How to uninstall Windows Updates
When Microsoft released this month's updates for its Windows operating system, no one could foresee the troubles it would cause some customers of the system.
Shortly after installing the update, some customers experienced blue screen of death errors which prevented the system from booting into the operating system or even safe mode.
Depending on how tech-savvy users are that experienced the issue, they may have managed to regain control of the system by using system restore or by restoring a backup of the system.
The patch MS14-045 was quickly identified as the cause and Microsoft has pulled its download for the time being which means that current updates should not cause any related issues to users anymore.
Microsoft was quick to recommend to customers to uninstall the updates (2982791, 20960028, 2075710 and 2975331) but did not reveal how that is done on the bulletin page.
This article walks you through the uninstallation of Windows Updates in general using the two aforementioned updates as examples, and provides you with tips and best practices along the way as well.
Removing installed updates
Updates can be removed in several ways. Probably the easiest option for users is to use the uninstall a program applet of the Control Panel.
- Tap on the Windows-key, type remove program and select uninstall a program from the list of options (
- Windows 8 calls it add or remove programs
- Windows 10 users may use Windows-X to open the Control Panel and select Uninstall a Program > View installed updates.
- Windows 11 users need to select Start > Settings > Windows Update > Update History > Uninstall Updates.
- Click on view installed updates on the left sidebar to display all updates installed on the system. It may take a couple of seconds before the full list is displayed on the screen. Here you find all installed updates listed.
- Since there is no search. you may want to sort the updates by installation date. If you see installed on listed here, click on the table header to sort from newest to oldest. If you don't see it here, right-click on the header and add it first.
- Locate the update "Security Update for Microsoft Windows (KB2982791)".
- Right-click the update and select uninstall from the context menu. Confirm that you want to remove the update and wait for the process to complete.
- Depending on the update, you may be asked to reboot the PC to complete the process.
From the command line
Updates can also be removed from the command line using the wusa tool. To do so, you need to know the KB (KnowledgeBase) number of the patch you want to remove.
- Tap on the Windows-key, type cmd.exe, right-click on the result and select run as administrator. This launches an elevated command prompt.
- To remove an update, use the command wusa /uninstall /kb:2982791 /quiet and replace the KB number with the number of the update that you want to remove
What if you cannot boot into Windows?
If you get a blue or black screen of death while booting into Windows or another error message, you may want to hit F8 during the boot process to display the advanced boot menu.
Note: This is somewhat tricky on Windows 8 due to the accelerated boot process. It may be easier to use a Windows 8 disc instead if you have one and select restore from there when it comes up.
If you can display the advanced boot options you may want to select "Start Windows using Last Known Good Configuration" first. This is only available on Windows 7 and older systems and not on Windows 8.
It attempts to load the last configuration that the operating system booted in successfully.
You can also try and load Safe Mode, and if you can, uninstall updates from there.
Windows 8 users who get into the advanced boot options need to select Troubleshoot -> Advanced Options -> System Restore to recover the system using a previously created restore point.
How to prepare yourself
It pays to be prepared for these kind of situations. If you have Windows on disc already you are all set and don't really need to do anything.
If your system shipped without disc, you may want to create a system repair disc to make sure you have a disc that you can boot into if the operating system fails to boot.
Windows 7
- Tap on the Windows-key, type backup and restore and select the option.
- Select create a system repair disc from the left sidebar menu.
- Insert a blank DVD into the computer's DVD drive and click on create disc to start the process.
Windows 8 or 10
- We don't know why Microsoft removed the option to create a system repair disc this way from Windows 8.1 and 10.
- What you can do instead is to create a recovery drive on a USB flash drive.
- Tap on the Windows-key, type recovery drive and select the option.
- Confirm the UAC prompt that is displayed afterwards.
- Click next on the first screen and select the right drive letter on the next.
- Note that everything that is on the drive will be deleted so make sure you pick the right drive letter.
You can boot from the system repair disc or recovery drive whenever you cannot boot into Windows directly anymore. You may need to alter the boot sequence in the BIOS / UEFI though to do so depending on how it is set up.
What mental age of reader are you targeting with the first sentence? 10?
Why not write an article on how to *avoid* upgrading from W10 to W11. Analogous to those like me who avoided upgrading from 7 to 10 for as long as possible.
