Uninstall patch that has been patched on a machine

[Migration User]

Sometimes there is a need to uninstall a patch that has been applied on a machine.
It can be the patch has cause an application failure, system error etc.

Patch is usually applied on a machine using Software Update Task.
The question is:
Is there a way to roll back this task? or is there a way to use Altiris to uninstall a patch?

Thanks.


Regards,
CH

[Migration User]

CH,
If you have Recovery Solution you can do a snapshot and roll-back. Otherwise, I have quite successfully used Altiris Software Delivery to uninstall a patch, using the same package and the uninstall command line provided by Microsoft.

Hope that helps,

Jim

[Migration User]

Hi Jim,
Thanks for the help.

Sorry but I'm a bit confuse with using Altiris Software Delivery to uninstall a patch. You mentioned to use 'the same package'. Or do you mean create a new package with uninstall command line and push it using Software Delivery?

Again, many thanks for the help.

regards,
CH

[Migration User]

Sure, that is one possibility. You could even create a package without source files, and just run the uninstall command line. The only issue I have with that, is that you are relying on the original source files being located by Altiris (and not being locked against external processes by Microsoft).

[KSchroeder]

We have pushed the "no files" uninstall package out before, by running %WINDIR%\$NtUninstallKBxxxxxx$\spuninst\spuninst.exe /quiet /promptrestart (or whatever switches you want; just run spuninst.exe /? to see the options).

[Migration User]

Hi,

I have a note. If the customer have only patch mgmt solution alone -without software delivery- how he cam uninstall the patch?

I think this feature should added to patch managment solution and should be easy to use, like right click on computer name > uninstall patch package > KBxxxxxxx.

Ayman Shehda
Sr. Symantec Engineer