Feature Update to Ver 1703 not working and metered connection failing

gbr41 · 10 Jul 2017

My notebook is running Windows 10 Home Ver 1607 OS build 14393.1358. About a week ago, it commenced attempting to download and install feature update to version 1703.
This failed and the notebook has subsequently made 15 attempts, all of which failed. My data connection is through my mobile phone and that connection is set as metered which should have prevented the process.
Outcome is that my phone has had all of its data consumed including a bit more than AU$700 credit plus two AU$30 recharges. In addition the notebook then connected to my Wife's mobile phone which also had a bit more than AU$700 credit which was also used plus one extra AU$30 recharge. Oh and I've also consumed several GB of "free" wi fi.
So for a cost of about AU$1,500 I have got nothing and the feature update still starts running if I connect my notebook to the Internet.
Is there a way of stopping this feature update? Seems that it probably fails because my Notebook is operating Version 1607 and not 1703. Why would Microsoft release an update that causes this problem. Surely the update process should check the version before downloading such a large update.
Would also appreciate advice of how to make the metered connection function properly and block updates.
Thanks

dalchina · 11 Jul 2017

Hi, that sounds a pretty miserable and costly experience.

Turning first to disabling the update and getting control - you can easily find how to do this by searching the internet for 'How do I disable Windows update'

Enable or Disable Windows Update Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Windows 10 Windows Update Activation Tutorials

or use Winaero's free tweaker for convenience.

If you have Win 10 Pro, you can use Defer Feature Upgrades to delay the upgrade a few months, as I have.

If you search this forum you will find many reports of people finding the upgrade fails. This happens for some with all Windows upgrades and there are various causes. (After all this forum is where people come with problems).

You can make sure you only download the upgrade once by downloading a Win 10 iso yourself. You can then use that as many times as you wish. This is always my preferred option.

I would always also create a disk image (Macrium Reflect (free) + external storage for images) before upgrading. We strongly recommend the routine use of disk imaging to protect your PC, your data, and possibly your sanity.

What's the problem with the upgrade?
First make an exact note of any error report.

See
Upgrade to Windows 10 Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials
see Resolve Windows 10 upgrade errors
in that tutorial. That includes suggestions and pointers to the log files to see what's reported.

Possible problems:
Uninstall/disable your AV

Remove any unnecessary peripherals

Partition problems (post a screenshot of your partitions ideally using e.g. Minitool Partition Wizard)

Integrity of your existing Windows
- run SFC /SCANNOW from an admin command prompt

Insufficient free space on C: (allow 20Gb or more bearing in mind much of your Windows folder will be copied)

No unallocated space on your system drive - allow 500Mb

Disk problems
- download and run Hard Disk Sentinel (trial).

gbr41 · 12 Jul 2017

Thanks for your help. As I am caravanning for the next few weeks I will delay any further action until I get home where I have a larger data quota. I'm not going to risk any more nasty surprises by connecting via my phone. I will give your suggestions a run then. Thanks again.