Category Archives: Windows Server

Windows 10, Windows Server, WSUS

Windows Update Logs on Windows Server 2016 and Windows 10 are Empty

Somebody somewhere thought not having the WindowsUpdate.log in a human readable format that could be viewed in real-time was a really good idea.

To read the logs now you have to use a PowerShell command.

Open PowerShell using Run As Administrator and run the following.

  • Get-WindowsUpdateLog

Wait patiently for the now out-of-date log to save to your desktop.

Windows Server, WSUS

Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) Test URL

No unusual to get the occasional moody WSUS managed-device that will not report and/or update using a correctly configured WSUS server.  The link below is the one I like to use to test the connection from the WSUS managed device to the WSUS web site.

Note:  The test URL below uses my-wsus-box as the server name and 8530 as the configured port for the WSUS web site – change as appropriate.

Note:  If the connection to the WSUS web site is good then a prompt to download wuident.cab should be presented.

http://my-wsus-box:8530/selfupdate/wuident.cab.

Windows Server

Software Update Fails with Error Code 0x80244018 – HTTP/1.1 403 Forbidden by proxy

Windows Server 2016 would not download updates from WSUS server running WSUS v4.0.  Viewing the WindowsUpdate.log the following error was noted:

  • HTTP/1.1 403 Forbidden by proxy

Unable to easily view the IE proxy settings as IE had been disabled by Group Policy on the server.  Fix was to reset the proxy settings using the following command:

  • netsh winhttp reset proxy
SCCM, Windows Server

Installing the WSUS 4.0 Admin Console Manually on Windows Server 2012 R2 for SCCM 1511 Software Update Point

SCCM 1511 Site Server requires WSUS Admin Tools to be installed if the SCCM 1511 Software Update Server (SUP) is running on a remote server.

User PowerShell:

  • Install-WindowsFeature -Name UpdateServices-Ui

Or from the GUI.

  • Server Manager
  • Manage menu # Add Roles and Features
  • Expand Remote Server Admin Tools
  • Expand Role Admin Tools
  • Select Windows Sever Update Services Tools
Windows Client, Windows Server

Windows Server 2012 R2 – Custom Start Screen

Just a couple of quick PowerShell commands that can be used to create a Server 2012 R2 custom Start Screen.

Set up the Start Screen as required and then run this:

  • Export-StartLayout -As BIN -Path C:\Temp\CustomStartScreenLayout.bin

Use this to import.

  • Import-StartLayout -LayoutPath C:\Temp\CustomStartScreenLayout -MountPath c:\

The import line can be used in a script as part of an SCCM/MDT Task Sequence.