Do I need to clear any local updates cache after modifying the exclude list?

[jhozeska]

I used BatchPatch in cached mode to update all the computers on my domains. All worked fine. then management reports they down want Skype installed on any computers. So I scripted and removed Skype using BatchPatch. Again, all worked fine. I updated my exclude list to no longer apply the Skype. Since the Skype deployment is already the download cache I am concerned it will accidentally get reapplied. So logically I am thinking I should clear the offline cache(s). Does this make sense? And if so, where are the caches to manually delete?

Thank you.

[doug]

You don’t need to clear the cache unless you want to. Just because an update is downloaded to the offline cache does not mean that it will get applied.

If you want to delete cached files you can see where your cache folder is located by checking under ‘Tools > Settings > Windows Update > Local update cache directory’

In addition to using the exclude list you may also opt to hide the update on the target computers, which is explained in the section ‘Method 3’ here. Just note that once an update is hidden on a target, Microsoft is able to unhide it by republishing the update, which they do occasionally.

-Doug

[jhozeska]

Is the local update cache directory only located on the BatchPatch computer or is it also copied to each destination computer?

[doug]

The local update cache directory is on the BatchPatch computer. When BP installs updates (in cached mode) on a target computer, it copies the required updates to a BP temp directory in the BatchPatch working directory on the target computer (default location is C:Program FilesBatchPatch). During the process for installing the updates, the updates are copied from that BP temp directory to the Windows Update cache (in C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution), at which point they are also deleted from the BP temp directory.

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