Saving and restoring updates - possible?

[Microbe]

So, after months of automatically patching my computer it will one day be time to reformat it and start again.

Rather than have to download all those updates again, does anyone know of a straighforward way of backing up and then reinstalling all the updates?

Actually, the backing up isn't so hard, they are all sitting there in folders, but how can I get them back onto a new WinXP install?

I guess this goes for setting up a new computer on the network. Is there a way of getting all the auto updates from a fully patched machine onto the new one?

Thanks in advance.

[gamehead200]

Yes, make an unattended CD...

http://board.MSFN.org/index.php?showforum=70

[Aaron]

or an Microsoft SUS Server (a local Windows Update)

[b0r3d]

You can use the microsoft catalogue website to download and save all the patches to your hard disk, ready to be backed up and used whenever necessary

[ceez]

then use the batch file in the unattended CD to install all the patches after installation of OS is complete.

[Microbe]

Thanks for the replies folks - I really appreciate it and smell a solution here.

After downloading SUS I discovered that I need Server 2003 or 2000 and I am only running IIS

I am pretty geeky, but I have to admit to being pretty bewildered by the unattended CD thingy.

Is there a place with a how-to rather than having to trawl through the forum and try to piece it together?

[Crispy]

Is there a place with a how-to rather than having to trawl through the forum and try to piece it together? 

http://unattended.MSFN.org/