Please help! Windows 10 keeps "un-disabling" the update service as of 2 days ago, and keeps taking over my PC like a virus.

[Kevin Weinberg]

I don't want to update anything on Windows 10 Pro X64. I don't want to regardless of what anyone has said. It should be my right to choose not to.

At any rate, for about a year this was no problem. But as of about 2 days ago, Windows 10 has begun installing new programs without my permission and is constantly trying to update.

I've had the Windows Update service disabled (in services.msc) for about a year with no problems, but now, Windows 10 has actually found a way to re-enable it WITHOUT MY PERMISSION.

It's used over 15gb of space on my SSD, and every now and again, my computer gets locked out and a message pops up that says:

"Windows cannot install the newest security features until you update to the newest version of windows" (something like that)

I am 100% sure this is not a virus. At least not in the sense that this is definitely coming from Microsoft.

I don't want to download or install their damned updates. I don't like the Foundations update and I don't want it, period.

Can anyone help me?

 

[Math Geek]

it's not a virus, it's MS telling you what to do with your pc.

nothing you can do about it sadly as they have decided that your pc is not really yours anymore and they will update what/when they feel like it. your only choice is to not be happy about it and to complain, but that's not really gonna change anything.

wish i could offer an actual solution but there is not one so far. well except for disconnecting from the internet 24/7!!!

"Windows 10 has actually found a way to re-enable it WITHOUT MY PERMISSION." not that hard to do when they simply make the setting do nothing no matter how you have it set.........

 

[mcconkeymike]

If it is auto re-enabling, then I'm not certain there is much you can do. One thought though, in this day in age with computer crime, viruses, malware, etc, I really don't think it is a good idea to not do your Windows updates. I know you want the option, but many will not condone this action. You can start searching Technet to see if they have specific ideas, that's actually most likely what you should do.

 

[Kevin Weinberg]

it's not a virus, it's MS telling you what to do with your pc.

nothing you can do about it sadly as they have decided that your pc is not really yours anymore and they will update what/when they feel like it. your only choice is to not be happy about it and to complain, but that's not really gonna change anything.

wish i could offer an actual solution but there is not one so far. well except for disconnecting from the internet 24/7!!!

"Windows 10 has actually found a way to re-enable it WITHOUT MY PERMISSION." not that hard to do when they simply make the setting do nothing no matter how you have it set.........

What's so strange is that whenever my computer idles for more than an hour is when it starts up. It locks the entire computer and I only JUST managed to press the restart button on my case (for instant HARD restart) as it approached 97%

I am a very paranoid person by nature and I don't trust MS in these times to keep adding things to my PC they call "security updates."

I feel like I'm more secure without them. Am I wrong? PROBABLY. But I acknowledge the risks and wish to take them.

I have never felt in my entire life like I had so little control of my computer. Is there truly nothing I can do to permanently remove this? I disabled the very service (windows update) and I can't stop it.

 

[Math Geek]

trust me i feel the same way. i gave up on win 10 for this very reason and went back to win 7 for now.

when i figure it out, i will certainly post a tutorial here explaining what i did. but for now, the answer seems to be that it can't be done easily. you could perhaps see if someone knows the ip address for windows update and maybe block it with a firewall. but i have not bothered with that as i want a true removal of the service.

if you want to play some, uninstall the service rather than disabling it. easy to do with a simple google search. it is likely backed-up and will simply put it back next boot-up but could be worth a few minutes to see if it works.

 

[Kevin Weinberg]

I'm in utter shock and disbelief. I've been using Windows since Windows 93. I've been building my own PCs since I was 13 years old (29 now). I have never in my life felt like my PC was being controlled by someone other than me. How do they get away with this?

It is in my nature, having worked with computers all my life, to get very uncomfortable and annoyed when "things" appear on my desktop and are installed to my PC without my knowledge or consent. And the harder that Windows 10 tries to make me download more programs, features, and applications and updates, the more I will not want them and distrust them.

You know what? I'll show my hand here. You're going to think I'm nuts, but I think Windows 10 spies on us. No, not in the "Jason Bourne" kind of way, but I think they regularly violate our privacy to provide data for marketing firms or others.

I want my privacy. Not because I feel I have anything to hide, but because the feeling of having my data and information open to inspection and controllable by other humans without my knowledge makes me feel like being in public naked.

I'm absolutely astounded that I can disable a service and then it can re-enable itself. How are people not flipping out about this?

A service can re-enable itself? That's what VIRUSES are for. You know it's one thing for Windows 10 to do something without my permission (and believe me that IS bad enough), but it's another thing entirely for it to do something my settings expressly forbid.

trust me i feel the same way. i gave up on win 10 for this very reason and went back to win 7 for now.

when i figure it out, i will certainly post a tutorial here explaining what i did. but for now, the answer seems to be that it can't be done easily. you could perhaps see if someone knows the ip address for windows update and maybe block it with a firewall. but i have not bothered with that as i want a true removal of the service.

if you want to play some, uninstall the service rather than disabling it. easy to do with a simple google search. it is likely backed-up and will simply put it back next boot-up but could be worth a few minutes to see if it works.

