Pre-Stage Feature Update

[jb75]

Apologies if this has already been answered before – I couldn’t see an answer when I searched.

Is it possible to pre-stage a Windows 10 feature update by having the extracted ISO files deployed to machines and then use BatchPatch to execute the update using remote process/command?

If so, does anyone have any recommendations for this?

[doug]

Yes, that’s possible.

First let’s just quickly go through the other ways that you can install feature updates.

1. Under ‘Tools > Settings > Windows Update’ tick the ‘Include “Upgrades”‘ checkbox. Now, if your target computer is being offered a feature update either by your local WSUS or by Windows Update or Microsoft Update, it will be downloaded/installed the next time you use ‘Download and install updates’ (or similar action) in BatchPatch.

2. You can deploy a feature update by extracting the ISO, and then executing a BatchPatch deployment as outlined here: https://batchpatch.com/remotely-deploying-windows-feature-update-version-20h2-the-october-2020-update-to-numerous-computers

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Now, to answer your question, the BatchPatch ISO deployment method is essentially the two steps that you described, but it’s combined into one action. So when you setup a BatchPatch deployment and then execute it, BatchPatch first copies the setup files to the remote system, and then it executes the installation command. If you want to separate the copying of the files from the execution of the installation command, you can do that.

1. Extract your ISO contents to a folder on the BatchPatch computer. For the sake of this example let’s call that C:\Extracted_ISO_setup_files.

2. Create a BatchPatch copy job/command under ‘Actions > Copy file / folder’. After you execute the copy job you’ll have C:\Extracted_ISO_setup_files on the target computer(s).

3. Create and execute a custom remote command in BatchPatch with the following syntax. FYI it’s probably best to use the SYSTEM remote execution context for this command (you can adjust the remote execution context under ‘Tools > Settings > Remote Execution’). The remote command to execute to perform the installation when the files already exist on the target computer in the specified folder:

"C:\Extracted_ISO_setup_files\setup.exe" /auto upgrade /quiet

[jb75]

Perfect, thanks Doug, I will give this a try.

With so many people working remotely and limited time windows to get the feature upgrades done, I am hoping to push the files out during the day (we have several methods available for doing this) over VPN connections which can often be slow, then run the update in the evenings before users turn their machines off (even when you ask them not to).

[doug]

You might also consider sending them a message popup (actions > send message…) to notify them that you’re about to perform the upgrade so that they don’t reboot or shutdown while it’s in progress, which could render the machine unbootable.

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