Win 10 updates can't be disabled

[Elixer]

I know why they did it, since there are too many idiots in this world, but, what happens if a update borks something, how can people get back online?

Ugh, they really need an advanced user option.


http://arstechnica.com/information-...to-be-automatic-and-mandatory-for-home-users/

This has immediately raised concerns. Today, if a Windows user finds that an update breaks something that they need, they can generally refuse that update for an extended period. This is particularly apparent with Service Packs; these are both the most likely updates to break things and the easiest to reject. Microsoft continues to deliver security fixes to the operating system both with and without the Service Pack for many months or years after the Service Pack's release.

For Windows 10 Home users, this isn't going to be an option. If a future update breaks something essential, the user is going to be out of luck.

Windows 10 Pro users will have a little flexibility; they'll be able to switch from the mainstream release to the Current Branch for Business (CBB). This will give some control over when updates are deployed. While the CBB will essentially track the consumer release, it will allow feature updates to be held back for some amount of time; Anderson quotes a Microsoft executive saying that companies will have around eight months to prepare for each new feature update. Delay the feature update any further and they'll also be prevented from receiving security updates.

Only Windows 10 Enterprise users will be able to update in a way that resembles the current Windows 8 scheme. By opting for the Long Term Servicing (LTS) branch, Enterprise users will be able to defer feature updates for years, electing to receive only security fixes during that time. Microsoft is pushing most businesses to be on either the consumer release or, at worse, the Current Branch for Business, reserving LTS for mission critical systems that truly need this conservative approach.

 

[iCyborg]

Yeah, I was hoping this would change as it's a big deal breaker for me. I didn't plan to upgrade my main Win 7 desktop anyway, but even with a new machine in the next year or two, I'll be staying away from Win 10, unless we get hacks to make them manual.

I don't mind forced security updates, but forced "innovations and features" is a no-no. Win 8 reception was very poor, many people (myself included) hated metro and didn't upgrade. This will not be an option anymore. If my Win 7 system had automatically updated itself to Win 8, I would have been royally pis**d. This really gives MS carte blanche to push whatever UI they want onto the user, and if you don't like it, well... (the image comes to my mind from Southpark with those cable company guys massaging their nipples "oh, you don't like that, mmm, yea, tell me about it").
I'm a little surprised that few people/sites seem to care.

 

[TeknoBug]

Yeah broken updates can make this difficult

 

[corkyg]

Can they be uninstalled? (Not the same as disabled.) Can undesired ones be hidden so they are not on the install list? Example - KB3035583. This creates the GWK folder in 7, 8, and 8.1, and puts the stupid "Get Windows 10" icon in the notification area.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Can they be uninstalled? (Not the same as disabled.) Can undesired ones be hidden so they are not on the install list? Example - KB3035583. This creates the GWK folder in 7, 8, and 8.1, and puts the stupid "Get Windows 10" icon in the notification area.

Remember that's a "recommended" update, NOT a critical update, so unless you have your system set to automatically get recommended as well it won't automatically install (I have tested/verified this on many systems).

I purposely installed that update on my PC so I could reserve my copy of Win10 Pro

I'm assuming (and I could be wrong) that recommended updates will not be forced on users, only the critical ones.

 

[Ketchup]

Can they be uninstalled? (Not the same as disabled.) Can undesired ones be hidden so they are not on the install list? Example - KB3035583. This creates the GWK folder in 7, 8, and 8.1, and puts the stupid "Get Windows 10" icon in the notification area.

I can see the option in the control panel. My question would be that, once you uninstall one, will it just turn around and automatically re-install?

 

[ViRGE]

This really isn't news, seeing as how we've known about this for a few months now. Still, it's good to get the message out there for people who missed it the first time.

 

[RampantAndroid]

Might still be able to hide updates using the windows update API.

 

[KentState]

Maybe block the Windows update URL in your router? Not really a fan of being forced to comply when it's my personal hardware.

 

[RampantAndroid]

Maybe block the Windows update URL in your router? Not really a fan of being forced to comply when it's my personal hardware.

While you're add it, install WinXP?

 

[KentState]

While you're add it, install WinXP?

Huh?

 

[ninaholic37]

Maybe block the Windows update URL in your router? Not really a fan of being forced to comply when it's my personal hardware.

Another idea could be to never connect to the internet at all in Windows. I doubt Windows would be able to hack your password from a Linux VM or another OS on dual-boot.

 

[RampantAndroid]

Huh?

I get not being happy about windows update forcing things (heaven knows I'm not) - but I don't think that blocking ALL of the updates off is a good idea. You might as well run XP - you'll be plenty vulnerable.

 

[Berryracer]

When I installed it, even though I had installed all official drivers from my computer's manufacturer which include some specific enhancements for stuff like the Audio, the moment I went online, it started downloading all updates + driver updates and installed them in one shot which rendered my PC almost useless. Not bothering with Windows 10 anymore.

PS: Yes I have disabled automatic driver update through the device manager settings but Windows 10 ignores that feature even though I had Windows 10 Pro installed.

