How to Undo a Windows Update

When a Microsoft Windows update interferes with productivity or the operation of your computer, you can remove it. Here's how.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Turn on the computer. If the update is causing the computer to crash after or during start-up, restart the computer in "safe mode" by holding down the F8 key on the keyboard during start-up.
2. Click on the "Start" button in the lower left-hand corner of the screen. This will give you a list of options you can choose.
3. Select the "Control Panels" item from the "Start" menu. This loads a window that will give you options on various settings for your computer.
4. Find and double-click with your mouse on the option that reads "Add/Remove Programs" in the "Control Panel" window. This piece of software allows you to install and uninstall programs from your computer.
5. Choose the "Install/Uninstall" Tab (Windows 98 and ME) or the "Change or Remove Programs" Tab (Windows 2000 and XP). You will now see a list of programs installed on your computer.
6. Scroll down to the end of the list of programs. Near the bottom of the list you will see a list of updates that have been installed on the computer.
7. Select the update that's causing the computer issues, and click on the "Remove" button. Follow any on-screen instructions that may appear, and then reboot the computer. You have now removed the update.

Tips & Warnings

• Unfortunately, Microsoft will send out updates that you can't uninstall. If one of these updates appears to be causing your issue, please contact Microsoft or the manufacturer of your computer directly.
• Be very careful when removing software from your computer. Some programs may not be available to reinstall if there are no backups of the system. If you have any concerns, contact technical support immediately.
• If removing the update does not fix the issue, please contact the technical support number found in your computer manual.

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