Solved Uninstalling Optional Updates

Fred44

Member
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?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HPs3700y Slimline
    CPU
    AMD Athlon64 X2 (B) 50000+ 2.6 GHz (65W)
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N61-AR
    Memory
    3 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVDIA GeForce 6150SE nForce 430 (Integrated on motherboard)
    Sound Card
    High Definition 6-channel audio ALC 888S chipset
    Monitor(s) Displays
    SAMSUNG SYNCMASTER 914V FLAT PANEL LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1280 X 1024
    Hard Drives
    320GB SATA 3G (3.0 Gb/sec)
    PSU
    160W
    Keyboard
    HP
    Mouse
    Logitech Marble Mouse
    Internet Speed
    Broadband Cable Connection (256 Kpbs?)
    Other Info
    Not sure what case or cooling means. Could not find in any documentation. The keyboard is the standard that comes with the HP Slimline.
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.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
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.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HPs3700y Slimline
    CPU
    AMD Athlon64 X2 (B) 50000+ 2.6 GHz (65W)
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N61-AR
    Memory
    3 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVDIA GeForce 6150SE nForce 430 (Integrated on motherboard)
    Sound Card
    High Definition 6-channel audio ALC 888S chipset
    Monitor(s) Displays
    SAMSUNG SYNCMASTER 914V FLAT PANEL LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1280 X 1024
    Hard Drives
    320GB SATA 3G (3.0 Gb/sec)
    PSU
    160W
    Keyboard
    HP
    Mouse
    Logitech Marble Mouse
    Internet Speed
    Broadband Cable Connection (256 Kpbs?)
    Other Info
    Not sure what case or cooling means. Could not find in any documentation. The keyboard is the standard that comes with the HP Slimline.
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
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
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.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HPs3700y Slimline
    CPU
    AMD Athlon64 X2 (B) 50000+ 2.6 GHz (65W)
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N61-AR
    Memory
    3 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVDIA GeForce 6150SE nForce 430 (Integrated on motherboard)
    Sound Card
    High Definition 6-channel audio ALC 888S chipset
    Monitor(s) Displays
    SAMSUNG SYNCMASTER 914V FLAT PANEL LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1280 X 1024
    Hard Drives
    320GB SATA 3G (3.0 Gb/sec)
    PSU
    160W
    Keyboard
    HP
    Mouse
    Logitech Marble Mouse
    Internet Speed
    Broadband Cable Connection (256 Kpbs?)
    Other Info
    Not sure what case or cooling means. Could not find in any documentation. The keyboard is the standard that comes with the HP Slimline.
You're welcome. :)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 940MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
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