Group Policy Stop Windows Update From Auto Downloading and Installing Updates

 gpedit

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Manage end user experience

Windows Update "Handled by Organization"

Tweaking software often adds registry entries to modify update functions.

This is how I cleared them.

This doesn't need to exist. The entire AU can be deleted.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU

UX appears to be a legit entry. Delete every item in  Settings

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings

Restarting should return full control to Update.

Windows 10 Update

I've upgraded a bunch of unsupported Windows 10 PCs to 11 successfully.

Some of them were Legacy boot. And they booted fine after I upgraded.

One did not and I destroyed it trying to fix it.

I think I could have gone to BIOS and bumped the bootloader to #1.

In any case, I should have done this before the upgrade.

Check to see if UEFI is available in BIOS

then

CMD admin

mbr2gpt /validate /disk:0 /allowFullOS

if passes

mbr2gpt /convert /disk:0 /allowFullOS

then

Go to BIOS and select UEFI boot

If I doesn't have an EUFI BIOS, don't convert to GPT

Summary of what I think

Windows 11 will boot on Legacy only bios

A UEFI BIOS may be set to boot Legacy but it is a UEFI bios

A Legacy only, non UEFI bios can not handle GPT. It's MBR only

Windows Update Registry Tweaks

Extend Pause Duration

Extends Windows Update pause options from default to max of ~7,300 days.

Copy to Notepad, save as ExtendWait.reg file, run as administrator:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings]
"FlightSettingsMaxPauseDays"=dword:00001c84

Pin to Specific Version

Prevents automatic upgrades to newer Windows versions while allowing security updates.

Copy to Notepad, save as LimitUpgrade.reg file, run as administrator:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate]
"TargetReleaseVersion"=dword:00000001
"TargetReleaseVersionInfo"="24H2"

Replace "24H2" with your desired version if necessary.

This one is interesting. I had a PC with 23H2 that would not see 24H2 when checking updates.

After adding the above reg, check updates found and started downloading 24H2.

Maybe not a good thing 😂 Wish me luck.

Keep Edge from requesting to be the default browser. EdgeNoDefault.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]
"DefaultBrowserSettingsEnabled"=dword:00000000

Avoid Windows 11 Regedit

 Only one of my PCs qualify for Windows 11

. . . And MS is not pushing 11 on you anyway

. . . . . But just in case.

1. Select Start.
2. Type regedit.exe.
3. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate
   1. If keys do not exist, create them by right-clicking on the previous key and selecting New > Key from the context menu.
4. Right-click on WindowsUpdate and select New > Dword (32-bit) Value.
   1. Name it TargetReleaseVersion.
   2. Double-click on the new Dword and set it to 1.
5. Right-click on WindowsUpdate and select New > String Value.
   1. Name it TargetReleaseVersionInfo.
   2. Double-click on the new String and set it to 21H1. (or 21H2 if you like)
6. Restart the PC.

Can You Run Windows 11

 Download and run this

https://github.com/mq1n/Win11SysCheck/releases/tag/6

No doesn't mean "no" . . . it just means you need to do extra crap to get it working.

Ain't Windows grand?

Fix Windows Update Script

Paste into notepad and save as fixupdate.bat

Should work. I've done it manually before but not with this script.

@ECHO OFF

echo Simple Script to Reset / Clear Windows Update

 echo.

PAUSE

echo.

attrib -h -r -s %windir%system32catroot2

attrib -h -r -s %windir%system32catroot2*.*

net stop wuauserv

net stop CryptSvc

net stop BITS

ren %windir%system32catroot2 catroot2.old

ren %windir%SoftwareDistribution sold.old

ren "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%application dataMicrosoftNetworkdownloader" downloader.old

net Start BITS

net start CryptSvc

net start wuauserv

echo.

echo Task completed successfully...

echo.

PAUSE 

I have an early Yoga running 1903 and it refuses to feature update.

I thought it was the Conextant Audio drive but looks like it was a BIOS update needed.

2021-05-15 I let Lenovo update the bios. Update still stopped at 61%. But this time running Update Assistant looks like it is going to make it.

(Of course Assistant detected standard update running so I hade to net stop wuauserv and it was happy.

Do I really care if I have 2004? I would have been happy to stop it at 1909 but I does bug me not to have things works correctly.

Update Gone Bad

 Start - Stop Window 3 times to get into troubleshooting.

Then do this

Choose uninstall update and it will uninstall most recent update

Delay Windows Feature Update With One Click

 Making the registry changes with one click . . .

- Enter the following in a NotePad and save as "somename.reg"

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate]

"TargetReleaseVersion"=dword:00000001

"TargetReleaseVersionInfo"="2004"

Upgrading To Windows 10

* * *  Use Windows Media Creation Tool * * *

2021-12-15 I assumed refurbs with XP license would not authenticate but I just did one. Trying a second one now. Second one didn't work but picked up the autopico volume license.

slmgr /xpr

That is the short version. Don't bother waiting for Windows Update to offer it.

