How to verify a particular update number is installed?

[BillWilson]

I have seen advice that before initiating my update to Win10 I should verify that two particular updates are installed. I went to the Update History list and tried to use the search box there to search for the desired number and it didn't search that list, it searched the Control Panel! How can I verify that these two updates are installed?

Thanks,
Bill

[davidhk]

3 ways :

1. Go to Control Panel > Programs and Features > left side, click View Installed updates.

2. Control Panel > Windows Upate > left side, click View update history.

3. I don't have Win 8/8.1 anymore. The following is by memory only......
Open the charm bar > Settings > Change PC settings > left side, Update and recovery > right side, View your update history.

[BruceR]

Click on Installed updates and search there.

[BillWilson]

Well no luck so far! The #1 suggestion by davidhk and Paul's suggestion is to search in the Installed Updates list. I tried that and it does claim to search in that list but it could not find a KB number that was right there in plain sight!

The #2 and #3 suggestions from davidhk are to search in the Update History but as I said in my message, it does not actually search in that list! It seems to search in the Control Panel.

So, no success so far!

Thanks,
Bill

[Rick Corbett]

Two more ways: PowerShell and VBS.

PowerShell: Open a CMD prompt, enter powershell and press RETURN/ENTER. When the command prompt changes to PowerShell's PS prompt, enter the following:

get-hotfix -id KB974332 (Change the KB number to the one you want to check.)

This will show you if the update is installed or an error if it isn't.

VBS: Alternatively, save the attached file then rename it to CheckWU.vbs. Double-click on it and enter just the KB number. When the dialog asks for a MACHINE NAME or IP address, just enter a period/full stop mark (which means THIS computer) then click on the OK button.

Hope this helps...

[Rick Corbett]

I have seen advice that before initiating my update to Win10 I should verify that two particular updates are installed.

I've just re-read your original post. If the intention of the "two particular updates" is to help with issues that Windows Update is experiencing (particularly with Windows 7) in order to upgrade to Windows 10... why don't you just use Microsoft's own Media Creation Tool to bypass Windows Update completely? Just use the MCT to create the Windows 10 installation media of your choice then use it to run an in-place upgrade (i.e. by running setup.exe on the media from within Windows 8.1).

Hope this helps...

[BillWilson]

Thanks Rick! That did the trick. I used the powershell approach and it showed that both required updates are installed.

Thanks,
Bill

[BillWilson]

I've just re-read your original post. If the intention of the "two particular updates" is to help with issues that Windows Update is experiencing (particularly with Windows 7) in order to upgrade to Windows 10... why don't you just use Microsoft's own Media Creation Tool to bypass Windows Update completely? Just use the MCT to create the Windows 10 installation media of your choice then use it to run an in-place upgrade (i.e. by running setup.exe on the media from within Windows 8.1).

Hope this helps...

Rick, yes, I am getting ready to update my Win8.1 laptop to Win10. In the process of studying this process ahead of time I saw a suggestion to be sure those two updates are installed. There was no suggestion that the process would check that so I assumed that I had to do that check.

Thanks for your suggestion.
Bill