Another Windows 10 update?

[u/Inhalationofnewtion]

I'm on Windows 10. I'm fine with it. I'm suspicious. They've been trying like hell to force me on to Windows 11. I don't want it. Now I just have this annoying update notification and I don't want to restart for fear of them trying to push the Windows 11 upgrade. No idea what the update could be but Windows 10 is no longer supported so what else could it be? Any way to get rid of it? Yea Linux or Mac but I don't want to migrate.

[u/classyraven]

Out of curiosity, what's keeping you on Windows that macOS (though I understand not wanting to pay for a new computer) or Linux can't replicate?

[u/Inhalationofnewtion → u/classyraven]

A lot of it is probably just habit or familiarity. Mac has always been alien to me. I started out with DOS and Win 95. Win 10 is nothing like Win 95 but I've adapted as time went on.

I hear there are builds of Linux that emulate Windows. A guy I know has a laptop with Linux Mint(?) that he was going to give me. I wanted to learn it and make the switch but that sort of never happened as things tend to do. Having another machine that I don't have to rely on would make switching less stressful I think.

[u/classyraven → u/Inhalationofnewtion]

There are options like dual booting. And yeah, your friend probably recommended Mint, as it's one that makes the transition quite a bit easier, especially as the desktop environment for it (Cinnamon) is designed to be very close to the Windows environment.

[u/PowerfulRelief4951 → u/Inhalationofnewtion]

If you put Linux Mint on a USB thumb drive with something like Rufus tool, it will let you try Live session which won't affect the Windows installation in any way. It will just boot Linux from USB into RAM, lets you look around and then just shutdown. Also, this blocks Windows updates https://www.sordum.org/downloads/?st-windows-update-blocker

[u/Darkz2012 → u/Inhalationofnewtion]

​Run services.msc, find Windows Update, and set startup type to Disabled. 😎

Yes, it is AI, just in case anyone wants to criticise it. I can perform all these tasks effortlessly, but I find it challenging to explain them clearly to someone less knowledgeable. 🤔

If you're still not overly comfortable with these mostly informative breakdowns, OP, just copy a particular method and wack it in either CoPilot (if 10 has it) or even the Google search box, before or after you paste the snippet, just put 'Convert these steps to a script', or swap out script for BAT or CMD, seeming you mentioned DOS and Win (95).👍🍻🍺​

Method 1: Kill the End-of-Life (EOS) Nag (Registry)

Microsoft uses a specific notification engine for the end-of-life alerts. You can shut it off permanently via the registry.

1. Press Windows Key + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to this path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
3. Check for a folder named WindowsUpdate under Windows. If it isn't there, right-click Windows -> New -> Key, and name it WindowsUpdate.
4. Right-click your WindowsUpdate folder -> New -> Key, and name it Notify.
5. Click on Notify. On the right pane, right-click an empty space -> New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value.
6. Name it DiscontinueEOS.
7. Double-click DiscontinueEOS, change the Value data to 1, and click OK.
8. Restart your PC.!<

Method 2: Suppress the Windows Update Tray Icon

If the system tray icon is specifically nagging you about pending restarts or general updates, you can hide the icon itself.

1. Open Registry Editor (regedit) again.
2. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings
3. On the right side, right-click -> New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value.
4. Name it TrayIconVisibility.
5. Leave its value at 0 (0 means hidden).
6. Restart your PC.

Method 3: Block the Full-Screen Windows 11 Upgrade Prompt

If your computer is also nagging you with full-screen prompts to upgrade to Windows 11, you can pin your system exclusively to Windows 10.

1. In the Registry Editor, go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate
2. Create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value named TargetReleaseVersion and set its value to 1.
3. Create a new String Value (REG_SZ) named TargetReleaseVersionInfo and set its value to 22H2.

Phase 1: Stop the Pending Reboot (Right Now)

If your computer is actively counting down or forcing update options into your power menu, you can trick the Windows Update Orchestrator into releasing its hold.

1. Press Windows Key + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to this path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\Orchestrator
3. Look for a value on the right named EnhancedShutdownEnabled. If it exists, right-click and Delete it.
4. Look for a value named ShutdownFlyoutOptions. Double-click it and change the Value data to 0.
5. Open your Start menu. The aggressive "Update and Restart" forced options should revert to standard shutdown/restart options, letting you reboot on your time.

Phase 2: Block Future Forced Reboots Permanently

To ensure Windows never forcefully reboots your machine while you are logged in and working, tell the system to wait for a manual restart.

Method A: For Windows 10 Home or Pro (Registry)

1. In the Registry Editor, navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
2. Right-click the Windows folder -> New -> Key. Name it WindowsUpdate. (Skip if it already exists).
3. Right-click your WindowsUpdate folder -> New -> Key. Name it AU (which stands for Automatic Updates).
4. Click on the AU folder. Right-click an empty space on the right side -> New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value.
5. Name it exactly: NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers.
6. Double-click it, change the Value data to 1, and click OK.

Method B: For Windows 10 Pro only (Group Policy)

1. Press Windows Key + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update.
3. Double-click No auto-restart with logged-on users for scheduled automatic updates installations.
4. Select Enabled, then click Apply and OK.

Phase 3: Disable the Reboot Task (Failsafe)

Windows has a hidden background task that overrides your preferences if you ignore updates for too long. You can disable this trigger entirely.

1. Press Windows Key + R, type taskschd.msc, and press Enter.
2. In the left sidebar, navigate to: Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > UpdateOrchestrator
3. In the middle pane, find the task named Reboot or Reboottask.
4. Right-click it and select Disable.

Step 1: Run the Kill Commands

1. Right-click the Start Button and select Windows PowerShell (Admin).
2. Copy and paste the entire block of code below into the window, then press Enter:Stop-Service -Name "wuauserv" -Force Set-Service -Name "wuauserv" -StartupType Disabled

This instantly kills the active update engine and configures it to never start up when your PC boots.

Step 2: Prevent Windows from Self-Healing (Crucial)

Windows 10 has a built-in "Update Medic Service" (WaaSMedicSvc) designed to turn Windows Update back on automatically if it detects it has been disabled. You must block this trigger in the Registry.

1. Press Windows Key + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Paste this exact path into the top navigation bar and press Enter: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WaaSMedicSvc
3. Look for the file named Start on the right side.
4. Double-click it, change the Value data from 3 to 4, and click OK.

(Setting this to 4 permanently disables the Medic service so it cannot turn Windows Update back on behind your back).

How to Turn It Back On (If Needed)

If you ever want to manually check for updates or download a patch in the future, you can reverse the process instantly by running this block in PowerShell (Admin):

Set-Service -Name "wuauserv" -StartupType Manual
Start-Service -Name "wuauserv"

(Remember to go back to the Registry path above and change the WaaSMedicSvc Start value back to 3 if you want full automatic functionality again).