[Guide] Disabling Windows 10 Automatic updates and "spyware"

[neatfeatguy]

I have an HP laptop running Windows 10 Home. Last year Windows saw fit to perform a forced laptop firmware update, which I was appalled by. I then googled and found it was a common problem with laptops from various manufacturers. I then researched how to ensure this couldn't happen again. I did the usual things people advise, like telling Windows Update not to perform hardware driver updates etc. I also installed HP's own software just so I could make sure the updates options were all disabled.

So even after doing all that, last night it did it AGAIN. A message came up telling me to restart so it could install HP firmware. Upon restart there were options to postpone or cancel. I chose cancel. I rebooted but those two options were back again. Apparently 'cancel' is not true, the two options are actually postpone or postpone. I let it do it and it was successful. But if it had failed, it would have made my laptop a paperweight.

I've now used O&O's ShutUp10 software to completely disable updates but whether this will work the next time a BIOS update is available, I don't know yet. But I don't really want to disable ALL updates, just the hardware ones. Is there any 100% definitive way to do this? One which definitely works and won't become disabled again?

I am so fed up with this garbage OS that I am seriously considering putting Windows 7 on the laptop, which apparently even though it's modern, you can do if you follow a few steps. But how crazy that I would have to do that, just to save my machine from being damaged from a failed BIOS flash.

I never could get ShutUp10 to work as it was suggested to work for disabling Windows 10 forced updates. Even with all update options disabled through ShutUp10, my daughter's laptop would constantly still do forced updates. It's not the updates that really bugged her (or me), it was the fact that the system would want to update when she was busying using the laptop (doing streaming for school or other tasks).....Windows 10 would just straight up not give a shit you were using the laptop and download and install updates.

I suppose it has irritated her so much she hasn't turned her laptop on for the past 6 months now. She just uses the old, slowly failing screeen, iPad instead of her laptop due to Windows 10 bullshit updates.

 

[Mussels]

just disable the service?

it's never turned back on for me

 

[lemonadesoda]

I notice this thread is dominated by

and

members. I dread for the future if the youngsters don't care.

@Mussels just disable the service?

prolly a W10Home edition where the service policy options dont exist or dont stick. Typical for W on a laptop.

 

[Dirtdog]

I never could get ShutUp10 to work as it was suggested to work for disabling Windows 10 forced updates. Even with all update options disabled through ShutUp10, my daughter's laptop would constantly still do forced updates. It's not the updates that really bugged her (or me), it was the fact that the system would want to update when she was busying using the laptop (doing streaming for school or other tasks).....Windows 10 would just straight up not give a shit you were using the laptop and download and install updates.

I suppose it has irritated her so much she hasn't turned her laptop on for the past 6 months now. She just uses the old, slowly failing screeen, iPad instead of her laptop due to Windows 10 bullshit updates.

I had the same last night. I am genuinely fearful it is going to break my laptop, I can't believe both the laptop manufacturers and Microsoft thinks forcing unskippable BIOS updates is acceptable?

I don't know how it works, but it becomes independent of the OS as well, I mean once Windows 10 downloads the update and you restart, there is then no way out of it. The process somehow begins before the OS even starts loading. And you get the chilling warnings not to interrupt the power or touch anything. Yes! It's dangerous isn't it? So why are you forcing it on me, HP and Windows?

I'm not surprised ShutUp10 isn't a panacea then. I had my doubts it could be that simple. I haven't tried disabling the service manually as suggested by Mussels, but doesn't Windows usually end up quietly changing it back again regardless? Am I really supposed to treat Windows like a hostile opponent who I need to keep checking isn't about to act against my wishes? It certainly looks like it.

 

[neatfeatguy]

I had the same last night. I am genuinely fearful it is going to break my laptop, I can't believe both the laptop manufacturers and Microsoft thinks forcing unskippable BIOS updates is acceptable?

I don't know how it works, but it becomes independent of the OS as well, I mean once Windows 10 downloads the update and you restart, there is then no way out of it. The process somehow begins before the OS even starts loading. And you get the chilling warnings not to interrupt the power or touch anything. Yes! It's dangerous isn't it? So why are you forcing it on me, HP and Windows?

I'm not surprised ShutUp10 isn't a panacea then. I had my doubts it could be that simple. I haven't tried disabling the service manually as suggested by Mussels, but doesn't Windows usually end up quietly changing it back again regardless? Am I really supposed to treat Windows like a hostile opponent who I need to keep checking isn't about to act against my wishes? It certainly looks like it.

