Additional Options

These switches control WuInstall's runtime behavior — reboots, WSUS routing, and unattended EULA handling.

3.1 Reboot

wuinstall /reboot 30 # reboot after 30 seconds

wuinstall /install /reboot # install, then reboot after 10 seconds (default)

The /reboot switch triggers a system reboot a specified number of seconds after WuInstall finishes. If no interval is given, the default is 10 seconds. It can be used standalone or combined with any core switch.

Note: The reboot is unconditional — it fires regardless of whether any updates were found or installed.

3.2 Reboot Cycle

wuinstall /install /reboot_if_needed /rebootcycle 2 /logfile_append "C:\loginst.txt"

/rebootcycle fully automates multi-reboot update sequences. After installing updates and rebooting, WuInstall registers itself with the Windows Task Scheduler to re-run the same command before the next logon — repeating until no further updates are pending.

To avoid infinite loops, a maximum reboot count can be specified (default: 3). Using /logfile_append alongside /rebootcycle is recommended to capture a complete log across all reboot cycles.

3.3 Reboot Cycle with Shutdown

wuinstall /install /rebootcycle /shutdown

Extends the reboot cycle behavior by shutting down the machine once all updates are fully installed. Useful for scheduled overnight patching where the machine should be off when staff arrive.

3.4 Bypass WSUS

wuinstall /install /bypass_wsus /match "KB956844"

Forces WuInstall to retrieve updates directly from Windows Update, ignoring any configured WSUS server for the duration of the run. WSUS is automatically re-enabled once WuInstall finishes.

⚠️ If WuInstall is interrupted or crashes mid-run, the registry value HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU → UseWuServer may remain set to 0. Set it back to 1 manually to restore WSUS.

3.5 Use Specific WSUS

wuinstall /install /use_wsus http://wsus2

Overrides the configured WSUS server for the current run. Useful when targeting a specific WSUS instance or when no WSUS is configured on the machine but one is available on the network. The original WSUS configuration is restored automatically after execution.

⚠️ If WuInstall is interrupted, the following registry keys may need to be reset manually:

3.6 Auto-Accept EULAs

wuinstall /install /autoaccepteula

Some updates require EULA acceptance before installing. The /autoaccepteula switch handles this automatically, keeping unattended deployments from stalling on interactive prompts.

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Last updated on January 3, 2024