 

[Math Geek]

you're not paranoid, MS does "spy" on you with win 10. it watches literally everything you do, catalogs your files, contacts, and anything else on your pc. Cortana is the excuse they use. in order for cortana to know what you mean, it keeps tabs on everything you do.

this is not paranoia but fact. you are not wrong and i feel the same way for sure. i have gotten cortana uninstalled and many other things i don't like from win 10 but still working on getting windows update gone for good. i've made my own custom windows installs since win 98 days and stopped at win 7. but i feel compelled to do it now with win 10 so i can use it again.

when i have time to finish it i'll post a tutorial on how to remove this junk from the install files for good.

 

[Kevin Weinberg]

you're not paranoid, MS does "spy" on you with win 10. it watches literally everything you do, catalogs your files, contacts, and anything else on your pc. Cortana is the excuse they use. in order for cortana to know what you mean, it keeps tabs on everything you do.

this is not paranoia but fact. you are not wrong and i feel the same way for sure. i have gotten cortana uninstalled and many other things i don't like from win 10 but still working on getting windows update gone for good. i've made my own custom windows installs since win 98 days and stopped at win 7. but i feel compelled to do it now with win 10 so i can use it again.

when i have time to finish it i'll post a tutorial on how to remove this junk from the install files for good.

Thank you so much! I really, really hope you'll do this! Especially if you can find out how to remove this damned Windows Update virus.

I would appreciate that SO MUCH! Until then, I guess I'll just have to manually disable it in services.msc every day from now on.

It's so stupid it's almost comical and funny, but believe it or not, because of how Windows 10 behaves, I'm actually afraid to leave my PC alone with it for too long, because it actually detects when you're idle and tries to sneak this sh** in behind your back.

It ACTUALLY does that! It waits for you to leave it on unattended and then it's like, "Oh, great, he's gone. Now to make some changes!"

 

[Math Geek]

create a quick script to disable it and then add it to your start-up folder.

then on boot up each morning it will disable it for you by itself. bout the best compromise you can do for now.

 

[Mark RM]

I modify my windows install the way I like, I have a pfsense firewall and I block the BS traffic to MS servers. Once I have Windows looking the way I like, I disable updates with

http://www.site2unblock.com/win-updates-disabler/

I then patch manually when I feel like it, not when MS tells me I have to.

 

[Math Geek]

never seen this before, does it actually work? might be the last piece i need to finish my custom install. same as you, any new version has to be downloaded and modified separately before i can use it but i easily script that once it is done. just need to get updates gone completely or it's a waste of time modifying anything.

i do use spybot anti-beacon to block telemetry on win 7 since they added telemetry to that as well.

i see this has not been updated in a while, does it work with newest version of win 10?

 

[Mark RM]

never seen this before, does it actually work?

i see this has not been updated in a while, does it work with newest version of win 10?

Yes, I have a half dozen mining rigs that don't play well with Linux (don't offer to help me, I'm very aware of why they won't work, I have very many more that play nicely with Linux)

This solution works and keeps them online and churning out coin instead of rebooting with stupid updates that will screw up carefully balanced BIOS mods and modified driver sets.

 

[Math Geek]

thanks for the info then 😀

i'll disect it and see what they did to make it work so i can add it to my mod. i prefer to not rely on 3rd party stuff post install if i can do it all to the install files beforehand. saves a lot of space taking out the junk. my win 7 disk is only 700 mb!!! i hope to get win 10 down to a gig or so. almost there now but still needs some tweaks.

thanks again for the heads up

 

[scootiecat1999]

I'm in utter shock and disbelief. I've been using Windows since Windows 93. I've been building my own PCs since I was 13 years old (29 now). I have never in my life felt like my PC was being controlled by someone other than me. How do they get away with this?

It is in my nature, having worked with computers all my life, to get very uncomfortable and annoyed when "things" appear on my desktop and are installed to my PC without my knowledge or consent. And the harder that Windows 10 tries to make me download more programs, features, and applications and updates, the more I will not want them and distrust them.

You know what? I'll show my hand here. You're going to think I'm nuts, but I think Windows 10 spies on us. No, not in the "Jason Bourne" kind of way, but I think they regularly violate our privacy to provide data for marketing firms or others.

I want my privacy. Not because I feel I have anything to hide, but because the feeling of having my data and information open to inspection and controllable by other humans without my knowledge makes me feel like being in public naked.

I'm absolutely astounded that I can disable a service and then it can re-enable itself. How are people not flipping out about this?

