Troubleshoot problems with removing updates in WINDOWS 7

l

I want to remove an update but I don't know how.

Because updates can enhance the security of your computer, it's best not to remove an update unless you're certain that it is causing a problem. Take these steps to be certain you want to remove an update:

1. Open Installed Updates by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking Programs, and then, under Programs and Features, clicking View installed updates.

2. Select the update that you want to remove, and then click Uninstall. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

I think an update that I recently installed is causing a problem, but I'm not sure if I should remove it.

Because updates can enhance the security of your computer, it's best not to remove an update unless you're certain that it is causing a problem. Try to find information about any problems that have occurred on the computer by checking for a solution. For more information, see Check for solutions to software problems. If no solutions are available, check the Windows Update history to learn more.

1. Open Windows Update by clicking the Start button . In the search box, typeUpdate, and then, in the list of results, click Windows Update.

2. In the left pane, click View update history.

3. To view more information about an update, double-click it.

You can also search online newsgroups or communities for more information about an update. Try the Windows Update discussion group on the Microsoft Discussion Groups website.

If an update applies to security-related areas of the operating system, you might not be able to remove it. If your computer is connected to a network, contact your system administrator or your company's technical support group before removing the update.

I tried, but I can't remove an update.

Your computer might be connected to a network where updates are managed by Group Policy. These network-wide settings can prevent you from removing an update. In other cases, you might not be able to remove an update because it applies to a security-related area of the operating system. If you think an update that you can't remove is causing problems, contact your system administrator or your organization's technical support group.

I remove an update but it gets automatically reinstalled.

Your computer is probably connected to a network where Group Policy settings determine which updates must be installed on each computer. These network-wide settings can reinstall any required updates that you've removed.

You might also have Windows set to automatically install updates, which is the recommended setting for your computer. If you don't want Windows to install an update, you need to hide it.

1. Open Windows Update by clicking the Start button . In the search box, typeUpdate, and then, in the list of results, click Windows Update.

2. In the left pane, click Check for updates.

3. When Windows finds updates for your computer, do one of the following:

   • Click the link that tells you important updates are available if you have important updates to hide.

   • Click the link that tells you optional updates are available if you have optional updates to hide.

4. Right-click the update you don't want to install, and then click Hide update. The next time you check for updates, the update won't be automatically selected or installed. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

If you want to show the hidden update later, see Restore and install hidden updatesfor more information.

I keep getting offered an update from Windows that I don't want.

You can choose to have Windows stop offering you this update. Here's how:

1. Open Windows Update by clicking the Start button . In the search box, typeUpdate, and then, in the list of results, click Windows Update.

2. In the left pane, click Check for updates.

3. When Windows finds updates for your computer, do one of the following:

   • Click the link that tells you important updates are available if you have important updates to hide.

   • Click the link that tells you optional updates are available if you have optional updates to hide.

4. Right-click the update you don't want to install, and then click Hide update. The next time you check for updates, the update won't be automatically selected or installed. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

If you want to show the hidden update later, see Restore and install hidden updatesfor more information.

I installed updates (or a driver update) and now one of my devices doesn't work.

You might need to revert to a previous version of the driver for that device. Check the manufacturer's website for a more recent version of the driver, or remove the driver and restart your computer. For help with these steps, see Update a driver for hardware that isn't working properly.

I want to see if I removed an update successfully.

If you successfully removed an update, the update will no longer appear in Installed Updates:

• Open Installed Updates by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking Programs, and then, under Programs and Features, clicking View installed updates.