Cannot find way to uninstall Windows version and am on Day 9 of the 10

CODeb · 29 Jul 2020

I have had endless issues with the recent Windows updates - and a System Restore broke all of my downloaded apps (I was not able to open any browsers, Word, Excel, Camtasia - nothing). I undid the system restore and got back my apps.

In reply to another post I made about this on TenForums, the person assisting said I should uninstall the versions of Windows I installed on 7/21/20 - so I am trying to do this before my 10 days is gone, but they are not listed in the Uninstall an Update section of Settings. See screenshot.

Can anyone assist with this? I need to do this today I think. Thanks so much!

Deb

Winver 1909 (OS Build 18363.959)

Cannot find way to uninstall Windows version and am on Day 9 of the 10-uninstall-windows-updates.png

dalchina · 29 Jul 2020

Hi, 4565633 and 4565483 are both shown in the Control Panel listing.

You can extend the period allowed to 'go back to the previous build' to up to 60 days:
Set Number of Days can Go Back to Previous Version of Windows

It's possible the other update is listed in another section as it's not a quality update.

(Note: it's strongly recommended to create a current disk image before a feature update so you have that to fall back on as well - especially if something goes badly wrong - e.g. Macrium Reflect - free/paid).

You could, of course, simply go back to 1909- the previous build- and stay with that.

CODeb · 29 Jul 2020

In the Win + X menu, is Windows PowerShell (Admin) the same as Command Prompt (Admin) for opening an elevated command prompt? I need to do the extension of rollback time so I can order a new portable hard drive to create the Macrium current disk image.

I have learned my lesson here on doing disk images - I have a full data backup, but would love to skip the reinstallation of all of my apps if I have to do a Windows reinstall.

Thanks!

Deb

dalchina · 29 Jul 2020

See the tutorial:

OPTION TWO

Set Number of Days after an Upgrade You Can Go back to Previous Version of Windows

1 Open an elevated command prompt.

click on elevated command prompt to find out how to launch that. There are numerous ways.

CODeb · 29 Jul 2020

OK - I opened what I think is an elevated command prompt - I tried options 1, 2 and 3 (with option 1, I opened Windows PowerShell (Admin) - but it did not say elevated either).

When I did the resetting of the days, however, I got an Element Not Found message (so maybe it wasn't an elevated command prompt? What step did I miss here?

Thanks.
Deb

Cannot find way to uninstall Windows version and am on Day 9 of the 10-element-not-found.png

dalchina · 29 Jul 2020

What you did is correct, but if you look earlier in the tutorial it says:

If either of the following are true, then DISM will report Error 1168, Element not found. This error message indicates that the previous version has been deleted, and there's currently not a previous version to go back to.

1) Windows has removed the previous version automatically after 10 days.
2) The previous version has been removed using Disk Cleanup.

I.e. you don't have the option of going back to the previous build.

Presumably Windows.old no longer exists.

CODeb · 29 Jul 2020

I did see that, but since I was within the 10 days, I figured it would be available. I did not do disk cleanup. Could the system restore that broke all of my apps and that I then undid have also removed the Windows update?

What are my options now?

Deb

dalchina · 29 Jul 2020

You can try uninstalling the updates or you could perform an in-place upgrade repair install of 2004 with an earlier iso build- either would take the build backwards. But only as 2004.

CODeb · 29 Jul 2020

OK. If I search TenForums, will I find instructions on how to do both of those things?

Thanks again for your help and for hanging in there with me for the back and forth email thread.

Deb

dalchina · 29 Jul 2020

Please confirm you don't see Windows.old on C:

Considering your first post

I couldn't open any of my apps, including my Microsoft Office apps. I undid the System Restore and got most of them back (not Camtasia 2020 though - even with an uninstall and reinstall - still won't open).

it would be wise to check your disk e.g. HD Tune v2.55 (free) Health and Error Scan tabs (e.g. from Softpedia.com)
and if ok, from an admin command or Powershell prompt run
chkdsk c: /scan

As I said in your other thread to uninstall an update, rt click it, click uninstall. But did you say that failed? That's the first thing to try.

Another way:
How to Remove Windows Updates using WUSA and DISM commands. • Repair Windows™

Tutorial section- just search for
in-place
and you'll find the tutorial.

Cannot find way to uninstall Windows version and am on Day 9 of the 10

Cannot find way to uninstall Windows version and am on Day 9 of the 10

Is PowerShell (Admin) the same as Command Prompt (Admin)

bummer