I was reviewing my Windows update history and found a lot of updates listed as "optional". This is strange because eveytime I receive the prompt that new updates are available, I only install the ones marked "important". When I click on my list of installed updates (where you can delete them) the list looks completely different amd they are not listed as important, recommended, or optional here. Is there a way to remove thes optional updates to free up hard drive space or is it a waste of time? Are these updates taking up enough space to make it worth the while to jump through all the necessary hoops to uninstall them?

Originally Posted by Brink

Hello Fred,

What are the optional updates for?

Some of these are recommended to install as well. For example, definition updates for MSE or Windows Defender.

That's what they are...definition updates for MSE.

Originally Posted by Brink

You would want to keep them. These new definitions are what keeps MSE updated to be able to help detect new malware and viruses.

If you are tight on HDD space, then you might see if the tutorial below may be able to help you free up some space where you are able to. It applies to Vista as well.

Hard Disk Space - Free Up and Recover - Windows 7 Forums

When I saw they were MSE updates I thought it woud be best to keep them. thanks for the info.