Apparently, Microsoft now has an "update catalog" where you can manually download Windows 10 updates: http://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=Windows%2010%20version%201607
Further, all of the large updates are "cumulative" in nature: the latest update replaces all of the previous ones. Therefore, you can keep the automatic updates process off, just install updates manually every so often and save a lot of data usage.
Further, all of the large updates are "cumulative" in nature: the latest update replaces all of the previous ones. Therefore, you can keep the automatic updates process off, just install updates manually every so often and save a lot of data usage.
xode0000, Champion
Posted 3 years ago
Diana, Viasat Employee
GabeU, Champion
Actually, this isn't a great idea. When downloading from the catalog, you are going to download the entire file, whereas with Windows update, it's only going to download those parts of the cumulative update that are needed for the system. Your system may only need a few parts of the cumulative update, so it may download much less than what you will do if you download the entire file through the catalog.
The catalog is a great idea for those who have multiple computers, but not so much those who only have one or two.
The catalog is a great idea for those who have multiple computers, but not so much those who only have one or two.
xode0000, Champion
If Windows update worked like it was supposed to, what you are suggesting here would work. The problem is that Windows update doesn't work like it is supposed to. Downloads of updates routinely fail and Windows update keeps repeating the download and burns up your data, and updates too often break existing software on your system. Further, what if, for whatever reason, you need to completely wipe out and reinstall Windows from scratch. For example, what if your hard drive fails.
With my method, you would turn the Windows update process off, and download and save the update as part of your data each 6 months or so. Then, you would have control over the update, could make sure it doesn't break anything and will be available to you if you need to reinstall Windows from scratch.
With my method, you would turn the Windows update process off, and download and save the update as part of your data each 6 months or so. Then, you would have control over the update, could make sure it doesn't break anything and will be available to you if you need to reinstall Windows from scratch.
(Edited)
Yeah disabling Windows Update through Services is the best option and updating during Free Zone is your best bet.
xode0000, Champion
[ quote author = Michael Salmons]
Yeah disabling Windows Update through Services is the best option and updating during Free Zone is your best bet.
[ /quote ]
Can you confirm that setting the Windows update service startup mode to manual in services.msc and then never starting it works in Windows 10 as it does in Windows 7 and Windows XP, and that Microsoft hasn't created noise, such as Windows 10 starting the service anyways, to make that procedure not work? I have never been forced to use Windows 10 so far.
Yeah disabling Windows Update through Services is the best option and updating during Free Zone is your best bet.
[ /quote ]
Can you confirm that setting the Windows update service startup mode to manual in services.msc and then never starting it works in Windows 10 as it does in Windows 7 and Windows XP, and that Microsoft hasn't created noise, such as Windows 10 starting the service anyways, to make that procedure not work? I have never been forced to use Windows 10 so far.
GabeU, Champion
While I agree that having the updates for later use can be helpful, for most people it will end up costing more data than is needed. Most people don't have any problems with Windows updates in W10. Some do, but most don't, and for most this would, again, use up data needlessly.
The best thing people can do to protect against hard drive failures is to perform system images. A regular schedule for them is best. I keep one per month for the past three months.
If people have data to burn at the end of the month, then by all means, those downloads from the catalog would be a nice thing to have, but for the average user it's nothing more than wasting data.
This, of course, is just an opinion.
As for disabling Windows Update in services, yes, it works. For the average user, though, it's NOT a good idea.
The best thing people can do to protect against hard drive failures is to perform system images. A regular schedule for them is best. I keep one per month for the past three months.
If people have data to burn at the end of the month, then by all means, those downloads from the catalog would be a nice thing to have, but for the average user it's nothing more than wasting data.
This, of course, is just an opinion.
As for disabling Windows Update in services, yes, it works. For the average user, though, it's NOT a good idea.
xode0000, Champion
The overall impression I get here is that you are advocating blind trust in Microsoft. I learned a long time ago that blind trust in Microsoft is dangerous. Microsoft has always favored its own interests and agenda over the needs of, and its required commitment to, its customers. An obvious example of that is Windows always wanting to "phone home," even though that means responding to unsolicited queries from the internet through the TCP ports that hackers most often use to compromise your computer. Fortunately, one of the services the Exede modem provides is the blocking of unsolicited queries to all TCP ports on your computer.
GabeU, Champion
The overall impression I get here is that you are advocating blind trust in Microsoft.Downloading full versions of cumulative updates advocates no less trust than relying on Windows update. Simply connecting to the internet with a Windows based device negates any separate trust with individual actions. It's no more dangerous to connect to Microsoft's servers for an update, or to download a full version of that update, than it is to simply connect to the internet with a product using their OS.
Contrary to popular belief, the vast majority of Windows users have never had a problem, or at least a substantial problem, with or caused by an update.
The chances of a problem occurring by using a full version of a cumulative update are no less than getting the parts of the update needed through Windows update, and it's a false assumption to think that it is.
xode0000, Champion
I disagree. When you download the Windows updates manually, you have at least some control, especially if you run Windows in a virtual machine like I do. When you let Windows automatic update take over, you have no control. If you have some control, you are not putting blind trust in Microsoft. If you have no control, you are putting blind trust in Microsoft.
It is just like GWalk900 said: my network, my rules, or, in this case, my computer, my rules. That's something that Microsoft refuses to recognize (e.g. "you need permission from 'Trusted Installer' to change this file on your computer": "Trusted Installer"?!, last time I checked, I owned my computer and not "Trusted Installer"; even the name "Trusted Installer" is insulting and disrespectful of you as a customer). But then again, we already knew all of this, since Microsoft has always favored its own interests and agenda over the needs of, and its required commitment to, its customers.
I also disagree with your statement of "the vast majority of Windows users have never had a problem, or at least a substantial problem, with or caused by an update." I am constantly made aware of problems that people continue to have with Windows automatic update, and not just from this forum. Further, the problem has been getting worse.
It is just like GWalk900 said: my network, my rules, or, in this case, my computer, my rules. That's something that Microsoft refuses to recognize (e.g. "you need permission from 'Trusted Installer' to change this file on your computer": "Trusted Installer"?!, last time I checked, I owned my computer and not "Trusted Installer"; even the name "Trusted Installer" is insulting and disrespectful of you as a customer). But then again, we already knew all of this, since Microsoft has always favored its own interests and agenda over the needs of, and its required commitment to, its customers.
I also disagree with your statement of "the vast majority of Windows users have never had a problem, or at least a substantial problem, with or caused by an update." I am constantly made aware of problems that people continue to have with Windows automatic update, and not just from this forum. Further, the problem has been getting worse.
GabeU, Champion
Well, we'll just have to agree to disagree.
xode0000, Champion
So, it looks like Microsoft might feel compelled after all to not want to control customers' computers to the Nth through its "updates" program: http://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-prepares-to-roll-out-new-windows-update-controls/?loc=newslet...
Christine Conrad, Champion
That will be an improvement, however it does not appear that the actual Downloading of the updates will be able to be scheduled, which is the bigger part of the update thing for those of us on metered data.
xode0000, Champion
Hopefully, enough consumers, fed up with Microsoft wanting to control their computers to the Nth, will continue to push back so that Microsoft will make it so that updates can be scheduled. In the meantime, it appears (but I haven't tested it yet) that you can simply turn off the update service in services.msc and then manually download the updates as I described above.