Have you ever wanted to install Windows updates with a reboot, rather than a shutdown? By default Windows will only install updates on Shutdown, and rebooting with pending updates just leaves them waiting.
I needed to schedule a whole number of PCs to install their updates and reboot, without any user being present, so that they were ready and waiting for when the next training session occurred. Luckily I stumbled upon ShutdownWithUpdates by Dennis Babkin. This great utility allows you issue a shutdown or reboot command from the command prompt, or via a script from your RMM tool, and have all the currently pending updates installed in the process.
The following command line will issue a reboot command and install any pending updates. It’s that simple.
shutdownwithupdates /r /f
I’ve included a download link for ease of use and the instructions are below.
[button color=”blue” size=”large” link=”//olivermarshall.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/ShutdownWithUpdates.zip” target=”_blank”]Download ShutdownWithUpdates.zip[/button]
DESCRIPTION:
================
Utility that initiates installation of pre-downloaded updates on the Windows system & reboots, or shuts it down. Note that if Windows updates were not downloaded prior to calling this utility, the OS will simply perform the power operation.
Usage: ShutdownWithUpdates [/s | /r | /hs | /g | /a | /?] [/f] [/v] [/nu]
[/m \\computer] [/t x] [/c "msg"] [/d [p|u:]xx:yy]
/s Install updates & shut down computer.
(Updates must be already downloaded on computer being shut down.)
/r Install updates & reboot computer.
(Updates must be already downloaded on computer being rebooted.)
/hs Install updates & initiate hybrid shut-down of computer. (Windows 8)
(Updates must be already downloaded on computer being shut down.)
/g Install updates & reboot computer & restart registered applications.
(Updates must be already downloaded on computer being rebooted.)
/abo Go to advanced boot options menu. (Windows 8)
(Updates will not be installed.)
/a Abort previous shut-down/rebooting.
(Can be used only during previous time-out period.)
/? Show command line help.
/f Use forced action.
WARNING: May result in the loss of unsaved data on target computer!
/v Show user confirmation before proceeding.
(Local computer only. It is shown before time-out is initiated.)
/nu Not to install updates.
/m \\computer Specify target/remote computer.
/t x Set time-out before performing action to x seconds.
(Valid range is 0-315360000, or 10 yrs, with a default of 0.)
/c "msg" Message to be displayed in the interactive shutdown dialog box.
(Maximum of 512 characters is allowed.)
/d [p|u:]xx:yy Reason for shut-down or rebooting (used for logging):
p if action was planned.
u if action was user-defined.
(If neither p or u is used, assumes unplanned.)
xx = major reason number (less than 65536.)
yy = minor reason number (greater than 65536.)
(Reason numbers can be decimal or hex if begin with 0x)
For major and minor reason values check "System Shutdown Reason Codes":
msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa376885(v=vs.85).aspx
Exit Codes:
0 if success.
-1 if general failure in the module.
Other if error, will contain "System Error Code". For details check:
msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms681381(v=vs.85).aspx
Examples:
(1) Install updates and reboot local computer without a delay:
(Fail if unsaved user data on computer.)
ShutdownWithUpdates /r
(2) Install updates and shut down local computer after 30 sec delay:
(Force applications with unsaved data to close & lose data! Show message.)
ShutdownWithUpdates /s /f /t 30 /c "Forced shut-down in 30 sec!"
(3) Do not install updates and reboot remote computer after a 20 sec delay:
(Fail if unsaved user data on remote computer.)
(Specify reason as planned, application issue, installation.)
ShutdownWithUpdates /r /nu /m \\MYSERVER /t 20 /d p:0x00040000:0x00000002
