A Win10 guide for Windows Update settings

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PATCHING By @PKCano For most PC users, the basic task of keeping Windows up to date involves a bewildering pantheon of terms. To make the process of p
[See the full post at: A Win10 guide for Windows Update settings]

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Perq, rc primak, CraigS26, rexr, Mr. Natural, madhackbt, abbodi86, Microfix, tcc089, Elly, Cybertooth, woody

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Hi @PKCano.  Thanks for a great detailed article in today’s Ask Woody Newsletter.  I have a question, if I may:

Under the Section For Win 10 Home Users, in the Pause paragraph, it ends with “Remember: When pausing is active, Windows Update won’t show pending patches (those ready to download or install) — so you’ll not know what’s offered. It’s rather annoying, but there is a solution described below.”

But I didn’t see the “solution described below” in the article … unless this was referring to techniques you use and describe for Pro users. Please can you clarify?

Thanks again.

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From the article:

If your updates are paused and you then click Resume updates (or the pause period ends), the pending updates will immediately download and install. Moreover, your Group Policy setting is ignored. But updates hidden before you clicked Pause will reappear in the wushowhide hidden-updates list.

So you then use wushowhide to see what is offered.

Keeping IT Lean, Clean and Mean!

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woody

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Group Policy is for Pro Users. It is not available in Win10 Home.

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woody

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tcc089 wrote:

It’s rather annoying, but there is a solution described below.

Looking at it harder (and twisting my head and squinting a LOT), it’s definitely annoying — and I don’t see any solution.

In Win10 1903 and 1909 Home, when you’re paused, you won’t see what’s offered.

Your best bet, if you get stuck, is to switch to metered, unpause, then real quick run wushowhide.

I think.

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Elly

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What impact will setting WiFi to metered have on other online activities?

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Not too much. Things like anti-virus definition updates won’t be downloaded automatically; offline maps won’t update automatically; most programs will either reduce their Internet usage or not do anything automatically. You can still get anti-virus definition updates, map updates, etc. by triggering them manually.

I’ve been running as a metered connection for four years now with no problems whatsoever. If you’re vigilant enough to take measures to hold back Windows updates you’re certainly vigilant enough to stay on top of those crucial anti-virus updates on your own.

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Kathy Stevens

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Why not use the MS Catalog and download patches manually whilst WU is blocked using a third party AV and WU blocker? Surely that is a valid option for W10 Home users.

Keeping IT Lean, Clean and Mean!

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Well, this article is about Windows Updates, so I figured I would raise the issue here about the new Microsoft Edge.  Has anybody else notice that after either installing or updating the new Edge browser, that it has covertly changed some settings to Microsoft’s preference?

To be specific:

The default browser becomes (hold on while waiting in suspense) Microsoft Edge.

Although Acrobat Reader is offers far more flexibility, the default PDF reader is…  Wait for it!  Microsoft Edge.

So one has to change the browser and PDF reader defaults back to the way they were.   One must search through the almost infinite list of file extensions to find .PDF and change its handler to Acrobat.  Although PDF is an Adobe contrivance, because Microsoft has made a big deal out of using Edge to read PDFs, it really ought to add Acrobat to list list of its default apps in the following screen.

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rexr

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I am new here and not sure where to post this question, nor do I see where to start a new topic. I have a visual impairment and need to increase the size of the Inbox in Windows Live Mail. I need the top toolbar enlarged also. Any suggestions?

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Your queston is off-topic here in this thread about Windows Update.

In the top menubar, click on Forums. Scroll down and click on “Windows.”
Find your version of Windows and click on it.
Scroll down under the list. There is a place to put the title of the topic (make it explain your problem), and an entry box to put your question(s). Under that, there is a “Submit” button.

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[Cee Arr]

PKCano thank you for the comprehensive Windows 10 Update article.  I am about to pull the trigger to move from Home to Pro.  I have three questions: 1.When would be the best time to make the change – Defcon 4? 2. Am I correct in assuming I’ll get version 2004?  3. Is there any way to remain on 1909 in Pro?

