Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) - Uninstall

How to Uninstall the Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1)​

   Information

This will show you how to uninstall the Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) in case you are having issues with it.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

   Note

If you still have the SP1 beta or RC installed, then you will need to uninstall them using an option in the tutorial below before they stop running and install the Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) RTM afterwards.

Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Beta will stop running on June 30, 2011.

Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) RC will stop running on November 30, 2011.

In order of release:
Beta = prerelease beta build of SP1
RC = Release Candidate build of SP1
RTM = Release to Market final version SP1

   Warning

• If you used the Windows 7 SP1 Disk Cleanup Tool, then you will not be able to uninstall the SP1. Instead you would have to reinstall Windows 7 and the SP1 afterwards.
• If your computer (ex: OEM) came with Windows 7 SP1 already installed or you installed Windows 7 using a Windows 7 with SP1 installation disc (ex: retail or slipstreamed), then you will not be able to uninstall SP1.

OPTION ONE

Uninstall Windows 7 SP1 Beta, RC, or RTM using Programs and Features

1. Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click on Programs and Features.

2. Click on the View installed updates link in the left pane. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If you don't see Service Pack for Microsoft Windows (KB 976932) in the list of installed updates, or if the uninstall option is disabled, use System Restore (OPTION THREE below) to uninstall the service pack.

3. Click on Service Pack for Microsoft Windows (KB976932) to uninstall. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: You could also select Service Pack for Microsoft Windows (KB976932) and click on the "Uninstall" button on the toolbar, or right click on Service Pack for Microsoft Windows (KB976932) and click on "Uninstall".

4. Click on Yes. (see screenshot below)

5. Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) will now start uninstalling. It will take a bit to complete.

6. When prompted, restart the computer to finish.

OPTION TWO

Uninstall Windows 7 SP1 Beta, RC, or RTM using a Elevated Command Prompt

1. Open a elevated command prompt (Run as administrator).

2. In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the command below and press enter.
Wusa.exe /uninstall /kb:976932
3. Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) will now start uninstalling. It will take a bit to complete.

4. When prompted, restart the computer to finish.

OPTION THREE

Uninstall Windows 7 SP1 Beta, RC, or RTM using System Restore

:warn: WARNING: Doing a System Restore will also remove any programs and revert any system changes that have been made since you installed the service pack. System Restore will not affect any personal files in your user folders.
1. Do a system restore using a restore point that has the same date or before you installed the Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1).
NOTE: The restore point created automatically when you installed the SP1 beta will be labelled either Install: Windows Update or Install: Windows 7 Service Pack 1.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How Use the Windows 7 SP1 Disk Cleanup Tool to Recover Lost Disk Space
• How to Slipstream Windows 7 SP1 and Updates to Create a Bootable USB, Installation DVD, or ISO File
• Windows 7 Service Pack 1 FAQs and helpful links

 

[Brink]

Hello Larbabe, and welcome to Seven Forums.

This is really a different issue than what the tutorial is for, but you might see if runing the affected program's installation again to do a repair install of the program may be able to fix them.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[larbabe]

Thanks, and...

Thanks for the advice. This evening I ran the repair option of the installer, and when that didn't work, I uninstalled Quickbooks and reinstalled it. Now, when I try to run it, I get to the box where I tell Windows yes, I really do want to run this prog, after which I get nothing. On a side note, it also disabled AVG antivirus and I get an error with outlook, IE and Word that says the plug-in dll's wouldn't load, "contribute" isn't installed properly. But those progs still operate.

Looks like this is a Windows problem rather than just compatibility with Quickbooks.

I'm new to the forum. This thread seemed appropriate since I'm trying to undo the damage SP1 caused. Your advice to remove it worked great, btw. Is there a better thread to haunt for my woes?

Thanks,
Larry

 

[Brink]

No problem Larry. I'd give the "General Discussion" forum section a try with this to see what we can do to help.

