As far as I'm aware, there are only two ways to get Windows updates.

The first way involves visiting the M$ update site, then selecting and downloading files for immediate use.  This is probably the way that most of us do it.

The second way involves using the website's 'Catalog' routine (already covered here in detail by several contributors, so I won't describe it again), which involves downloading updates for future use, and not installing them at that particular time.

I've tried this once or twice, as it's convenient to have the updates 'onhand', and it makes updating customer's machines easier, as one doesn't need an internet connection, or have to wait ages for the M$ updates to download. 

However, the method does have it's drawbacks.  Firstly, it's hard to determine which updates are which, and it seems to me that updates are often presented for download that have already been downloaded and installed.

Secondly, I've never been quite sure how effective it is to install such previously archived updates, as each one seems to require an install and reboot, whereas the update site routinely delivers the selected updates in one bulk file.

To me, the ideal method would be an M$ site, where the various update files would be clearly described and could be selected for bulk download.  An ftp site would be ideal.  Then, following the download, some small piece of software could enable the user to select a group of the archived files, and install the group in one hit.

Does anyone know of such a refinement, or any better way of doing what I've described above?

TX

Ian Porter
Computer Guys Inc.
Arrowtown
New Zealand
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