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My laptop has Windows 10 (as well as Ubuntu and Remix OS) on it. Every few weeks, I get some updates downloaded without my knowledge and installed automatically when I turn it off and back on the next time.

I don't like this at all. I know that the OS gets more secure, but I only use Windows for a couple of things, such as Steam games and Blu Ray Disc playing, so I have no risks. I don't even surf the internet from there.

Recently, when starting Windows, I am getting always the same update, that starts at 69% and goes up to something like 75%, gets stuck and then after a while cancels and removes changes applied to the OS.

I've got the feeling that the downloaded update is corrupt, and it's failing because of that.

How do I remove the update file and - most important - prevent any update from downloading, ever?

And if it's impossible, how do I delete the corrupt update to redownload it properly?

P.S. I know what you're gonna say: updates are recommended because etc., but please just provide an answer to my question. Thanks!

Manchineel
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If you are really determined to do this, you can simply edit your HOSTS file and redirect the Windows Update sites to 127.0.0.1 (the local machine). That way, Windows Update will never be able to connect.

However, that is a REALLY BAD IDEA! for the sake of all of us, please don't do it.

If you are only connecting to Steam, you most certainly ARE on the Internet and will become more and more vulnerable to malware. Being infected doesn't just impact you but is likely to make you part of a network of machines infecting others.

To fix your stuck update you can either restore to an earlier restore point and then re-apply the updates. Of, if that doesn't work, try the following:

From the command line:

net stop wuauserv
net stop bits

Then delete the files in C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution

If you get a message saying the files are in use, reboot and immediately run the commands and delete again.

Restart your PC again and you should be able to resume updates normally.

UPDATE: In addition or even before, you should also run the following command.

sfc /scannow

This will try to fix any corrupt files which is something that seems to happen fairly regularly with W10.

Julian Knight
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