How do you prevent downloads from the MS Store (Reposititory) or save these?

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Windows 10 Home (21H2)

I thought I had this all figured out (Grrrr).  Paused updates, used a registry edit…..all for nothing.  As soon as connected to the net, I got three (mostly) unneeded packages downloaded and installed.

Q1:  Is it not possible to do a clean installation of Windows 10 Home and not have the MS Store automatic downloads ?  (I could upgrade to Windows Pro, but I can’t do that offline.)

Q2:  If I wanted to save and install these downloaded and installed packages, are they saved somewhere on my local drive ?  (I know that they are unavailable for direct download/saving from the net, MS Download or Store).

Mike

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You block Microsoft Store downloads in your Microsoft Store settings.

(I know that they are unavailable for direct download/saving from the net, MS Download or Store).

You can download and save from Microsoft Store.

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Mike

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Where do you see that? I don’t see store settings…maybe I got rid of it a long time ago when I got rid of those horrible tiles and the other crap Microsoft keeps trying to foist on users? I only go to Universal Applications/Microsoft Store because Apple had to put iCloud there. Plus, Dell Mobile Connect is there (and is always a mess) and Microsoft hid Themes for Desktop there ….those are one of the RARE good things Microsoft offers but hard to find.

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I am running Windows 10 Pro and have the store totally disabled (gpedit and services).

I also run iTunes which I found by doing a web search – got it directly from Apple.

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Mike

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The new MS Store v22112.1401.2.0 has a different layout than the images @Alex5723 posted.

To disable App auto updates, open MS Store.

Click the profile image at the top right and select App Settings in the drop-down menu.

On the App settings window, turn off App updates by sliding the switch to the left.

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Mike

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Doesn’t work for me.  Microsoft Store settings are only available if you are connected to the net.  When I do that the updates are downloaded and installed immediately.

Machine came with Windows 10 Home.  I wanted a clean install, so I downloaded Windows 10 21H2.  I have Windows 10 Pro, but I can’t upgrade without online activation.

Am I stuck with these forced updates?

Mike

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This works for Win10 20H2 too. But it is not for the faint of heart.

https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/removing-built-in-apps-from-win10-2004-20h2-21h1/

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Mike, Charlie

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Thanks PKCano.  Is that suggesting that I remove the MS Store completely?  I’m not entirely sure that these updates, in the form of new drivers, are even coming from the MS Store. All I know is after a fresh install, with all the drivers I need, as soon as I go online they’re downloaded and installed.

FYI App/Drivers Newly Installed

1.  Intel Graphics Command Center (for gamers, wt ads)
2.  Intel Thunderbolt Control Center
3.  Realtek Control Center (redundant downgrade)

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Drivers come through Windows Update.

MS Store Apps receive their update separately. The settings are controlled by the MS Store App itself, under your Profile\settings.
The procedure linked above can be used to remove the UWP built-in MS Store Apps you are not using, thus preventing updating for those removed Apps
You should not remove the MS Store App itself. I understand that it CAN be done, but the results are unpredictable and may require the reinstallation of Windows if you want to reinstall the Store.

Windows Update can be controlled by third-party applications like WUMgr (lots of info on this site about it).
But if you want to use Windows native controls, in the Win Pro you can use Group Policy (gpedit.exe). AKB2000016 Guide for Windows Update Settings for Win10 provides some techniques. Section 1 is General, Section 2is for Home but contains a lot of explanations, Sections 3-5 are for Pro and there are screenshots below.
AKB6000003 provides Group Policy and Registry settings to control version upgrades.

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Mike, Microfix

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I wouldn’t even attempt to remove the Windows Store any more..it’ll break the OS configuration..I’ve tried and failed on W10 Pro numerous times (21H1 and 21H2) with a pre-imaged standard installation.
As for driver blocking, this is available in the WUMgr Auto Update tab, untick ‘include Drivers’ checkbox for Home as well as Pro editions.
Trick here is NOT to use the default WU in the Update and security section, use WUMgr all the time

No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created IT- AE

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Mike, Alex5723

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Windows Update can be controlled by third-party applications like WUMgr (lots of info on this site about it).
But if you want to use Windows native controls, in the Win Pro you can use Group Policy (gpedit.exe). AKB2000016 Guide for Windows Update Settings for Win10 provides some techniques. Section 1 is General, Section 2is for Home but contains a lot of explanations, Sections 3-5 are for Pro and there are screenshots below.
AKB6000003 provides Group Policy and Registry settings to control version upgrades.

Thanks for the clarification. I sort of botched the original post. But it looks like what this boils down to is I have no control with the drivers being updated when I have Windows 10 Home for that first connection to the internet.

 

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Actually you can prevent the automatic driver updates by installing Win10 without an internet connection using a USB/DVD created using Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool.

Once you’ve created it, simply disconnect your PC from the internet and install Win10 from the external source.

Once you have Win10 up and running, use the info from the guide @PKCano referenced to apply the registry entries to disable automatic driver updates and then reconnect to the internet (you’ll need to have “off-line” copies of those settings before doing this sort of install.)

Once catch to doing it this way is you’ll have to use a local account when setting up the new copy of Windows as you won’t be able to access your existing Microsoft account (if you have one) until after you’ve reconnected to the internet.

That’s not really a problem as the Accounts section in settings includes an option for local accounts to “Add a Microsoft account” under the Other accounts you use section.

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Mike

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First set your Internet connection (both wlan and wifi) to metered.

Next remove all store apps (leave Microsoft store app as it can’t be restored without Windows re-install/repair) using an app like Portable 10 Apps Manager or O&O AppBuster

Use Portable WUmgr to block driver updates.

Go to Microsoft Store and disable apps update.

Now you can disable metered connection.

Use WUmgr for Windows update instead of Microsoft’s Update. With WUmgr you can hide any update you don’t want to install now or ever.

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Mike

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You may want to temporarily set your firewall to alert you whenever any program (like the ‘store’) wants access to the internet.  When you get into a situation where Windows wants to download something from ‘the store,’ and you get an alert, simply choose to block it. Always.  99.9% of snooping and superfluous MS crapola can be easily stopped if folks set their firewalls to alert them when something wants access.  It’s a pain at first, but if you choose to ‘always block’ a program (such as telemetry, store, or an app that has no reason to have internet access) it won’t give you a second alert. It’s a ‘one and done’ thing. You can always go into your firewall control panel and give it access again if you need to.

Most firewalls, by default, allows almost everything to have internet access, especially if it’s anything Windows related.  And that can be stopped simply by using a tool that you already have.

 

"War is the remedy our enemies have chosen. And I say let us give them all they want" ----- William T. Sherman

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Mike

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