Interface Blogs

On one of my machines at home which runs Windows XP Media Center, I have 'Automatic Updates' set to fully automatic. This downloads new Windows Updates and installs them. I've had the machine for a couple of years now and never had an issue until a few weeks ago.

I happened to be sitting at my PC when the update was downloaded and so watched the system through the reboot required for the 'updates du jour'. While booting, I suddenly got a Blue Screen of Death ('stop error', BSOD) . . . arrrgghh! Of course I had a pretty good idea what the issue was but one never knows until a solution is applied.

This is what worked:

1) Take a deep breath.

2) Restart the machine in 'Safe Mode'. Make sure that Automatic Updates is not set to both download AND install. It should be set as 'download but waiting for you to install'.

3) Select 'Start\All Programs\Accessories\System Tools\System Restore'.

4) When the 'System Restore' wizard starts, make sure the 'Restore my computer to an earlier time' radio button is selected, then click 'Next'.

5) When the calendar appears, select the date of the suspected update and find a restore point that is called 'Software Distribution Service 2.0' (the version may be different from the one I'm illustrating).

6) Select the restore point and then click 'Next'.

7) A warning dialogue comes up letting you know that Windows will reboot to reverse the system prior to the restore point. Click 'Next' to reboot the system.

8a) Once you are back to your desktop, open Internet Explorer, select the 'Tools' pull-down menu and select 'Windows Update'. Let the system detect if you have the correct version update software and when this check is done, choose 'Custom'. Windows Update will then scan your computer and the update should display once again the evil update that gave you the BSOD.

8b)  Or if you have Automatic Updates set to download but not install AND you're connected to the Internet, you should see a yellow shield in the notification area indicating that Updates are being downloaded to your PC. When the download is complete, click the notification (or double-click the yellow shield) then select 'Custom'.

9) Inside the 'Custom' dialogue, uncheck the offending update. You will have the opportunity then to choose to hide the update and Windows Update will not put it in a list of required updates from then on unless you go back to Windows Update, select 'Hidden Updates' and choose to use the update previously hidden.

That should do the trick. It is also possible to remove the offending update while in 'Safe Mode' by going to 'Control Panel' and selecting 'Add and Remove Programs'. Be sure to check the 'Show Updates' check box at the top of the 'Add and Remove Programs'  to reveal the Windows Updates applied. Then remove the update by using the 'Remove' or 'Change/Remove' button to the right of the offending update. From here follow the steps above beginning with either step 8a or 8b.

Have fun!