A pox on windows updates

[4lex]

I built this machine 18 months ago, and it's had nearly 100% uptime since then. I turned off windows updates because I'm very much of the 'if it aint broke' school of thought.

Foolishly I installed windows movie maker a couple of days ago, and it's decided to set windows update to automatically install just about everything it can find. The machine that was fast and responsive now runs like a special needs boy in a vat of treacle.

2 questions, if anyone can help:

Can we completely remove the windows update functionality, ie more than just disable, and is there a way to bulk remove all the crap it's recently installed?

Cheers,
Alex

 

[HonorGamer]

You can try a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html back to the date before you installed these updates.

 

[4lex]

Yeah, not so much

But thanks for the suggestion.

 

[HonorGamer]

A system restore is the only thing I could think of that would remove the updates from your system. Someone else might have suggestions that could do it also, and I'm actually really curious if there are any. So we will see what other people say.

 

[Golden]

Hi,

If you don't want Windows updates, and you recognise and are willing to accept the risk in that, simply disable the updates - there is no need to remove it.

If you want Windows without the updates, simply install it from scratch from your original DVD.

Regards,
Golden

 

[TVeblen]

As the others have said: you can't remove Windows Update. You can disable it.

The solution for problems caused by a Windows Update is to do a System Restore to a time before the update(s). The sooner you do this the better chances you have for success.

As a rule I do not ever allow automatic installations or automatic starts of any programs, scans, or updates on my computers. If a change is going to be made to my system I want to know what it is and execute it manually.

You can set Windows update to notify you that there are updates available but do not download or install them. Then, when you are ready and you do not have conflicting processes running in the background, you can install the updates in small batches. Installing a large number of updates in one big install is just asking for trouble IMHO.

 

[karlsnooks]

4lex,
Disabling Windows Updates is throwing the baby out with the dirty bath water.

Absolutely foolish!

This is Win 7. This is not eXPired.

install each, install every update!

If you encounter a problem installing an update, then let us know.

 

[DeaconFrost]

4lex,
Disabling Windows Updates is throwing the baby out with the dirty bath water.

Absolutely foolish!

I have to agree. Windows Update didn't cause your issue. I'm going to say it's more likely that your lack of updates is the reason, as many updates include fixes and performance enhancements.

 

[4lex]

It was demonstrably the updates that caused the problem. Having laboriously removed them all the machine worked again.

 

[karlsnooks]

carry out the following on one of your machines that didn't like updates:
[FONT=&quot]Care and Feeding of MGADiag tool[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Credits: This is based upon information from NoelDP[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
To properly analyse and solve problems with Activation and Validation, [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]we need to see a full copy of the report produced by the MGADiag tool.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Download and save to your desktop:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
After saving, run the downloaded tool.

[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Click on the Continue button, which will produce the report.

[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]To copy the report to your response:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Click on the Copy button in the tool (ignore any error messages), [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Enclose your response in a CODE block.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Paste (using either right-click/Paste, or Ctrl+V ) into your response.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
State the Version and Edition of Windows quoted on your COA sticker[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]which is located on the case of your machine or [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]inside the battery compartment.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Do NOT quote the Key on the sticker![/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]COA -- Where and what is it.[/FONT]

 

[F5ing]

It was demonstrably the updates that caused the problem. Having laboriously removed them all the machine worked again.

Hmm. My machines respond pretty much the same as they did when initially installed. Even with all the updates.

About the most I notice after applying all the updates to a fresh install is maybe a few extra seconds to boot time and maybe a few additional milliseconds for some app launches.

The problem may have been installing all the updates at once. It's usually best to selectively install only a few at a time if you've got a slew of them to install (that's about the only fallability that I know about Windows Update). If that's not the cause then I would suspect that you may have problems with software you've got installed (including third party).

I think you have to apply that 'if it aint broke' school of thought a little differently when it relates to software.

 

[Julio Cortez]

Yes, I also stick to the "if it's not broken" policy.
But I also think updates are meant to fix something that actually is broken somehow (e.g. has flaws that can be somehow exploited to obtain control of the machine, even if the software looks like working like a charm).

The only thing I want to have control of is, of course, when to download/install updates.
That's why I set Windows Updates to notify me when there's something new to install, but not to download anything before I tell it to do so.

Feeling quite comfortable this way, at the moment.

 

[F5ing]

Yes, I also stick to the "if it's not broken" policy.
But I also think updates are meant to fix something that actually is broken somehow (e.g. has flaws that can be somehow exploited to obtain control of the machine, even if the software looks like working like a charm).

The only thing I want to have control of is, of course, when to download/install updates.
That's why I set Windows Updates to notify me when there's something new to install, but not to download anything before I tell it to do so.

Feeling quite comfortable this way, at the moment.

Exactly! You put it nicely (much better than I did). People think everything's 'perfect' with their initial install. Just because it works perfectly doesn't mean it doesn't have flaws/vulnerabilities.

Ditto on the updates. They are applied when I'm ready, not before.

 

[karlsnooks]

The development, documentation, and delivery of an update is a great expense.

Each and every update is released to help you and for a very sound reason.

 

[DeaconFrost]

I think you have to apply that 'if it aint broke' school of thought a little differently when it relates to software.

Yes. Sometimes it's broken, and you don't realize it until it's patched!