• This reply was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by Cee Arr.

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Changing from Home to Pro is a matter of changing the license key in the Settings App. It shouldn’t change you current version of force an upgrade. All you need is the Pro key.

Read through AKB2000016.
Section 3 is information about Win10 Pro.
Section 4 is the settings I use in v1909 and esrlier as an example. They are basically set and forget. To move to the next version (or the version you choose) is simply a matter of changing the Feature deferral pulldown to the correct number.
Section 5 is what I am working on for v2004 (since MS removed the pulldowns in the GUI). The Group Policy settings work. It is still too soon to say for sure that the Registry settings will continue to work. AKB2000016 is a work in progress.

The time to change to Pro is NOW. And use the settings before the next Patch Tues. so you don’t get v2004 if you don’t want it.

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Cee Arr

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Per https://www.thurrott.com/windows/windows-10/237087/windows-10-pro-users-can-no-longer-defer-windows-updates

“With Windows 10 version 2004, Microsoft is removing that second feature, the ability to defer updates via the “Choose when updates are installed” option in the Advanced Options page. So now, everyone one Windows 10, regardless of the product edition, as the same options to delay updates, but only up to 35 days. You can do so in 7-day increments via Windows Update, or in 1-day increments via Windows Update’s Advanced Options page.”

 

 

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I saw this, too…please, say it isn’t so!

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Cee Arr wrote:

move from Home to Pro

Why? What features of Pro do you need that you can’t find in Home?
Home provides most things required to manage updates since 1903.

cheers, Paul

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Kathy Stevens

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The Pro Edition comes with Group Policy, which gives many more options than just deferring Feature Updates.

It may not be necessary for the base User, but it is a real advantage for anyone that is even borderline tech savvy.

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Elly

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PKCano wrote:

Changing from Home to Pro is a matter of changing the license key in the Settings App. It shouldn’t change you current version of force an upgrade. All you need is the Pro key.

Read through AKB2000016.
Section 3 is information about Win10 Pro.
Section 4 is the settings I use in v1909 and esrlier as an example. They are basically set and forget. To move to the next version (or the version you choose) is simply a matter of changing the Feature deferral pulldown to the correct number.
Section 5 is what I am working on for v2004 (since MS removed the pulldowns in the GUI). The Group Policy settings work. It is still too soon to say for sure that the Registry settings will continue to work. AKB2000016 is a work in progress.

The time to change to Pro is NOW. And use the settings before the next Patch Tues. so you don’t get v2004 if you don’t want it.

@ Cee Arr  I bought the $39.99 pkg from PC World (link below) that EXPIRES at 6 PM CST USA Today 6/30 per the current page clock. I trusted them vs cheaper sites. Entered New Product Key (Settings/Update/Activation/Change Product Key) and Everything in the Pro Upgrade was Automatic for me. MAKE Home BKUP IMAGES just before Upgrade and do so on your schedule.

MY Upgrade from 1909 Home to Pro took 5 minutes but others took longer ( a 10 min wait for one at 100% was Not a Failure sign) – and I followed the Gpedit = 2 mod and other Feature (200)/Quality (30) Update settings (No Pause use per PKC) that PKC is referencing. I can barely spell Kumputer, so If I could do it then you certainly can.
There IS a PC World Media Creation Tool Dnload Link in Purchase Receipt page that CaDesertRat stated IS a 2004 Install (it does NOT say 2004) BUT you’d have to Clk It & manually install it to get 2004. Good Luck!

https://software.pcworld.com/p36877-windows_10_professional

W10 Pro 22H2 / Hm-Stdnt Ofce '16 C2R / HP Envy Desk-Ethernet - SSD-HDD/ i5(8th Gen) 12GB / GP=2 + FtrU=Semi-Annual + Feature Defer = 1 + QU=0

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joltar, Elly, Cee Arr, rexr

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I’m on Win10 PRO but don’t have the same update options that you show in your column.  See my attached screen captures.

