How can I uninstall updates on Windows 2000 Prof. Ed.?

Hi,

Does anyone know how to uninstall updates installed using Windows Update?
On the update history page
(http://update.microsoft.com/windowsu....aspx?ln=en-us), there's
a note at the top saying that I can do that using the Add and Remove Programs
function in the control panel but that doesn't list any of my recent updates
(some old ones are there) and there is no check-box to show updates as people
have mentioned exists on XP (note that this is W2K).

The system help mentions that there is a console option to disable rollback
but that switch has never been turned on and even explicitly turning it off
didn't help.

In case anyone's curious, I'm asking because one of the recent updates
caused my computer to boot with the LAN not working and I ended up
reinstalling (twice) in order to get it working again. I've now reinstalled
all the critical updates except for 5 and I'd like to figure out which one is
causing the problem without having to reinstall when I find out. I'll
probably create a separate post for help with that problem but figure my odds
of getting a good answer are much better if I can identify the update that's
causing it.

Any help provided will be appreciated.

Thanks,
Jack G.

No, it does not work, uninstall. And, I cannot use Word, Excel or Publisher
now.. they hang the computer. I hope that Microsoft sends a patch REALLY
soon, this can put me out of business! I am angry! It was one of the 5
updates sent in from the April 11th batch.

"jackg_tor" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Does anyone know how to uninstall updates installed using Windows Update?
> On the update history page
> (http://update.microsoft.com/windowsu....aspx?ln=en-us), there's
> a note at the top saying that I can do that using the Add and Remove Programs
> function in the control panel but that doesn't list any of my recent updates
> (some old ones are there) and there is no check-box to show updates as people
> have mentioned exists on XP (note that this is W2K).
>
> The system help mentions that there is a console option to disable rollback
> but that switch has never been turned on and even explicitly turning it off
> didn't help.
>
> In case anyone's curious, I'm asking because one of the recent updates
> caused my computer to boot with the LAN not working and I ended up
> reinstalling (twice) in order to get it working again. I've now reinstalled
> all the critical updates except for 5 and I'd like to figure out which one is
> causing the problem without having to reinstall when I find out. I'll
> probably create a separate post for help with that problem but figure my odds
> of getting a good answer are much better if I can identify the update that's
> causing it.
>
> Any help provided will be appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Jack G.

Hello Jack,
I think you should be able to remove an update (providing it /is/ removable) by running its un-install module.
For example, C:\WINNT\$NtUninstallKB908531$\spuninst folder would contain the exe to remove update for kb908531.

If you are having serious problems, and you got updates this week, take a look at these articles:

Problems in Windows Explorer or the Windows shell after you install security update MS06-015 (15 Apr-06)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/918165

and http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sec.../ms06-015.mspx

--
Maurice N
MVP Windows - Shell / User
-----

"jackg_tor" wrote in message news:A1270A9E-3B65-4EF0-BC03-...
> Hi,
>
> Does anyone know how to uninstall updates installed using Windows Update?
> On the update history page
> (http://update.microsoft.com/windowsu....aspx?ln=en-us), there's
> a note at the top saying that I can do that using the Add and Remove Programs
> function in the control panel but that doesn't list any of my recent updates
> (some old ones are there) and there is no check-box to show updates as people
> have mentioned exists on XP (note that this is W2K).
>
> The system help mentions that there is a console option to disable rollback
> but that switch has never been turned on and even explicitly turning it off
> didn't help.
>
> In case anyone's curious, I'm asking because one of the recent updates
> caused my computer to boot with the LAN not working and I ended up
> reinstalling (twice) in order to get it working again. I've now reinstalled
> all the critical updates except for 5 and I'd like to figure out which one is
> causing the problem without having to reinstall when I find out. I'll
> probably create a separate post for help with that problem but figure my odds
> of getting a good answer are much better if I can identify the update that's
> causing it.
>
> Any help provided will be appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Jack G.

First, thanks, Maurice, for the incredibly quick response. I wonder if the
$600 support from MS would be that good. :-)

"Maurice N ~ MVP" wrote:
> Hello Jack,
> I think you should be able to remove an update (providing it /is/ removable) by running its un-install module.
> For example, C:\WINNT\$NtUninstallKB908531$\spuninst folder would contain the exe to remove update for kb908531.

That would seem to imply that the vast majority of updates cannot be
uninstalled because I have only 3 of those directories and I installed more
than 25 updates after reinstalling the OS. Are other people seeing uninstall
directories for most updates?

> If you are having serious problems, and you got updates this week, take a look at these articles ...

Thanks for the references. The LAN failure I experienced (no network
connectivity and even ping to my router address hung) is different than the
problems described in the knowledge base article but it does sound like the
new executable could cause a wide variety of problems and perhaps this is one
of them.

Jack G.

Jack,

You may well have to do some further research, as you mentioned before.
Best to you.
--
Maurice N
MVP Windows - Shell / User
-----

"jackg_tor" wrote in message news:5F57763A-A14E-46B4-8946-...
> First, thanks, Maurice, for the incredibly quick response. I wonder if the
> $600 support from MS would be that good. :-)
>
> "Maurice N ~ MVP" wrote:
>> Hello Jack,
>> I think you should be able to remove an update (providing it /is/ removable) by running its un-install module.
>> For example, C:\WINNT\$NtUninstallKB908531$\spuninst folder would contain the exe to remove update for kb908531.
>
> That would seem to imply that the vast majority of updates cannot be
> uninstalled because I have only 3 of those directories and I installed more
> than 25 updates after reinstalling the OS. Are other people seeing uninstall
> directories for most updates?
>
>> If you are having serious problems, and you got updates this week, take a look at these articles ...
>
> Thanks for the references. The LAN failure I experienced (no network
> connectivity and even ping to my router address hung) is different than the
> problems described in the knowledge base article but it does sound like the
> new executable could cause a wide variety of problems and perhaps this is one
> of them.
>
> Jack G.