Windows patches without internet explorer ?

Capt'n Midnight

In windows 98 you can remove IE , www.litepc.com/ieradicator.html , but is there a way of checking patches you might still need without http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com ?

Random

The Microsoft support site has all the patches for download. The problem is that you have to know what you're looking for and what does/doesn't apply to you.

It is easier then Windows Update though as you can archive them on CD or whatever for future reinstalls..

MrPinK

Automatic Updates doesn't use IE. A little icon pops up in the taskbar pops up when there are new updates to be downloaded, you click on it and away it goes. That's in XP though, I can't remember if it was the same in 98.

Ciaran500

If you don't use automatic updates you have to go through IE.

Random

Capt'n Midnight

The mind boggles

Anyway back to reality
Thanks ciaranfo I was looking for somthing like hfecheck or a quick list, problem being at least half the patches are for IE or Outlook Express but just described as "security" ones. And there is the load order problem where if re-apply some old patches it can remove some newer ones.

ressem

There's the shavlik.com program, hfnetchk pro, MS provide the lite version

You've seen http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/tools/mbsahome.mspx?
Contains the MS hfnetchk, but provides more information about the purpose of each patch and links to the advisories. (plus insecure password checking, IIS lockdown check )

ressem

Oh yeah, the hfnetchk program uses file version info, so should notify you when an out of date file has been installed, and the appropriate patch to install.

Capt'n Midnight

ressem wrote:

There's the shavlik.com program, hfnetchk pro, MS provide the lite version

You've seen http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/tools/mbsahome.mspx?
Contains the MS hfnetchk, but provides more information about the purpose of each patch and links to the advisories. (plus insecure password checking, IIS lockdown check )

MBSA runs on:
Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 systems

MBSA will also scan for missing security updates for the following products:
Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

so does not help with the win9x machines.
But I'd recomend it if you are using NT Terminal Server 4 since windowsupdate don't work on it. Recently about 3 hours to patch between all the reboots )

am downloading the free version on http://www.shavlik.com/ will let you know how I get on, waiting for an email code and have to check the license and probably unsubscribe from mailing list etc, too.

Shavlik HFNetChkPro -
The trial version of Shavlik HFNetChkPro provides deployment of patches to 10 workstations and one server. This widely-used patch management solution scans for and deploys critical security patches in record time.
Following is the license key that will unlock the full functionality of your trial version of HFNetChkPro.

Great it's only a trial version, 15 MB

[edit]http://www.shavlik.com/system_requirements_hfn4.aspx

Unsupported Clients

Operating Systems:
MSDOS
Windows 3.X
Windows 95
Windows 98
Windows ME
Windows NT 3.X
Windows XP Home Edition (local scans only)
64 bit operating systems
Non Microsoft operating systems

- so back to square one

ressem

Sorry, that was a dumb oversight by me.

Is this for standalone machine or networked?

This thing (registering required) claims to support win 98 scanning over the network after a bit of a hack, but has to be installed, like shavlik on a win2K or better. Requires msde also.
http://forums.flarepath.com/index.php?showtopic=94

More likely though...
This freeware program produces a list of the patches that it sees installed.
WinUpdatesList, claims to be freeware + win98.

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/wul.html

And crosscheck against
http://www.hpcfactor.com/support/patching/win98/default.asp or similar

or may be of use, unofficial service pack for win98SE
http://exuberant.ms11.net/index.html