Zool! Arty Workshop

How to install Windows update files quickly

Tags: computers, windows

So you have a folder with Windows Update Files (e.g. downloaded from Microsoft Update Center):

...
WindowsXP-KB938464-v2-x86-RUS.exe
WindowsXP-KB944043-v3-x86-RUS.exe
WindowsXP-KB946648-x86-RUS.exe
WindowsXP-KB950762-x86-RUS.exe
WindowsXP-KB950974-x86-RUS.exe
...
... (a lot of files)

If you have such a folder, then it's logical to install all the files and it's better to install them automatically, with a single command line.

You can run unattended installation of a Windows Update File with this command:

WindowsXP-KBXXXXXX-x86-YYY.exe /norestart /passive

But we need to install all updates from a folder, so we use a loop in a windows shell window which executes every executable file in current folder:

for %f in (*.exe) do %f /norestart /passive

Now it would be wise to put this usefull command to a bat-file for further reuse:

Content of  install.bat file:

for %%f in (*.exe) do %%f /norestart /passive

Please notice the double percent symbols before the name of the variable.

11 November 2011