Stopping GWX ConfigManager

I simply zipped the entire contents of C:/Windows/system32/GWX. I kept the zip file just in case, but I deleted all of the original files in that folder. Done.

So there is another way of getting rid of the advertisement for Windows 10 but still reserve your copy.

Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\GWX

Right click on the folder and Click Properties then click the Security Tab. Find Administrators and give Full Control.

Inside C:\Windows\System32\GWX there is a config file called Config.xml and also in the C:\Windows\System32\GWX\Download folder has the same Config.xml. Open these files in notepad.

Inside you will see the following lines. You can stop the program from running by setting all the values below to false. I reserved my copy before I did this. So you may want to do that before making these changes. So now when you start up Windows GWX.exe will run check at what stage Windows 10 is currently at and then close if below GA (read below)

<Phase name="None">
<AntUXProcess>false</AntUXProcess>
<TrayIcon>false</TrayIcon>
<Advertisement>false</Advertisement>
<ReservationPage>false</ReservationPage>
<Upgrading>false</Upgrading>
<DownloadInProgress>false</DownloadInProgress>
<DownloadComplete>false</DownloadComplete>
<ReadyForSetup>false</ReadyForSetup>
<SetupInProgress>false</SetupInProgress>
<SetupComplete>false</SetupComplete>
</Phase>
<Phase name="AnticipationUX">
<AntUXProcess>false</AntUXProcess>
<TrayIcon>false</TrayIcon>
<Advertisement>false</Advertisement>
<ReservationPage>false</ReservationPage>
<Upgrading>false</Upgrading>
<DownloadInProgress>false</DownloadInProgress>
<DownloadComplete>false</DownloadComplete>
<ReadyForSetup>false</ReadyForSetup>
<SetupInProgress>false</SetupInProgress>
<SetupComplete>false</SetupComplete>
</Phase>
<Phase name="Reservation">
<AntUXProcess>false</AntUXProcess>
<TrayIcon>false</TrayIcon>
<Advertisement>false</Advertisement>
<ReservationPage>false</ReservationPage>
<Upgrading>false</Upgrading>
<DownloadInProgress>false</DownloadInProgress>
<DownloadComplete>false</DownloadComplete>
<ReadyForSetup>false</ReadyForSetup>
<SetupInProgress>false</SetupInProgress>
<SetupComplete>false</SetupComplete>
</Phase>
<Phase name="Reserved">
<AntUXProcess>false</AntUXProcess>
<TrayIcon>false</TrayIcon>
<Advertisement>false</Advertisement>
<ReservationPage>false</ReservationPage>
<Upgrading>false</Upgrading>
<DownloadInProgress>false</DownloadInProgress>
<DownloadComplete>false</DownloadComplete>
<ReadyForSetup>false</ReadyForSetup>
<SetupInProgress>false</SetupInProgress>
<SetupComplete>false</SetupComplete>
</Phase>
<Phase name="RTM">
<AntUXProcess>false</AntUXProcess>
<TrayIcon>false</TrayIcon>
<Advertisement>false</Advertisement>
<ReservationPage>false</ReservationPage>
<Upgrading>false</Upgrading>
<DownloadInProgress>false</DownloadInProgress>
<DownloadComplete>false</DownloadComplete>
<ReadyForSetup>false</ReadyForSetup>
<SetupInProgress>false</SetupInProgress>
<SetupComplete>false</SetupComplete>
</Phase>

I would stop at this point because GA means it is Generally Available.

