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Thanks for that link. It does contain more than what I wrote about. I kept my post specific to what I have already done on my machine, relative only to telemetry and this information is current. That post was written in Feb 2017, things change.

I seem to have a problem with the search engine on this site. I am either typing in the wrong words or doing something else incorrect, either way if I type in (without the quotes):

“Block Windows Updates”, I am presented with posts that have nothing at all to do with my search. I am still learning what to enter in the search window.

I did look for blocking Firefox telemetry, nothing like your link appeared.

I chalk it up to being new here, I’m sure this will not be the last time someone points to a link about something I post as having been posted before.

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HiFlyer

Hello again,

Several weeks ago I asked how I could block Win10 updates, my purpose was clear … to me at least. I wanted to be able to control when my machine was updated, cut and dried.

I said I was not going to stop looking and I am happy to report the endeavor has paid off.

Quite frankly I am now surprised at the suggestions I received here, now that I have found exactly what I was asking for. I post this information here hoping it might help others who wanted control of when their Windows10 Home Edition updates.

A very small program called StopUpdates10 can be found here and many other DL sites:

http://greatis.com/blog/stopupdates10

I downloaded the latest version from that url, installed the program and so far have not had any issues with it. Because this program has been available for a while I would have thought someone here would have suggested it, no one did. So I will suggest it for W10 Home users that want control over forced updates which we all see are having issues.  With all the searching I have done, the last place I would have expected to find such a program is in the Windows Forums, but I did find it first there. (the link that is)

I am including an excerpt outlining what the program does I copied from:

https://www.thewindowsclub.com

I hope this helps some, all, or just one of the many readers here. I do intend to update, perhaps when the MS-DEFCON rating is more palatable.

How StopUpdates10 works

If you are curious enough, the developer of the tool has provided us with the entire list of actions that happen in the background. The tool makes the following changes:

1. Registry Values: The program automatically changes the registry values for 7 registry keys for you so that you do not have to do it manually. All the registry changes can be easily restored back with the restore button.
2. Windows Update Service: StopUpdates10 completely stops this service and prevents it from auto-starting, essentially killing the automatic updates mechanism.
3. Blocks Processes: The tool also blocks some of the other processes like “EOSNOTIFY.EXE”,”UsoClient.exe”, “MusNotification.exe”, “UpdateAssistant.exe”,”WINDOWS10UPGRADERAPP.EXE”, “remsh.exe”, “dismHost.exe”, “SIHClient.exe”,”InstallAgent.exe”,”Windows10Upgrade.exe”, “WaaSMedic.exe“, so that you do not get any update related notifications on your computer.

Restoring changes is also easy as is. All you need to do is hit the Restore Windows Updates button, and all the changes will be rolled back. The program also displays the status of Windows Update. Apart from that it also provides you with command line features so that you can include StopUpdates10 in your scripts as well.

I thought that was a telling thought also Cybertooth. It is a long drawn out article, thought out and presented well enough so even the merely, kinda advanced M$ user could get his point, even if he did make it numerous times.

I have asked [different thread] how to disable M$ updates on my Win 10 Home machine, the main response is DON’T DO IT, or you can’t.[ I know the “metered” trick ]. Okay, I listened and didn’t do the horrid registry tricks totally disabling WSUS by deleting the entity. I did add gpedit and went through the steps to delay WSUS even though I was told it didn’t matter, windows wouldn’t recognize this on a Home setup.  Never say die!

I found a tiny program at,
http://greatis.com/blog/stopupdates10 … and I installed it. It may use a small, small amount of my system resources [Task Manager shows 1.3Mb memory allocated] but if it works, it is a small price to pay vrs possible known headaches allowing M$ to run amok. The really cool thing is you can turn it on and off with far less clicks (2) than the gp route. [If that route were available to me]

To test this program I opened Update and clicked “check for updates”, sadly for M$ there was an issue preventing them from providing me with their latest, greatest [patches]. I can’t imagine what that could have been 🙂 I have Spybot Anti-Beacon zapping the telemetry M$ forces on us, I have to reset that at every boot. This one stayed put where I left it.

My apologies for the minor segue.

I thought this was very telling in the article:

by the time you have something that you can put in front of customers to use, new features have been baked into the final product, making them hard to change in response to feedback.

Hello! Maybe I am missing something, it seems they ask for feedback then gripe it’s to hard or late in the process to undo known reported bugs. Even if the respondents didn’t cross the t’s and dot the i’s in the exact spot, the gist of their reports “should” be apparent. eh, whadda I know, I am only a lowly Win10 home user. (and Linux Mint Tara wanna-be user in the making via VM for now)

Very nice link Mr Woody, thank you!

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HiFlyer, flackcatcher, Cybertooth

WINDOWS 8.1 IS THE MOST STABLE VERSION OF WINDOWS!

I’m gonna disagree.
The most stable version of windows is any version of windows on a laptop turned off, battery removed and stored on the top shelf way in the back of your closet. Please pay attention to the warning label that says: DO NOT OPEN … EVER

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HiFlyer

Pardon me while I lmao.

Pretty good gag is so many ways.

Why do I say a gag? If it were truly malicious a single click on [X] would not have disable it.

