Possible method to Stop/Start WIndows Update in Windows 10 Home

Superfly · 11 May 2018

The only way to control WU is via the firewall... I use TinyWall which has a tick-box (to allow or not WU) - the caveat is it blocks most everything and you need to specifically grant email, browser and other apps permissions etc - but it works for me.. and provides a greater sense of security.

bbinnard · 11 May 2018

pepanee said:

I see. I guess your best choice then is the last resolution. An In-Place Upgrade
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BWh0YRmnT8

That was teh first thing I tried. It failed the same way.

Superfly: that's a little too messy for me; I'm going to try sc delete wuauserv and see what happens. I've already tried disabling the Windows Update service - but somehow it re-enables itself.

Callender · 12 May 2018

I use W10 Home and this to control updates:

Stop Windows 10 Updates Properly and Completely Solved - Windows 10 Forums

The only problem is knowing when to use configurator.cmd if you want store & defender updates.

Also need to use configurator.cmd if manually installing updates such as delta updates instead of cumulative updates.

RE: 1803 update not completing.

Check any tweaks that you've applied to block updates/ upgrades.

Here's some that need fixing before an upgrade will complete:

Any registry tweaks to Block or Defer Upgrades.
Check that services are set to default startup type.
On my machine I'd need to unblock the following to upgrade:

Code:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\Windows10UpgraderApp.exe]"Debugger"="mshta \"javascript:var sh=new ActiveXObject( 'WScript.Shell' ); sh.Popup( 'This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer. Please contact your system administrator', 10, 'Message!', 64 );close()\""

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\Windows10Upgrade.exe]"Debugger"="mshta \"javascript:var sh=new ActiveXObject( 'WScript.Shell' ); sh.Popup( 'This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer. Please contact your system administrator', 10, 'Message!', 64 );close()\""

Then I've got start menu replacement/ cortana disabled (not running at all) and other tweaks.

So in my case the best way to upgrade is to clean install having backed up drivers and also with a system image backup or HD clone in place.

bbinnard · 12 May 2018

Callender - your tip on fixing registry tweaks affecting updates was a good one. It turns out that some time ago I used the O&O Shutup app to disable all sorts of "Windows phone home" options, some of which were Windows Update functions. So I turned thse back on and ran the 1803 update again.

As I expected it failed again, just as before. But I appreciate your tip, it is a good one.