Windows Updates GDR vs LDR (QFE)

TechyHarry picture TechyHarry · Oct 23, 2012 · Viewed 8.9k times · Source

While going through the information present at Windows Hotfixes and Updates website, I understood that Windows maintains two different branches to provide Updates and Hotfixes and as per the description,

  1. GDR -> All Windows Updates fall into this category.
  2. LDR (QFE) -> All Hotfixes fall into this category.

While retrieving the

  1. Windows update information with Windows Update Agent API and
  2. Hotfix/LDR/QFE information with WMIC QFE GET

I found that some of the KB numbers are common in Windows Update/ Hotfix. How could this be possible? As per the description regarding GDR and LDR, it says

By default, all components on Windows systems start on the GDR branch following each major release. When you install updates from Windows Update for a GDR component, it gets upgraded with the GDR version. When you install a specific Hotfix, the files and components in the Hotfix package are migrated to the LDR branch. At this point, that particular component is marked as a LDR component. If you install a newer Update over this component, the Windows servicing technology will automatically install the appropriate latest version from the LDR branch for you.

Could someone help me understand whats the reason for KB Number common in both Update and Hotfix information?