How does Windows Updating work?

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I religiously update (i.e. more than once / mo).
I have periods where it doesn’t update for long periods of 20-30 minutes and have “stopped” the download.
I see several KB’s that are listed as failed and never show up later in the history.
Does this mean updating is not inclusive after a certain date/period of time?
Can I go somewhere to get previously failed updates? Where?
Examples are KB3000850 and 3012702 which I see have just failed again.
Totally deficient in how updating works.

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There’s no time limit, but some updates get superseded by others.

You can search with KBxxxxxxx at Microsoft Download Center:

Download KB3000850

Download KB3012702

Bruce

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I am wondering cuz I see several attempts to install a specific KB* and all fail then succeed then keep failing a couple more times then finally succeed.
Also numerous failures without success.
I am told to ignore history and that M$ will at some point produce an update which fixes 1 or more failures then has to be updated due to an entirely separate problem which has occurred. I don’t know.
A) should I be concerned at all about un fixed failures which have not been corrected for 2+ months?
B) is there any attempt with updating that recognizes that a machine does not have a back KB******* from M$’s end?
C) if it is all up to me, how do I get a list of unsuccessful KB’s so that I can download the failed ones? Update history seemingly can’t be cut and pasted from the history.

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1/ Yes. All important updates should be installed as soon as possible.

2/ Windows always scans for previous updates and offers them if they are missing.

3/ There are two easy ways to copy the history. The first is to use the Snipping Tool to copy the entire Window, the second is to highlight each failed update in turn, right click on it and select copy, then paste into a Notepad or other word processor document.

To check if there is a problem with an update, search the KB number on line. There will be multiple postings from people who have experienced it, explaining why it failed and if a solution has been offered by MS.
If an update simply fails for no obvious reason and there are no flags raised on line, go to Microsoft Download Centre, search for the KB number, download the update installer to your Desktop or Download Folder and run it manually. This usually gets it to complete.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/

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U say download a missing one but also in #2 U seem to indicate M$ will offer the missing ones (failed I presume). How am I mis-reading UR explanation

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Windows always offers missing updates. If they fail to install, it will keep on offering them until they do finally install, are withdrawn, replaced or until Hell freezes over – whichever happens first.:huh: A manual download and install will often get an otherwise recalcitrant update to install.

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Thanks, that was the perfect explanation. Big help THANS again.

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