Applying a Windows Update
Applies To: Windows 7, Windows Vista
This walkthrough topic describes a scenario of an organization that is planning to deploy a Windows® update into its environment, but first requires a more detailed assessment of the potential compatibility issues. For this walkthrough, you must deploy the associated data-collection package (DCP) to at least one of your client computers that is running one of the following operating systems:
Windows® 7
Windows Vista® with Service Pack 1 (SP1) or Service Pack 2 (SP2)
Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2) or Service Pack 3 (SP3)
Windows Server® 2008 R2
Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1 (SP1) or Service Pack 2 (SP2)
Microsoft Windows® 2000 with Service Pack 4 (SP4) and Update Rollup 1
Phase 1: Collecting Your Inventory and Compatibility Data
In this phase, you will create a new DCP that will collect your organization's inventory, which includes information about computers, devices, installed applications, and associated compatibility issues.
To collect your software and hardware inventory
Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.6, and then click Application Compatibility Manager.
On the Collect screen, click New on the File menu.
The New <DCP_Name> dialog box appears.
In the Package Name box, type Inventory_for_Updates.
In the Evaluate compatibility when area, click Applying Windows Updates.
Click Advanced.
The Advanced Settings dialog box appears.
Clear the Update Compatibility Evaluator, and then click OK.
The Advanced Setting dialog box closes.
In the When to monitor application usage area, do not change the default options, but change the Duration to 10 Minutes.
In the Output Location box, do not change the default value, previously specified in the ACT Configuration Wizard.
On the File menu, click Save and Create Data Collection Package.
Save the compiled DCP to your desktop.
Determine which method you will use to deploy your DCP. For information about your various deployment options, see Deploying a Data Collection Package.
By using the method determined in the previous step, deploy the DCP to your specified client computers’ desktops.
Note
We recommend that you collect your data from approximately 10,000 computers, if you have a large number of available client computers in your organization.
Double-click the packaged DCP from each identified client computer's desktop.
The DCP runs on the client computer.
To view and synchronize your data
Click Analyze from the left-hand navigation pane of your client computers.
The Analyze screen appears.
Click Send and Receive.
The Send and Receive Data dialog box appears.
Click Review the data before sending.
The dialog box changes to show the applications that will send and will receive information from Microsoft during the synchronization process.
Note
You can disable specific applications from the synchronization process, so that you do not share the related issue data with Microsoft, or your assessment ratings with the ACT Community. For more information, see Selecting Your Send and Receive Status.
Click Send.
Data synchronization occurs between your computer and the Microsoft Compatibility Exchange.
Return to the Analyze screen and review the updated issue data for your applications.
To collect your application compatibility data
On the Collect screen, click New on the File menu.
The New <DCP_Name> dialog box appears.
In the Package Name box, type Update_Deployment.
In the Evaluate compatibility when area, click Applying Windows Updates.
In the Output Location box, do not change the default value, previously specified in the ACT Configuration Wizard.
On the File menu, click Save and Create Data Collection Package.
Save the compiled DCP to your desktop.
As done previously, deploy your DCP and synchronize your data.
Phase 2: Analyzing Your Compatibility Data
In this phase, you will organize your application data by using priorities, categories and subcategories, and you will organize your Windows updates by using severity ratings. After organizing your data, you will be able to filter your compatibility data, to determine which applications or Windows updates might have compatibility issues, and to view the information in customized reports.
Prioritizing Your Application Data
In this section, you will prioritize your application data, based on the importance of the application or update to your organization. For more information, see Prioritizing Your Data.
The available priority levels are:
Priority 1 - Business Critical. The highest priority level. Business-critical items are so important to your organization that, unless you certify them, you will not deploy the updated operating system.
Priority 2 - Important. The priority level for applications, Web sites, computers, devices, and updates that your organization regularly uses but can continue to function without. You can choose to deploy the updated operating system without requiring certification.
Priority 3 - Nice to Have. The priority level for applications, Web sites, computers, devices, and updates that do not fall into the previous two categories but that you want to appear in your ACT compatibility reports. You will deploy the updated operating system regardless of certification.
Priority 4 - Unimportant. The priority level for applications, Web sites, computers, devices, and updates that are basically irrelevant to your organization's daily functions. You can use this priority level to filter out the unimportant items from your reports.
Unspecified. The default priority level, which is automatically assigned to all applications, Web sites, computers, devices, and updates. You can use this priority level to denote applications that have not yet been reviewed for deployment.
