How to uninstall Windows Vista service packs as a troubleshooting step

INTRODUCTION

Windows Vista service packs are important updates for Windows Vista. Windows Vista service packs have many updates to get better the consistency and usability of Windows Vista. Though, you install a Windows Vista service pack, you see that a hardware device or an installed program works in another way. Thus, you want to uninstall a Windows Vista service pack as a troubleshooting step. This explains the methods to uninstall Windows Vista service packs. This is for intermediary to advanced users.

TROUBLESHOOTING

To uninstall a Windows Vista service pack, follow these methods in sequence in which they are given. Firstly go for first method.

Method 1: Uninstall the Windows Vista service pack by using the Programs and Features item in Control Panel

The easy way to uninstall a Windows Vista service pack is to use Programs and

Features item in Control Panel. For this, follow the steps given below:

1. Click on the Start button, type as Appwiz.cpl in the Start Search box, and after that click on Appwiz.cpl in the Programs list. If you are provoked for an administrator password or else for a verification, type the password, or else click on the Continue.

2. Click View installed updates.

3. Click the service pack that you want to uninstall, and after that click on Uninstall. If you cannot make out the Uninstall choice for Windows Vista service pack in the list, go to method 2.

4. Follow the orders that show on the screen to finish the uninstall process. If these directions effectively uninstalled Windows Vista service pack, as well as this resolves the issue, you are done with it.

• If these instructions do not uninstall the Windows Vista service pack, as well as do not solve problem, you have to restore the system to an earlier state. For this, go to method 2.

• If you do not wish to eliminate changes that you have finished as you installed the service pack plus restore the system to a previous state, go to method 3.

Method 3 is planned for advanced users.

Method 2: Uninstall Windows Vista service pack and restore your computer by using System Restore

Method 2A: Offline System Restore

This method used when you have Windows Vista CD or DVD. If you do not have the disc, go to method 2B.

First, run PC from CD drive. For this, follow the steps given below:

1. Insert the Windows Vista CD or DVD, and then restart the PC.

2. When you get following message, press any key:
Press any key to boot from CD or DVD.

3. Set the following preferences, and then click Next:

o Language to install
o Time and currency format
o Keyboard or input method

Then, use offline System Restore to remove the Windows Vista service pack. For this, follow the steps given below:

1. Click Repair your computer, choose the operating system that you want to repair if it is needed, and after that click on the Next.

2. Click System Restore, and after that click on the Next.

3. Click to pick the Restore Point that matches the installation date for the service pack. The Restore Point will be labeled either Install: Windows Update or Install: Windows Vista Service Pack <version>.

4. Confirm the hard disk that you wish to restore, and next click on the Next.

5. Click Finish, and after that click Yes when you are provoked.

6. When the System Restore process is finish, click Restart to restart PC.

7. After PC restarts, click Close to verify that System Restore process has completed successfully.

Method 2B: System Restore in Windows Vista

This method used if you do not have the Windows Vista installation CD or DVD. To utilize System Restore in Windows Vista to eliminate the Windows Vista service pack, follow the steps given below:

1. Click Start, type as rstrui in Start Search box, plus after that click rstrui in the Programs list. If you are provoked for an administrator password or else for a confirmation, type the password, or else click Continue.

2. In the Restore System Files and Settings window, click on the Next.

3. In the Choose a Restore Point window, click on the Restore Point that matches the installation date for the Windows Vista service pack, plus after that click on the Next.


4. Check the restore point that you want to make use of, and after that click on Finish.

Method 3: Uninstall Windows Vista service pack from a Command Prompt

1. Open Command Prompt window. For this, click on the Start button, type as command in the Start Search box, and right-click on the Command Prompt, as well as click on Run as administrator.

2. Run the following command, as proper for version of the Windows Vista service that you want to uninstall:

o For Windows Vista Service Pack 1:
C:\temp\Windows6.0-KB936330-X86.exe /x:C:\temp
o For Windows Vista Service Pack 2:
C:\temp\Windows6.0-KB948465-NNN.exe /x:C:\temp

3. You should make a sandbox environment before you can continue to step 4. This helps you carefully run an untrusted program. To create a sandbox, type md sandbox.

4. To eliminate the Windows Vista service pack, type, or else copy as well as paste the subsequent command, as proper for the version of the Windows Vista service that you want to uninstall::

o For Windows Vista Service Pack 1
start /w pkgmgr.exe /m:c:\temp\Windows6.0-KB936330-X86.cab /up /s:sandbox

o For Windows Vista Service Pack 2
start /w pkgmgr.exe /m:c:\temp\Windows6.0-KB948465-NNN.cab /up /s:sandbox.

In this command, NNN represents x86, x64, or IA-64.

5. After Pkgmgr.exe ends, you are prompted to restart PC to finish the uninstall procedure.