A friend of mine accidentally installed an update & her operating system is now different

[truedelphi]

Here is her email to me: I added a file from my camera to my computer which told me it couldn't open it because of the file type and also said I had updates.

So, I clicked on the button and 20 updates proceeded to take a while to download and install at the end of which my computer rebooted and things haven't been the same since including that now, instead of Windows 8, I have 8.1 and I don't want it. How do I go back a couple of days in Windows 8? Or last best, or whatever. I don't want these idiotic updates if they're wreaking havoc with how I want things set up. THX
####

Now normally a System Restore would help her out a whole lot, except I don't think System Restore will affect a computer if the unwanted operation is related to "updating" the entire system.

Please advise.

[steve2470]

1. When I updated to 8.1, I had to download it via the M$ Store

It was not an auto-update thing from M$. Did they change that ?

[Fantastic Anarchist]

12. If you had Windows 8, the update was free.

At least it was for me.

[polly7]

2. I've used a free program I downloaded called IOBit Uninstaller.

I got it from CNET downloads ... just be careful to untick any unwanted stuff that comes with it. I've found it very effective, it has a Windows Update uninstaller as well as every other program on your computer. It makes a restore point before it does anything and also has an option after the uninstall to search your computer for any associated files to remove as well. I really like it and have used it for a few years.

[truedelphi]

3. I am going to go and get this Uninstaller - it sounds great.

But I don't know of the advisability of uninstalling an operating system! And the restore point would end up being "now" and not before the unwanted version of the Windows 8.1, wouldn't it?

The idea of uninstalling an operating system is mind numbing especially if you are just somebody in your sixties, who is not sure of how to go about it. I work from home and have a computer tech come in twice each quarter, to help me and M out, and it is tax write off for the business.

But this friend doesn't have that sort of assistance.

[polly7]

4. I've used it once to uninstall a windows update when my computer was acting weird ....

but yes, be careful! I really don't know much about fiddling with operating systems.

For all other programs though, it's a great program ..... it's amazing the number of files it finds that the program's own uninstaller leaves behind.

I repeat though ..... CNET downloads is a good place to download from, but they always try to add on toolbars and such .... just make sure you go through the steps and untick anything you don't want.

[jtuck004]

10. From everything I have read you need to get out the disks and re-install 8. There appears to be no

process by which this can be reliably rolled back such as is the case with updates. Not that it can't be done, but what you have left when you try to remove the update could be in an unstable condition and lead to further aggravation.

Thus, your first suggestion about a System Restore would be exactly what is needed.


Also, before they go any further, I would suggest they copy anything off they don't want to lose, because it will all be gone after they do the restore.

[truedelphi]

11. Thanks. Your comment is pretty much what I emailed them,

Along with the truly wonderful article that "ohheckyeah" linked us to.

[ohheckyeah]

5. It sounds like it might not be worth

trying to uninstall:

http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-57610729-285/how-to-uninstall-windows-8.1/

[truedelphi]

6. That is one very worthwhile article.

And note at the very bottom of the article, the author gets M$ to do some restoration of lost material in a certain partition of his HD. Now that is a good deal, and probably not one a normal user without access to voicing their opinion at Cnet would get so readily.

[ohheckyeah]

7. I thought it had lots of good info.

Was it MS that restored it or the computer manufacturer?

[truedelphi]

8. Oops it wasn't MS, but MS had said

The partition could not be recovered.

His exact statements:

Update:After a consultation with Samsung tech support, I was able to leverage a recovery partition (despite Microsoft's statement to the contrary) to do a factory restore of my system. Obviously it was a hassle having to reinstall all my software and data afterward, but ultimately it got the job done. For the record, the problems I'd encountered were outlined in the Linux article I referred to up top. And if you want an earful regarding users' problems with Windows 8.1, look no further than the comments section of this post on uninstalling it.

[ohheckyeah]

9. thanks...

sorry, I could have gone and looked myself.

[Gore1FL]

13. You can turn off automatic updates and choose the ones you want to install.

I suspect she went from 8 to 8.1 if she is using Windows. If this is the case, I recommend embracing it, because 8.1, while still not what I want it to be, is infinitely better than 8.

[truedelphi]

14. But this was not an automatic update.

This is one of those dialogue boxes that pops up and says "Wouldn't you want such and such?" and you decide you do, and then some hidden something comes with it.

On my system, recently a dialogue box asked if I didn't want Adobe Reader to be updated, and I agreed and the next thing I knew a virus protection POS program was installed as well. I had just installed a virus program I wanted, but of course the sleuth program conflicted with the one I wanted up and running. So I had to figure out how to uninstall the sleuth virus protection program, which was a major pain.

I find techies often don't care, as when this happens to them, they are on the payroll, but my time is important and this is a major waste of time!

I lose money when dealing with this kind of crap.

[Gore1FL]

15. I hate the hidden check boxes

I didn't realize that was what you meant. Adobe, Java, and many otherwise useful utilities bomb you with crap.