Rollback all 'updates' to SP1?

Hi All,

Since allowing Windows Update to install 'updates' at will over the past year, my XP-Pro install has gotten quite slow and bloated feeling and I've been experiencing random reboots lately. I am connected to the internet (broadband DSL) through a router, have ZoneAlarm, and run AdAware & Spybot regularly, so do I REALLY need all these so-called security updates?

I'd like to roll it back to my SP1 (slip-streamed into XP CD) - what is the easiest way to do it? I've tried unistalling the updates, but got warned off by messages saying "the following programs <list> may not run correctly after uninstalling this upgrade, do you wish to continue?" I've clicked 'no' pending further research. I figure I can do a 'repair this installation' from my boot CD (second repair option), then delete all the uninstall folders from within Windows folder, or just continue on with uninstalling all the updates and see what happens.

TIA!

Russ

 

Hi Russ,

I think the way to do it is to *roll it back to my SP1 (slip-streamed into XP CD)*. Doing them one at a time - some are not uninstallable anyway - is not only laborious, but will probably create more problems. There are people on the board that have experience in doing this and can tell you better than I can how to go about it.

I started a thread on this issue back in early Oct http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23116&highlight=decay and, without undo modesty, you should take my advice on how to handle MS updates

*so do I REALLY need all these so-called security updates?*

I always do install security patches for IE - with my safeguards oulined in my "Decay" post.


Regards - Charles

 

The easiest way I have found to "start fresh" is to crash the computer and have to reinstall XP...Hmmm that sounds like "the hard way ", but it works. There have been updates I have refused to reinstall, and some I think are important enough to put back on.

From the earlier thread- I like Charles' plan of doing the updates individually, with a day or so in between. Troubleshooting is a lot easier when you can quickly pinpoint the problem. Setting manual SR points, like he pointed out, makes it easy to dump a patch that is not compatible with your system.

If you think that your comp's performance is degrading because of the updates, patches and software, do your back ups and a clean install. At worst, it will take some time. At best, you might have a smoother running system and do some "housekeeping" while you're at it. Just like installing the updates, you are in the best position to decide what will work best for you.

Johanna

 

Thanks, ya'll!

Looks like the 'repair' option with "SP#1 slipstreamed CD" will be it. So should I dump all the 'update' folders (ie: $NtUninstallKB824146$) in my windows directory after my rollback?

 

Hi Russ,

*So should I dump all the 'update' folders (ie: $NtUninstallKB824146$) in my windows directory after my rollback?*

Sure, not needed after the roll-back.

Regards- Charles