Nice to see that Microsoft has changed the Log from Windows Update from

the ETL file format, to a readable LOG format.

In older Windows 10 versions (Builds) if you like to open the old and nice

WindowsUpdate.log to see what’s happen in patch installing, you must follow these steps: https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/charlesa_us/2015/08/06/windows-10-windowsupdate-log-and-how-to-view-it-with-powershell-or-tracefmt-exe/

Like you have to download some Symbols and funny stuff to read on log.

That was a little curios for some reason.

When you open the Log File is always only a link in there that explain

you what you have to do to read that:

In the end you have only some *.etl files if you use the Get-WindowsUpdateLog PowerShell Command.

That was not really helpful.

Now the time has Changed;

In Windows 10 1703 version

If you run the PowerShell command Get-WindowsUpdateLog

the etl files will be dumped in some tmp files and ended

in a log-file on your User desktop! You can open it in Notepad

and there we go with a readable version 🙂

Like:

Ok if you like to change the Log-File Path, no Problem, use this

command: Get-WindowsUpdateLog -LogPath C:\temp\test.log

There are some more options: get-help Get-WindowsUpdateLog

NAME

Get-WindowsUpdateLog

SYNOPSIS

Merges Windows Update .etl files into a single log file.

SYNTAX

Get-WindowsUpdateLog [[-ETLPath] <String[]>] [[-LogPath] <String>] [[-SymbolServer] <String>] [-ForceFlush]

[-InformationAction {SilentlyContinue | Stop | Continue | Inquire | Ignore | Suspend}] [-InformationVariable

<String>] [-ProcessingType {CSV | XML}] [-Confirm] [-WhatIf] [<CommonParameters>]

DESCRIPTION

The Get-WindowsUpdateLog cmdlet merges and converts Windows Update .etl files into a single readable

WindowsUpdate.log file. Windows Update Agent uses Event Tracing for Windows (ETW) to generate diagnostic logs.

Windows Update no longer directly produces a WindowsUpdate.log file. Instead, it produces .etl files that are not

immediately readable as written.

This cmdlet requires access to a Microsoft symbol server.

RELATED LINKS

WindowsUpdate_Cmdlets

REMARKS

To see the examples, type: “get-help Get-WindowsUpdateLog -examples”.

For more information, type: “get-help Get-WindowsUpdateLog -detailed”.

For technical information, type: “get-help Get-WindowsUpdateLog -full”.

For online help, type: “get-help Get-WindowsUpdateLog -online”

Have Fun, reading old school Windows Update Logs 😉