Time to block vNext

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PATCH WATCH By Susan Bradley Not ready to move to Windows 11? PC not compatible? Block it! Microsoft has expanded the setting we love at AskWoody: “TR
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Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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abbodi86

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PC not compatible? Block it!

Why an incompatible PC need to block Windows 11 unless you think Microsoft will revert its decisions and allow any PC to upgrade to Windows 11.

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Given that everyone keeps posting workarounds 🙂

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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Alex5723

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What if my Windows 10 PC does not have the HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate registry key so that I can add the Target Release Version info to block Windows 11?

Edition Windows 10 Home
Version 21H1
Installed on ‎3/‎12/‎2021
OS build 19043.1237
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.3530.0

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Ergo why I give you the registry key download.  You have to add that registry key.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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@Susan Bradley, With regard to setting the group policy “Select the target Feature Update version” to “21H2”, I see that the current Windows 11 release is also named “21H2”. See Windows 11 – release information | Microsoft Docs. Therefore this setting may not work as expected to block Windows 11 from being offered.

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As long as you don’t specifically put “Windows 11” in the upper box, it will still work.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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I have two questions:
1. Has anyone tested what happens if you specify just the Product Version as “Windows 10” – without identifying a Target Version?

NOTE: If you set just the Product Version via GPEdit it does create a new “Product Version” value in the Windows Update registry key showing a data entry of “Windows 10”. This registry location is the same key used by the other “Windows Update for Business” controls – KEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate

2. Back when we were attempting to block the free update to Windows 10 there was a registry setting that specifically blocked “OS Upgrades” (from Win7 or Win8). This was a “DisableOSUpgrade” value under the same Windows Update key used above. Has anyone checked if this option has been retained?

The details of this were –
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate
Under this key, the 32-bit DWORD value “DisableOSUpgrade” is set to 1 (to block version updates). When set Win7/8 would never attempt to upgrade to Win10.

I myself do not have any hardware that qualifies for a Win11 upgrade – but I do have many people that I support who do. It would be good to have a “Set & Forget” registry option that doesn’t require repeated “Target Version” changes to ensure Win10 stays updated but without the risk of upgrading to Win11.

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Only 2 ways to block Windows 11 are GPEdit/TRV on Pro version or TRV/registry hacks for both Home and Pro versions.

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@Alex5723 If your post was a response to my post then it doesn’t really address my questions. I already know what the published GPEdit details are.

But following the published details seems to require regular updates to the “Target Version for Feature Updates” (once every six months) – if you wish to follow the normal Win10 update sequence – while still blocking the Win11 “upgrade”. This might be OK for ones own computer but when you have multiple PC’s scattered among friends and family it gets more tricky to manage.

A set once and forget option would be very handy. Both my questions related to possible versions of this option – I just asked if anyone had tested either of them.

The GPEdit panel (Select the Target Update Version) does allows you to specify just the Windows Product Version (as in “Windows 10”) – and this does set a valid registry value. The question is does Windows Update ignore this setting if the “Target Version” is left blank – or does it obey the selection and only look for Windows 10 updates and ignore anything tagged as Windows 11.

As to my second question – if Microsoft created a special “DisableOSUpgrade” registry setting for the Win10 rollout then it is just possible it is still buried in the code and may still work. Seems worth a look.

As stated I myself do not currently have any hardware that qualifies for the Win11 upgrade or I would test these options myself.

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DougCuk wrote:

But following the published details seems to require regular updates to the “Target Version for Feature Updates” (once every six months) – if you wish to follow the normal Win10 update sequence – while still blocking the Win11 “upgrade”. This might be OK for ones own computer but when you have multiple PC’s scattered among friends and family it gets more tricky to manage.

Regularly managing of TRV every 6 months is the least of your worries as you should manage these PCs every month for patch Tuesday’s updates, pause, deferrals, uninstalling bad patches…hiding drivers, firmware… with WUmgr..

I think that setting Windows 10 in TRV will block Windows 11 (until EOL of the current installed version or until Microsoft decide to disregard the setting).

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If you do not want Windows 11, will you have to take it or forced to take it?

I read that you have to have a Microsoft account which I DO NOT WANT.

Win 10 Home 22H2

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Susan Bradley wrote:

If you do have hardware that can handle Windows 11, you’ll be offered — but not pushed to — Windows 11.

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Win7and10

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In the Windows Update section it states my PC is compatible, what do I do to prevent Windows 11 and will I need a Microsoft Account, which I currently do not have in Windows 10 since I have opted out of that when I set up this computer. Currently I am happy with Windows 10 and not ready for Windows 11. If I am offered as a feature, I will not download as optional update.

 

Thanks for your input and future reply. 🙂

Win 10 Home 22H2

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So first off it will be “offered” but not pushed.  That said you can use the registry key method to block it.

Click this and run it

https://askwoodylounge.com/wl/?id=DFmwgLPIWb6tHXUKxu6KSJKYPCdOfILN&fmode=download

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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Win7and10

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