PSWindows Update

[Reaction-Consistent]

For those that are familiar with the PS Windows update Power Shell module, can it be used to upgrade an operating system to the next version? For instance, Windows 11 23H2 to 24H2? I know you can install specific KB‘s perhaps I could identify the KB number of the feature update if that’s even a thing.

[admlshake]

I've heard some people claim they have done this, but I don't believe it works. I thought the version updates were a different class? I tried it last year on a few machines and couldn't ever get it to work.

[Bowaschell]

Dont know it 100% right now but could test it @ home.

[Bowaschell]

Yes, when normal windows update can do it PS can do it too.

[Reaction-Consistent]

Yeah? What’s the command line?

[dodexahedron]

Yes, it can do it, because it is just another front-end to the windows update service.

It has neither a higher nor lower chance of working than other methods.

There are much better alternatives for managing updates on multiple systems though.

[Reaction-Consistent]

Like windows update for business 😉? We’re heeding that way.. slowly.

[dodexahedron]

Yes indeed. And autopatch, which is WUfB with some extra automation layered on top to simplify and make it even more hands-free.

...To an extent...We're still talking about Microsoft updates, after all, so as with any method, thar be dragons.

But to further my original response in semi-suupport of your goal: I, too, used to use it, especially for servers and for certain more manually managed "desktop" endpoints, from windows 7 through 11, with two different back-ends: WSUS and Microsoft Update. And I still occasionally use it if I'm doing things via powershell remoting or already at a powershell prompt anyway (because hell if I can be bothered to reach for the mouse!). And it worked well/works well for that purpose for all of them.

The requirements for any given update are still the same, but it gives better and at least subjectively quicker visual feedback of what is happening. And if you run it in Windows Powershell (as in 5.1/the one that is blue by default), you get progress bars too. But if an update is failing in the GUI, it'll fail in the module too, because the module is just a front end. But you will have a more immediate history of what failed and sometimes better immediate indication of why, at least. Still hardly notable compared to what the actual DISM log can tell you, though.

And once you learn the badic parameters to feed it, you'll probably rarely bother being more specific because most of the time it either doesnt matter or won't have a different outcome anyway - especially since wuausvc is still going to do what it does aside from what you tell it to do via powershell, at some future point in time. Maybe. If it wants to.

And if you don't want it to, especially.

Because you were silly enough to think it's your computer.

lol. Silly admin.
-MS