Silent Install

[tennisace57]

I installed the latest version of PatchMyPC a few weeks ago, with the default settings.

After several weeks now, none of the listed apps are silently updated per the daily scheduled settings. If I launch PatchMyPC, there are apps listed as "outdated" and I have to manually update them by clicking "Start" or "Update."

Do I need to change a setting somewhere under "Settings" to get my apps to update silently (automatically) per the daily scheduled settings.

[tennisace57]

Looking through the log file, I came across the following error which indicates that an app didn't update per the scheduled task, but I have no idea how to resolve it.

[2025-04-16 19:59:26]  INFO  Update from Scheduled Task has been started.
[2025-04-16 19:59:28]  INFO  Found 2 application to update/install.
[2025-04-16 19:59:28]  INFO  Start update for eM Client application...
[2025-04-16 19:59:28]  ERROR  System.ArgumentException: The path is empty. (Parameter 'path')

[tennisace57]

Disregard the post regarding the error message in the log file. The scheduled task was supposed to run tonight at 7 pm, but according to log it doesn't look as though it ran at all.

Looking at what occurred at 7 pm, this is what I found, albeit it kicked off a little before 7 pm.

[2025-04-23 18:52:42]  INFO  Started auto-updater task.
[2025-04-23 18:52:42]  DEBUG  Starting updater with following args: /silentall -nofreqcheck
[2025-04-23 18:52:42]  INFO  Complete auto-updater task.

Nevertheless, there were three apps that were outdated, but neither were silently updated.

[Justin Chalfant (Patch My PC)]

Could you check Windows task scheduler and see if the task for "Patch My PC Home Updater - Update Apps" ran?

[tennisace57]

It doesn't look as though the task in listed in Windows Task Scheduler.

[tennisace57]

I stand corrected, I was looking in the wrong place.

[Justin Chalfant (Patch My PC)]

It appears it is currently running in your screenshot? Are you still having issues where it's not running.

[tennisace57]

UPDATE: I think I may have resolved this issue and both Windows 11 Pro computers - laptop & desktop - at least partially.

Laptop Resolution: In reviewing Task Scheduler, I noticed that PatchMyPC and IObit's Advanced SystemCare were both scheduled to run daily at 7 pm. So suspecting that they may have been in conflict or competing, I changed PatchMyPC to scan & update at 7:30 pm.

Desktop Resolution: In reviewing Task Scheduler, I noticed that the PatchMyPC task was triggered on schedule, but was stuck on "running" status. So I decided to do a thorough uninstall, reboot, and reinstall and set the scheduler for 9 pm.

Now the logs on both computers are showing the following:

[2025-04-24 21:00:00]  INFO  Update from Scheduled Task has been started.
[2025-04-24 21:00:01]  INFO  No applications to update/install. Exit task.
[2025-04-24 21:00:01]  INFO  Update from Scheduled Task has been finished.

Next I will check to see if apps are silently updated when the there are outdated apps. 

[tennisace57]

When I logged on to my PC tonight, I launched Patch My PC and saw that Chrome is currently outdated, but Patch My PC hasn't updated it yet. I then opened Task Scheduler and noticed that the updater task was triggered, but seems to be stuck on "running." See screenshots

How long should it stay in "running" mode, and will it eventually silently update Chrome?

[Justin Chalfant (Patch My PC)]

Could you include this log file? %programdata%\PatchMyPC\PatchMyPCHomeUpdater.log

[tennisace57]

Looks like there are still issues with both PCs.
DELL-TP-EBT2250 desktop
DELL-XPS-7590 laptop

See attached...

[Justin Chalfant (Patch My PC)]

We will take a look at this log file.

[tennisace57]

I just happened to check the ProgramData folder and noticed something odd - there are two (2) Patch My PC folders, each with a .log file. See attached

[Justin Chalfant (Patch My PC)]

We have a repro of this and a bug reported where a few actions may log to the "PatchMyPC" folder even when that's not the path. We should have this fixed soon.

[tennisace57]

Any updates on the log files I attached on 04/29/2025?

[TerryWood]

Hi tennisace 57

Thanks for that. There certainly seems to be some commonality between our circumstances. I am new to this forum so I don't know the ropes or too many people. But, as I said in my introduction ever since I changed from portable to installed it hasn't worked it just took me a long time to find out.

I have looked at other options but there is nothing as good as PMPC when it works. Hopefully we will get a resolution. Let's keep in touch.

Thank you

Terry

[tennisace57]

Terry,

Yes, we are both experiencing the same issue albeit, we haven't exactly explained it the same way.

But like you, I was a long time user of the legacy portable version and never experienced any issues.

I bought a new desktop on 04/02/2025 and when I visited the Patch My PC site to download the application, I found that there was a new version 5.

I installed it with the default settings and scheduled it to check and update every evening in the background. I also updated Patch My PC on an older laptop. After several days, I launched Patch My PC only to find that several applications were outdated.

The log files indicated that Patch My PC attempted to update the applications, but failed with errors.

When I initiate the updates in the GUI, the applications successfully update.

Conclusion: The scheduled silent (i.e.,automatic) application update functionality doesn't work in Patch My PC version 5.

[TerryWood]

Hi tennisace57

I hope the fix that applies to you resolves my issue. What i can't understand if you are correct in your "conclusion" is why more people aren't reporting this?

Terry

[tennisace57]

Terry - I was thinking the same thing. Given that it's not working on either of my PCs, it definitely points to the Patch My PC as the issue.

For now, and maybe going forward, I will use it with "Settings > Silently install and update applications" disabled, which maybe the better option. That's the approach I take with my phone - I get update notifications with automatic updates disabled. It would be nice if Patch My PC added an option to get update notifications.

Hopefully this issue will be resolved sometime soon.

David

[Justin Chalfant (Patch My PC)]

We have a repro of this problem and are working on a solution now.

[Justin Chalfant (Patch My PC)]

Please try to upgrade to 5.2.0.1, which was released a few hours ago. That should hopefully resolve this for you.

[tennisace57]

Justin,

Will do and I will keep you posted.

TY!

David

[tennisace57]

Justin,

The scheduled silent updates appear to be working on both PCs now.

Thank you!

David