I didn't know you DAVE, but thank you!! You may have also saved my computer from this update as well
KB5041587 Update Literally RUINED my OS!
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(128, 8%, 22%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EA%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Anonymous
Tried to install Microsoft update KB5041587 the other day. Totally bricked my system. Force shutdown necessary. Power cycled and went to BIOS and ran system restore. All good so far. Then tried to install KB5041587 again. Took hours to supposedly update only to be told update failed.
How do I block KB5041587 from ever appearing again in my Windows update screen?
These are my system specs:
Processor 13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-1365U 1.80 GHz
Installed RAM 32.0 GB (31.6 GB usable)
System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Pen and touch Touch support with 10 touch points
Edition Windows 11 Pro
Version 23H2
Installed on 8/30/2024
OS build 22631.4037
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22700.1027.0
Windows for home | Windows 11 | Windows update
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
17 answers
Sort by: Most helpful
-
Anonymous
2024-09-05T09:34:22+00:00 -
DaveM121 926.5K Reputation points Independent Advisor2024-09-02T15:06:03+00:00 Hi, I am Dave, I will help you with this.
KB5041587 is an optional preview update that does not need to be installed, it is best not to install preview updates and just install the normal monthly updates.
Below the updates in the Settings app on the updates page, there is a switch to 'Get updates as soon as they are released', turn off that option top stop getting optional updates.
Then to remove that update:
Open File Explorer, then navigate to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download
Delete the contents of that folder, not the folder itself and restart (not shut down) your PC.
-
Anonymous
2024-09-02T16:01:46+00:00 Just ran Windows update AGAIN See time stamp. Optional update still will not go away.
-
DaveM121 926.5K Reputation points Independent Advisor
2024-09-02T16:00:05+00:00 Click the X at the top right of that update to remove the notification, then restart your PC, if that switch below the update is off, then your system should not re-donwload that optional update.
-
Anonymous
2024-09-02T15:57:26+00:00 Thank you. I did what you suggested and then restarted my PC afterward The 'Get updates as soon as they are released' switch was always off and still is off. But as you can see in the screenshot, the optional update still appears.
I also navigated to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download and deleted contents but not the folder itself. There were over 45,000 files that were deleted. My OS reinstall was only three days ago.