HOWTO: Getting redistributable versions of Windows Update only patches

Sometimes you want to download a redistributable patch and there is none available (you can only install the patch via the windows update website). This page explains how you can avoid having to go to the windows update website for each computer you want to patch.

1. Go to Windows Update
2. Choose Personalize Windows Update
3. Check "Display the link to the Windows Update Catalog under See Also" (a section in the left panel of the WU site)
4. You'll then get a new link on the page titled "Windows Update Catalog", choose that link
5. Click on "Find updates for Microsoft Windows operating systems"
6. Choose your operating system from the Operating System listbox
7. Click "Advanced search options" button
8. Type in KB article number in the "Contains these words" textbox. Don't try and put an MSXX-XXX number in, that doesn't work.
9. Click "Search" or hit enter
10. Click on "Critical Updates and Service Packs", it should have a (2) beside it.
11. In the panel with your KB article, click "Add"
12. Click "Go to Download Basket"
13. In the "Type or browse to the download location of your choice:" textbox, type c:\temp, or click the browse button to browse to a directory on your system. This is where the redistributable package is going to be downloaded to. The directory must already exist.
14. Click "Download Now"
15. Accept the license if you want to proceed and understand it.
16. When the download is complete, you'll see the "Download History" screen.
    You'll notice the KB article panel, and in there you'll also see a link to a local file.
    
    You can click on that link to bring up a listing of the directory, or browse there yourself. You'll see the files there. These are the redistributable versions.
    The location will eventually be populated with a variety of directories, indicating platform, language, processor, etc...
    
    

[top]