Starting Windows Update from TC Button bar (W7 x64 Ultimate)

[DRP535]

Wondering if anyone can help with the process required to mirror the Windows Update icon in Control Panel of W7 into the TC Button bar to be able to start it up directly from there rather than having to go through Control Panel?

I have over 100 updates due for installation in my version of W7, but I like to only install them very slowly one at a time, basically because past experience has taught me that Microsoft are very bad at programming and frequently their updates break lots of other things. Rather than give myself a nightmare by installing all of them at once and then finding I can't browse the internet anymore and I'm completely locked out of my own e-mail all in the name of enhanced security, I rather test each one piecemeal until I'm satisfied it hasn't caused any negative side effects. Doing this would be a lot less painful if I could just start the app from straight within TC via the button bar. Is this possible?

[Dalai]

Try this button:

Code: Select all

TOTALCMD#BAR#DATA
%SystemRoot%\system32\wuapp.exe

wuapi.dll,1
Windows Update


-1

Copy the code above and paste it onto a free space of TC's button bar to create a new button. Maybe there's some other way to open it (appwiz.cpl with some parameter), but the code above works fine for me.

BTW: The dead slow search for Windows Updates on Win7/Vista can be worked around by following the instructions on my page which I update at least once a month (will update it today or tomorrow since today is MS Patchday again).

Regards
Dalai

[DRP535]

Brilliant! You sir are a legend. That is exactly what I wanted.

[tdklaus]

Brilliant! You sir are a legend. That is exactly what I wanted.

Deviating from the topic - does anyone have a solution for Win10 x64 ?

[Dalai]

I don't have a machine with Win10 available, but I did a little research and found this: Executing Control Panel Items:

Windows Vista Canonical Names

In Windows Vista and later, the preferred method of launching a Control Panel item from a command line is to use the Control Panel item's canonical name. A canonical name is a non-localized string that the Control Panel item declares in the registry.
[...]
The following example shows how an application can start the Control Panel item Windows Update with WinExec.

So, according to MS, the following button should work on Vista and later:

Code: Select all

TOTALCMD#BAR#DATA
%systemroot%\system32\control.exe
/name Microsoft.WindowsUpdate
wuapi.dll,1
Windows Update


-1

I tested it successfully on Win7, maybe it works on Win10, too.

Regards
Dalai

[Horst.Epp]

I don't have a machine with Win10 available, but I did a little research and found this: Executing Control Panel Items:

Windows Vista Canonical Names

In Windows Vista and later, the preferred method of launching a Control Panel item from a command line is to use the Control Panel item's canonical name. A canonical name is a non-localized string that the Control Panel item declares in the registry.
[...]
The following example shows how an application can start the Control Panel item Windows Update with WinExec.

So, according to MS, the following button should work on Vista and later:

Code: Select all

TOTALCMD#BAR#DATA
%systemroot%\system32\control.exe
/name Microsoft.WindowsUpdate
wuapi.dll,1
Windows Update


-1

I tested it successfully on Win7, maybe it works on Win10, too.

Regards
Dalai

Your button works fine for Windows 10 x64

[Ennovy]

Dalai's solution works fine.
What also works is this button:

Code: Select all

TOTALCMD#BAR#DATA
ms-settings:windowsupdate

wuapi.dll
Windows Update


-1

More info here: http://www.howtogeek.com/227232/how-to-create-a-shortcut-to-windows-update-in-windows-10/

[DRP535]

This works brilliantly thanks. Flushed with this success, is there a way of getting the Windows Recycle Bin (Trash Can) icon in the TC button bar as well? I'd love to completely clear my desktop of all icons entirely and have it completely clean.

[Ennovy]

This works brilliantly thanks. Flushed with this success, is there a way of getting the Windows Recycle Bin (Trash Can) icon in the TC button bar as well? I'd love to completely clear my desktop of all icons entirely and have it completely clean.

Try this button:

Code: Select all

TOTALCMD#BAR#DATA
cd ::{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}

C:\Windows\System32\shell32.dll,32
Recycle Bin


-1

[DRP535]

Nice. I like it, but is there are a way of getting the button to behave in the same way as the one on the desktop does? ie. have the same context menu appear when right clicking on it etc.?

I realising I'm asking a bit much and if the answer's no, then it's good enough like that. I can make that work and be happy enough to delete the Recycle Bin from my desktop.

Cheers

[Ennovy]

Right clicking will always show TC context menu IMHO

EDIT: But you can use a AutoHotkey script to empty the Recycle Bin with a hotkey.

Code: Select all

#P::FileRecycleEmpty  ;Win+P	Empty Recycle Bin for all drives

[Damel]

Recycle bin for TC button bar:

Code: Select all

TOTALCMD#BAR#DATA
cm_OpenRecycled

imageres.dll,49
Recycle bin

-1

The F8 button (bottom right) has a local menu for Recycle bin.