Upgrade Windows 1903 10 1909, not 2004

I've got a Macrium image running v1903. I've used it in the past to upgrade to 1909, but this time "deferring" the feature upgrade did not work.

I've got a few issues with 2004, one of the most pressing for me at the moment at he moment is after it is installed, It begins gradually losing OS partition space to the point where I will have to resize that partition, which I would like to avoid.

Or perhaps someone could advise me about regaining the space?

Secondly, Windows defender scans suddenly began coming up with a bunch of a number of PUA "protection and action recommendations" (one high level threat, the others low level), referring to items that I have had present on my drive and for quite a while (either in use or just stored) without any apparent associated problems, all of which were never flagged before.

PUA:Win32/DriverBooster: FILE: IObitUninstaler.exe

App:PotPlayer_BundleInstaller: FILE: PotPlayerSetup64 200715 Beta.exe, PotPlayerSetup64 200616.exe

PUA:Win32/Softcnapp: FILE: setup_clover@3.4.7.exe

PUA:Win32/Presenoker: FILE: E:\My Documents\chromepass.zip

PUA:Win32/FusionCore: FILE: E:\My Documents\Daum PotPlayer/OpenCodecSetup64\hYEBnFBwH.dll, , FILE: E:\My Documents\EASEUS Partition Master\epm.exe

However, I just ran another WD full scan, and currently, the results show "no threats".

Please "unconfuse" me

Thanx

Hi Guys, forgive my delay in responding

OldNavyGuy said:

Keep in mind that Windows saves a copy of your old version (Windows.old folder) so you can roll back to it within 10 days after installing a new version, so that takes up some disk space.

Let me explain further the details of my my situation. Since my OP, I was able to upgrade to 1909. My OS partition size is 40 gbs. Has been for years now, thru all the windows 10 upgrades. Which means I have to be strict about being able to maintain that by only installing stuff on that OS partition that must be installed for proper operation, with few exceptions, programs I have had for years. At any rate, if I have the opportunity, I will use a portable version of something I need, which will be located off the OS partition. It may be unconventional to some, but it works for me. Keeps things clean and fast.

Directly after an update, I clean up every bit of residue placed there by the update (using CleanMGR+, which has always works very nicely for me as a great substitute for Disk Cleanup), including that Windows.old folder. then create a Macrium backup, My latest is a 1909 version, so no need for that Windows.old folder.

Currently, after that OS update and the subsequent cleanup, I have 17gbs of free space (which includes the latest Windows Updates, so that should eliminate the Idea that the windows updates are responsible for the space loss, right?), which is more than acceptable for my needs, but the problem is that, as time progresses, without explanation, that number begins to progressively dwindle down to around the the 3gbs.

I have all those space analyzers mentioned hear, but I don't see any analysis with them that point to how I can regain the lost space. I remember several years ago there was a similar problem. I think it was WinDirStat that identified "unknown" occupied space that could be eliminated, gaining back the room. But that is no longer the case.
My only solution thus far has been to restore the Macrium backup, but it is only a matter of time before the pattern continues.

Bree said:

It should still work, but you have to make sure you defer Feature Updates for long enough to defer 2004, but not so long that you also defer 1909.

After the 1909 upgrade, I deferred 100 days, but after about a month, it suddenly installed 2004. I again restored the Macrium 1909, but before rebooting, unplugged the Cat6 cable, and set the deferral to 360 days, hoping that will take care of it. We'll see.