> What update are you trying to uninstall?
>
>
> --
> Lawrence Garvin, M.S., MCITP:EA, MCDBA, MCSA
> Principal/CTO, Onsite Technology Solutions, Houston, Texas
> Microsoft MVP - Software Distribution (2005-2010)
>
> My Blog: http://onsitechsolutions.spaces.live.com
> Microsoft WSUS Website: http://www.microsoft.com/wsus
> My MVP Profile: http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/pro...awrence.Garvin
>

I tried to uninstall a couple of updates but none worked. I also verified
the IsUninstallable property and it was true for each one. Can you help me?
Thank you!

"katanel" wrote:

>
>
> "Lawrence Garvin [MVP]" wrote:
>
> > "katanel" <> wrote in message
> > news:B2D4786B-01AD-49F2-AC81-...
> > >I tried to uninstall an update using a C++ application I made. I use the
> > > Windows Update Agent API to create an IUpdateSession then an
> > > IUpdateInstaller; I
> > > set the update collection for the installer and then use the
> > > IUpdateInstaller->Uninstall method but I get the 0x80240028 error message.
> > > I
> > > understand that this means an uninstall can be started only by WSUS but is
> > > there any way I to send a command to the WSUS to uninstall the update or
> > > to
> > > "associate" my application with the WSUS server?
> > > I noticed that the IUpdateSession interface has an ClientApplicationID
> > > property that should be set; does anybody know what is it used for? I
> > > didn't
> > > set it because I'm not sure what value should it have.
> >
> > What update are you trying to uninstall?
> >
> >
> > --
> > Lawrence Garvin, M.S., MCITP:EA, MCDBA, MCSA
> > Principal/CTO, Onsite Technology Solutions, Houston, Texas
> > Microsoft MVP - Software Distribution (2005-2010)
> >
> > My Blog: http://onsitechsolutions.spaces.live.com
> > Microsoft WSUS Website: http://www.microsoft.com/wsus
> > My MVP Profile: http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/pro...awrence.Garvin
> >
>
> I tried to uninstall a couple of updates but none worked. I also verified
> the IsUninstallable property and it was true for each one. Can you help me?
> Thank you!


Is WUA API working only if WSUS Server or WSUS Client is installed? I don't
need my application to uninstall updates remotely in an network, so I didn't
install any WSUS. The only service I found in the service list is Windows
Update so I don't understand why it "wants" my update uninstall to be
initiated by a WSUS server.

"katanel" <> wrote in message
news:BAFA1FFE-964A-4A62-B312-...


>> > What update are you trying to uninstall?

>> I tried to uninstall a couple of updates but none worked. I also verified
>> the IsUninstallable property and it was true for each one. Can you help
>> me?

Yes, but pick *one* update and identify it by name. We'll work from there.

> Is WUA API working only if WSUS Server or WSUS Client is installed?

No. The WUAgent API is available on any machine. The Windows Update Agent is
a core component of all Windows operating systems, and has been for about
six years now.

> The only service I found in the service list is Windows
> Update so I don't understand why it "wants" my update uninstall to be
> initiated by a WSUS server.

Nothing is initiated by the WSUS server, but the WUAgent needs to be able to
communicate with a device that has the correct approvals issued for the
update(s) you're trying to trigger an uninstallation for. Updates are not
"Approved for Removal" at WU/MU (this is a WSUS-only feature), and the
update must be "Approved for Removal" at the WSUS Server. Furthermore, only
MSI/MSP-based packages can be "Approved for Removal" because the Package
Installer does not support removal by the WUAgent.

So, if there's no WSUS server in the environment, the WUAgent won't be able
to identify an existing approval that authorizes removal of an update.






--
Lawrence Garvin, M.S., MCITP:EA, MCDBA, MCSA
Principal/CTO, Onsite Technology Solutions, Houston, Texas
Microsoft MVP - Software Distribution (2005-2010)

My Blog: http://onsitechsolutions.spaces.live.com
Microsoft WSUS Website: http://www.microsoft.com/wsus
My MVP Profile: http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/pro...awrence.Garvin

"Lawrence Garvin [MVP]" wrote:

> "katanel" <> wrote in message
> news:BAFA1FFE-964A-4A62-B312-...
>
>
> >> > What update are you trying to uninstall?
>
> >> I tried to uninstall a couple of updates but none worked. I also verified
> >> the IsUninstallable property and it was true for each one. Can you help
> >> me?
>
> Yes, but pick *one* update and identify it by name. We'll work from there.
>
> > Is WUA API working only if WSUS Server or WSUS Client is installed?
>
> No. The WUAgent API is available on any machine. The Windows Update Agent is
> a core component of all Windows operating systems, and has been for about
> six years now.
>
> > The only service I found in the service list is Windows
> > Update so I don't understand why it "wants" my update uninstall to be
> > initiated by a WSUS server.
>
> Nothing is initiated by the WSUS server, but the WUAgent needs to be able to
> communicate with a device that has the correct approvals issued for the
> update(s) you're trying to trigger an uninstallation for. Updates are not
> "Approved for Removal" at WU/MU (this is a WSUS-only feature), and the
> update must be "Approved for Removal" at the WSUS Server. Furthermore, only
> MSI/MSP-based packages can be "Approved for Removal" because the Package
> Installer does not support removal by the WUAgent.
>
> So, if there's no WSUS server in the environment, the WUAgent won't be able
> to identify an existing approval that authorizes removal of an update.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Lawrence Garvin, M.S., MCITP:EA, MCDBA, MCSA
> Principal/CTO, Onsite Technology Solutions, Houston, Texas
> Microsoft MVP - Software Distribution (2005-2010)
>
> My Blog: http://onsitechsolutions.spaces.live.com
> Microsoft WSUS Website: http://www.microsoft.com/wsus
> My MVP Profile: http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/pro...awrence.Garvin
>


Thank you very much!