<Phase name="GA">
<AntUXProcess>true</AntUXProcess>
<TrayIcon>true</TrayIcon>
<Advertisement>false</Advertisement>
<ReservationPage>false</ReservationPage>
<Upgrading>true</Upgrading>
<DownloadInProgress>false</DownloadInProgress>
<DownloadComplete>false</DownloadComplete>
<ReadyForSetup>false</ReadyForSetup>
<SetupInProgress>false</SetupInProgress>
<SetupComplete>false</SetupComplete>
</Phase>
<Phase name="UpgradeDetected">
<AntUXProcess>true</AntUXProcess>
<TrayIcon>true</TrayIcon>
<Advertisement>false</Advertisement>
<ReservationPage>false</ReservationPage>
<Upgrading>true</Upgrading>
<DownloadInProgress>false</DownloadInProgress>
<DownloadComplete>false</DownloadComplete>
<ReadyForSetup>false</ReadyForSetup>
<SetupInProgress>false</SetupInProgress>
<SetupComplete>false</SetupComplete>
</Phase>
<Phase name="UpgradeDownloadInProgress">
<AntUXProcess>true</AntUXProcess>
<TrayIcon>true</TrayIcon>
<Advertisement>false</Advertisement>
<ReservationPage>false</ReservationPage>
<Upgrading>true</Upgrading>
<DownloadInProgress>true</DownloadInProgress>
<DownloadComplete>false</DownloadComplete>
<ReadyForSetup>false</ReadyForSetup>
<SetupInProgress>false</SetupInProgress>
<SetupComplete>false</SetupComplete>
</Phase>
<Phase name="UpgradeDownloaded">
<AntUXProcess>true</AntUXProcess>
<TrayIcon>true</TrayIcon>
<Advertisement>false</Advertisement>
<ReservationPage>false</ReservationPage>
<Upgrading>true</Upgrading>
<DownloadInProgress>false</DownloadInProgress>
<DownloadComplete>true</DownloadComplete>
<ReadyForSetup>false</ReadyForSetup>
<SetupInProgress>false</SetupInProgress>
<SetupComplete>false</SetupComplete>
</Phase>
<Phase name="UpgradeReadyToInstall">
<AntUXProcess>true</AntUXProcess>
<TrayIcon>true</TrayIcon>
<Advertisement>false</Advertisement>
<ReservationPage>false</ReservationPage>
<Upgrading>true</Upgrading>
<DownloadInProgress>false</DownloadInProgress>
<DownloadComplete>false</DownloadComplete>
<ReadyForSetup>true</ReadyForSetup>
<SetupInProgress>false</SetupInProgress>
<SetupComplete>false</SetupComplete>
</Phase>
<Phase name="UpgradeReadySetupInProgress">
<AntUXProcess>true</AntUXProcess>
<TrayIcon>true</TrayIcon>
<Advertisement>false</Advertisement>
<ReservationPage>false</ReservationPage>
<Upgrading>true</Upgrading>
<DownloadInProgress>false</DownloadInProgress>
<DownloadComplete>false</DownloadComplete>
<ReadyForSetup>false</ReadyForSetup>
<SetupInProgress>true</SetupInProgress>
<SetupComplete>false</SetupComplete>
</Phase>
<Phase name="UpgradeSetupCompatBlock">
<AntUXProcess>true</AntUXProcess>
<TrayIcon>true</TrayIcon>
<Advertisement>false</Advertisement>
<ReservationPage>false</ReservationPage>
<Upgrading>true</Upgrading>
<DownloadInProgress>false</DownloadInProgress>
<DownloadComplete>false</DownloadComplete>
<ReadyForSetup>false</ReadyForSetup>
<SetupInProgress>false</SetupInProgress>
<SetupComplete>false</SetupComplete>
</Phase>
<Phase name="UpgradeSetupRolledBack">
<AntUXProcess>true</AntUXProcess>
<TrayIcon>true</TrayIcon>
<Advertisement>false</Advertisement>
<ReservationPage>false</ReservationPage>
<Upgrading>true</Upgrading>
<DownloadInProgress>false</DownloadInProgress>
<DownloadComplete>false</DownloadComplete>
<ReadyForSetup>false</ReadyForSetup>
<SetupInProgress>false</SetupInProgress>
<SetupComplete>false</SetupComplete>
</Phase>
<Phase name="UpgradeSetupFailed">
<AntUXProcess>true</AntUXProcess>
<TrayIcon>true</TrayIcon>
<Advertisement>false</Advertisement>
<ReservationPage>false</ReservationPage>
<Upgrading>true</Upgrading>
<DownloadInProgress>false</DownloadInProgress>
<DownloadComplete>false</DownloadComplete>
<ReadyForSetup>false</ReadyForSetup>
<SetupInProgress>false</SetupInProgress>
<SetupComplete>false</SetupComplete>
</Phase>
<Phase name="UpgradeSetupComplete">
<AntUXProcess>true</AntUXProcess>
<TrayIcon>true</TrayIcon>
<Advertisement>false</Advertisement>
<ReservationPage>false</ReservationPage>
<Upgrading>true</Upgrading>
<DownloadInProgress>false</DownloadInProgress>
<DownloadComplete>false</DownloadComplete>
<ReadyForSetup>false</ReadyForSetup>
<SetupInProgress>false</SetupInProgress>
<SetupComplete>true</SetupComplete>
</Phase>

I still believe the neatest method is to disable the Scheduled Tasks. :) Unless someone points out something I missed?

Disabling the Scheduled Tasks stops the program from running which interrupts the intended purpose of GWX.exe that is to install Windows 10 as soon as it is available. If you stop the tasks then the program will not run anymore and will not check if Windows 10 is ready to be installed. By using my method Windows 10 will still install as planned you will just not be annoyed anymore.

If you don't want Windows 10 or would prefer to install it at your own leisure then disabling the tasks is a perfect way.

I personally like shiny new things so I reserved my upgrade and want it to be installed asap :)

Appreciate the comment, I don't think I would install it straight away and deal with all the possible bugs!

I can run the exe anytime to reserve my copy if I so wish, and capable of checking what's going on. It is not like a one time deal that will expire in a week.

I was hoping to get an answer like "you don't notice but it is running this and that, check that event log" and some such. :)

Just an update: Several of the unwanted updates have reappeared despite being hidden. Clearly, MS has a way to ignore the 'hide this update' directive. Be careful!

For those who care, here is my list of updates to eradicate: KB3068708, KB3065987, KB3035583, KB3022345, KB3021917, KB2990214, KB2952664

The reason that the updates keep reappearing is that MS, in full evilness mode, republishes them with a new publication date. As such, previous attempts to block the update are bypassed.

First time I compressed then deleted, but now thought than probably would need it so uninstalled and reinstalled which kinda got rid of reserving Windows 10 popup on Windows update.
This time, instead of deleting, renamed... On GWX or GWX.exe's Properties, Security, Advanced, and Change link in front of Owner: (which in this case will be TrustedInstaller) and then do whatever you want, I personally renamed GWX.exe to GWX.reserved.exe
To the ones who still have the popup of Windows 10 on Windows Update, try to reserve it, reinstall, it will disappear somehow.
Hope it helps!