Do the windows updates continue to fill up computer memory,?

Question

What happens to the things they fix? After a few years worth of windows updates, do the things supposedly fixed get removed.

Answer 1

I think by memory, you mean disk space.  Yes they do.  If you go into Add/Remove programs, check show updates.  It will show you all the updates made over time.  Each one has an option to uninstall the update.  Most likely, you will never uninstall an update, unless it harmed your computer.

There are files stored on your computer that are there to perform the uninstalls, you can search for them using their names (usually KBnnnnnn).

When you get a new Service Pack (SP3 the latest one for XP, SP1 the latest for VISTA), it includes all the fixes that were downloaded prior to the SP.  When I installed SP3, I went back and manually removed all the KBnnnnn files prior to it.  It really didn't save that much disk space, I just dont like junk cluttering up my hard disk.  When I removed them, they also disappeared from the Add/Remove list, which was nice.

Answer 2

You mean will the fixes be lost?

Not unless you reinstalled the OS, in which case you will have to apply the updates again.