How to keep Win10 version 1909 from installing

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The rules have changed. Keeping 1909 off your machine until you’re ready to install it is much easier than blocking upgrades in previous versions of W
[See the full post at: How to keep Win10 version 1909 from installing]

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OK so if you are on Windows 10 Home 1803 – go to 1903.

And Woody is seriously considering going from Windows Pro 1809 to 1903.

But those on Windows Pro 1803 should consider going to 1809? (with 6 months left) or 1903.

I’m on Win Pro 1803 looking for some consensus, but it sure seems like 1903 is in the lead.

With 1903 discussions all over this Forum – can someone list what are the drop dead issues against 1903?  And 1809?

Windows 10 Pro x64 v22H2 and Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64 (RIP)

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[PKCano]

You could be that someone. Why don’t you try to make that list for the benefit of all here?

• This reply was modified 5 years, 6 months ago by PKCano.

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PK, you got me there!

Unfortunately it would take me forever to find all that has been published on this topic, some of which I am sure has been resolved over time or made worse as CU’s have been released.  Also not having 1903 installed as of yet, I have not followed the path as closely as others may have.

I assumed Woody and the experts herein, have rational for not readily endorsing 1903 to the masses yet.  What are they?

Windows 10 Pro x64 v22H2 and Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64 (RIP)

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woody

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Just look at the problems we had with last month’s 1903 patches.

A truly solid OS doesn’t get shafted like that.

1809 has its problems, but again look at last month. Stupid bugs in the 1809 patches, but not of the magnitude, uh, enjoyed by 1903.

On the other hand – and it’s a BIG hand – 1903 has the update blocking settings that we’ve all wanted for years. That’s particularly compelling for Home customers.

It’s a difficult question – and I’ve been struggling with it for months.

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Kirsty, cyberSAR

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I don’t believe you can solve that rationally. People’s opinions will be tainted by whatever experience they’ve had on whatever system they use on whatever device they use it on. To get a true picture, you’d need responses from people who use the same device who have tested side-by-side installations. Even if you could find that, updates change everything (figuratively, as well as literally). From today forward, one, the other or both may work perfectly (or neither.

I  generally make the 10 move every 12 months using the update that’s at least six months or so old.  That cuts down the change stress to once per annum. Every six months is ridiculous.  Meanwhile, I don’t have THAT problem on my Win 7 machine. What is it about feature updates that Microsoft think will change their world. Would they not be better served gaining a reputation for rock-solid reliability, offering features via a side-channel instead of ramming them down our unwilling throats,

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When does 1909 replace 1903 as the updateable version?

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b wrote:

First spotted by VIP Bree (who had been tracking the issue for five months) at TenForums.com: https://www.tenforums.com/windows-updates-activation/142625-strange-case-missing-pause-feature-update-setting-post1754080.html#post1754080

b wrote:

It’s highly likely that this update (KB4522355) has finally fixed the “disappearing defer settings” in Windows 10 Pro on versions 1903 and 1909. (I’ll be testing this shortly on 1909. It may help if someone could also test on 1903.)

Has this ever been widely confirmed?

Windows 10 Pro x64 v22H2 and Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64 (RIP)

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woody

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No, but the fix has persisted for me over the last 10 days.

Defer settings remain available whatever they’re set to after KB4522355 for versions 1903/1909.

Hopefully more will now be installing this update to confirm that it works for everyone.

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abbodi86, woody

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If the settings were non-zero (and, thus, the pane hidden) prior to the installation of KB 4522355, the “optional non-security” second cumulative update for October, do those non-zero settings show when the pane re-appears?

If so, this is an excellent change. I hope it persists with the November cumulative update.

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After installing KB4522355, it took a “Check for updates” followed by a system restart before the two defer settings reappeared for me. But now they won’t disappear again whatever I do with them.

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woody

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… of course, it doesn’t help in this instance that you always say;

Just remember: Don’t ever click Check for updates.

Perhaps in the era of an additional “Download and install now” section, it’s time to retire that mantra?

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When I’m convinced that MS is always displaying “Download and install now,” I’ll gladly drop the admonition.

There are changes coming in 20H1 that should make things better. Right now, if MS has two “optional” updates in the queue, it isn’t clear to me how they distinguish between them. Supposedly 20H1 makes that clearer.

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I can confirm that the Deferral settings UI issue is fixed with KB4522355

by the way, you can initiate WU scan (in order for the changes to take effect) without clicking “Check for updates” button

just close Settings page and simply run powershell command:
Start-WUScan

you can also run it from command prompt:
powershell -noprofile -exec bypass -c “$r= Start-WUScan”

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woody

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Yessssssssssssss!

A lingering question: If the “Pause updates” and “deferral” options are different, which one wins? My guess is that Windows Update waits for both to be cleared, but….

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Wins how exactly?

i never used or tried pause options befor, ever

since KB4522355 is the latest Optional Update, and ver 1909 is not public yet, the “Download and Install” panel will not show up for now

but i have the flash and 2 .NET updates in the queue
i will try pause with DeferQualityUpdate to see

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If the quality update deferral setting is at, say, 20 days. And you’ve clicking Pause updates 3 times (total 21 days), will cumulative updates install after 20 days, or will WU wait for 21 days?

