WU Operates Differently...

Ever since the CU that got downloaded on 9/2/19, I think I see WU operating a bit differently. WU auto checks roughly every day as it has been for some time. Before 9/02/19, I could bring up the WU panel and see when it last checked for updates and had the option to check for updates. Now, whenever I bring up the WU panel, it automatically launches a check for updates. Sometimes, the result is the system is up to date. This evening, it auto updated the newly announced CU for v.1809 bld 17763.737 (B release). I guess it's not an issue for most folks, but again with Home version, you are still at the mercy of MS. I'll be running a System Image Save after this CU is done and works.

Update: When I launch the WU panel, I see the traveling dots at the very top of the screen before the panel loads. You can barely see them for four to five cycles and then the panel loads with the traveling dots still cycling in their normal position until WU determines things are up to date or an update begins downloading.

Hi, some users of 1809 are already being offered 1903 as part of MS's end of life program, apparently.

1903 adds some more control for Home users including the ability to pause updates for up to 35 days. Further, you can choose to not accept an offered build upgrade during the supported lifetime of the build.

You can take control of Windows Update using e.g. WUMT or its more recent incarnation, Sledgehammer (e.g. via Majorgeeks). Free.

(Having chosen Home, yes, you subscribed to the 'Windows as a service' model. Frequent updates are fine for smart phones, it seems, but Windows has to cope with a much wider variety of hardware+ software+ user modifications. And MS has messed up upgrades rather badly. I've protected myself from the worst of these, having Pro with addiitonal options)

I was already forced to v.1903 and the update failed the first time and the automatic retry trashed apps and the desktop. I rolled back to v.1809 to recover the system. I chose the free Home addition to upgrade from W7 long before MS made these automatic decisions. Now that this latest CU is installed, WU has returned to the functions it had prior to the 9/2/19 update, so I guess this thread is moot now. Thanks.

If you've received one upgrade attempt, you'll get others. It sounds as if you won't enjoy that.

If you decide your system is not capable of being upgraded because of something you think cannot be run on a later build, or whether that be because it's running software that interferes with the upgrade procedure or has an incompatible driver, or you just prefer not to try to get that sorted out, you'll need to block further upgrades.

That would mean you will in due course stay on an out of date build - which some, with older PCs, end up having to do, of course.

I've mentioned a couple of tools you can use to do that.

I always find it unfortunate when people refer to forced updates or upgrades, because that's the product you bought... and of course if those were 100% painless, no one would be complaining. But of course they all too often aren't... which is one reason why tenforums is, alas, busy!