Me too. That's why I got off of the update bandwagon. I run 1809. It works flawlessly.
Some newer releases are known to break some of my audio software, so that's a no-go. And there haven't been any new useful features in I-don't-know-how-many releases. So I'm just holding my cards.
Amen.
Windows being Windows. Even disabling updates everywhere this is what I saw this morning when I turned on my PC:
Then I checked the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download folder and realized that, again, there was some trash there that Windows insisted on download even after I have said that it shouldn't do this. I think that from now on I will need to check this stupid folder EVERY TIME before turning off the computer.
I disabled updates with this simple registry hack:
This declares all network connections to be "metered" ... in which data traffic must be paid for.Code:Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\DefaultMediaCost] "3G"=dword:00000002 "4G"=dword:00000002 "Default"=dword:00000002 "Ethernet"=dword:00000002 "WiFi"=dword:00000002
In this mode Windows will be courteous and will not download any updates (which would run up a bill ... IF these were really metered connections).
I've had this setting for nearly five years. No updates.
Windows occasionally drops a notification saying that "we cannot download your update".
That's very reassuring. All's good.
I don't know how you "disabled" Windows update. I gave up with all the methods that were being suggested several years ago and I adopted metered connections instead. I've been using metered connections successfully since around 2014/2015.
Like margrave, I set all my networks as metered.
- If you might still be in the middle of updates then you'll need to disconnect from the internet and run that Reset WU tutorial's batch file again first or updates that have been started will finish.
- I set my metered connections manually in the Registry in order to include the "Default" entry which means even future networks will be metered from the start.- - When you look at the Registry key, you need to right-click on it and set up Permissions so you can alter it.- The metered settings prevent almost all updates being installed. There is one that gets through when it is re-released one or two times a year [it is now called Windows PC Health Check and is shown in Control panel, Progs & features]. It's such a minor update that I do not fret about it.
- - I set the Key's Owner as Administrators [note the essential plural] and then give Administrators Full control of the Key. Then I merely have to run RegEdit as Admin to make any changes to the Key now or in the future. Once in a blue moon, a Windows Version update*** will reset that key's Permissions & values in which case I have to repeat the changes.
- - Since you are now in the right place anyway, I think it is just as easy to do the change manually as it is to use the .reg file that margrave suggests.
- If you use MSOffice Outlook 2016 or later then you'll see warnings that it will not check for new mail automatically unless you turn of the metered setting. There might well be a solution to that but I do not know what that solution might be.
- I have not tested to see if MSOffice updates are prevented from running automatically because I always do them manually anyway.
- I have not tested to see if Edge updates are prevented from running automatically because I always do them manually anyway.
- It stops the useless list entries in Settings, Devices, Bluetooth from "completing" but I've never found any problems as a result and have no idea what it is that is incomplete {I have a vague idea that it's something to do with checking for updated icons}.
- You'll have to use a script controlled by Task scheduler to update Defender if you have metered connections [unless you want to run Defender updates manually].
- I know of no other side-effects of setting metered connections.
I stifle WU in this way purely so that I can make sure my system images are up to date before I run any Cumulative updates [manually].
Set Wireless Network Metered Connection - TenForumsTutorials
Set Ethernet Connection as Metered or Unmetered - TenForumsTutorials
Turn On or Off Metered Connection for Wi-Fi Network - ElevenForumTutorials
Turn On or Off Metered Connection for Ethernet Network - ElevenForumTutorials
My instructions above are better than those in the tutorials because I include setting the Default entry. I've been staring at this paragraph for five minutes wondering how to sound less arrogant - but without success.
@Brink - Perhaps you could add the manual setting method to the tutorials so that they include setting the Default entry.
*** There will be no more Windows 10 Version updates. Version 22H2 will remain the current Version until Windows 10 support ends in 2025.
All the best,
Denis
Last edited by Try3; 2 Weeks Ago at 12:44.
I just did this on my Win-10 machine because after re-imaging my hard drive (keeping all the files), there are several updates that can't be installed by the system. It starts then gives up, saying some Windows Update Components are not Installed Properly.
We'll see if your solution helps. After 4 days of dealing with this issue, I'm trying everything...except repairing the image again. That took hours.
Wish me luck, and thanks for sharing what worked 4 U!
-Allen in Chicagoland
Allen,
I urge you to use the tutorial instead of some half measure.
Reset Windows Update - TenForumsTutorials
Best of luck,
Denis
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