GPE screen.jpg

Windows Update Advanced screen.jpg

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Unfortunately, your screenshots did not display.

Please read AKB2000016, the source material for the article.

The deferral pulldowns in Advanced options are available in the Pro version only, in Win10 v1909 and earlier. They have been removed by MS in v2004.

If you have any deferrals set in Group Policy in the Pro version, the pulldown deferral switches will not be available in the GUI. This is explained in AKB2000016.

 

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rc primak

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The June 2020 CU removed the deferral options from the User Interface on my Windows 10 Pro 1909 PC. No upgrade to 2004 yet, but the options are gone anyway. This seems to be getting applied retroactively to all supported versions.

-- rc primak

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I still have the deferral switches in the GUI under Advanced options on my v1909 Pro updated through June Patch Tues. But I have not installed the OOB printer-fix patch.

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rc primak

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[rc primak]

I’m on Win10 PRO but don’t have the same update options that you show in your column.

Have you by any chance applied the June 2020 CU and/or the out of band update from the Catalog? Or are we talking about the underlying Group Policy screens?

-- rc primak

• This reply was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by rc primak.

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See #2277023 above. I have no other settings in GP except “2”

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I just installed the Win10 1909 CU – KB 4560960, build 18363.900.

The deferral options are still in Windows Update Advanced settings.

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Cee Arr, Win7and10, PKCano

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NOTE: – if you have any deferrals set in Group Policy, the pulldown switches in the GUI in Advanced options will be unavailable (not show up).

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Thanks for the document, will be reading it thoroughly. Sounds like Win 10 Home can be messy to say the least. Makes you not want to be “PC Savvy” to save your own skin. In these uncertain times, added stress does not help. Would like the PC to be simple, just like Win 7 was, but alas, will not be so.

Thanks PKCano for all you do, I will be reading enthusiastically.

Win 10 Home 22H2

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Be sure t read AKB2000016. It is the source for the article and has more information.

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Win7and10, rc primak

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https://software.pcworld.com/p36877-windows_10_professional

The PC World Clock now shows 30 more days for $39.99 Pro Lifetime.

W10 Pro 22H2 / Hm-Stdnt Ofce '16 C2R / HP Envy Desk-Ethernet - SSD-HDD/ i5(8th Gen) 12GB / GP=2 + FtrU=Semi-Annual + Feature Defer = 1 + QU=0

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Cee Arr, rc primak

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I’m posting this for WG, who keeps getting “Can’t post at this time” errors…

Was greeted by the Win10 welcome screen on boot this AM. This is a Haswell portable workstation which had been running Win7 Pro x64 until a BIOS setting had crashed this thing in March by deciding that I had a RAID array and corrupted the Win7 installation.

My IT specialists were unable to get Win7 going period. They loaded a fresh copy of Win10 Pro and got it going. Saved the Win7 backup to the desktop. Their best IT gent later was able to transfer most stuff from there to Win10 Pro and unlock it and reinstall programs. Almost back to normal but had to buy later versions of some programs to be compatible with Win10.

No clue what was updated. Still on 1909. Had disabled OneDrive and don’t use the Store. When cleaning the %TEMP% folder, one OneDrive process was running. Had to open it although I have no account and change the start setting in OneDrive settings. On a restart that process was gone from %TEMP%.

Not a rocket scientist here and no clue what update caused the welcome screen. As per the Computerworld article, my updates are paused until July 6th. Feature updates paused for 280 days. No clue what is going on here but don’t want this thing to lock up next Monday! Appears to be no way to pause updates past 7/6.

Any reflections? Comments? Instructions?

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See the BlogPost “Is there a way to cheat Pause Update?” and read the comments on the Lounge how people did this.

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woody

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Thanks, Woody. Was able to follow PK’s advice on the other thread and re-pause until 8/06 by which time you’ll have detailed advice for dealing with the June chaos! 🙂 Much obliged!

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