I had to install a new system disk earlier this week. O/S was successfully installed from a recent system image.
After restoration, I successfully installed latest pending updates.
Before updates were installed, I noticed the Microsoft Update History list was blank. Now it just shows the 4 updates that were installed Wednesday. Subsequently, there are 4 updates waiting to be installed from 2015-2017. The original disk was installed in the laptop by the manufacturer when it arrived in 2015.
Now I'm unsure if I should install those updates because they may already be installed. How can I determine if they were previously installed in my system?
This is quite typical behaviour of Microsoft Update for a new install. Windows Update only sends you updates that are compatible with your system. Some updates depend on the installation of other updates, so natuarally these updates will not appear in the pending list until the dependent updates have been successfully installed. You can manually check which updates you have installed by looking at the View Update History, which is located on the left pane of the Update window.
My Computer
Computer type
PC/Desktop
OS
Windows 7 x64, Vista x64, 8.1 smartphone
CPU
Intel E8400 65W 64-bit
Motherboard
Gigabyte EP45-UD3LR
Memory
DDR2 2 x 2GB, 1GB x 2
Graphics Card(s)
XFX Radeon HD5750
Sound Card
AMD High Definition Audio; Realtek High Definition Audio
My Computer> Uninstall or Change A Program> View Installed Updates (in upper left-hand column)
Watch the green progress indicator in the address bar as the disk is scanned for updates. It may take a bit depending on the speed of your computer.
The updates will be loaded in the window and arranged by category. You can then use the search window ("search installed updates") in the upper right corner to quickly search the complete list shown by typing in a specific update number for a quick find rather than rely upon a visual scan if you have a lot of updates. Be sure to wait for the scan to finish in the step above.
Previously installed/cloned updates do not usually show up in the "View Update History" section of Windows Update when utilizing cloned drives, but if installed they will show up in "View Installed Updates" section of Programs and Features which is accessed through My Computer as specified above and where you would go to uninstall them.
I've always used the "View Update History" function and wasn't aware of the "View Installed Updates" function. The latter function shows the other 400+ updates that include all the pre-SP1 updates by progressive install dates.
On a cloned drive the "View Update History" file viewed through Windows Update will commence with the date you install any new updates subsequent to installing the clone.
The cloning software does not copy the contents of the Update History file (nor the page-file or certain other files) but does copy the actual Updates.
Important, after installing a cloned drive, "System Protection" (in My Computer . . left column) often defaults to "off" on that (or any newly installed) drive. You will want to go to System Protection and be sure it is turned on for the newly inserted cloned drive with your OS on it or else you will not have any "System Restore" points.
Microsoft's terminology is a bit confusing on these issues.
