Gone Missing: "Updates & Security" - Replaced by "Delivery Optimizati"

Windows 10 Pro - 1909, OS Build: 18363.1082

Howdy Folks,

My Updates & Security window has gone missing, replaced by Delivery Optimization (see attached).

Since I have recently changed WU control from Group Policy setting: "Notify for download and notify for install" to using Sledgehammer:
1. Installed Sledgehammer
2. Disabled WU Group Policy Setting "Notify for download, etc."

All worked well for the first week or so until I found the Updates & Security window has been replaced. Thinking Sledgehammer was responsible I uninstalled it, but the Updates & Security window has not returned:
1. Enabled WU Group Policy Setting "Notify for download, etc."
2. Uninstalled Sledgehammer.

Appreciation goes out to all who have any thoughts to share!

Hi, I have 1903 and Sledgehammer in force, and see


Try:
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...c-18c9a4177dfc
Hide or Show Pages on Settings in Windows 10
Windows Update Is Missing in Windows 10 Settings - MajorGeeks

@dalchina, et al.

I tried all 3; best I could do was add "Windows Updates" to the left column list. The right side column remains blank (attached).
For now I'll sit tight to see if any other comments are offered.
Thanks again for your thoughts, dalchina!

Check what other group policy options you have enabled, if any.
See Applied Group Policies in Windows 10
- but I don't think that's the problem as you don't have that red message there.

If you don't have
- an appropriate System Restore point
- a recent disk image (so often recommended by members) then

Try Tweaking.com's free repair tool (Google) and select only the repair for Windows Update.

Otherwise, if you see the same thing when you create a new user for test purposes and log in as that user, perform an in-place upgrade repair install which keeps all progs and data like any upgrade. Tutorial available- you need an iso file of your current build as per the tutorial.

@dalchina,
Thanks to great advice from all the folks here I do have a (daily) 1. Restore Point back to 10/10/2020 and a 2. Disk Image from 10/04/2020.
I don't recall exactly when I noticed the issue, but it was some time after installing Sledgehammer which was done 10/05/2020 +/- a day.
I'm thinking a System Restore would be the easiest to try first unless you'd recommend the Tweaking.com's free repair tool.
What are your thoughts?
Thanks again

@OldNavyGuy
System Restore isn't a good choice for me. It's far enough back to pose serious issues with several of my installed programs. e.g. Office 2016 could require a reinstall. Also: Macrium Reflect, Chrome, Firefox, etc. I'll probably restore the Oct 4 Image file, but am still open to any other approaches to simply turn back on the missing Windows Update page.
-
Re: your comment about Sledgehammer and .vbs scripts, I'm researching your recommendations on Windows Automatic Updates Manager and WuMT. I've also used WuMgr which I like better; does it have any script issues I should be aware of?
-
Thanks for jumping in and offering suggestions!

jdUnionngarden said:

Re: your comment about Sledgehammer and .vbs scripts, I'm researching your recommendations on Windows Automatic Updates Manager and WuMT. I've also used WuMgr which I like better; does it have any script issues I should be aware of?

I suggest that you do not waste your time investigating those unsubstantiated allegations about VBScripts. He's always banging on about this yet refusing to post the source of his beliefs. He also became extremely offensive when one member asked for his sources.

Windows Scripting Host, WScript & CScript are always on Windows 10 systems and are always immediately available for use.
- Windows uses vbs scripts whilst installing many or all updates, just for example [you can see some of them in C:\Windows\servicing\LCU].
- You would have to manually alter your system to remove them and that would require use of additional procedures/utilities to get you the Permissions you needed to do the job. But that would affect installing Cumulative updates and there might well be other malfunctions.

Whilst scripts [such as VBScripts, batch files & PS scripts] cannot be digitally signed or assigned 'hashes' to verify their integrity, they can be read in Notepad. So if you get a script online, you can drop it on a Notepad window then look through to see if it contains anything suspicious. If you are not sure about the contents then you could always post the script in text form in the site where you got it and ask if it has been corrupted or if it is as they intended it to be.

Denis

@dalchina ... et al.

Howdy Folks!
I've had success thanks to a (fairly) recent disk image I restored today. See attached.

For now I'm blocking all updates with Group Policy Settings.
I'll be reviewing a few update managers to find a good one to handle hiding some, downloading and installing others. And it may be time to consider moving to 2004 Feature Update; tbd.
My thanks goes out to all who have offered great advice and comments!

Good to hear. Try
Enable or Disable Windows Update Automatic Updates in Windows 10
Option 7

Windows Update Manager (WUmgr)

Group Policy- set updates to Notify - very useful.