Blocking Windows 10 Updates

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I’ve been looking for a way to completely end Windows 10 updates, I’m not sure if I’ve found it or not. Perhaps with help from some of the good people on AskWoody more knowledgeable  than I, this might pan out. The caveat here is I intend to migrate away from windows to Linux, with dual boot at first. While searching online for a ‘how to’ I came across this site, and no I do not have any vested interest at all. It’s only one page, posting link is easiest.

https://www.drivereasy.com/knowledge/how-to-stop-windows-10-update/

That link takes you to the page in question. Is it true, windows update can be stropped?

Bluetrix

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Have you checked out our Knowledge Base articles?

AKB1000005 Disable Automatic Update in Win10
AKB2000005 How to update Windows 10 – safely

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Bluetrix

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Kirsty wrote:

Have you checked out our Knowledge Base articles?

AKB1000005 Disable Automatic Update in Win10
AKB2000005 How to update Windows 10 – safely

Both really need updating as they don’t acknowledge the ability to set a wired network as metered, which has been available for 17 months since version 1703 (and so the articles could be shorter).

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MrJimPhelps, woody, Kirsty

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Correct in all respects.

Changes have been made. Thanks!

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Kirsty wrote:

Have you checked out our Knowledge Base articles? AKB1000005 Disable Automatic Update in Win10 AKB2000005 How to update Windows 10 – safely

I have now, this is not the same. This is an approach I haven’t seen. Doesn’t automatically make it bad which is why I asked 😀

Perhaps I should have mentioned the part I am interested in is in the ‘comments’ section at the bottom of page.

Thanks

Bluetrix

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Are you referring to the reply by @slayer933?

…Open a command prompt as administrator and type:
SC DELETE WUAUSERV
and you’ll be set! Also check your Scheduled Tasks for UpdateOrchestrator entries and delete those as well…

BTW which version of Win10 are you using?

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There are some options, but if you want to completely stop them, you need 10 Pro, and you can do it in Group Policy via Computer Policy\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Update\Configure Automatic Updates, set to Disabled. (Which disables AU.)

You then check for updates either when you want, or, ideally, using either MS’ own wushowhide.cab tool, or a 3rd party tool like Windows Update MiniTool; both of which will let you select and hide updates.

Win10 Home can add the applicable registry keys that the above GPO does, but, IME, the keys do nothing and it will not stop 10 Home from updating on its own. This is why I think you have to have Pro or higher sku.

Some people attempt to do it by disabling the Windows Update service and disabling the assorted tasks in Task Scheduler that will re-enable and restart the service, but I have no experience doing that (and IMHO the GPO way is safer and less likely to be changed by MS and reverted anyway).

Obviously another way is setting the connection to metered, which is supposed to work, but more and more people are getting feature upgrades with the connection set to metered. As the verbiage under metered connection says, metered is followed “except to keep Windows running smoothly”, and so if MS decides you need an update, you’re gonna get it regardless.

If you have Home, I would suggest instead following the guide that BobbyB put together here, which uses WUMT on boot to hide all available updates, so when Windows goes to update, there are no updates and nothing happens. You can always unhide the updates in WUMT and then apply them as you see fit. This is not an automatic process, though you can set a startup task to show WUMT on every boot so you remember to check for and hide the updates. https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/windows-10-home-etc-set-wumt-to-auto-check-updates/

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woody, Bluetrix

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Kirsty wrote:

Are you referring to the reply by @slayer933?

…Open a command prompt as administrator and type: SC DELETE WUAUSERV and you’ll be set! Also check your Scheduled Tasks for UpdateOrchestrator entries and delete those as well…

BTW which version of Win10 are you using?

Yes, that was the 1st comment that caught my eye. Knowing windows has a habit of restoring changes you make to updating and blocking telemetry I was thinking of building an autoexec.bat file to do the deleting on each boot, but it is my understanding that the autoexec.bat is only available with early versions of Windows and is not available or used in any version after Windows XP. I could be mistaken. It was just some ideas I hadn’t seen, I suppose if it was a ‘cure’ more sites would carry the *tips*. There were other comments that were interesting enough to at least read.

Currently I am running Windows 1803 Home, Build: 17134.165

Linux Mint 19 (Tara) Dual boot.

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Deleting wuauserv on boot is an exercise in futility.

You need wuauserv. But you need to control it. In Pro, use the deferral settings. In Home, use metered connection.

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Kirsty

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Kirsty wrote:

Have you checked out our Knowledge Base articles? AKB1000005 Disable Automatic Update in Win10 AKB2000005 How to update Windows 10 – safely

After further poking around I stumbled across Gpedit, which can be downloaded and installed in Windows10 Home editions. I found Gpedit and instructions at:

https://www.itechtics.com › Windows

A quick look around showed the same program at MajorGeeks also, sans instructions. It is (as you probably know) the “Local Group Policy Editor” found in Pro versions. I followed the instructions and delayed installation for 365 days and 30 days. After install, I find easiest way to open the program is in command prompt, typing: gpedit.msc I didn’t copy the 3 files as suggested to win32 folder, this is just as easy for me. ymmv

I guess I will find out soon enough if it actually works without upgrading to Pro. or going Linux only. Hmm, one might think I am a wee bit upset with Windows/M$. Thing is, I am willing to pull the plug after 20+ Windows years. (That’s an eon in dog years)

Bluetrix

Windows10 Home 1803, Linux Mint19 (Tara) Dual boot.

