KB2976978 returns and cannot be uninstalled

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I rebuilt an 8.1 system. Every chance I could, I started Control Panel and ensured that recommended updates were not being accepted and of course I selected “only important updates” during installation. After I was done, I checked the list of installed updates, only to see KB2976978, I tried to uninstall it in Control Panel, but when I selected it, the Uninstall button did not appear. And WUSA informed me that it could not be uninstalled.

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In one of it’s 21 iterations, KB2976978 may have been a checked important update. If so, you must have missed unchecking it when you did the install.

Did you install any of the “Security Monthly Quality ROLLUPS for Win8.1 that have been released since Oct Patch Tues?

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You’re probably correct that I missed it. I’m going to wipe the drive and try again, only this time I’ll select NO UPDATES and check more often.

As for the rollup, probably. I’m caught-up on updates. Are you implying that KB2976978 would be included?

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I have not installed KB2976978, KB3044374, KB3068708, or KB3080149 (these four are telemetry patches). There are currently two versions of KB2976978 pending in the optional updates, unchecked, versions 20 and 21.

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Here’s the whole story. I have built two new 8.1 systems now. Both times, KB3044374 is offered as an important update in the very first round of updates. I missed that the first time around, with it then inviting a few buddies. If you unselect it and hide it, you have control over future updates. If you allow it, you are screwed because KB2976978 cannot be uninstalled. Microsoft continues to play games.

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KB 3044374 is one of the patches Group B is advised to avoid installing

https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/2000003-ongoing-list-of-group-b-monthly-updates-for-win7-and-8-1/#post-98061

 

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I have built three W-8.1 systems in the last week or so. All were on wiped drives, not just quick-format, but true write-zeros-to-every-location wipes, so old software played no role. For all three, I selected no updates at every stage of the game and looked through every update starting with “Update for Windows 8.1” for telemetry or Windows 10 inducers, hiding them when found.

I thought I had dodged Microsoft’s bullet, but I was wrong. On all three PCs, KB2976978 is installed as an uninstallable update. Therefore, one of two things is true:

1) Microsoft sneaks in KB2976978 outside of the Windows Update GUI, disregarding user preference in the best W-10 fashion.

2) Microsoft renamed KB2976978 as a “Security Update,” meaning that users must now look through all of them individually as well.

I will test my theory by wiping the first system I built and looking at all updates. I’ll have to make a few cups of tea and use extra eye drops to do so.

Also, I built a W-7 system yesterday. I thought it was curious that many telemetry and W-10 inducers were offered as compared to the few offered by W-8.1. Perhaps Microsoft is turning the screws on W-8.1 by obscuring them, but not with W-7.

I will post again after rebuilding the W-8.1 PC.

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KB2976978 was reissued on March 14th as a recommended update. If you have the “Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates” box checked, it shows up as a CHECKED important update and is installed it you do not uncheck it.

Please refer to this AKB article before you do the reinstall.
https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/2000003-ongoing-list-of-group-b-monthly-updates-for-win7-and-8-1/#post-98061

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With all due respect, you are sharing old advice. Microsoft changed the game. I just rebuilt that system, installing W-8.1 via a disc I downloaded from Microsoft no more than one month ago. I selected the NO UPDATES option during installation and deselected every, and I do mean every option regarding updates, safe surfing, and telemetry. I started Windows Update and checked for KB2976978 — and it was already installed as an uninstallable update, even before I checked for updates, with a date of 11/21/2014. So the disc I downloaded from Microsoft automatically installs KB2976978 regardless of settings. Perhaps an older disc would not do it, but I cannot verify that because I do not have anything other than the Microsoft disc. I wish Woody would repeat my test and publish the findings.

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anonymous wrote:

…….

I started Windows Update and checked for KB2976978 — and it was already installed as an uninstallable update, even before I checked for updates, with a date of 11/21/2014. So the disc I downloaded from Microsoft automatically installs KB2976978 regardless of settings.

……..

Then your only other option, unless you find an installable somewhere else(other than MS) that is clean, is to get real friendly with Powershell and DISM. Take the Image that you downloaded and extract/delete the package that includes those KB’s. Put the image back together and install that.