If your paymaster Microsoft permits it, of course.
5. Rufus
6. Ventoy
PS. I hate reading these “SEO optimized” articles.
I used Rufus to create an installer for a 6th gen intel i5 that had MBR. It upgraded using Setup. No issues except for Win 11 always prompting me to replace my local account. Still using Win 10 Pro on all my other PCs to avoid the bullying.
bit pointless to upgrade for the sake of upgrading as you never know when you’ll get locked out because ms might suddenly not provide updates to unsupported systems.
ps…. time travelling?
written. Jan 15, 2023
Updated • Jan 13, 2023
This happens when you schedule a post in WordPress and update it before setting the publication date.
Anyone willing to downgrade to this awful OS must like inflicting themselves with harm.
I have become convinced now that anybody who has no qualms with using Windows 11/10 must fit into one of the following brackets:
1) Too young to remember a time before W10 and W11 (doesn’t know better)
2) Wants to play the latest games on their PC above anything else (or deeply needs some software which already dropped W7 support)
3) Doesn’t know too much about how computers work, worried that they’d be absolutely lost and in trouble without the “”latest security””
4) Microsoft apologist that tries to justify that the latest “features” and “changes” are actually a good thing, that improve Windows
5) Uses their computer to do a bare minimum of like 3 different things, browse web, check emails, etc, so really doesn’t fuss
Obviously that doesn’t cover everyone, there’s also the category that:
6) Actually liked W7 more than 10, and held out as long as possible before switching, begrudgingly uses 10 now
Have I missed any group off this list?
You have missed in this group just about any professional user that uses business software like CAD programs or ERP Programs which are 99% of all professional users from this list.
Linux doesn’t help anyone who is not a linux kid and apple is just a fancy facebook machine.
Microsoft has removed KB5029351 update
only from windows update though
KB5029351 is still available from the ms update catalog site
1. This update is labaled as PREVIEW if it causes issues to unintelligent people, then they shouldn’t have allowed Preview updates ot install.
2. I have installed it in a 11 years old computer, and no problems at all.
3. Making a big drama over a bluescreen for an updated labeled as preview is ridiculous.
This is probably another BS internet drama where people ran programs and scripts that modified the registry until they broke Windows, just for removing stuff that they weren’t even using just for the sake of it.
Maybe people should stop playing geeks and actually either use Windows 10 or Windows 11, but don’t try to modify things just for the sake of it.
Sometimes removing or stopping things (like defender is a perfect example) only need intelligence, not scripts or 3rd party programs that might mess with windows.
Windows 11 was a pointless release, it was just created because some of the Windows team wanted to boost sales with some sort of new and improved Windows 10. Instead, Microsoft cannot support one version well let alone two.
Windows 11 is the worst ugly shame by Microsoft ever. They should release with every new W11 version a complete free version of Starallback inside just to make this sh** OS functionally again.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released a statement regarding the “unsupported processor” blue screen error for their boards using Intel 600/700 series chipsets & to avoid the KB5029351 Win11 update:
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/MSI-On–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–Error-Message-of-Windows-11-Update-KB5029351-Preview-142215
check out the following recent articles:
Neowin – Microsoft puts little blame on its Windows update after UNSUPPORTED PROCESSOR BSOD bug:
https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-puts-little-blame-on-its-windows-update-after-unsupported-processor-bsod-bug/
BleepingComputer – Microsoft blames ‘unsupported processor’ blue screens on OEM vendors:
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-blames-unsupported-processor-blue-screens-on-oem-vendors/
While there may be changes or updates to the Windows 10 Store for Business and Education in the future, it is premature to conclude that it will be discontinued based solely on rumors.
My advice, I left win 15 years ago. Now I’m a happy linux user (linuxmint) but there is Centos, Fedora, Ubuntu depending on your needs.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released new BIOS/firmware updates for their Intel 600 & 700 series motherboards to fix the “UNSUPPORTED_PROCESSOR” problem (Sept. 6):
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/Updated-BIOS-fixes-Error-Message–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–caused-BSOD-on-MSI-s-Intel-700-and-600-Series-Motherboards-142277
I try to disable the Diagnostics Tracking Service (Connected Devices Platform User Services) but it wont let me disable it, any help will be greatly appreciated.
Tank you for your help