Windows updates driving me crazy

[Tom.G]

As for a swap file - can't remember when I last used one of those.

Windows creates one and uses it automagically. By default, it resides on the C: drive. Which, even if you have several drives, is the one most heavily used.

At least on the older versions of Windows, it was possible to relocate the Swap File to other drives. Then the heaviest usage is still often the C: drive with around 50% - 60% usage, followed by the swap drive.

Also, older versions defaulted to a relatively small swap file which really slowed down the system. This is where I got the most speed-up. IIRC, I had to edit the Registry to increase the file size.

PhotoShop for instance creates its own swap files, but at least gives you the option to specify their locations.

So yeah, moving the swap files to an SSD can speed things up if your disk is slow or fragmented and the memory usage is tight.

Cheers,
Tom

 

[sandy stone]

My system is about 4 years old, so Windows 10 version 22H2. 12 Gb RAM, right now about 60% used. 917 Gb hard drive, 146 Gb used, 770 Gb free. The bottleneck appears to be the hard drive, since the usage goes to 100% when the system bogs down; there has been some improvement since I defragged it.

I think my original post was triggered by the monthly update russ_watters mentioned, but even this morning I saw "Service Host: Windows Update" run for 10 seconds or so when I woke up the system, backing out my browser. I'm still considering adding RAM to see if that helps, since it's pretty inexpensive.

 

[DrJohn]

I don't think it is due to RAM. Windows 10 ran quite happily on 8Gb on my last Win 10 machine, while my partner also has only 8Gb on her machine. She also has just a 237 Gb disk, with about 130 Gb free. On her 8 year old laptop. With the same windows version as you quote above.

Her updates take 10 - 15 minutes - she hardly uses the PC at all and we are at the 15 minute mark in an update just now (I decided to test how long it took).
Edit: Then 10 minutes more to complete the restart and installation. I think it is almost 3 months since she last did an update.

So don't waste money on RAM, that is not your problem. She doesn't put her computer to sleep, she switches it off. So either you have too many things open at once coming out of sleep mode, or a dodgy hard disk. Try closing it down completely, then starting up and letting it run the updates with nothing else going on. For example, start it before going to bed or just after you get up.

Edit: Of course it might be that you are just a bit impatient, as from start to finish we have just taken 25 minutes.
Trying to avoid the updates tends to result in it taking much longer to complete when you finally do it,

 

[jack action]

I agree that additional RAM should not change anything. When you say:

Windows springs into action downloading updates and hogging resources, locking out other programs (my browser, mail) for minutes at a time.

I think you have the same problem I did: It is your connection that is saturated by the files transferred for the update. And then you can't use your browser or email. I never had the fastest connection available. (I have a 30 Mbps now.)

 

[Wrichik Basu]

If changing OS is not an option, then I would recommend not putting the system to sleep at all. This statement holds irrespective of whether the system is a laptop or a desktop. For a laptop, just keep it connected to power, disable sleep when the lid is closed, and leave it there. Windows has an option to automatically do an update if the system is idle for some time. Afaik, this "some time" can be modified too.

 

[berkeman]

Mentor Note -- A related discussion of the Crowdstrike update debacle has been split off into its own thread: https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/crowdstrike-debacle-for-microsoft-windows-update.1064562/

 

[sysprog1]

Sounds like you have turned them off: this is probably a bad idea.

Yes, on a not-adequately-isolated machine running Win 10, If you're not going to vet and install at least the important (remedial or prophylactic) updates, then you would probably do better to let the auto-updates run.

Having weighed the risks against the instability and nuisance, I usually disable the auto-updates -- an open-source software tool that can disable (or re-enable) Win 10 Auto Update is available here: https://github.com/WereDev/Wu10Man

 

[Wrichik Basu]

Honestly, the best way to disable updates on Windows is to take it off the internet. My Windows 10 VM on Linux is never connected to internet. It works pretty fast and is stable, without updates poking in their nose when I am doing something important.