 

[larbabe]

Thanks!

Cool. Thanks for your help. Your tutorial is just about the only resource for uninstalling the infernal beast they call SP1. Will give that thread a go for the rest.

Thanks!

 

[Brink]

You're welcome. I hope we can get the rest sorted for you soon.

 

[Britton30]

Hi Shawn, does this uninstall the final released version of SP1 as provided from MS update?
I don't know what all the anagrams mean, RC, PE, CE, RTM, etc.

 

[Brink]

Hello Gary,

I added to the NOTE box at the top of the tutorial to help with all the abreviations for what type of SP1 build they stand for.

The tutorial will uninstall any one of the Beta, RC, or RTM SP1 builds that you have installed in Windows 7.

 

[larbabe]

Thanks

Brink, thanks for the direction.

In case anyone else comes looking for a solution to SP1 disabling Quickbooks, uninstalling SP1 doesn't fix it. The only alternative, as least for now, is formatting and starting over. Until another option is found, don't install SP1 at all if you use, or plan to use Quickbooks.

This comes from culling all the forums and spending many hours being passed around by Intuit tech support.

On a positive note, this forum and one of the QB techies were the two sources of help that solved the problem. Thank you very much!

 

[Brink]

Thank you for posting back with your results Larbabe.

 

[kappyhappy]

Thanks for info. I could not find the sp to uninstall in option 1
In Option 2 nothing happened except the help screen for wusa came up.
I went to start, typed cmd.
In the command line which was c:\users\ek
Typed in wusa.exe /uninstall /kb976932
Help screen for wusa came up
In option 3 could not find the system restore pt for sp1
I never deleted any restore points since the orig install.
Not able to see any earlier restore points.

This version was a copy that microsoft released as an evaluation copy. I paid microsoft for it. I don't know if that makes any difference.

Is there anything else I can try. Would the update work and override the current version. I am willing to edit the registry if that will help.
EK

 

[Brink]

Hello EK, and welcome to Seven Forums.

It sounds like you may have previously used the SP1 Disk Cleanup Tool. If so, you will no longer be able to uninstall the SP1.

If the SP1 came already part of the Windows 7 installation in this evaluation copy, then you will not be able to uninstall the SP1.

In Option 2, you needed to open a elevated command prompt (right click - Run as administrator) instead to run the command in. The link in step 1 of Option 2 can show you more on how to open a elevated command prompt.

 

[niiiro]

Thank you for this useful tutorial!

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Niiiro.

 

[killbox]

How do I uinstall service pack 1 if none of the options work for me?

 

[Brink]

Hello Killbox,

Did your Windows 7 installation media come with SP1 already included with it, and installed SP1 with Windows 7 when you installed Windows 7?

If so, then you will not be able to uninstall SP1.

 

[killbox]

I got it to work now. Had to check "compatibility with vista service pack 2" and run as administrator. I'm currently at the "gathering files, settings..." part now Hope it will work.

 

[javaFresh]

Hi,

I don't have KB976932 in windows update uninstall window. Also in my computer properties, SP1 is not mentioned after OS - Windows 7 Home Basic. I opened winver as well.. it is just showing Version 6.1 (Build 7600). It is seems my system doen't have SP1 installed.

But in my windows update -> view update history...I can see below update is successful
Windows 7 Service Pack 1 for x64-based systems (KB976932).

In my windows update it shows Windows is up to date.

Please help me...as I am not able to install / uninstall windows 7 SP1.

When I try to install IE11 then it shows error as system must have windows 7 SP1. I wanted to install SP1 successfully.

Could you please help...

 

[Brink]

Hello javaFresh, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Do you have all Windows Updates installed?

 

[javaFresh]

Thanks.

OMG!!! just checked for updates it is showing SP1 update. Thanks Let me install it again.

 

[javaFresh]

One more query.. Before installing SP1..do we need to take Windows backup?