You Cannot View or Extract the Updated Files from a Windows Product Update Package (828030)

SYMPTOMS

When you view or extract the contents of a product update package (for example, a security patch, a critical update, an update rollup, or a hotfix) for Microsoft Windows, the files that are shown or that are extracted may not include the files that are actually updated by the package. Instead, files that are similar to the following sample files may be shown or extracted.

Date	Time	Version	Size	File name
11-Aug-2003	19:43	5.2.9354.0	26,112	_sfx_.dll
25-Aug-2003	20:30		275	_sfx_0000._p
20-Aug-2003	20:27		145,583	_sfx_0001._p
20-Aug-2003	20:27		25,460	_sfx_0002._p
20-Aug-2003	20:27		1,715	_sfx_0003._p
25-Aug-2003	20:30		963	_sfx_0004._p
25-Aug-2003	20:32		326	_sfx_0005._p
25-Aug-2003	20:32		4,757	_sfx_0006._p
25-Aug-2003	20:29		1,192	_sfx_0007._p
20-Aug-2003	20:27		889	_sfx_0008._p
20-Aug-2003	20:26		7,449	_sfx_0009._p
20-Aug-2003	20:27		8,744	_sfx_0010._p
25-Aug-2003	20:38		484,752	_sfx_0011._p
25-Aug-2003	20:31		303,876	_sfx_0012._p
25-Aug-2003	20:29		73,276	_sfx_0013._p
25-Aug-2003	20:32		55,211	_sfx_0014._p
25-Aug-2003	20:29		213,469	_sfx_0015._p
25-Aug-2003	20:32		159,818	_sfx_0016._p
25-Aug-2003	21:59		1,189	_sfx_manifest_

Note This sample file list is from the 824146 security update for Microsoft Windows XP.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs if both of the following conditions exist:

You did not use the package installer to extract the package.
The package is an Intra-Package Deltas-aware (IPD-aware) package.

For example, this problem occurs if you use WinZip by WinZip Computing, Inc., to view or extract an IPD-aware package.

IPD technology reduces a package's download size while still delivering a self-contained package that contains the updated files. The files with the _p file name extension are binary deltas. These files are used to synthesize the updated files when you run the package.

RESOLUTION

If you want to examine the updated files that are installed by the package, run the package by using the -x switch to extract the files. For example, use the following command to extract the Windows XP version of the 824146 security patch package to the C:\824146 folder:

windowsxp-kb824146-x86-enu.exe -x:c:\824146

To be prompted to select a folder for the extracted files when you run the 824146 package, use the following command:

windowsxp-kb824146-x86-enu.exe -x

MORE INFORMATION

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.