There were 4 sets of KB’s that must be there or installed later in a particular order which takes one from W 8.1.0 to W 8.1.3. They may have put those KB’s in with those packages????

You see Microsoft is DESPERATE for telemetry, NOT to spy on you or companies, BUT to Spy on themselves, their work and accomplishments…… O.o

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1. Tower Totals: 2xSSD ~512GB, 2xHHD 20 TB, Memory 32GB

SSDs: 6xOS Partitions, 2xW8.1 Main & Test, 2x10.0 Test, Pro, x64

CPU i7 2600 K, SandyBridge/CougarPoint, 4 cores, 8 Threads, 3.4 GHz
Graphics Radeon RX 580, RX 580 ONLY Over Clocked
More perishable

2xMonitors Asus DVI, Sony 55" UHD TV HDMI

1. NUC 5i7 2cores, 4 Thread, Memory 8GB, 3.1 GHz, M2SSD 140GB
1xOS W8.1 Pro, NAS Dependent, Same Sony above.

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anonymous wrote:

…….

I thought I had dodged Microsoft’s bullet, but I was wrong. On all three PCs, KB2976978 is installed as an uninstallable update. Therefore, one of two things is true:

1) Microsoft sneaks in KB2976978 outside of the Windows Update GUI, disregarding user preference in the best W-10 fashion.

Several years ago when I was on W 7, I learned that on occasion MS does by pass the WU GUI Settings. That set me on the Registry Adjustment road that I maintain to this very day. The problem is, my way is not easily accomplished on a large number of PC’s but if you are versed in Powershell I believe one can script it for Remote Registry Adjustments as well as Remote PSWindowsUpdate use. I also learned at that time that GPO wasn’t as reliable as many Admins believe it to be UNLESS THE PC is behind AD and WSUS/SCCM. Even then, in my travels of reading, I have read that unusual occurrences have occurred to make me question even that assumption.

It doesn’t sound like this is your setup, at least not yet, so in that spirit, I offer you this awareness. If you use these Registry Adjustments, they do put you in full control of AU/WU/MU AND KEEPING YOUR PC UP TO DATE!. There are others in this document that don’t necessarily apply to you:

Registry Adjustments for ALL, W 7, W 8.1 and W 10
https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/registry-adjustments-for-all-w-7-w-8-1-and-w-10/

anonymous wrote:

2) Microsoft renamed KB2976978 as a “Security Update,” meaning that users must now look through all of them individually as well.

…….

I will post again after rebuilding the W-8.1 PC.

Or as PKCano said Checked Recommend……

--------------------------------------

1. Tower Totals: 2xSSD ~512GB, 2xHHD 20 TB, Memory 32GB

SSDs: 6xOS Partitions, 2xW8.1 Main & Test, 2x10.0 Test, Pro, x64

CPU i7 2600 K, SandyBridge/CougarPoint, 4 cores, 8 Threads, 3.4 GHz
Graphics Radeon RX 580, RX 580 ONLY Over Clocked
More perishable

2xMonitors Asus DVI, Sony 55" UHD TV HDMI

1. NUC 5i7 2cores, 4 Thread, Memory 8GB, 3.1 GHz, M2SSD 140GB
1xOS W8.1 Pro, NAS Dependent, Same Sony above.

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KB2976978 can be removed even if it was pre-installed on the latest 8.1 ISO microsoft released.

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Some information backing up this statement would be helpful.

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anonymous wrote:

KB2976978 can be removed even if it was pre-installed on the latest 8.1 ISO microsoft released.

Interesting, I would also like to see evidence of this statement

The W8.1 iso I installed came with this patch integrated and is not un-installable AFAIK, and I can find no evidence of this via various fora.

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

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I wrote a tool to do this and remove/disable many other new microsoft junk updates, but no-one ever took me up on my offer to test/examine it. (also the forum didn’t exist and my offers got lost, now the forum exists but I never made an account)

I did test it myself and it did work, mostly because it wasn’t a service pack DVD, it was a “we didn’t really make a new disc we just integrated the updates and marked them as not removable”.

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