I put Windows 10 Pro on my gaming computer. I then went through and disabled updates in the services and I believe one or two spots in the local group policies....my notes are at home so going off memory. I've had Win 10 Pro installed since January this year and have never once been asked to update or been forced to update.

The options to disable these things on Windows 10 Home are not there - that I'm aware of - like they are on the Pro version.

 

[Dirtdog]

I just tried to disable the Windows Update service on my laptop and it did let me do it. Whether it will stick, I don't know yet.

It still doesn't solve the problem of letting me update everything normally, except for drivers and BIOS though, rather than the blunt tool of disabling everything. Perhaps using a third party Windows update tool will allow me to do that.

 

[Ahhzz]

I just tried to disable the Windows Update service on my laptop and it did let me do it. Whether it will stick, I don't know yet.

It still doesn't solve the problem of letting me update everything normally, except for drivers and BIOS though, rather than the blunt tool of disabling everything. Perhaps using a third party Windows update tool will allow me to do that.

I've done this for a few clients whose computers tend to break with Updates :
To stop Windows from doing automatic driver updates, navigate to Control Panel > System & Security > System > Advanced System Settings > Hardware > Device Installation Settings. Then choose "No (your device might not work as expected)."

 

[lexluthermiester]

prolly a W10Home edition where the service policy options dont exist or dont stick. Typical for W on a laptop.

Incorrect. The update service can be disabled on all versions of Windows 10.

 

[Dirtdog]

I've done this for a few clients whose computers tend to break with Updates :
To stop Windows from doing automatic driver updates, navigate to Control Panel > System & Security > System > Advanced System Settings > Hardware > Device Installation Settings. Then choose "No (your device might not work as expected)."

I had previously done this, after the first forced BIOS update, but it didn't stop the second one occurring. Maybe it should have but became re-enabled, I don't know. If you don't keep a close eye on Windows it seems anything can happen.

 

[Ahhzz]

I had previously done this, after the first forced BIOS update, but it didn't stop the second one occurring. Maybe it should have but became re-enabled, I don't know. If you don't keep a close eye on Windows it seems anything can happen.

I know with our Win10 laptop, M$ keeps finding sneaky ways to re-enable stuff.... probably doesn't hurt to check regularly

 

[lexluthermiester]

M$ keeps finding sneaky ways to re-enable stuff.

And Microsoft wonders why people hate them...

 

[SomeOne99h]

I disable Windows Update, Windows Update Medic and Update Orchestrator Service. But after waking sleep mode or restart/shutdown, they get re-enabled. Mostly "Update Orchestrator Service" starts first. Also, if I remember correctly, even if keep the computer on, I think after 12 or 24 hours they get re-enabled.

Also, I already disabled hardware drivers update check from Windows 10's Advanced System settings. No hacky stuff, yet the "Device Setup Manager" will give me lots of complains in the Event Viewer because it tries to check but check ... Say what?

Device Setup Manager:
"Enables the detection, download and installation of device-related software. If this service is disabled, devices may be configured with outdated software, and may not work correctly."

No comment Windows 10 lol

 

[bobbybluz]

One of the reasons I use 10 Enterprise LTSC. DWS also works well for removing unwanted/unneeded things from Windows plus can disable telemetry items by choice.

 

[lexluthermiester]

One of the reasons I use 10 Enterprise LTSC.

Pretty much this.

 

[lemonadesoda]

Incorrect. The update service can be disabled on all versions of Windows 10.

Lets just agree that in truth the situation is a Non binary answer. Yes, you can DISABLE update service, BUT W10 either ignores or automagically reenables update. In my mind, that means it wasn't disabled. In your mind, yes it was disabled, but w10 reenabled it. So lets just agree the answer is non#binary or heisenberg uncertainty or -1 and if i had the w10 programmer/QA manager that baked this feature into W10 standing right in front of me, he’d get a kick in the

 

[lexluthermiester]

Lets just agree that in truth the situation is a Non binary answer.

On this topic, no.

BUT W10 either ignores or automagically reenables update.

Not if you do it right. But you have to do it right.

In your mind, yes it was disabled, but w10 reenabled it.

You're making assumptions about what I was thinking. Don't do that.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

I never could get ShutUp10 to work as it was suggested to work for disabling Windows 10 forced updates. Even with all update options disabled through ShutUp10, my daughter's laptop would constantly still do forced updates. It's not the updates that really bugged her (or me), it was the fact that the system would want to update when she was busying using the laptop (doing streaming for school or other tasks).....Windows 10 would just straight up not give a shit you were using the laptop and download and install updates.

