When cloning VMs, multiple machines can appear as the same client in WSUS, preventing proper reporting and updates. Resetting the client ID forces the machine to re-register with a unique ID.
The Fix
net stop wuauserv
reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate" /v SusClientId /f
reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate" /v SusClientIdValidation /f
net start wuauserv
wuauclt /resetauthorization /detectnow
Why it works
- Deleting these registry values and restarting the service forces Windows Update to generate new unique IDs and re-register with the WSUS server.
Verify
wuauclt /reportnow
- Check your WSUS console after a few minutes; the client should appear as a new, distinct entry.
Notes
- Requires Administrator privileges.
- Can take a few minutes for the client to re-appear in the WSUS console.
Techworks Blog