File extension MSU
| File type | Microsoft Update Standalone Package Format |
| Developer | Microsoft |
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What is a MSU file?
File with a .MSU extension contains a data pack for Vista Microsoft Windows system – metadata describing a package, a properties file used during the installation process, CAB files containing an update, and an XML file informing about the content of a package.
MSU files are used automatically by Windows Update Stand-alone Installer – Wusa.Exe, which is an element of Windows update service. Previously, this was a function of the MSI file. The content of files can be unpacked and installed manually with Windows command line.
Program(s) that can open the .MSU file
How to open MSU files
If you cannot open the MSU file on your computer - there may be several reasons. The first and most important reason (the most common) is the lack of a suitable software that supports MSU among those that are installed on your device.
A very simple way to solve this problem is to find and download the appropriate application. The first part of the task has already been done – the software supporting the MSU file can be found in the table. Now just download and install the appropriate application.
Possible problems with the MSU format files
The inability to open and operate the MSU file does not necessarily mean that you do not have an appropriate software installed on your computer. There may be other problems that also block our ability to operate the Microsoft Update Standalone Package Format file. Below is a list of possible problems.
- Corruption of a MSU file which is being opened
- Incorrect links to the MSU file in registry entries.
- Accidental deletion of the description of the MSU from the Windows registry
- Incomplete installation of an application that supports the MSU format
- The MSU file which is being opened is infected with an undesirable malware.
- The computer does not have enough hardware resources to cope with the opening of the MSU file.
- Drivers of equipment used by the computer to open a MSU file are out of date.
If you are sure that all of these reasons do not exist in your case (or have already been eliminated), the MSU file should operate with your programs without any problem. If the problem with the MSU file has not been solved, it may be due to the fact that in this case there is also another rare problem with the MSU file. In this case, the only you can do is to ask for assistance of a professional staff.
Similar extensions
| .aawdef | Ad-Aware Definitions Format |
| .abr | Adobe Photoshop Brush Format |
| .ac$ | AutoCAD Undo Info Format |
| .acc | DR DOS - ViewMax Format |
| .acl | Microsoft Office Automatic Correction List |
| .acs | Microsoft Agent Character Structured Storage Format |
| .ad | After Dark Screen Saver Format |
| .add | Microsoft Dynamics AX Developer Documentation Format |
How to associate the file with an installed software?
If you want to associate a file with a new program (e.g. my-file.MSU) you have two ways to do it. The first and the easiest one is to right-click on the selected MSU file. From the drop-down menu select "Choose default program", then click "Browse" and find the desired program. The whole operation must be confirmed by clicking OK. The second and more difficult to do is associate the MSU file extension to the corresponding software in the Windows Registry.
Is there one way to open unknown files?
Many files contain only simple text data. It is possible that while opening unknown files (e.g. MSU) with a simple text editor like Windows Notepad will allow us to see some of the data encoded in the file. This method allows you to preview the contents of many files, but probably not in such a structure as a program dedicated to support them.