I bought a refurbished Lenovo X1 Carbon Gen 3 and it had a registered version of 8.1 Pro.

I normally do a clean install of Win 10 but wanted the upgrade experience.
Every site said update your current version and wait for Windows to offer upgrade.
Forget it . . .

Creation Tool will offer upgrade option in place. It worked fine.

You should grab the current Windows key just in case.
Use Nirsoft Keyfinder or look for a sticker on the PC.

If all else fails and you don't want to run your own KMS hack . . .
. . . buy a cheap key here. Many Youtubers offer further discount codes.

***And other ways to read the Original Windows key from BIOS
RWEverything (click ACPI icon from the top toolbar, and MSDM table in ACPI table)
or
Open a Command Prompt window and run the following command:
(wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey)
or
FirmwareTablesView (read MSDM)

Need an earlier version of Windows 10? Use Rufus. It may take a little fiddling but the "Download" button is what you want.

Windows 10 Feature Update Delay

Windows as of v2004 has removed the delay update feature.
... This may be the answer
Says only Pro but not sure if true.

1. Use Windows-X to open the admin menu.
2. Select Windows PowerShell (admin) from the list.
3. Run the following commands (make sure you change XXXX in the second command to the desired target version, e.g. 1909:
   • reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate /f /v TargetReleaseVersion /t REG_DWORD /d 1
   • reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate /f /v TargetReleaseVersionInfo /t REG_SZ /d XXXX

Making the registry changes with one click . . .

- Enter the following in a NotePad and save as "somename.reg"

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate]

"TargetReleaseVersion"=dword:00000001

"TargetReleaseVersionInfo"="2004"

A list of versions to name the "target release" can be found here.

I don't do the following because it stops some programs I use of performing. It may be easier to simply set you connection as "metered".
(It can be frustrating to remember what step (of the several available) you chose to delay updates.)

Windows 10 Home does not allow Feature Update Delay but . . .
Add Group Policy Editor like this . . .

Then do this . . .

Delete Windows 10 Update Files

Many of us run small SSD boot drives and a bunch of old Windows update files are unwelcome.
This is where they reside in case you want to delete them.

Windows Update Is In The Toilet

Try this fix.

2017-06-10 Let's get to the point.
1. Use WSUS to fix Windows Update
2. I may make WSUS sound difficult - it is not.
3. Give WSUS time to update each section.
4.It will tell you when you need to reboot and if running again is needed.
5. It will tell you when updates are all done.
* If storing or not using a PC for long periods - turn Windows Update off. You do not want to get into a "reverting" loop. Then use WSUS before turning Windows Update back on.

2017-06-09 Download "Win7 SP2" which is a roll up to April 2016. I've had this not work when WSUS worked fine.

Here is a good site for fixing update options if you wish to fool with it.

Windows Update is mostly broken for Windows 7. On some machines, if they have been kept up to date, things may be fine but not always. If you grab a machine that has not been used and/or updated for awhile the thing is a boat anchor. Windows Update will grab resources and never make any real progress. Just grab WSUS Offline Update and your Win7 will be up to date in short order.

Whether you are installing a fresh system or trying to get beyond a hopeless update, WSUS is the answer.

Each time you want to update run the UpdateGenerator.exe file. The first time you run it in each session it may update the program and you will need to run it again.

Once the update is downloaded you will go into the "client" directory and run UpdateInstaller.exe. This may also need to be run more than once due to updates requiring a reboot before installing more. You will be given hints as to what to do but it does not hold your hand. Just run it until you get the completed successfully notice.

 I may seem to hang on 6 of 9 updates or whatever. Give it a good amount to time (maybe even overnight) but if it does not complete, close the shell window and reboot. Then run UpdateInstaller.exe again. It should now say installing 1 of 4 (if 6 of 9 was were the numbers). Do this as many times as it takes to finish but sometimes it takes a long time. You can check if it is working by opening Resource Monitor from the Task Manager. But just because TrustedInstaller.exe is not showing does not mean it is stuck. If there is a lot of CPU or Drive activity it is probably still working.

But eventually you should get a completed notice

Windows 7 Update Reset Script

https://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/scriptcenter/Reset-Windows-Update-Agent-d824badc

Fix Windows Update Failure

http://www.thewindowsclub.com/windows-updates-fail-to-install

Update Windows No Internet Connection

http://download.wsusoffline.net/

It's German but don't sweat it.

Just run the .exe and select the product you wish to update.

Simply check the settings you want. You may not want an iso.

The update files appear in "client" folder. If you also/or choose "iso" that will be in iso folder. I have not used iso so don't know how you use the iso updater after it is created. Perhaps it is a self boot?

Or you could try this update pack. Says can be integrated into win install.
http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/45005-Simplix-Pack-to-update-Live-Win7-System-Integrate-hotfixes-into-Win7-distribution