Can't delete failed updates Vista

Hi all,

I have some failed updates in my update history on windows Vista. Although the updates report that they are failed, they are in my list of installed updates. You are not allowed to delete critical updates on windows vista, but i want to delete these critical updates as the installation of them has failed.

Anyone got any ideas how I delete them off so I can go back to windows update and try again to install them successfully?

Thanks

When you bring up the Update History I thought there was a link at the top you could click to troubleshoot and un-install any updates that are causing problems, have you tried that ?

C:/Windows/SoftwareDistribution/Download


Delete the contents of this folder, you will likely need to reboot first, and/or possibly cut and paste them to a different location before you can delete them.

This will make windows update "forget" your update history, including the failed updates. It will not uninstall the actual updates, it will just erase memory of them. When you run windows update again, it will think you are running it for the first time, but, of course, will only find newer updates, not the ones you already have installed.

The failed installs are not actually installed, they failed, so they are causing you no harm. But, if you just hate seeing them on the list, because you are a bit on the OCD side like I am, deleting the history will fix it.

Hi All,
I did fix this problem after a bit, I will post how I did it to help other people. Just to clarify, this post refers to critical system updates, these are updates you cannot uninstall by the normal method using the uninstall feature on windows update, vista does not let you uninstall critical system updates. however you may find as i did that you do need to delete them....

the point is the failed updates are causing harm in the sense that although they failed to install, the failed installations block windows update from downloading another copy of the update so you can try again.

I did look at the folder people are talking about windows/softwaredistribution, this folder does not seem to contain alot and certainly not all the files it would need to contain if it housed all installed windows updates.

the way to fix failed updates on vista is back to basics, back up all files and folders to an external sources eg an external hard drive. not the hard drive in your computer, save all your drivers too on the external data storage, then reinstall your operating system, then reinstall all your drivers and files and folders then reinstall all your updates, problem solved, a slightly long winded approach maybe but guaranteed to fix the problem without damaging your operating system installation.