windows xp updates - removing downloaded or installed updates

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br945

Honorable
Sep 13, 2013
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10,510
After a long time, i have downloaded windows xp updates. therefore, a large number of updates have been downloaded.

i gave the command to install these but very soon i ran into low diskspace and therefore, cancelled the remaining installation.

now i want to remove all the updates whether installed or not.

my questions:
1. how to locate downloaded updates which have still not been installed.
2. after locating these, can i straightaway delete these? if not, how do i delete them?
3. how to locate those updates which have already been installed?
4. how to uninstall the installed updates?

the main idea is to re-gain the space which has been eaten up (nearly 500 mb).

clear guidance requested.
thanks.
 
Solution
Hawkeye22
^ That just removes the uninstallers so those updates can no longer be removed.

1 & 2. (show hiiden files/folders may need to be turned on)
Turn off automatic updates. You can turn them on after this procedure.

Delete the Previously Downloaded Windows Updates

Open My Computer
Double-click on Drive C (or whatever drive Windows is installed on)
Double-click on the Windows folder
Double-click on the SoftwareDistribution folder
Double-click on the Download folder
Click on Edit on the menu bar
Click on Select All
Click on File on the menu bar
Click on Delete and delete everything in the download folder
Return to the SoftwareDistribution folder by clicking on the green up arrow on the toolbar...
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Phillip Corcoran

Phillip Corcoran

Titan
Moderator
Sep 7, 2013
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If you keep automatic updates enabled, any Microsoft updates or hotfixes you remove will just get re-installed even though support for XP has ended the update system for XP has not (ie you still get old updates after uninstalling them, re-installing XP or rolling it back. This from "Expert Reviews" website:

"We've talked to Microsoft and it has confirmed that all existing security patches and updates for Windows XP will still be available after support officially ends. This means that after the 8th April 2014, you'll still be able to use Windows Update to download all existing security patches.

This is important, as if you re-install Windows XP, you should still apply all of the existing patches in order to make the base operating system as secure as it should be"

So if you don't want them to come back you'll need to disable automatic updates, are you happy with doing that?

Note: Not all Microsoft updates are removable. Those that are will be listed in "Add/Remove Programs"




 
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B

br945

Honorable
Sep 13, 2013
12
0
10,510
actually, this is not the answer i am looking for.

my query already says :i downloaded after a long time", meaning that auto update was not on.

i simply need to know how to remove the installed as well as downloaded but not yet installed updates, to reclaim the large space they have taken up.

i am looking for advice only on my specific queries.

thanks
 
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Hawkeye22

Hawkeye22

Glorious
Feb 10, 2006
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49,065




It's definately part of your answer. In control panel ->add/remove programs. Click the box for "show updates".

 
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B

br945

Honorable
Sep 13, 2013
12
0
10,510
sorry, does not answer. need to remove BOTH:
1. updates installed yesterday
2. updates downloaded but NOT installed so far. (I cancelled install half-way since was running low on space- pl see my original query)
 
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Hawkeye22

Hawkeye22

Glorious
Feb 10, 2006
11,442
1
49,065
^ That just removes the uninstallers so those updates can no longer be removed.

1 & 2. (show hiiden files/folders may need to be turned on)
Turn off automatic updates. You can turn them on after this procedure.

Delete the Previously Downloaded Windows Updates

Open My Computer
Double-click on Drive C (or whatever drive Windows is installed on)
Double-click on the Windows folder
Double-click on the SoftwareDistribution folder
Double-click on the Download folder
Click on Edit on the menu bar
Click on Select All
Click on File on the menu bar
Click on Delete and delete everything in the download folder
Return to the SoftwareDistribution folder by clicking on the green up arrow on the toolbar
Double-click on the EventCache folder
Click on Edit on the menu bar
Click on Select All
Click on File on the menu bar
Click on Delect and delete everything in the eventcache folder

3. updates that have been installed are automatically removed after installation.
4. control panel -> add/remove programs (check off show updates).
 
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