Answer Line: When a Windows Update Makes Things Worse

A recent Windows Update has destabilized my system. Is there a way to undo these patches?

Bob Catanzano, North Andover, Massachusetts

Microsoft provides ways to undo disastrous updates, but they don't work with every patch. Let's hope that one of the solutions below will work for you.

Start with Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs applet ('Add or Remove Programs' in Windows XP). Select Start, Settings, Control Panel (Start, Control Panel in Windows XP). Double-click Add or Remove Programs. Updates will be listed on the Install/Uninstall tab (Windows 98 and Me) or under 'Change or Remove Programs' (Windows 2000 and XP). And yes, uninstalling major upgrades such as Internet Explorer 6 and Windows Media Player 9 with this applet will reinstall earlier versions of the programs.

Next, try Windows Update itself. Select Start, Windows Update or Start, All Programs, Windows Update. Click View installation history in the left panel to see a list of the updates you've downloaded and installed. Many of the entries include a 'Read more' link. Click that and scroll to the bottom of the resulting browser window for uninstall instructions. Unfortunately, they may just tell you to use Windows' Add/Remove Programs (see FIGURE 1) or that 'Uninstall is not available.'

If your PC's problems started after you updated a hardware driver in Windows XP, right-click My Computer, Properties, Hardware, Device Manager. In Device Manager, expand the appropriate device category. Right-click the device that has the bad update and select Properties. In the next dialog box, click the Driver tab, and then the Roll Back Driver button. Follow the prompts from there.

Finally, try restoring your system's Registry to an earlier incarnation. Rolling back your Registry could make things worse, so back up the Registry beforehand; go to "How Do I Restore My Windows Registry?" for instructions.