"katanel" wrote:

>
>
> "Lawrence Garvin [MVP]" wrote:
>
> > "katanel" <> wrote in message
> > news:BAFA1FFE-964A-4A62-B312-...
> >
> >
> > >> > What update are you trying to uninstall?
> >
> > >> I tried to uninstall a couple of updates but none worked. I also verified
> > >> the IsUninstallable property and it was true for each one. Can you help
> > >> me?
> >
> > Yes, but pick *one* update and identify it by name. We'll work from there.
> >
> > > Is WUA API working only if WSUS Server or WSUS Client is installed?
> >
> > No. The WUAgent API is available on any machine. The Windows Update Agent is
> > a core component of all Windows operating systems, and has been for about
> > six years now.
> >
> > > The only service I found in the service list is Windows
> > > Update so I don't understand why it "wants" my update uninstall to be
> > > initiated by a WSUS server.
> >
> > Nothing is initiated by the WSUS server, but the WUAgent needs to be able to
> > communicate with a device that has the correct approvals issued for the
> > update(s) you're trying to trigger an uninstallation for. Updates are not
> > "Approved for Removal" at WU/MU (this is a WSUS-only feature), and the
> > update must be "Approved for Removal" at the WSUS Server. Furthermore, only
> > MSI/MSP-based packages can be "Approved for Removal" because the Package
> > Installer does not support removal by the WUAgent.
> >
> > So, if there's no WSUS server in the environment, the WUAgent won't be able
> > to identify an existing approval that authorizes removal of an update.

> Thank you very much!

WSUS Server can only be installed on Windows Server OS. I need my
application to work in a home computer not in a local network, so I have no
access to a local server with WSUS installed.
But if a home computer has no access to a WSUS server to approve an
uninstall how is it possible to uninstall updates by " Add / Remove Programs
" in Windows? How do that updates get approved?

"katanel" <> wrote in message
news:7C17935C-522F-473E-9ABE-...

> WSUS Server can only be installed on Windows Server OS. I need my
> application to work in a home computer not in a local network, so I have
> no
> access to a local server with WSUS installed.
> But if a home computer has no access to a WSUS server to approve an
> uninstall how is it possible to uninstall updates by " Add / Remove
> Programs
> " in Windows? How do that updates get approved?

Because Add/Remove Programs uses a *different* methodology for uninstalling
updates, and that's what you should use in a HOME environment.

In the time you and I spent creating these messages you could have already
uninstalled the update a dozen times over.

I'm not quite understanding the interest or concern over reinventing the
wheel for a standalone home computer.



--
Lawrence Garvin, M.S., MCITP:EA, MCDBA, MCSA
Principal/CTO, Onsite Technology Solutions, Houston, Texas
Microsoft MVP - Software Distribution (2005-2010)

My Blog: http://onsitechsolutions.spaces.live.com
Microsoft WSUS Website: http://www.microsoft.com/wsus
My MVP Profile: http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/pro...awrence.Garvin

> > WSUS Server can only be installed on Windows Server OS. I need my
> > application to work in a home computer not in a local network, so I have
> > no
> > access to a local server with WSUS installed.
> > But if a home computer has no access to a WSUS server to approve an
> > uninstall how is it possible to uninstall updates by " Add / Remove
> > Programs
> > " in Windows? How do that updates get approved?
>
> Because Add/Remove Programs uses a *different* methodology for uninstalling
> updates, and that's what you should use in a HOME environment.
>
> In the time you and I spent creating these messages you could have already
> uninstalled the update a dozen times over.
>
> I'm not quite understanding the interest or concern over reinventing the
> wheel for a standalone home computer.
>
>


I am trying to develop an application for updates uninstalling on standalone
computers. I looked for solutions on the internet and found information about
WUA API so I tried to use it.
I didn't know it needs WSUS approval to uninstall an update.
Is there any way of using some API to uninstall updates? It's hard to
believe Microsoft offers no support for developers trying to uninstall
Windows updates.
Thank you for your time!

"katanel" <> wrote in message
news:5AAD4EEB-2396-40AC-9D3E-...

>> I'm not quite understanding the interest or concern over reinventing the
>> wheel for a standalone home computer.

> I am trying to develop an application for updates uninstalling on
> standalone
> computers.

Like I said . . I don't understand the point . . . but Good Luck with your
project.

I don't believe, however, that the WUAgent API is the tool you're looking
for to achieve this objective.

> It's hard to
> believe Microsoft offers no support for developers trying to uninstall
> Windows updates.

The "support" is to call the appropriate uninstall utility found in the
uninstall folder of the %windir%.


--
Lawrence Garvin, M.S., MCITP:EA, MCDBA, MCSA
Principal/CTO, Onsite Technology Solutions, Houston, Texas
Microsoft MVP - Software Distribution (2005-2010)

My Blog: http://onsitechsolutions.spaces.live.com
Microsoft WSUS Website: http://www.microsoft.com/wsus
My MVP Profile: http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/pro...awrence.Garvin