Windows updates even thought disabled.

paulbradley · 19 Jul 2017

First off I run Deepfreeze on my 3 computers here at work. About 2 weeks ago I disabled this and installed the newest windows updates. After a couple reboots to make sure there were no more updates I disabled windows updates again in services, rebooted, turned deepfreeze back on and rebooted again. After a few days when I went to turn computers off they started installing another update. Once it shut down I booted back up and windows update was still disabled. After a couple days of this I finally disabled deepfreeze again and let computer install the update (updates still shows disabled in services). Now today it is trying to install yet another update but updates are still disabled in services and shows not running. What's up with this? How can I stop this?

dalchina · 19 Jul 2017

I think you're asking 'how can I make sure Windows update is disabled?'

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

paulbradley · 19 Jul 2017

No, I have it disabled the same way I always have by disabling the service. Haven't had a problem at all until this last big update. I will look into the other options on that link though. Something told me not to do that update and I didn't listen.

Also on this computer I'm on (did not update with the other two) when I go to settings, windows updates, and click search for updates it immediately comes back with "There were some problems installing updates, but we'll try again later. If you keep seeing this and want to search the web or contact support for information, this may help: (0x80070422)" which is what it should do being disabled, but on the other to (ones I updated) I can go to services and verify windows update service is stopped and disabled but click on search for updates and it searches and tries to install updates but windows update service is still showing stopped and disabled. I am trying the group policy option now and will see if this works.

paulbradley · 19 Jul 2017

The group policy change seems to have fixed this. Thanks for the assistance.

C337Skymaster · 20 Mar 2019

For the record, for anyone like me who stumbles across this post, editing the Group Policy Editor will NOT prevent Windows Version Updates. I turned that off the second I got Windows 10 version 1709 installed (Version 1803 was already current), and my computer just forcibly updated itself to version 1803 in spite of the Group Policy Editor. I have since found instructions to edit the registry (https://www.askvg.com/how-to-prevent...in-windows-10/), and may soon reinstall version 1709 (to get Homegroup back).

dalchina · 21 Mar 2019

You can't prevent WU for ever using group policy in Pro (do you have Pro, or have you attempted to add the GP editor to Home?). You can defer feature updates for up to 365 days there, or in Settings. After that....

If you wish to block WU try
Stop Windows 10 Updates Properly and Completely Solved - Windows 10 Forums

You can then use a free 3rd party tool to scan for and selectively apply updates e.g. Windows Update Minitool

C337Skymaster · 21 Mar 2019

I did get Win 10 Pro, specifically for the increased functionality and alleged ability to disable Windows Update. Hopefully the registry trick works (I'll be following your link as soon as I finish this post), as I'm planning on doing a clean reinstall of version 1709 to revert back from 1803 (unless there's a built-in way to do that).

I attempted to disable WU using the group policy editor, and the Windows Version Update executed about three months later. I wonder if there's a way, when you see "Windows needs to restart to complete an installation" to prevent the installation from completing even when you restart. (I managed to turn off the auto-restart thing, but then needed to restart my computer, anyway, and the update went through at that time. I was sorely tempted to turn it off and back on again, when it says "don't turn off your PC").

ThrashZone · 21 Mar 2019

Hi,
Don't think it really works after eol of a build to well disabling updates....
Like I said windows defender will pitch a fit on a old eol build not worth the fuss after eol happens.

C337Skymaster · 21 Mar 2019

"EOL"? "End of Life"? I had Windows XP almost until Windows 10 was coming out. :) I am very familiar with making an OS work LONG after Micro$haft wants it to be dead, and I have every intention of forcing Windows 10 to be the same way, as long as I can turn off auto-updates. (I've never found auto-updates to be anything more than a pain in the ass and a way for MS to force Planned Obsolescence. I've had them turned off since about the first time I reinstalled Win XP).

If Windows Defender will pitch a fit, then I'll just use Malwarebytes to run manual scans. I don't know much about programming, but as long as I have step-by-step directions and an OS reinstall disc, I don't mind poking around in the registry.