Remove Microsoft Updates in Windows XP and Vista

While it’s not recommended to remove Microsoft Updates in Windows, it is possible to do so if you begin experiencing problems immediately following a patch from Microsoft. Normally, Microsoft will release scheduled updates every couple of weeks. So if you can attribute a problem immediately after an update, you may want to uninstall that patch.

Uninstall Microsoft Updates in XP
To uninstall a patch in XP, go to the Control Panel, and then click on Add / Remove Programs. You will find a checkbox here that allows you to view the installed updates. Click the update you want to remove.

Uninstall Microsoft Updates in Vista

To uninstall a patch in Vista , go to the Control Panel and click on the Programs and Features icon. Next, click View Installed Updates in the left pane. All of your program updates, as well as Microsoft updates will be listed in this location. You can click on the latest patch to remove it from your computer.

If your Windows installation is set to automatically install updates, your computer will eventually download these updates again. Also, removing updates may cause problems with your system, so be careful what you remove.