How to know whether a fix can be applied to Vista or Server 2008

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Hi Everyone,

Since several comments is left to ask how to know whether a fix can be applied to Windows Vista or Server 2008, a blog is post here to help finding identify information about that.

For Windows XP Professional x64 XP or Windows Server 2003, whether a fix can be applied into it is judged from the name of the fix. But it’s not so obvious for Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008. The information to judge it is including in a .txt file expending from the .msu files of this fix. Following is the steps to get this information.

For example, hotfix 955991 is downloaded. Suppose that the Windows6.0-KB 955991-x86.msu file is put under folder C:\ 955991. Firstly type the following command at a command prompt to expand the .msu file to a temporary folder:

     expand -f:* "C:\ 955991\Windows6.0-KB 955991-x86.msu" %TEMP%

Thenyou can get following contents from file TEMP:

· Windows Update metadata

                This metadata describes each update package that the .msu file contains.

· One or more .cab files
Each .cab file represents one update.

· An .xml file
This .xmL file describes the .msu update package.

· A properties file
This file contains string properties we use to identify whether this fix can be applied to Vista or Server 2008.

Open the properties file under the TEMP folder - Windows6.0-KB955991-x86-pkgProperties.txt. There is a string property named ApplicabilityInfo. This property tells that which windows 6.0 systems the hotfix can be applied to. As to hotfix 955991, it can be applied to both Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008.

 

ApplicabilityInfo="Windows Vista SP1; Windows Server 2008;" /*This property tells to which systems hotfix 955991 can be applied to.*/

Applies to="Windows 6.0"

Build Date="2008/08/01"

Company="Microsoft Corporation"

File Version="1"

Installation Type="FULL"

Installer Engine="Component Based Servicing - WUSA.exe"

Installer Version="6.0.0.0"

KB Article Number="955991"

Language="ALL"

Package Type="Hotfix"

Processor Architecture="x86"

Product Name="Windows 6.0"

 

In summary, determine whether a package can be applied to Vista or Windows Server 2008, the guidance would simply be:

      · Firstly, type the following command at a command prompt to expand the .msu file to a temporary folder:

expand -f:* "…\Windows6.0-KBnnnnnn -x86.msu" %TEMP%

· Open the file “Windows6.0-KBnnnnnn-x86-pkgProperties.txt” under TEMP directory and refer to the ApplicabilityInfo value in this file.

Regards,

Content Team