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

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.

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

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.

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

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.