Is there any way to control updates?

dalchina · 21 Sep 2019

If you go to HP's site, for which edition of Windows are the latest drivers quoted?

Gwaihir · 21 Sep 2019

That's an interesting question. I did a search for drivers on HP's selfservice site here and it asked for my OS so I tried entering W10 version 1903 to see how it responded. The result was the attached list. Note that the majority are listed for 1903.

That begs the question: my model is not shown in HP's compatibility list but if I was to download and install these drivers would that make it compatible?

There doesn't seem to be any way to directly contact HP to get a simple answer to my question.

dalchina · 21 Sep 2019

Compatibility lists may be country or region dependent- some models are released in some regions, not others. That might explain it.

Great that's confirmed it's a recent model; I was puzzled as it is a Pavilion 15.

Note especially:
Error attempting to update with external USB device or memory card attached
PCs with an external USB device or SD memory card attached may get error: "This PC can't be upgraded to Windows 10."

Is your BIOS up to date?
Perhaps you have some software installed or drivers 1903 doesn't like. Note the reference to Intel Rapid Storage Technology (Intel RST) drivers in this news item on 1903 with issues listed:

Known and Resolved issues for Windows 10 May 2019 Update version 1903

Gwaihir · 22 Sep 2019

I don't know if any installed software or drivers could be responsible for the failure of WU to offer 1903, I don't have anything out of the ordinary, but to be honest I find this all a bit too complex and potentially boulder-strewn to risk bricking my laptop trying to get the May 2019 update. Frankly I wouldn't have chosen to have Windows 10 at all but unfortunately it's all that's offered on new machines unless I'm prepared to switch to Linux. I have considered that and have experimented with it on a spare PC but some of the software I use is not supported on it. I've been perfectly happy with Windows 7 and don't see any features in Windows 10 that are of any advantage to me.

Referring back to my initial query, therefore, I think that if Windows Update Manager (WuMgr) can do what I want I'd be content to leave things as they are and use that. If the stream of updates for 1803 tails off that would be a bonus as far as I'm concerned.

Anyway, many thanks to all who have contributed to this discussion. If WuMgr works ok I'll come back to this thread and mark it solved.

Best regards,
Gwaihir.

Try3 · 22 Sep 2019

Gwaihir said:

if Windows Update Manager (WuMgr) can do what I want ...

Gwaihir,

WUMgr is a tool for checking, downloading & installing updates.

It does not suppress your built-in Windows update function. You do need to take the separate action described above to achieve that.

By the way, if you are going to experiment with updating to the latest version, make a system image beforehand together with whatever boot disk / rescue disk your chosen system image utility requires to be able to boot up & restore an image even if Windows is pretty well scuppered. Many people in this forum use Macrium Reflect [free] for their system images.
Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect - TenForumsTutorials

Denis

Gwaihir · 25 Sep 2019

Hi Denis, thanks for clarifying that.

In that case, since I only want to disable updating whilst using a mobile broadband connection maybe I should just use Windows Update Blocker or simply go in to services and stop the Windows Update service.

Thanks, also, for suggesting Macrium Reflect. I have used it on our two desktop systems running Windows 7 and I guess it would be a good idea to use it on the laptop also as a backstop against a scuppered system, even though I probably won't be trying to upgrade to 1903.