A service can re-enable itself? That's what VIRUSES are for. You know it's one thing for Windows 10 to do something without my permission (and believe me that IS bad enough), but it's another thing entirely for it to do something my settings expressly forbid.

I'm 100% in agreement with you. It's hacking, it's hijacking, and it should be illegal. I can't believe Microsoft has gotten away with this for so long. I want to sic the ACLU on them, because it's invasion of privacy, which is a Civil Rights violation. I'm very surprised that the ACLU is not already going against MS. I also want to start a Class Action Lawsuit against Microsoft to to make them stop the forced updates, virus-like program installs, spying, etc. because I've seen on many websites that we're not the only ones who feel this way. But I have no idea how to start a Class Action suit against a corporation. Maybe we all should contact our local ACLU offices and complain and ask them to get involved. We all also need to file BBB complaints against MS as well.

 

[vdot]

I don't want to update anything on Windows 10 Pro X64. I don't want to regardless of what anyone has said. It should be my right to choose not to.

At any rate, for about a year this was no problem. But as of about 2 days ago, Windows 10 has begun installing new programs without my permission and is constantly trying to update.

I've had the Windows Update service disabled (in services.msc) for about a year with no problems, but now, Windows 10 has actually found a way to re-enable it WITHOUT MY PERMISSION.

It's used over 15gb of space on my SSD, and every now and again, my computer gets locked out and a message pops up that says:

"Windows cannot install the newest security features until you update to the newest version of windows" (something like that)

I am 100% sure this is not a virus. At least not in the sense that this is definitely coming from Microsoft.

I don't want to download or install their damned updates. I don't like the Foundations update and I don't want it, period.

Can anyone help me?

As you had disabled the service in the past, go into the Computer Management interface under "Services."
Open the "Windows Update" service, and click on the "Log On" tab. Instead of "Local System account" choose
"this Account," enter "./Guest" and enter a bogus password, and "Apply."

If Microsoft ends up disabling this method, you can do this:

Run "regedit" & navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU

Within the "AU" branch, create the ‘32-bit DWORD’ value "AuOptions" and give it the value of "2."

Open Windows "Settings" app (eg: Win + I).
Click on "Update and Security," then "Windows Updates" and finally "Check for Updates."
This should apply the new setting, but a reboot is in order anyway.

Either of these ways should actually work to stop any "Windows Update" updates. I think the big
rollouts (including security updates?) are still NOT controlled via the Windows Update service, but this
methods will stop all others, and WU should NOT get reactivated again (until Microsoft Nazis get on
to these methods). They will NEVER win, as there will ALWAYS be a way to stop their incessant updates,
even if it takes programming an app to force-stop transmissions of them.

 

[USAFRet]

You know why MS has instituted forced updates with Win 10?
Because of people just like this.

The WannaCry ransomware was almost completely on systems that were far behind in their updates. Either on purpose or by accident.
MS put out a patch for that 2 months before it went into the wild.
But those people who turned off updates...oh well, you were vulnerable.
People berated MS for allowing systems to remain unpatched.

So...with Win 10, they push this out. No real option. Unless you go really indepth and try to turn it off.
And again, MS is berated for this.

So what do YOU think they should do?
This is a binary situation.
1. Either allow it to be turned off, and leave millions of systems vulnerable.
Or
2. Push it out whether you like it or not.
Which do YOU think they should do?


The only 3rd choice is...Don't use Win 10.

 

[vdot]

"You know why MS has instituted forced updates with Win 10?
Because of people just like this ... So what do YOU think they should do?"

Well, I think that they should certainly NOT instiigate a "One-Size-Fits-Some" solution.
That's the big government solution for everything: design for the lowest denominator.
I'm sick of that kind of thinking.

How about returning to individual freedom WITH individual responsibility attached? That means that if
Microsoft puts out an optional solution (which could either default to ON or OFF depending on the
intelligence level of the target audience), and the user decides to turn it off, then IF they get burnt by THEIR
choice, then they either have the cahunas to kick themselves (rather than others they would blame), or we
should kick them for their own educational benefit.

What a refreshing "old-school" idea that would be ...

 

[USAFRet]

"You know why MS has instituted forced updates with Win 10?
Because of people just like this ... So what do YOU think they should do?"

Well, I think that they should certainly NOT instiigate a "One-Size-Fits-Some" solution.
That's the big government solution for everything: design for the lowest denominator.
I'm sick of that kind of thinking.

How about returning to individual freedom WITH individual responsibility attached? That means that if
Microsoft puts out an optional solution (which could either default to ON or OFF depending on the
intelligence level of the target audience), and the user decides to turn it off, then IF they get burnt by THEIR
choice, then they either have the cahunas to kick themselves (rather than others they would blame), or we
should kick them for their own educational benefit.

What a refreshing "old-school" idea that would be ...

