Perform instructions below at your own risk:
To automate windows update these instructions may or may not work for your system however it appears to work to an extent for Windows 7 as these instructions were tested on Windows 7.
MUST READ: 1. If the step below does not work verify then you are most likely part of a domain and your security policy may not allow you to perform steps below! 2. UAC prompts were also disabled for the duration of the windows updates so the batch files can run without interruption; be careful to restore this to default when done
Caution this step will make your computer less secure, immediately remove this after your computer is completely up to date. Set a reminder for 24 hours later if need be:
1.
First you will have to make sure your computer automatically logs into a user. You can do this by clicking start menu, type "netplwiz", press enter or open the wizard, under the users tab, select your username, and un-check "require password", type your password, close this window.
2.
Create 3 batch files to start the automated process. (Open notepad paste each code into a separate notepad and perform a save as corresponding_file_name.bat)
One. Save as: any_name.bat then copy this batch file to your startup folder for the user you made auto login. (Click start > All Programs > Startup)
start "" c:\autoupdate1.bat
exit
Two. Save as: autoupdate1.bat then copy this to C:\ drive
wuauclt /detectnow
wuauclt /updatenow
reg query "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update\RebootRequired" > nul && shutdown -r -t 0
start "" c:\autoupdate2.bat
exit
Three. Save as: autoupdate2.bat then copy this to C:\ drive
ping 127.0.0.1 -n 61 > nul
start "" c:\autoupdate1.bat
exit
Restart or open the batch file in the startup folder and watch the magic begin!
3.
When it is completely done updating just delete the batch files from the startup folder & c:\ drive
Once again follow these instructions at your own risk as it can create an endless loop if you do not know how to stop this process by removing it from the startup folder or going into windows under safe-mode to remove the batch files
Final notes: If you run into issues running the batch files chances are you may have to look up how to disable UAC prompts for your Windows version
There isn't a Microsoft-provided "update bundle", WSUS (or SCCM) is the official update tool.
In the absence of WSUS, you may consider using a tool like WSUS Offline to download and stage all the desired product updates on your network. Then, as part of your image building process, slipstream/install the updates before capture.
Best Answer
I believe, ultimately, the correct answer is "Fix your application". However, you may not be able to for any number of reasons. That being said...
Which version of Windows? In Vista/2008 and up, you can tie Scheduled Tasks to specific Event IDs. In the System event log, Event ID 19 from WindowsUpdateClient, indicates successful WUA Update Installation.
Launch the Task Scheduler snap-in,
taskschd.msc. Right click the "Task Scheduler Library" and select "Create Basic Task...".In the next screen, input a name and a brief description and click "Next".
Click the radio button labeled "When a specific event is logged", click "Next".
Select "System" as the log, "WindowsUpdateClient" as the source and "19" as Event ID, click "Next".
Click the "Start a program" radio button, click "Next".
Provide the path to your "fix it" script or executable, click "Next".
Review your settings are correct, then click "Finish".
You will now see the Scheduled Task listed in the library with your settings.
Here is a command line example using only
C:\Windows\system32\schtasks.exe, the XPath filter syntax took me a while. It appears the Task Scheduler uses only a subset of XPath.