The discussion in this thread basically boils down to this:

• It's not possible to entirely turn off updates on Windows. Updates can be delayed at the most by setting active hours, but that's the limit.
• Even if it was hypothetically possible to switch off updates, that would be pretty bad because your system will miss crucial security updates too.
• Why does Windows force updates on users rather than letting users choose a time they are comfortable with? We don't know, maybe ask Microsoft?
• Is there no solution to the problem mentioned in the title? Both yes and no. If you can migrate to Linux, then yes, you will no longer be forced to update. If you can't migrate, you have two options:
  1. Keep your system disconnected from the internet. A viable solution for a VM, but definitely not for a normal setup. Even if you keep it disconnected from the internet in the latter situation, viruses may be injected into your system by network computers or USB drives. Without updating the OS, your system remains vulnerable to such malicious code that exploits unpatched vulnerabilities.
  2. Don't turn your system off. Before you get off for the day, start the updates; hopefully they should be done by the next time you sit at your system. (Unless, of course, someone like CrowdStrike pushes an update to brick your system.)

 

[jack action]

Why does Windows force updates on users rather than letting users choose a time they are comfortable with?

Because too many don't do it. From the point of view of Microsoft, this makes their product more vulnerable and hurts their reputation. Because even if the users don't follow the recommended maintenance that doesn't make the company right in their mind.

 

[sysprog1]

Honestly, the best way to disable updates on Windows is to take it off the internet.

There are multiple ways to disable the auto-updates that more precisely fit the purpose than that, e.g. you could use your router's firewall to disallow downloads from Microsoft domains,.

• It's not possible to entirely turn off updates on Windows. Updates can be delayed at the most by setting active hours, but that's the limit.

That's not accurate -- you can turn off Windows 10 Update (and turn it back on), e.g. by use of methods and a software tool described and downloadable here: https://github.com/WereDev/Wu10Man

Even if it was hypothetically possible to switch off updates, that would be pretty bad because your system will miss crucial security updates too.

You can switch Windows Update off, and turn it back on to do updates when you decide to. That allows you to put in updates that you deem necessary or appropriate, without giving MS a blanket pass to make whatever changes it wants to make, whenever it wants to make them, on and to your system.

• Why does Windows force updates on users rather than letting users choose a time they are comfortable with? We don't know, maybe ask Microsoft?

I think it's pretty clear that MS doesn't want to allow opting out of forced updates -- with Win 7, they had a method for setting delays, but not 'until further notice' delays, and as of later Win 10 releases,, the option to delay is no longer presented.

 

[Wrichik Basu]

That's not accurate -- you can turn off Windows 10 Update (and turn it back on), e.g. by use of methods and a software tool described and downloadable here: https://github.com/WereDev/Wu10Man

A software tool that has been archived and no longer supported. Will likely no longer work pretty soon.

 

[sysprog1]

A software tool that has been archived and no longer supported. Will likely no longer work pretty soon.

That assessment does not support your contention that "it's not possible to entirely turn off updates on Windows". The software tool is downloadable, it works today, and it likely will work on any version of Windows 10 Update for as long as Win 10 is supported -- and that software tool is only an example -- other methods are available that also work. MS has tried in Win 10 to make it difficult to prevent auto-reinstatement of its auto-updater, but the user community has found ways to successfully keep it switched off

 

[jack action]

That assessment does not support your contention that "it's not possible to entirely turn off updates on Windows".

I think he means it is not possible in a Microsoft-approved way. When you know nothing about computers, you don't install stuff found from who knows where.

But of course, there is always a way. Worst case scenario, I could imagine some firewall rule restricting access to the update URL would do the trick.

 

[sysprog1]

I think he means it is not possible in a Microsoft-approved way.

If there were a 100% MS-approved way, then presumably there would be no reason for the OP to have started this thread. The tool automates use of MS-approved interfaces to accomplish the disabling of auto-update functions.

When you know nothing about computers, you don't install stuff found from who knows where.

