Microsoft releases tool to block Windows 10 updates
One of the most controversial features of Microsoft's Windows 10 operating system is its automatic update feature. Especially Home users are affected as updates are pushed out via Windows Update automatically to those systems while Pro and Enterprise users get options to delay the deployment or even block it completely.
Microsoft's main intention in regards to automatic updates is to ensure that Windows 10 machines are protected from attacks that exploit security vulnerabilities that the company patched in the past already.
Yesterday's botched security update for Windows 10 highlights the dangers of pushing updates to user systems automatically. While the computer won't explode after installation, users may notice that some functions are not working properly anymore but crashing Explorer instead.
What makes this problematic is that users cannot block (hide) updates currently when they get deployed on the system. While it is possible to remove updates again, the automatic nature of the update process will install it again in the future.
Microsoft released a tool for Windows 10 Insider Preview systems that adds the functionality back to Windows 10. It remains to be seen if it can be used on regular systems as well, but since it runs fine on Windows 10 Build 10240, it is likely that users may run it on non-Insider systems as well.
Here is how this works:
Download and run the "Show or hide updates" troubleshooter from the Microsoft Support Knowledgebase page. You may run it right after you have downloaded it.
Make sure you hit the advanced link on the first page that comes up and disable the option to "apply repairs automatically".
Click on next and wait for the tool to scan for updates. It displays two options on the next page:
- Hide updates (Windows will not install hidden updates)
- Show hidden updates (Select updates you want Windows Update to automatically install).
To block one or multiple updates from being installed on the machine, select hide updates on the page.
Note: Windows displays only updates on the next page that are not installed already. This means that you need to remove an update through other means before you can hide (block) it with the help of this tool.
A selection menu appears that you use to block updates from being installed automatically.
The other option, "show hidden updates" enables you to unblock updates so that they are automatically installed by Windows Update afterwards.
Closing Words
The process is not as comfortable as the old process of hiding updates via the Windows Update control panel update. First, you need to know that such a tool exists which is probably the biggest issue right now. Then, you need to run it whenever you want to block or unblock updates, something which you could do using the same control panel applet that installed the updates previously.
Still, the tool ensures that updates can be blocked that are not desired. (via Ed Bott/Zdnet)
What mental age of reader are you targeting with the first sentence? 10?
Why not write an article on how to *avoid* upgrading from W10 to W11. Analogous to those like me who avoided upgrading from 7 to 10 for as long as possible.
If your paymaster Microsoft permits it, of course.
5. Rufus
6. Ventoy
PS. I hate reading these “SEO optimized” articles.
I used Rufus to create an installer for a 6th gen intel i5 that had MBR. It upgraded using Setup. No issues except for Win 11 always prompting me to replace my local account. Still using Win 10 Pro on all my other PCs to avoid the bullying.
bit pointless to upgrade for the sake of upgrading as you never know when you’ll get locked out because ms might suddenly not provide updates to unsupported systems.
ps…. time travelling?
written. Jan 15, 2023
Updated • Jan 13, 2023
This happens when you schedule a post in WordPress and update it before setting the publication date.
Anyone willing to downgrade to this awful OS must like inflicting themselves with harm.
I have become convinced now that anybody who has no qualms with using Windows 11/10 must fit into one of the following brackets:
1) Too young to remember a time before W10 and W11 (doesn’t know better)
2) Wants to play the latest games on their PC above anything else (or deeply needs some software which already dropped W7 support)
3) Doesn’t know too much about how computers work, worried that they’d be absolutely lost and in trouble without the “”latest security””
4) Microsoft apologist that tries to justify that the latest “features” and “changes” are actually a good thing, that improve Windows
5) Uses their computer to do a bare minimum of like 3 different things, browse web, check emails, etc, so really doesn’t fuss
Obviously that doesn’t cover everyone, there’s also the category that:
6) Actually liked W7 more than 10, and held out as long as possible before switching, begrudgingly uses 10 now
Have I missed any group off this list?
You have missed in this group just about any professional user that uses business software like CAD programs or ERP Programs which are 99% of all professional users from this list.
Linux doesn’t help anyone who is not a linux kid and apple is just a fancy facebook machine.
Microsoft has removed KB5029351 update
only from windows update though
KB5029351 is still available from the ms update catalog site
1. This update is labaled as PREVIEW if it causes issues to unintelligent people, then they shouldn’t have allowed Preview updates ot install.
2. I have installed it in a 11 years old computer, and no problems at all.
3. Making a big drama over a bluescreen for an updated labeled as preview is ridiculous.
This is probably another BS internet drama where people ran programs and scripts that modified the registry until they broke Windows, just for removing stuff that they weren’t even using just for the sake of it.
Maybe people should stop playing geeks and actually either use Windows 10 or Windows 11, but don’t try to modify things just for the sake of it.
Sometimes removing or stopping things (like defender is a perfect example) only need intelligence, not scripts or 3rd party programs that might mess with windows.
Windows 11 was a pointless release, it was just created because some of the Windows team wanted to boost sales with some sort of new and improved Windows 10. Instead, Microsoft cannot support one version well let alone two.
Windows 11 is the worst ugly shame by Microsoft ever. They should release with every new W11 version a complete free version of Starallback inside just to make this sh** OS functionally again.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released a statement regarding the “unsupported processor” blue screen error for their boards using Intel 600/700 series chipsets & to avoid the KB5029351 Win11 update:
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/MSI-On–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–Error-Message-of-Windows-11-Update-KB5029351-Preview-142215
check out the following recent articles:
Neowin – Microsoft puts little blame on its Windows update after UNSUPPORTED PROCESSOR BSOD bug:
https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-puts-little-blame-on-its-windows-update-after-unsupported-processor-bsod-bug/
BleepingComputer – Microsoft blames ‘unsupported processor’ blue screens on OEM vendors:
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-blames-unsupported-processor-blue-screens-on-oem-vendors/
While there may be changes or updates to the Windows 10 Store for Business and Education in the future, it is premature to conclude that it will be discontinued based solely on rumors.
My advice, I left win 15 years ago. Now I’m a happy linux user (linuxmint) but there is Centos, Fedora, Ubuntu depending on your needs.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released new BIOS/firmware updates for their Intel 600 & 700 series motherboards to fix the “UNSUPPORTED_PROCESSOR” problem (Sept. 6):
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/Updated-BIOS-fixes-Error-Message–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–caused-BSOD-on-MSI-s-Intel-700-and-600-Series-Motherboards-142277
I try to disable the Diagnostics Tracking Service (Connected Devices Platform User Services) but it wont let me disable it, any help will be greatly appreciated.
Tank you for your help