Punt to M$ and Google. Still funny.

Never been to M$ store, never will.

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HiFlyer, WildBill

woody wrote:

If you install GPEdit on a Home machine, and make changes, they’ll rarely be followed. That’s definitely the case with update deferrals – changes made by GPEdit, or by directly editing the Registry, aren’t followed.

I could have guessed the changes would not be followed. After deferring in gpedit I opened Services and attempted to change WindowsUpdate  properties for ‘restore’. That was a No Go. At least I got to see how gpedit looks and is supposed to work even if it won’t in my case.

I assume if I edit the Registry and add a Key in WindowUpdate in AU called AUoptions setting the value to (2)  it will have the same inherent value, an exercise in futility. I just hate it when I am told I can’t do something to/with my OS. I have read on AskWoody in several places that delaying updates in the Home editions of Windows 10 wasn’t possible. I think by now if such a tactic were possible I would have seen it here. From what I have read changing  to metered connection only works on a WiFi connection, it has no effect on Ethernet connections. though I do have it set as such. I am like a lot of semi-advanced Windows users, I know just enough to get into trouble 😀

<shrug>

Bluetrix

Edit to add: I am not going to stop looking.

Kirsty wrote:

Have you checked out our Knowledge Base articles? AKB1000005 Disable Automatic Update in Win10 AKB2000005 How to update Windows 10 – safely

After further poking around I stumbled across Gpedit, which can be downloaded and installed in Windows10 Home editions. I found Gpedit and instructions at:

https://www.itechtics.com › Windows

A quick look around showed the same program at MajorGeeks also, sans instructions. It is (as you probably know) the “Local Group Policy Editor” found in Pro versions. I followed the instructions and delayed installation for 365 days and 30 days. After install, I find easiest way to open the program is in command prompt, typing: gpedit.msc I didn’t copy the 3 files as suggested to win32 folder, this is just as easy for me. ymmv

I guess I will find out soon enough if it actually works without upgrading to Pro. or going Linux only. Hmm, one might think I am a wee bit upset with Windows/M$. Thing is, I am willing to pull the plug after 20+ Windows years. (That’s an eon in dog years)

Bluetrix

Windows10 Home 1803, Linux Mint19 (Tara) Dual boot.

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HiFlyer

Kirsty wrote:

Are you referring to the reply by @slayer933?

…Open a command prompt as administrator and type: SC DELETE WUAUSERV and you’ll be set! Also check your Scheduled Tasks for UpdateOrchestrator entries and delete those as well…

BTW which version of Win10 are you using?

Yes, that was the 1st comment that caught my eye. Knowing windows has a habit of restoring changes you make to updating and blocking telemetry I was thinking of building an autoexec.bat file to do the deleting on each boot, but it is my understanding that the autoexec.bat is only available with early versions of Windows and is not available or used in any version after Windows XP. I could be mistaken. It was just some ideas I hadn’t seen, I suppose if it was a ‘cure’ more sites would carry the *tips*. There were other comments that were interesting enough to at least read.

Currently I am running Windows 1803 Home, Build: 17134.165

Linux Mint 19 (Tara) Dual boot.

Kirsty wrote:

Have you checked out our Knowledge Base articles? AKB1000005 Disable Automatic Update in Win10 AKB2000005 How to update Windows 10 – safely

I have now, this is not the same. This is an approach I haven’t seen. Doesn’t automatically make it bad which is why I asked 😀

Perhaps I should have mentioned the part I am interested in is in the ‘comments’ section at the bottom of page.

Thanks

Bluetrix

Thank you for your response. Because I could find no posts regarding my problem I assumed it was something I was overlooking, and it was.

I don’t know for certain but I think it had to do with this sites certificate issue earlier this year. I recall allowing only temporary access to bypass the browser lockout. Somehow, with or without my help, FF added Woody to the exception rule on cookies as BLOCKED. After whitelisting cookies in the exception rules for Woody … poof, here I be.

After correcting about.preference for *backspace* setting it to ‘2’ I finally get to post. Odd this site is the only one that when I hit backspace it acted as the back button, poof all typing was gone. Oh well, live to learn. Only took me 3 tries before I hunted down that problem 🙂

It still doesn’t work *normal* but at least the bouncing around has ceased.

 

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Kirsty

Windmill:

Dodging the windmill blades while entering the structure could be a bit dicy, this is aside from the fact that blades normally would not be mounted this low. ( lol, or door that high) :/)
Mounting of the blades to the spindle are not symmetrical, all blade shafts would be in line with opposing blades.
Slats on the blades would be of equal length and width and most likely an equal number of slats per blade would be employed.
Steps are uneven and of different heights.
Unequal number of riser posts for hand rails.

House:

Windows on front of house would all be same size on same level. Top right window is not centered with floor level window on same side.
He is holding onto rung rather than rail while climbing. Lots of lumber for a house that is built, few shingles.
Flashing is installed after shingles, not before.

Car:

Parked on wrong side of road.
No need to remove box of flowers from bicycle, they are close enough not to need removing.
Using bicycle pedal as a kick stand, I could never get this to work for me.
Wearing a suit to pedal flowers …. hmmmm
Gas gauge is on empty.