 

[ninaholic37]

When I installed it, even though I had installed all official drivers from my computer's manufacturer which include some specific enhancements for stuff like the Audio, the moment I went online, it started downloading all updates + driver updates and installed them in one shot which rendered my PC almost useless. Not bothering with Windows 10 anymore.

PS: Yes I have disabled automatic driver update through the device manager settings but Windows 10 ignores that feature even though I had Windows 10 Pro installed.

They are probably hoping that people think it's their computer that's broken, so the wanting-to-stay-up-to-date-customer will just buy another computer which has Windows 10 pre-installed and already paid for by the manufacturer. "How can we make an update that borks all models that didn't come with Windows 10?"

 

[bbhaag]

Yes I'm sure that's the plan....
Getting back on OT this has been known for quite awhile. If you don't like it your only options are 7 or 8.1.
8.1 does have a longer life cycle than 7.

 

[h4rm0ny]

I'm not so bothered about security updates being unblockable (whilst understanding and agreeing with the reasons of people who are). But I am bothered by feature updates being unblockable. That's a big negative to me. Suppose the Windows 8 UI changes had been an upgrade to Windows 7 itself. You just turned on your machine and it booted to a new interface and a message from Microsoft saying "We've improved your experience.."

MS can fix security vulnerabilities and improve performance all they like. I would be using an Enterprise licence if I wanted to manage updates like that. But if they suddenly decide program defaults should change, that Word should now default to a Metro version or whatever, I am not pleased.

I moved from Gentoo to Windows 7 and 8. I can still go back again.

 

[ViRGE]

I'm not so bothered about security updates being unblockable (whilst understanding and agreeing with the reasons of people who are). But I am bothered by feature updates being unblockable. That's a big negative to me. Suppose the Windows 8 UI changes had been an upgrade to Windows 7 itself. You just turned on your machine and it booted to a new interface and a message from Microsoft saying "We've improved your experience.."

MS can fix security vulnerabilities and improve performance all they like. I would be using an Enterprise licence if I wanted to manage updates like that. But if they suddenly decide program defaults should change, that Word should now default to a Metro version or whatever, I am not pleased.

I moved from Gentoo to Windows 7 and 8. I can still go back again.

If feature updates are blockable for any extended period of time, then developers can't count on those features being available. Which defeats the entire point of Windows as a Service.

The whole idea here is to get desktop users in to an iOS-like upgrade cadence so that new features can be rolled out quickly and users update soon enough that developers can tap into them almost immediately. Plus this prevents shenanigans where users turn off WU and stop receiving security updates.

 

[craiggloyd]

Can't you disable the Windows Update service even on Windows 10 home? That is easy, though then you get no updates.

 

[ViRGE]

Can't you disable the Windows Update service even on Windows 10 home? That is easy, though then you get no updates.

You could, however it's a terrible idea since it means you don't get security updates.

 

[WelshBloke]

I'm assuming (and I could be wrong) that recommended updates will not be forced on users, only the critical ones.

I hope you're right as the windows update drivers bork my wifi card and its convinced that it's choice of driver is correct.

 

[MWink]

I am absolutely against forcing automatic updates without giving people the option to disable them. There are just too many issues that can arise. The performance hit alone can be massive on weaker systems. I've seen it bring numerous systems to a grinding halt. I just update a Windows 7 system yesterday and it took 2 hours to search for, download, and install the updates. One of the updates (KB2952664 I believe) adds a new telemetry service which is eating up a fair bit of CPU time when it runs. Considering that Microsoft now includes advertisements (for Windows 10) in their updates this worries me even more.

In my opinion this is going to end up a huge mess. It's just an excuse for them to exert more control over how people use their product (or is it now considered a "service"). Frankly I think this is just as stupid as removing the Start Menu from Windows 8. I'm not sure if it will cause the same amount of backlash but I find it just as disgusting. I've pretty much lost any faith I had in Microsoft. I wish there was a good alternative to Windows. As it is, I'm already starting to tinker with Linux.

 

[Ketchup]

I can see the option in the control panel. My question would be that, once you uninstall one, will it just turn around and automatically re-install?

Answered my own question. Was able to uninstall KB3074663 yesterday, but the machine rebooted last night and the update was installed this morning.

And on a similar note, you also can't disable Windows Defender for longer than the next reboot if you don't have what Windows considers to be a decent antivirus (or you just don't want to run one, like on an AV). The reason I say it this way is that I have installed AV on Windows 8 before that Windows did not recognize for some reason, and had to turn Defender off manually. There is still a listing for this under services, but it is grayed out.

 

[SparkyJJO]

TBH while I understand the concern, if a Windows update causes a system to grind to a halt, that system is probably horrifically outdated anyway and probably needs upgraded. But I've never seen an update drag a system down like that. What was that system running, a first gen Atom on an old netbook with 1G RAM?

 

[zod96]

So far really hating windows 10. Well really only for a couple of things. Mainly FORCED UPDATES! Twice now it has installed the Razer software for my keyboard and mouse which I do not want at all. If this is how windows 10 will handle updates count me out. Oh it also installed some Intel utility that keeps popping up. Can't we set it up for updates like windows 8 or 7? This is really lame...and a total deal breaker for me unless it can be changed....back to W8.1