How do I Configure the Patch Download Repository?

Go to File > Agent > Settings > Repository tab (shown below). When specifying a new location, allow 1 to 2GB of free space for storing and accumulating Service-Packs and patches. Service-Packs are typically 120MB+ for the various Operating Systems, and you'll accumulate many smaller patches over time that vary widely in size. In the Repository tab, you may specify an NTFS file-system:

• … on any local drive, such as "D:\pathname"  

• … on a network share using the "\\hostname\sharename" notation (shown below). This allows centralization of patch downloads for one or more Master-Agents.

Important:  Mapped drive letters cannot be used in place of a "\\hostname\sharename."

Note: You may convert FAT or FAT32 to NTFS, see "Converting FAT or FAT32 to NTFS " below.

To specify the new location, select the Master-Agent, uncheck the Global Agent checkbox (highlighted below), and enter the 1) drive path or the network share name and 2) user credentials (if needed to access new location).  Note: Credentials cannot be entered until you enter two backslashes "\\" for a share-name in the Location field. You may want to create the patch download directory at your share location ahead of time, or UpdateEXPERT will do it for you assuming the correct read/write permissions to the share location.

The message below indicates a successful repository change in File > Agent > Settings (but you are not done yet).

You may move existing patches (optional) to the new location as part of the Master-Agent restart (shown below). This registers the new Repository location and moves existing patches at the same time. You may move the patches later if you wish, once the new location is registered.

> net stop ueagent

> copy %SYSTEMROOT%\ueagent\download\*.*  new-download-location (optional)

> net start ueagent

The "downloaded" status (Blue Diskettes) for the transferred patches will be preserved when you launch the UpdateEXPERT Console using the new location. Test download one or more patches to make sure the repository and internet access to Microsoft are working as expected.

Converting FAT or FAT32 to NTFS

Note: If you need to convert a FAT or FAT32 file-system to NTFS so that the file-system can be used for patch downloading, see below.

Note that the "convert" shell command can be used to change FAT partitions into NTFS partitions. If I had a FAT32 "D:" partition where I'd like to put downloads, I would enter:

> convert D: /fs:ntfs

to make the file-system NTFS.

Another way to get an NTFS partition created would be to use a 3rd party partition manager program to create a new partition and make it NTFS. These utilities typically will do this in a non-destructive manner (meaning data is preserved).

Warning: This is a system administration function. Take the usual precautions like backing up the partition or system before converting it. You should also check the disk integrity with "chkdsk". If you are unsure, contact another administrator and do not change your existing file-system.

Another option is to have a hardware administrator install another drive and set it up with Windows disk management.