With the Anniversary Update coming it got me wondering if I should disable automatic updates. I think I understand how to do it but wonder if I should? When I had Win 7 and Win 8 I set WU to notify me and I would decide which updates to install. there were very few I didn't install but doing it that way did have benefits. With Windows 10 I am not exactly clear if I do the same will I somehow mess things up since so much is dependent on updates pushed by MS. I'm pretty sure monthly updates for example typically contain many other updates within them that I wouldn't be able to pick and choose from anyway.
Curious as to how people have dealt with this issue?
I personally don't understand why people are determined to micro-manage their Windows Updates.
I read pretty much every single Windows Update for years, but in all that time the only updates I never installed were Silverlight and Bing (as I didn't want them installed) and GWX (until the November update). I still read the updates, but not in as much depth as I once did as to be honest it's pretty much the same old stuff. A Use After Free vulnerability, Remote Code Execution vulnerability if someone convinces you to open a specially crafted file, Font parsing vulnerability, etc.
So, I don't really get it. If people are concerned about telemetry/privacy, etc. then they are looking in the wrong place, they should be reading through Microsoft's Privacy Policies and adjusting their system settings accordingly rather than blocking updates. If they're concerned about bad updates, there was period a couple of years ago where Microsoft would release updates then pull them due to problems, but I haven't had any problem updates for quite a long time now, so presumably they've stepped up their QA. Just let Windows take care of it and save yourself the headache, as I can honestly say I haven't come across any real benefits to blocking Windows Updates.
Well myself, I have a notebook that has issues with the generic drivers windows keeps wanting to install there for I have driver updates disabled. There is also much propriety commercial software that won't run in windows 8 or 10. Just saying there are reasons for not wanting upgrades to run without knowing if your compatible.
So right now I have drivers and upgrades blocked, not sure what will happen with the Anniversary Update coming, I think I'll wait a few days to see what issues people are having. I assume I'll have to unblock upgrades to allow it to install when I'm ready
If non MS drivers were separated from WU I would use automatic updates. Now I have a reminder the first every month to do a manual update but ALWAYS first run the wushowhide.diagcab so I can prevent eventual if-it-aint-broke-break-it drivers from pseudo developers. I think those who disable windows update to actually prevent updates or hotfixes are extremely few, it's all about drivers and the complete absence of evaluation.
For me is the difference between updates, and upgrades, I only have the upgrades blocked not updates, and drivers are blocked I do this through update setting and gpedit.
I have it disabled. A good example of why; I ran it this weekend since I want to skip anniversary edition and it installed a new NVIDA driver which promptly installed things like 3D vision which I do not need. Just edit the group policy and forget about the annoying things being broken. By installing when you want, you at least have a good idea that something got broke by the update.
I always install updates, but when it suits me, not when MS or Windows decides. I use WUMT, not Windows Updates, so I can review updates before Windows just grabs them. I remember playing a game, when a screen starting flickering or network connection failed, because drivers were installing. Not to mention, I am working and Windows suddenly restarts.
