Win Update Disabler

KC3OL

I found an app that might be useful for stopping Windows 10 updates.  You can get it at this link
http://www.site2unblock.com/win-updates-disabler/:

Bob G W1GLV

You don't need an app. Go to sevices in Windows and disable it, forever. Windows updates frequently to keep the business people computers up to date. My computer is never connected to the internet, I only use it to run SSDR.

WA2SQQ

You don't need a nap go to support. microsoft.com they offer a simple registry patch to do the same thing. Just consider what you are about to do as you will no longer get any security updates.

Jim Gilliam

Use a thumb drive for Windows and has SmartSDR on it. It will not update. When I am through hamming, I will boot on the regular hard drive. One can make a bootable thumb drive using a program called WintoUSB.

Jim, K6QE

Peter K1PGV

Please insert here my usual diatribe about how “disabling Windows updates is a very bad idea” — thank you, that’ll save me from having to type it all for the nine hundredth time. In the most recent version of Windows you can (1) postpone the installation of updates for up to 90 days (IIRC), (2) limit the internet bandwidth used when downloading updates. Both very useful options. Peter K1PGV

WK2Y

You can pause all updating up to 35 days.  Then we need to distinguish between feature updates and quality updates.  You don't want to delay the quality updates too long.  They include the security updates.  You can put them off for 30 days.  The feature updates, which IMHO, seem to cause the problems can be delayed 365  days.  However, this is under Windows 10 PRO only.  I know that the ability to postpone updates in the Home version of Windows 10 is much more limited.

73 and Happy Holidays,
Bob, WK2Y

Paul Lourd

Agreed, this is very bad advice for the general user. If you have a properly configured windows system, there is little risk to doing updates, and significant risk to NOT doing them. This is where hams, who think they know better than Microsoft, end up with unstable systems that won't support the latest applications and become fodder for bots.  Unless you run disconnected from the net forever, don't do this.

Kevin

I'm curious how FRS feels about this topic. Should people avoid doing updates so they avoid SSDR/DAX/CAT problems? Or should FRS figure out why SSDR components keep breaking and fix it?

73,
Kev K4VD

KC3OL

I am tired of fixing DAX problems every time Windows does an update.  Until this problem is solved I am going to prevent updates.  This computer is only used for Flex, WSJT, and my logging program.
Thanks for all of your comments.   
Ted, KC3OL

Tim - W4TME

We never advocate for anyone to not install OS patches and updates.  I test every software version that is released with a fully updated Win10 OS.  This is a pristine (other than loading basic ham software) version of Win10.  No optimizations, no turning things off (like UAC).

Peter K1PGV

Your money, your chance. I predict the DAX update problem will never be fully “solved” as a great deal of the issue is inherent in relying on serial port emulation, which itself relies on port numbers. Renumbering and reconfiguration of serial ports across updates (when multiple drivers are removed and then reinstalled) works the way it works. DAX can be as good as it can be, play by all the rules, and still get **** up by other drivers. The order in which drivers are installed is non-deterministic, which leads to clashes in settings on the best of days. This really isn’t a Flex problem beyond the point that it is perceived as such by some users. In my work life, I close bugs that I get about serial port conflicts as “Won’t Fix, Works as Designed” Just thought you’d like to know some of the technical basis for what’s happening. P

Andy - KU7T

Ted, Then don't connect your computer to the internet. Please don't advise others that do connect their computers to the internet to disable features that help protect their assets. That is irresponsible. Andy KU7T

WK2Y

I get a newsletter called Windows Secrets.  Susan Bradley writes a column called Patch Watch.  It details when issues have been found with different updates and there are always plenty. They usually affect specific configurations and software. 

Again, the important point is to distinguish between feature and quality updates.  It's the big major feature updates such as this Fall's Creator Update from 1703 to 1709 that has caused so many issues.  The security updates seem to cause far fewer. The approach that has worked well for me is to allow, with a 30 day delay, the quality updates, and I am still waiting to update from 1703 to 1709. According to Susan Bradley, "I'm getting closer to considering 1709 baked. "  So soon but not just yet.

There is of course some risk, but to mitigate that I keep my virus and malware software current and running.
73
Bob
WK2Y

James Kennedy-WU5E

why would want to stop security patches. Keep your computer updated , scan daily. I used two computers one for the Home and one for the radio.

73's

Jim

WU5E

WK2Y

I delay (but not stop!) because even the security patches are often revised and corrected. Most of the problems are pretty esoteric, but still, it would be just my luck to have an affected system.
73
Bob
WK2Y