It's open source, and its workings are well explained in the accompanying documentation.

But of course, there is always a way. Worst case scenario, I could imagine some firewall rule restricting access to the update URL would do the trick.

Yes, this is from my prior post (#40) in this thread:

Honestly, the best way to disable updates on Windows is to take it off the internet.

There are multiple ways to disable the auto-updates that more precisely fit the purpose than that, e.g. you could use your router's firewall to disallow downloads from Microsoft domains,.

 

[James Demers]

How long was it in sleep mode? Was it a long time? I have not noticed this on my computers except when I restart my laptop that has not been used for months.

I never try to use my computers when updates are in progress. I'm not sure what that might do. Many updates (especially bios updates) require a restart.

Do you know if the downloads and installs completed successfully? Maybe it keeps trying to install the same update and keeps failing.

TL;DR Summary: Incessant updates sucking up computing resources

Is anyone else experiencing this, or do I have some problem with my system?

This drove me nuts when I used PCs. Literally, one of the reasons I now use Macs. (I can run Windows in a virtual machine on the rare occasions that I need to . . . but guess what? )
Your best defense might be to turn off your Wi-FI (or router) before booting up, and turn it back on only when you need to access the Internet. Reboot at bedtime, and by morning you should be good to go ... until next time.

 

[vela]

(I can run Windows in a virtual machine on the rare occasions that I need to . . . but guess what? )

I used to do this as well so I could test out assignments for one of my classes. I ran Windows so infrequently, most of the time was spent installing the updates.

 

[Rive]

From the point of view of Microsoft, this makes their product more vulnerable and hurts their reputation.

From my point of view messing my settings and limiting my control over my PC is hurting me.

By the way... Just now I was forced to switch to W11. I want back my detailed, long, nice looking context menu

 

[Nik_2213]

Win'11 ?? I keep getting M$'s increasingly insistent prompts to upgrade my '10'.

From time to time, I run the '11' compatibility checking tool. Every time, it reports 'No way...'
Seems this tool does not 'phone home', as their upgrade pleas continue unabated...
It's mostly the security chip thing: Both this CAD_Tower and the network render 'Box' have a mobo port for a plug-in dongle. But, if I did that, a Tuesday brunch would surely find the '10' update included an unwanted '11', disabling or deranging many of my warily coaxed 'legacy' tools and utilities...

FWIW, I have a reasonably fast ISP link, ~8 MBs (~100Mbs), but waiting for even 'minor' Win'10 upgrades that stall at 80~~90% to tediously unwind, retry day after day after day is a serious inconvenience.

 

[phinds]

From my point of view messing my settings and limiting my control over my PC is hurting me.

Sure, but do you seriously think that MS give a rat's patootie about you? Or me? Or ANY of its users?

 

[phinds]

I keep getting M$'s increasingly insistent prompts to upgrade my '10'

I was also inundated with the same thing for a while. I don't know what I did but it has to have been something because I haven't gotten a single one in many months.

 

[Danlenia]

Because it reached EOL four years back. So no security updates either; CVEs remain unpatched.

hhhh...I used it the same way

 

[harborsparrow]

If you poke around in the Win 10 or Win 11 settings, there is a way to stop updates for a while. But once your update pause is finished, you'll have to endure however many updates there are until it gets satisfied.

You really DO want those updates, as they contain lots of things that keep your system safe.

I just resign myself to the fact that any NEW install of Windows will update itself incessantly until it gets "caught up". After that, I'll get about one per month for major updates, and an occasional quick bug fix. And, I can arrange it so those will not automatically reboot your computer without asking me first.

I am a power Windows user and have not had any major issues with updates after that startup period I mentioned. Okay, once in a while, Microsoft gets nervous about something and issues unexpected updates--but I notice them wanting to reboot when I first turn the computer on in the morning, or get ready to turn it off at night. In the morning, I select "Update and Restart" and get a cup of coffee, and at night, I select "Update and Shut down" and head on to bed.