That's the way it used to be. Optional.
And your neighbors 14 year old nephew, that "knows his way around computers", turns the Updates OFF for all the family members. Because he knows best.
Resulting in millions of unpatched systems.

It's not just those users that get burnt, but ALL of us, with the massive bandwidth increase.
Optional for some means optional for all.

I understand exactly what you're saying.
But, as I said...this is binary. All ON, or all users have the option of OFF. And far too many would turn it OFF. As was done in the past.
There is no "optional".

 

[vdot]

It's still personal responsibility, whether your kid, a neighbor's kid, or you turn off the option, YOUR computer is like YOUR car, and it's YOUR responsibility.

Actually, as I've indicated in just two solutions above, there is ALWAYS optional, whether
government or big companies or individuals think otherwise. We ALWAYS have options,
rights and freedoms. No one can take them away, and life is a whole lot nicer if they don't try. I'll take freedom with responsibilty any day over lowest common denominator "rules"
and "dumbing down." The fewer complexities of added stipulations simply to keep the
dumb from hurting themselves, the more time and money that smarter people have to
automate the protection of dummies from themselves in an unobtrusive, non-leftist way.

 

[USAFRet]

Yes, there is always an option.
Linux.

Running Windows under your terms is not a "right".

 

[vdot]

I suppose you're going to say that it is your right, then, to force me to update
my computer, for the sake of you and yours?

I wholely disagree with you on your entire angle of thought. It is very "left" and socialistic.
Thankfully, I still indeed DO have every "right" to run Windows under my own terms.
Until I should do ACTUAL harm to someone else, I've not committed a crime. And as
far as your bandwidth argument, I am paying for truly unlimited bandwidth, not to mention
the fact that my bandwidth situation is between me and my supplier, and no one else.
Beyond that, bandwidth is a hazard of any network ... its variability is in your iISP contracts, and as far as I'm aware (since I got on it publicly in 1992), lack of internet bandwidth due to ANY cause has never cost a life or injury. So as frequently is used in "more control" arguments, the facts of the situation don't pan out too well for "more control." Even in
cases where it does, limited but pinpoint solutions are ALWAYS better and simpler designs than grandiose, stifling, blanket rules. Until someone harms another, there should be no crime considered, and no laws/rules created to preemptively control us.

I realize I've strayed into non-technical areas here, but, as I see it, the problem is in the way of thinking that MS has embarked on with these type of policies. And that misguided thinking mirrors the thinking thats running wild in government, big companies and about half of our imploding society. The solution to that faulty thinking is to think in terms innovation and problem solving that encompasses and encourages INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM with equal measures of INDIVIDUAL MORAL RESPONSIBILITY (vs. merely legal ... which SHOULD be moral, but isn't) for ALL entities (persons & businesses).

If this were the case, Microsoft would not be PUSHING anything on us. If they couldn't think of a better solution, they'd instead be asking their users for solutions. Force-feeding draconian measures only works when there are no choices, and only then for a time. Monopolies and Governments are good examples, hence my political speak ... apologies if anyone is offended by that, but the points still stand.

The issue

 

[USAFRet]

Before this devolves in to any further completely off-topic and disallowed subjects in here,
I'll leave you with your opinion.

[further rant redacted]

 

[vdot]

Since "Heaps" are a technical subject ... I'll just say "Thanks a Heap."

 

[boaster]

Not sure if you're still having this issue, but I found a good workaround on another web site. Go to services.msc and disable Windows Update. NOW, go to the Log On tab and change the log on for this service to .\guest with NO PASSWORD. Windows will still try to turn updates back on but will fail due to a lack of permissions. I use Windows for nothing but gaming so I don't want any updates at all, or particularly care if I get a virus because I only log in to my guest network so my Windows machine is isolated from the Macs.

 

[nenkoster]

Hello. This issue has been annoying me for months now. I also disabled updates through services.msc. At first I only needed to do this weekly. Now I'm forced to do this daily. But I do it. Whilst Windows changes my settings from "Disabled" to "Manual" I use this opportunity to update Windows Defender THEN I set to disable again. A real pest, but I assume any ransomware protection or the like should still be provided through Windows defender. I hope so, otherwise what use is it?
By the way vdot, I agree with what you say. But your statement "lack of internet bandwidth due to ANY cause has never cost a life or injury" has unfortunately been proven wrong in South Australia. recently the new Royal Adelaide Hospital has been built. The 3rd most expensive building in the world...apparently, coming in at $2.4bn AUD. HOWEVER, there is a 10-bed acute psychiatric ward. This ward cannot be utilized. Why? Because the duress alarms are Wi-Fi and the hospital does not have enough bandwidth Wi-Fi to service these duress alarms. Anyway, I digress. Just thought I’d mention this because the lack of bandwidth has caused immense trouble in this very expensive establishment.
Thank you boaster. I have applied your solution. Cheers.