The other way around – if you click Pause updates 3 times and have quality update deferral set to 15 days, will cumulative updates be installed after 16 days?

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Both 21. Pause is when and defer is what.

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b wrote:

Pause is when and defer is what.

Understood (and I didn’t word my examples very well).

So in both cases, Windows Update waits until it’s satisfied both the deferral setting and the Pause setting. Makes sense.

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I have 1809 and I don’t see any of those options. All I have is Update Options [which I have set to ‘on’] and automatically updates over metered connections [off] and show a notification when your PC requires a restart to complete [yes].

Is this another case [ and if so, shame on you!!] of needing to be logged in on an admin account to do these things? I said before and I’ll say it again, I think that _default_ doing *ANYTHING* on windows as admin is foolish and dangerous and shouldn’t be encouraged. If we need admin for one of your tuning suggestions you should tell us.

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I take the shame.

What options are you talking about?

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The seminannual update and 365 days deferral settings are only availalbe if you’re logged in as admin. Since you didn’t notice that, I expect you just run as admin all time, which I think is a bad idea.

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OIC.

Yes, I feel duly admonished. And I should mention it….

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You did:

Staying on 1809 is relatively easy if you’re using Windows 10 Pro. Using an administrator account, click Start > Settings > Update & Security. Click the link marked Advanced options. Make sure you have the channel set to Semi-Annual Channel and feature update deferral set to 365 as shown in the screenshot below.
How to block the Windows 10 November 2019 Update, version 1909, from installing

(But you still never mention an admin account being required when you talk about switching a metered connection on/off.)

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woody

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1809 home here and I get the Feature update to Windows 10, version 1903 Download and install now option. The article made it sound like that was only available on 1903.

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I saw that, too.

I hope it’s a harbinger of the restraint we can expect with 1803, as well!

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“Download and install now” has been available on all current versions for nearly six months:

This new ‘Download and install now’ capability is available for devices running Windows 10, version 1803 or version 1809 that also have the May 21st updates (or later) installed.
https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2019/05/21/how-to-get-the-windows-10-may-2019-update/

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abbodi86

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… but I haven’t seen it implemented consistently. For example, where was it when we had the kerfuffle with the IE zero-day “out of band” patches — all three of them? When one upgrades from 1809 after Nov. 14, will the machine go to 1903 with the “Download and install now” offer for 1909 – or will it go straight to 1909? And how will MS distinguish between the two possibilities.

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As a matter of fact, with my three Win10 Pro (1803, 1809, and 1903) set at SAC, 365, 0, Auto Updates Enabled value set a 2, I have never seen the “Download and install now.”

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Microfix, woody

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Which feature update did you expect to be offered with defer set to 365 days?

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Not necessarily looking for Feature updates.
Does it not also apply to optional (available) updates?

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PKCano wrote:

Not necessarily looking for Feature updates.
Does it not also apply to optional (available) updates?

I don’t believe so:

Starting with update KB4497934, we are introducing functionality that allows you to decide when to install a feature update. You control when you get a feature update while simultaneously keeping your devices up to date. Feature updates that are available for eligible devices will appear in a separate module on the Windows Update page (Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update). If you would like to get an available update right away, select Download and install now. To find out more about this feature, please go to this blog.
May 21, 2019—KB4497934 (OS Build OS 17763.529)

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woody wrote:

… but I haven’t seen it implemented consistently. For example, where was it when we had the kerfuffle with the IE zero-day “out of band” patches — all three of them?

Your biggest complaint (and Susan’s) about the IE zero-day patches was that they weren’t “real out-of-band updates” because they were optional for 10 days before being “pushed”. (Don’t you normally argue against “forced” updates?) I don’t see how being offered for download and install would have improved that situation.

woody wrote:

When one upgrades from 1809 after Nov. 14, will the machine go to 1903 with the “Download and install now” offer for 1909 – or will it go straight to 1909? And how will MS distinguish between the two possibilities.

I can’t see that Microsoft will ever offer anything except the latest generally available version unless that is deferred. Microsoft doesn’t need to distinguish when Pro users have full control over which newer version is offered via feature update deferral of up to a year.

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b wrote:

Microsoft doesn’t need to distinguish when Pro users have full control over which newer version is offered via feature update deferral of up to a year.

The problem is with Home. I keep hoping Home will no longer be treated as a second class patching citizen. The availability of “Pause updates” for Home gave me some hope!

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Nitpicker’s corner:  All Windows 10 1903 machines already have the entire contents of Windows 10 1909 on them…. it’s just that the feature flags enabling the new features are turned off.

 

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woody

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I hear ya… but wonder how much of that is just marketing and semantics.

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Really, so it should just be a tiny download and setting a metered connection would not prohibit an upgrade ??

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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That’s an excellent question. I don’t know just yet.

I also don’t know exactly how the November cumulative update will behave.

Whether all of 1909 is already in 1903, just not enabled, is debatable – and largely a question of semantics.

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wavy

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Will 1909 be a feature update or be a cumulative update to 1903?   Another way of looking at it, will 1903 and 1909 exist on separate tracks?