To prioritize your applications
On the Analyze screen, click Applications from the Update Impact Reports heading in the Quick Reports pane.
The Update Impact Reports – Applications screen appears.
Click Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit Data Collector 5.6, and then on the Actions menu, click Set Priority.
The Set Priority dialog box appears.
Click Priority 2 – Important, and then click OK.
Categorizing Your Data
In this section, you will create categories and subcategories and assign them to an application. For more information, see Categorizing Your Data.
To create a new category and a new subcategory
In the Update Impact Reports - Applications screen, click Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit Data Collector 5.6.
On the Actions menu, click Assign Categories.
The Assign Categories dialog box appears.
Click Category List.
The Category List dialog box appears.
In the Categories area, click Add, type Department, and then press ENTER.
In the Subcategories area, click Add, type Sales, and then press ENTER.
In the Subcategories area, click Add, type Marketing, and then press ENTER.
Click OK to close the Category List dialog box.
Click OK to close the Assign Categories dialog box.
To assign a category and a subcategory
In the Update Impact Reports - Applications screen, click Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit Data Collector 5.6.
On the Actions menu, click Assign Categories.
The Assign Categories dialog box appears.
Select the Sales check box, and then click OK.
The Assign Categories dialog box closes.
Note
Although Sales is a subcategory, when you select the check box, it automatically selects the parent category. If you assign a category, you must assign one or more subcategories.
Selecting Your Severity
In this section, you will select your organization's severity rating for the Windows update. You can use the severity rating to specify which updates might be problematic, and how severe that problem might be for your organization. For more information about creating and using severity assessments, see Selecting Your Severity Assessment Rating.
To create a new severity rating
On the Analyze screen, click Updates from the Update Impact Reports heading in the Quick Reports pane.
The Updates screen appears.
On the Actions menu, click Set Severity.
The Set Severity dialog box appears.
Click Severity List.
The Severity List dialog box appears.
Click Add, type Unimportant, and then press the ENTER key.
Click OK to close the Severity List dialog box.
Click OK to close the Set Severity dialog box.
To select a severity rating
On the Updates screen, click the Windows update that is listed first in the right pane, and then click the Set Severity button.
The Set Severity dialog box appears.
Click Unimportant, and then click OK.
Filtering Your Data
In this section, you will create filter to display your application data based on your priority, category, and subcategory selections. After filtering your data, you can view the results as a customized report, tailored to your organizational requirements. For more information, see Filtering Your Compatibility Data.
To create a customized filter
On the Analyze screen, click Applications from the Update Impact Reports heading in the Quick Reports pane.
The Update Impact Reports – Applications screen appears.
In the Update Impact Reports - Applications screen, click Toggle Filter.
In the Field list, click Priority.
The Operator field will automatically update with the Equals option.
In the Value box, select Priority 2 – Important.
Press the TAB key to create a new query row.
In the And/Or list, click And.
In the Field list, click Categories (+).
The remaining filter criteria is completed and a linked row is automatically created.
In the linked row Field list, click Category Name.
The Operator field will automatically update with the Equals option and another linked row is created.
In the Value box, select Department.
In the linked row And/Or list, click And.
In the Field list, click Subcategory Name.
The Operator field will automatically update with the Equals option.
In the Value box, select Sales.
Right-click anywhere in the row, and then click Execute.
The filter sorts your data to display the Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit Data Collector 5.6 because it is the only application that fulfills all the filter criteria.
Viewing a Report
In this section, you will view the Update Impact Reports - Applications report, the associated details dialog box, the Update Impact Report - Updates report, and its associated security update dialog box.
To view the Update Impact Reports - Applications reports
On the Analyze screen, click Applications from the Update Impact Reports heading in the Quick Reports pane.
The Update Impact Reports - Applications screen appears.
Double-click Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit Data Collector 5.6.
The Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit Data Collector 5.6 dialog box appears, displaying the compatibility details for the application.
Click the Intersecting Updates, Application Properties, Computers, and the Labels tab for more information about the application as it relates to that heading.
To view the Update Impact Reports - Updates reports
Click Updates from the Update Impact Reports heading in the Quick Reports pane.
The Updates screen appears.
Double-click the Windows update that is listed first in the right pane.
A security update dialog box appears, displaying the details for the update.
Click the Intersecting Applications, Update Properties, and Computers tab for more information about the update as it relates to that heading.
See Also
Concepts
ACT Walkthrough Exercises
Using the Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT)
Introduction to the Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) Version 5.6
Troubleshooting ACT