Update KB2976978 is required and cannot be uninstalled

[ccman]

Have you seen this? From Windows Standalone Update Installer: "Update for Microsoft Windows (KB2976978) is required by your computer and cannot be uninstalled."

I got this in three scenarios:
1) Pulled Windows 8.1 ISO from Microsoft, tried to uninstall KB2976978.
2) Restored Dell System Recovery image, tried to uninstall KB2976978.
3) Installed an old DVD of Windows 8.1 (pre Update), tried to uninstall KB2976978.

In the first two cases, I could imagine that either the update was streamed into the install.wim/install.esd and couldn't be removed or Disk Cleanup was run, eliminating the old files. From searching, I read that "Microsoft does this for all servicing stack updates" but this is the first I've run into it.

Also, extra points for finding this?

 

[Ocellaris]

Is this the Windows 10 System Tray nag icon?

Also you have a typo in the KB numbers in your 1 2 3 list.

 

[ccman]

Is this the Windows 10 System Tray nag icon?

Also you have a typo in the KB numbers in your 1 2 3 list.

Thanks. I corrected it.

On the internet, it is listed as one of the "nagware" updates. Microsoft says "This update performs diagnostics on the Windows systems that participate in the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program. These diagnostics help determine whether compatibility issues may be encountered when the latest Windows operating system is installed. This update will help Microsoft and its partners ensure compatibility for customers who want to install the latest Windows operating system."

-https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2976978

I just used that old Windows 8.1 DVD, made sure not to install KB2976978, and hid the update (KB2976978, KB3044374, KB3046480, KB3035583, KB3068708, KB3075249, and KB3080149) . Even then, it showed up on the list again.

 

[MrGuvernment]

Ya, screw you MS, i don't need you to decided for me that i need to be in the "customer improvement program"

 

[zero2dash]

Have you tried to remove via cmd?

wusa /uninstall /kb:2976978 /quiet /norestart

If that doesn't work, try DWS (Destroy Windows Spying which despite primary being for 10, also works for 7-8.1).

 

[ccman]

I was using wusa /uninstall /kb:2976978 /norestart when I got that message (I omitted /quiet so that I could see what was happening).

I've seen a few tools available. Is DWS the best? I've also seen Spybot Anti-Beacon and O&O Shutup10 (looks like Shutup10 is only for Windows 10).

 

[zero2dash]

Well, DWS will uninstall the spying updates and it has some other things it will do (blocking out via HOSTS file, removing GWX) in 7/8, and then it also does other stuff in 10 like removing the Metro apps.

I'm not sure how it removes the spying updates; it may very well use the wusa command itself, but it's worth a shot at least. It's a clean app with no leftovers or spyware.