5 replies to this topic

[heisdeadjim]

Two related, but still separate questions.

1) I have need to use Vista SP1, XP SP2, XP SP3 and 2k SP4 machines.

Do I have to download four different instances of autopatcher and have a different source for all four? Or, can I just tick all the operating systems and one download will do the lot?

2) Modifying the downloader. I have issues with the way the apup downloader runs. Essentially, it downloads the little scripts for the options selected. This works fine on my machine when I am logged in as an administrator. However, nearly all net cafes I use - I'm stuck on dialup - run limited accounts, they don't like the apup scripts.

However, I can run standalone exes, for example I use portable Firefox on a USB stick when I'm at a cafe, to take my browser with me. Soooo.....

Could the apup be modified - I ain't a coder so I have no idea - so that it runs the exe as a standalone and deposits the downloaded modules wherever? This way the local security policy of the net cafe sees just a standalone exe running, which it allows, and no scripts, which it denies.

Cheers, "Jim"

[James]

Hi heisdeadjim

heisdeadjim, on Aug 29 2008, 03:50 PM, said:

... download four different instances of autopatcher and have a different source for all four? Or, can I just tick all the operating systems and one download will do the lot?

You can do either: it's a matter of personal preference whether you want to create one large tree of updates or keep them separate for each OS.

Keeping them separate has the overhead of three copies of AutoPatcher and its run-time files.

But putting all downloads together you may find too big to burn to a CD (for example).

BTW "three" is not a typo: XP-SP2 has been dropped and AP now only supplies post-SP3 updates.

heisdeadjim, on Aug 29 2008, 03:50 PM, said:

... nearly all net cafes I use - I'm stuck on dialup - run limited accounts, they don't like the apup scripts.

What error message do you see? Where are you running APUP from? Your flash drive or somewhere else?

I suspect it's not actually the scripts that are the problem, because in one sense APUP works like other portable apps in only writing to folders under itself.

However, I suspect the problem is when APUP starts up and tries to register its controls - that usually involves acces to the system drive/folder. If this actually is the problem then it is probably impossible to solve without a complete re-write of APUP. I can't tell for sure without seeing the source-code of APUP.

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[heisdeadjim]

To the three, not four, options: I would burn to a dvd and / or put it on a high capacity USB stick. So I can make one great big download with all options, win 2k sp4, win xp sp3, win vista sp1? The program will figure out what applies depending what system it's on, yes?

As to the no sp2 - to use Autopatcher on an XP machine I must update it to SP3 first? Being as SP3 is a downloadable exe in and of itself is there any chance of making Autopatcher install the service pack?

I'm aiming for a one shot fixit / updater tool, I get to be my family's unofficial and unexpert IT support

As to the scripts, next time I go to a net cafe I will take a screenie and post it.

I was just thinking out loud, that's all. The Firefox Portable exe runs from a stand alone folder and you can install addons, etx, and it remains orphaned from the host. I was thinking if apup could act in a similar manner, it may just work.

[Roger Truss]

autopatcher does have the ability to use "answer files" This is how I do it as I need to update Vista, server 2003, XP sp3 (several variations on this one depending on what the PC is for) and Server 2008. Here is a copy of one of my links for a typical build we do here...

\\servername\windowsupdates\autopather.exe /LOG /noreboot /neverselctinstalled /recommended /nolicense /unattend /answerfile:\\servername\windowsupdates\IUB-XPWU.aaf /minimal"

My techs simply run the link and off it goes then after that WSUS takes care of the rest. We only use Autopatcher at build time as it is faster than waiting for WSUS to catchup to the system then download the updates to it and install them.

Works Great. Love the tool. just wish apup could be automated...wink, wink, nudge, nudge.

[Roger Truss]

autopatcher does have the ability to use "answer files" This is how I do it as I need to update Vista, server 2003, XP sp3 (several variations on this one depending on what the PC is for) and Server 2008. Here is a copy of one of my links for a typical build we do here...

\\servername\windowsupdates\autopather.exe /LOG /noreboot /neverselctinstalled /recommended /nolicense /unattend /answerfile:\\servername\windowsupdates\IUB-XPWU.aaf /minimal"

My techs simply run the link and off it goes then after that WSUS takes care of the rest. We only use Autopatcher at build time as it is faster than waiting for WSUS to catchup to the system then download the updates to it and install them.

Works Great. Love the tool. just wish apup could be automated...wink, wink, nudge, nudge.

[James]

@ heisdeadjim
Quick answers to your questions:

heisdeadjim, on Aug 29 2008, 06:51 PM, said:

... The program will figure out what applies depending what system it's on, yes?

Yes

heisdeadjim, on Aug 29 2008, 06:51 PM, said:

... to use Autopatcher on an XP machine I must update it to SP3 first?

Yes -- and reboot (as part of the SP3 install) before running AutoPatcher.

heisdeadjim, on Aug 29 2008, 06:51 PM, said:

... is there any chance of making Autopatcher install the service pack?

Not at the moment. When installing SP3, AutoPatcher would have to do this on an exclusive basis, locking-out installation of anything else until after you have rebooted. That's not (yet) possible.

heisdeadjim, on Aug 29 2008, 06:51 PM, said:

... Firefox Portable exe runs from a stand alone folder ... I was thinking if apup could act in a similar manner ...

Yes, I fully understand what you have in mind, as well as how portable apps work, but the problem is that APUP relies on certain files being present and installed (=registered) on the system before it will run for the first time. This is an underlying problem with the programming language APUP is written in (VB6) and the way Microsoft installs/uses/supports ActiveX controls.

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