I suppose it has irritated her so much she hasn't turned her laptop on for the past 6 months now. She just uses the old, slowly failing screeen, iPad instead of her laptop due to Windows 10 bullshit updates.

Have you considered putting a friendly version of Linux on it instead? Not Ubuntu (since even they do some telemetry upon install), but Ubuntu-based, like Linux Mint or PopOS? I know Linux can be a pain, but if she's just already given up on using the laptop, maybe there isn't much left to lose? These days the web browser handles so much of the work that it might work for her anyway.

I notice this thread is dominated by

and

members. I dread for the future if the youngsters don't care.

prolly a W10Home edition where the service policy options dont exist or dont stick. Typical for W on a laptop.

I guess I'm not young, but I refuse to use Windows 10 (at least by choice, my work PC leaves me no choice). I hate what MS has done to Windows. The UI is also terrible to go along with the telemetry and the "we know better" updates. It's funny how MacOS has basically had the same control panel for 10+ years, while Windows can't seem to land on one.

 

[Fangio1951]

FWIW - I always use WUMT (Windows update mini tool) never fails

 

[MentalAcetylide]

Hmmm... so what am I to tell the one dick head I spoke to at Digital Storm a while back that told me, "Its impossible to disable Windows10 updates" after questioning them concerning a system configuration with Windows10 PRO for the OS?

My question would be, what kind of impact does this have on Win10 built-in AV? I would assume it wouldn't update as needed and some kind of third party security software would be required. What do you folks around here use?

 

[lexluthermiester]

Hmmm... so what am I to tell the one dick head I spoke to at Digital Storm a while back that told me, "Its impossible to disable Windows10 updates" after questioning them concerning a system configuration with Windows10 PRO for the OS?

Don't tell them anything. You owe them no answers. They either haven't tried or don't care. Asking a system builder for nitty-gritty tech-support is like the Sun to help you grow peas. It'll provide the sunshine, but you still need to do the work to grow them and get a result.

My question would be, what kind of impact does this have on Win10 built-in AV? I would assume it wouldn't update as needed and some kind of third party security software would be required.

Windows Defender will continue to update itself independently unless you disable it as well.

What do you folks around here use?

I actively use and promote Comodo's Security suite. They make Microsoft look like monkey's diddling a football IMO.

Best Internet Security Software 2022 | Antivirus Total Security

Comodo's best internet security software is an advanced best antivirus total security for web threats. The best internet security and Computer security software.

www.comodo.com

AntiVirus/AntiMalware+Firewall AIO. Easy to use but also has all the advanced fine-grained feature controls one could ask for.

 

[Mussels]

Don't tell them anything. You owe them no answers. They either haven't tried or don't care. Asking a system builder for nitty-gritty tech-support is like the Sun to help you grow peas. It'll provide the sunshine, but you still need to do the work to grow them and get a result.


Windows Defender will continue to update itself independently unless you disable it as well.


I actively use and promote Comodo's Security suite. They make Microsoft look like monkey's diddling a football IMO.

Best Internet Security Software 2022 | Antivirus Total Security

Comodo's best internet security software is an advanced best antivirus total security for web threats. The best internet security and Computer security software.

www.comodo.com

AntiVirus/AntiMalware+Firewall AIO. Easy to use but also has all the advanced fine-grained feature controls one could ask for.

defender gets its updates from windows update, i see them all the time

If i disabled the service i'd run another AV (i use kaspersky free)

 

[RJARRRPCGP]

No hacky stuff, yet the "Device Setup Manager" will give me lots of complains in the Event Viewer because it tries to check but check ... Say what?

That's normal when Windows Update video driver updating is disabled, so the video software directly from the GPU manufacturer can be used.

 

[lexluthermiester]

defender gets its updates from windows update, i see them all the time

If i disabled the service i'd run another AV (i use kaspersky free)

Are you sure? Granted, it's been a while, but I know I've seen Defender update itself on it's own. Does that no longer happen? Guessing maybe I should run a test...

 

[bobbybluz]

Back when I was still doing IT at the radio station before retiring we had a few Computer Science grad students as interns. I can't recall any of them actually doing anything of merit for us (but they could sit around and drink astounding amounts of coffee while coding their own projects) however their "leader" said he loved the Comodo firewall and used it as a basis for his own security suite he was working on. He said it was "As bulletproof as anything available".

 

[lemonadesoda]

This happened to me today. I was out. Desktop full of unfinished business. Had to run errands. Was gone 8 hours. On return, system had been rebooted. That’s it. Next rainy weekend I overinstall with W10 LTSC or hackintosh