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Supposedly, 1903 and 1909 are going to be the same content except for some kind of package of “enablers” that 1909 will receive to “turn on” the additional features(?).

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[sheldon]

Thus are you saying that 1903 and 1909 will continue to exist and get updates after 1909 is released?

• This reply was modified 5 years, 6 months ago by sheldon.

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It appears that way. But we’re talking Microsoft here!

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woody, sheldon

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I can’t readily put my finger on it, but I seem to recall back when the 1909 was first being discussed that you could feature update to 1903 and then to 1909 OR wait and go directly to 1909.

Windows 10 Pro x64 v22H2 and Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64 (RIP)

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Hm, I assume if one set the feature deferral via the Win 10 Group Policy Editor in 1903 to 365 days / semi-annual channel, the 1909-upgrade will NOT appear, right…?

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@pkcano has documented a lot on the various settings and their impact, such as here and here. Reading these should give you answers to your question (if not, post back again).

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Don’t think how to handle 1909 was ever definitively answered since there will be 3 versions of Win 10 available at the same time 1809,1903, and 1909. And will 1909 be a “traditional feature update” or more of a cumulative update?

Windows 10 Pro x64 v22H2 and Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64 (RIP)

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That’s a question all of us are hoping MS will answer, at some point.

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Kirsty

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I installed Windows 1909 yesterday and guess what? Start menu doesn’t work :). Right-click works, left-click doesn’t :). Will check that today again and if it’ still not working, I’ll roll-back.

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woody

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ARRRRGH. (When you say it doesn’t work, I assume it throws the blue “Critical Error” message?)

Did you have the same problem with 1903? If so, which build?

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[radosuaf]

Nope, it just doesn’t react. Nothing happens. I’ve had the latest 1903 build before with no issues at all.

Fractal Design Pop Air * Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 750W * ASUS TUF GAMING B560M-PLUS * Intel Core i9-11900K * 4 x 8 GB G.Skill Aegis DDR4 3600 MHz CL16 * ASRock RX 6800 XT Phantom Gaming 16GB OC * XPG GAMMIX S70 BLADE 1TB * SanDisk Ultra 3D 1TB * Samsung EVO 840 250GB * DVD RW Lite-ON iHAS 124 * Windows 10 Pro 22H2 64-bit Insider * Windows 11 Pro Beta Insider

• This reply was modified 5 years, 6 months ago by radosuaf.

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woody

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Hmmm… False alarm. Works now :).

Fractal Design Pop Air * Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 750W * ASUS TUF GAMING B560M-PLUS * Intel Core i9-11900K * 4 x 8 GB G.Skill Aegis DDR4 3600 MHz CL16 * ASRock RX 6800 XT Phantom Gaming 16GB OC * XPG GAMMIX S70 BLADE 1TB * SanDisk Ultra 3D 1TB * Samsung EVO 840 250GB * DVD RW Lite-ON iHAS 124 * Windows 10 Pro 22H2 64-bit Insider * Windows 11 Pro Beta Insider

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woody

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I’ll take “If that don’t beat all” for $2,000, Alex.

I updated my 1903 VM to 18362.418 (first October cumulative update) and rebooted.

Then I set feature deferral to 365 and rebooted.

And the %$#@! “Choose when updates are installed” section is there!

What?

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You got the earlier one.
You need KB4522355 released 10/23 Build  18362.449
And don’t forget the SSU KB4525419

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To add to the mystery… when I changed quality update deferral to 10 days, the pane disappeared.

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In Build 18362.449 the pane doesn’t disappear.
The fix is in KB4522355, the 10/23 CU

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I understand… but in .418 the pane DOES appear, at least on my machine, with feature update nonzero and quality update zero. Multiple reboots.

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I just manually installed the SSU and KB4522355, and the pane does appear, as it should. (I couldn’t get “Download and install now” to work – clicking on it didn’t install KB 4522355. No idea why.)

 

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Your “before the disappearance” setting was probably SAC, not SAC (Targeted).
Those settings are still there in the Registry (even though they were not showing in the GUI).
SAC (Targeted) allowed those patches released between Patch Tuesdays (previously called “Previews,” or optional or non-security).
SAC only allowed the Patch Tuesday Security CUs (Quality updates).
KB4522355 was an OOB update, not a Patch Tues Security update.

It is my GUESS that is why you didn’t get KB4522355 (maybe the metadata was different).

@abbodi86 would know – I’m only guessing.

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woody

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Makes sense – but this is on an ultra-clean, installed from scratch 1909 VM.

Still scratching my head.

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Is the Build number the same for 1903 and 1909? You show Build 18362.449 which is the same as my 1903 Build.

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[woody]

I’m running 1903. The build number goes up by one for 1909 – 18363 for 1909. This same update in 1909 should show build 18363.449.

(That also explains why folks running 1909 haven’t seen the change, if they haven’t installed the “optional” second cumulative update for October.)

• This reply was modified 5 years, 6 months ago by woody.

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OptionalInstall cumulative updates depend on certain factors before they get offered
telemetry level, compatibily appraiser status, deferral settings

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woody, PKCano

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