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HiFlyer

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If you install GPEdit on a Home machine, and make changes, they’ll rarely be followed. That’s definitely the case with update deferrals – changes made by GPEdit, or by directly editing the Registry, aren’t followed.

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Bluetrix, Microfix

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@Bluetrix, W7 and W8.1 Pro licenses a few years ago were abundant, now they are dearly sought after by people who wish to move to W10 Pro from W10 Home. (upgrade path from previous version of windows)

If debian is good enough for NASA...

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Bluetrix

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woody wrote:

If you install GPEdit on a Home machine, and make changes, they’ll rarely be followed. That’s definitely the case with update deferrals – changes made by GPEdit, or by directly editing the Registry, aren’t followed.

I could have guessed the changes would not be followed. After deferring in gpedit I opened Services and attempted to change WindowsUpdate  properties for ‘restore’. That was a No Go. At least I got to see how gpedit looks and is supposed to work even if it won’t in my case.

I assume if I edit the Registry and add a Key in WindowUpdate in AU called AUoptions setting the value to (2)  it will have the same inherent value, an exercise in futility. I just hate it when I am told I can’t do something to/with my OS. I have read on AskWoody in several places that delaying updates in the Home editions of Windows 10 wasn’t possible. I think by now if such a tactic were possible I would have seen it here. From what I have read changing  to metered connection only works on a WiFi connection, it has no effect on Ethernet connections. though I do have it set as such. I am like a lot of semi-advanced Windows users, I know just enough to get into trouble 😀

<shrug>

Bluetrix

Edit to add: I am not going to stop looking.

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I’m new here so hello to all.

I’m running Windows 10 Pro and have discovered a completely bombproof way to stop Windows updating. I had tried other methods and all were subverted by Microsoft who seemed to be able to do things like turn services on that were explicitly disabled. Metered connections were no use to me because my PC is CAT5 cabled.  So I decided to go nuclear on the Windows Update tyranny and take back control of my PC by force!

First I went to the services page and stopped and disabled both the Windows Update service and the Background Intelligent Transfer service.
I then went to the C:\Windows\System32 folder and copied the following two files and stored them in a safe place should I ever need to or decide to reinstate Windows Update in the future: qmgr.dll and wuaueng.dll. Once I had copied them out I deleted them both from the system32 folder. I then went to the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download folder and deleted its contents.

And that’s it. Windows Update is permanently hobbled. My machine is happy and so am I. If you want to reinstate Windows update from here, simply return the two dlls to their original location and then start the WU and BIT services again. You’ll be back in Microsoft’s totalitarian grasp in no time.

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Buntobox wrote:

Metered connections were no use to me because my PC is CAT5 cabled.

It’s been possible to set an Ethernet connection as metered for 18 months (since 1703).

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I’ve not seen that but in any case the metered connections method of preventing Windows updates is akin to putting a steering lock on your car to prevent its theft. This DLL removal method is akin to taking off the wheels.

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Hello again,

Several weeks ago I asked how I could block Win10 updates, my purpose was clear … to me at least. I wanted to be able to control when my machine was updated, cut and dried.

I said I was not going to stop looking and I am happy to report the endeavor has paid off.

Quite frankly I am now surprised at the suggestions I received here, now that I have found exactly what I was asking for. I post this information here hoping it might help others who wanted control of when their Windows10 Home Edition updates.

A very small program called StopUpdates10 can be found here and many other DL sites:

http://greatis.com/blog/stopupdates10

I downloaded the latest version from that url, installed the program and so far have not had any issues with it. Because this program has been available for a while I would have thought someone here would have suggested it, no one did. So I will suggest it for W10 Home users that want control over forced updates which we all see are having issues.  With all the searching I have done, the last place I would have expected to find such a program is in the Windows Forums, but I did find it first there. (the link that is)

I am including an excerpt outlining what the program does I copied from:

https://www.thewindowsclub.com

I hope this helps some, all, or just one of the many readers here. I do intend to update, perhaps when the MS-DEFCON rating is more palatable.

How StopUpdates10 works

If you are curious enough, the developer of the tool has provided us with the entire list of actions that happen in the background. The tool makes the following changes:

1. Registry Values: The program automatically changes the registry values for 7 registry keys for you so that you do not have to do it manually. All the registry changes can be easily restored back with the restore button.
2. Windows Update Service: StopUpdates10 completely stops this service and prevents it from auto-starting, essentially killing the automatic updates mechanism.
3. Blocks Processes: The tool also blocks some of the other processes like “EOSNOTIFY.EXE”,”UsoClient.exe”, “MusNotification.exe”, “UpdateAssistant.exe”,”WINDOWS10UPGRADERAPP.EXE”, “remsh.exe”, “dismHost.exe”, “SIHClient.exe”,”InstallAgent.exe”,”Windows10Upgrade.exe”, “WaaSMedic.exe“, so that you do not get any update related notifications on your computer.

Restoring changes is also easy as is. All you need to do is hit the Restore Windows Updates button, and all the changes will be rolled back. The program also displays the status of Windows Update. Apart from that it also provides you with command line features so that you can include StopUpdates10 in your scripts as well.

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