How to have Windows without updates

[mkil5]

I am setting up a computer that I will need running 24/7, this means absolutely no Windows updates in the middle of the night.

 

My initial idea was to run the application on my Arch machine, but this is a .net program that will not install with Wine, so Windows it is.

 

I know in Windows 10, even when you tell the machine to stop updates, they eventually turn themselves back on somehow.  Is there a way to completely turn them off?

 

I am also open to the idea of running an old version of the OS, such as Windows 7 that has support removed and will not receive updates.  I am even also willing to look into some server solution if that is necessary.

 

Or if someone else has a better idea than those, please let me know.  I am open to ideas and brainstorming.

 

Thanks for all of the help.

[Ashleyyyy]

this is extremely unwise as a machine that doesn't get updates can be infected with a virus and then infect other machines on the network. 

 

Windows 10 now has an option to pause updates for a number of days. i'd use that and just update it when nobody is using it. not a perfect solution but hey, something is better than nothing. 

[LIGISTX]

4 minutes ago, mkil5 said:

I am setting up a computer that I will need running 24/7, this means absolutely no Windows updates in the middle of the night.

 

My initial idea was to run the application on my Arch machine, but this is a .net program that will not install with Wine, so Windows it is.

 

I know in Windows 10, even when you tell the machine to stop updates, they eventually turn themselves back on somehow.  Is there a way to completely turn them off?

 

I am also open to the idea of running an old version of the OS, such as Windows 7 that has support removed and will not receive updates.  I am even also willing to look into some server solution if that is necessary.

 

Or if someone else has a better idea than those, please let me know.  I am open to ideas and brainstorming.

 

Thanks for all of the help.

Windows LTSC. You can find "totally legit 100% im sure" keys on ebay for like 4 bucks. What actually sucks about it, you can't actually buy the keys if you wanted to in a legit manor. They are only available to enterprises through an enterprise license, which is sorta BS.

 

LTSC is a cutdown version of win 10, only major security updates, no cortana or other impeded tracking "features", and to find the ISO, look somewhere like mydigitallife.com, they have very extensive lists and checksums of all windows ISO's. I know the forum does not promote the sale of such keys............... But its legit the only way to get them unless your an enterprise...

[Enderman]

Is the PC not connected to the internet?

Cause if it is, you should definitely not turn updates off.

[vanished]

This should be possible through Group Policy edits.  Alternatively, it sounds like this is a machine which will exist in isolation (not connected to the internet).  That will inherently solve the problem as updates can't be found and installed without an internet connection.  If you're not going to run updates ever, it would also be my recommendation that you do this for safety purposes.  If this is not the case, I would simply use the built in tools to pause updates, which will give you approximately 1 month of completely uninterrupted operation, during which time you should be able to take a few minutes out on your own terms for a reboot in order to stay up to date.  I believe that rather than trying to disable updates entirely, the approach should be to run updates when you are able so the system doesn't fall so far behind that it panics and forces them on you at an inconvenient time.

[Aree Soothsayer]

1 hour ago, mkil5 said:

I am setting up a computer that I will need running 24/7, this means absolutely no Windows updates in the middle of the night.

 

My initial idea was to run the application on my Arch machine, but this is a .net program that will not install with Wine, so Windows it is.

 

I know in Windows 10, even when you tell the machine to stop updates, they eventually turn themselves back on somehow.  Is there a way to completely turn them off?

 

I am also open to the idea of running an old version of the OS, such as Windows 7 that has support removed and will not receive updates.  I am even also willing to look into some server solution if that is necessary.

 

Or if someone else has a better idea than those, please let me know.  I am open to ideas and brainstorming.

 

Thanks for all of the help.

This will leave updating entirely under your control.

 

Press the Windows logo key + R then type gpedit.msc and click OK.
Go to "Computer Configuration" > "Administrative Templates" > "Windows Components" > "Windows Update".
Double-click "Configure Automatic Updates".
Select "Disabled" in Configured Automatic Updates on the left, and click Apply and "OK" to disable the Windows automatic update feature.
 

You can manually update at anytime.

 

Or, you can run it on Linux instead of Windows.

[homeap5]

You can use registry key for that. It works great in last versions of Windows (earlier versions can revert that settings, but probably Microsoft wants to give a little more control to the user).

 

You may use OO ShutUp 10 - this software will set proper registry values for you.

[mkil5]

Thanks for all of the help guys.  Right now, the plan is to start off with LTSC and apply some additional steps if need be.  I am a few minutes away from starting the LTSC install.  Hopefully everything works as intended.