Question: How do I force Patch Inventories for PM 7.1 SP1 & SP2?

Answer: Work through the following steps:

1. Configure the Windows Assessment Scan to run Always.
   • Drill down on the Console > Settings > All Settings > Software > Patch Management > Windows System Assessment Scan
     • De-select the setting 'Send Inventory Results Only If Changed' from the policy
     • Save Changes
2. Update Configuration on the client to receive the changes to that policy.
3. Kick off one of the following to force a scan of Patch Inventories: 
   • Go to the Client's Altiris Agent GUI
     • Software Update Tab
     • Highlight Windows System Assessment Scan
     • Click on the link, in the left blue pane; under 'Application Tasks' named 'Windows System Assessment Scan'
       
   • Run the command on the client to force Patch Inventories
     • Go to Start > Run and input the following: "C:\Program Files\Altiris\Altiris Agent\Agents\PatchMgmtAgent\AeXPatchUtil.exe" /i
       • Drill down on the client: C:\Program Files\Altiris\Altiris Agent\Agents\SoftwareManagement\Software Delivery\{6D417916-467C-46A7-A870-6D86D9345B61}\cache
         • Ensure the 'modified date' is current for the STPatchAssessment.xml file.

Advisory: The InventoryRuleCache.ibd file is no longer affiliated with the Patch Management inventory scan. To refresh the client's inventory files, a full Import Patch Data for Windows (or other vendors) will need to be run, with the 'Incremental import' setting disabled.