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How-To: Gathering KB and Hotfix Information from Windows Server

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Checking on Windows Server 2008 R2, 2012, and 2012 R2

Windows Server versions prior to 2016 provided access to the update history using the Control Panel > Windows Update applet. The below screenshots are from Windows Server 2008 R2 and are similar to Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2. 

WS2k8R2_UpdateHistory.png

The review your update history shows all of the updates that have been installed. 

WS2k8R2_UpdateHistoryList.png

 

Checking on Windows Server 2016

Windows Server 2016 changes to way to view update history. It is accessed using the System > Windows Update > Update History. See the below screenshots for a reference. 

WS2016_UpdateHistory.png

Update history reflects the latest updates that have been installed.

WS2016_UpdateHistoryList.png

 

Checking on Windows Server 2019

The link to view updates has changed since Server 2016, but the listing of updates remains similiar.

2019.png

 

Checking using PowerShell 

There are several different ways to obtain update and hotfix information via PowerShell. The simplest is by using the Get-Hotfix cmdlet.

PS C:\> Get-Hotfix | ft -AutoSize
Source Description HotFixID InstalledBy InstalledOn
------ ----------- -------- ----------- -----------
SN1-R720-E04-07 Update KB4565625 NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM 7/22/2020 12:00:00 AM
SN1-R720-E04-07 Security Update KB4470788 3/12/2019 12:00:00 AM
SN1-R720-E04-07 Security Update KB4537759 SN1-R720-E04-07\Administrator 3/25/2020 12:00:00 AM
SN1-R720-E04-07 Security Update KB4539571 NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM 3/25/2020 12:00:00 AM
SN1-R720-E04-07 Security Update KB4558997 NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM 7/21/2020 12:00:00 AM
SN1-R720-E04-07 Security Update KB4561600 NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM 7/21/2020 12:00:00 AM
SN1-R720-E04-07 Security Update KB4562562 NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM 6/25/2020 12:00:00 AM
SN1-R720-E04-07 Security Update KB4558998 NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM 7/22/2020 12:00:00 AM

 

You could also query the WMI Object Class.

Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_QuickFixEngineering | Select-Object -Property Description, HotFixID, InstalledOn | Format-Table -Autosize

Example Windows PowerShell output can be seen below for Windows Server 2016 with the latest KBs and fixes.

PS C:\> Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_QuickFixEngineering | Select-Object -Property Description, HotFixID, InstalledOn | Format-Table -AutoSize

Description     HotFixID  InstalledOn
-----------     --------  -----------
Update          KB3199986 11/21/2016 12:00:00 AM
Update          KB4013418 5/10/2017 12:00:00 AM
Security Update KB4019472
Security Update KB3200970 11/21/2016 12:00:00 AM