Post by drcard on Mar 15, 2021 5:11:37 GMT -5
How to Prevent a Windows 10 Update from Installing
Note:
Microsoft’s Cumulative Security update for March 2021 was released recently. Immediately people reported that the update caused BSODs connected with printer commands crashing many systems. Microsoft acted quickly and stop the updates and even withdrew updates that were already downloaded but not yet installed. Any user that did install this update was told to uninstall it. There were many users where the update had downloaded but needed a restart to install.
When an update is pending to be installed on a Windows 10 system the Power options will change to Install updates and Shut down or Install updates and Restart with no option to shut down or restart without installing the update. Thus it appears that any shut down or restart will install the update that you don’t want installed. The instructions below explain how to shut down or restart without the update installing, thus prevent the update from installing.
How to Shut down/Restart Windows 10 Without Installing a Pending Update
Windows uses a service to perform the updates automatically. Turning off this automatic service allows the user to control the installation of the update by providing options to shut down or restart without installing the update.
To turn OFF Windows automatic update service:
Press WinKey + R to open the Run box.
Enter net_stop_wuauserv (replace _ with a space) and press Enter.
When you press the Power button when an update is pending install you will see options to Shut down and Restart in addition to the Install updates and Shut down or Install updates and Restart options. By using the Shut down or Restart, Windows will shut down or restart without installing the update. As long as these options are used one can prevent the update from being installed.
In reference to the bad March update, Microsoft withdrew the downloaded bad update within a few hours. Using the command above prevented the bad update from being installed until Microsoft removed the bad update.
To turn the service back on :
Press WinKey + R to open the Run box.
Enter net_start_wuauserv (replace _ with a space) and press Enter.
BTW: One must have administrator’s rights for this command to work.
Note:
Microsoft’s Cumulative Security update for March 2021 was released recently. Immediately people reported that the update caused BSODs connected with printer commands crashing many systems. Microsoft acted quickly and stop the updates and even withdrew updates that were already downloaded but not yet installed. Any user that did install this update was told to uninstall it. There were many users where the update had downloaded but needed a restart to install.
When an update is pending to be installed on a Windows 10 system the Power options will change to Install updates and Shut down or Install updates and Restart with no option to shut down or restart without installing the update. Thus it appears that any shut down or restart will install the update that you don’t want installed. The instructions below explain how to shut down or restart without the update installing, thus prevent the update from installing.
How to Shut down/Restart Windows 10 Without Installing a Pending Update
Windows uses a service to perform the updates automatically. Turning off this automatic service allows the user to control the installation of the update by providing options to shut down or restart without installing the update.
To turn OFF Windows automatic update service:
Press WinKey + R to open the Run box.
Enter net_stop_wuauserv (replace _ with a space) and press Enter.
When you press the Power button when an update is pending install you will see options to Shut down and Restart in addition to the Install updates and Shut down or Install updates and Restart options. By using the Shut down or Restart, Windows will shut down or restart without installing the update. As long as these options are used one can prevent the update from being installed.
In reference to the bad March update, Microsoft withdrew the downloaded bad update within a few hours. Using the command above prevented the bad update from being installed until Microsoft removed the bad update.
To turn the service back on :
Press WinKey + R to open the Run box.
Enter net_start_wuauserv (replace _ with a space) and press Enter.
BTW: One must have administrator’s rights for this command to work.
