Solved How to prevent Windows 10 upgrade now and in the future

[MTS52]

I do not want to upgrade my Windows 7 to Windows 10.

I am providing a link to a program called GWX Control Panel which helps rid you of the update process.
The author gives plenty of information on this page (worth reading) and there is a download link to the right.
You just need to download the portable version and run it. No Install required.

Ultimate Outsider: Using GWX Control Panel (formerly GWX Stopper) to Permanently Remove the 'Get Windows 10' Icon

This will also help in the future if Microsoft changes tactics and tries to upgrade against your will.
Well worth running after each patch Tuesday to make sure nothing has changed.

Good luck

Edit. The program is signed by the author and checksums are provided to verify the download.

 

[Taplice]

There is another option will allow you to avoid the automatic download of Windows 10.
It specifically targets the Windows 10 download files. First, install KB3065987 (Windows 7) or KB3065988 (Windows 8.1) updates from Microsoft’s website, depending on which operating system you have. After you’ve restarted your computer, open up the registry editor (search for it or hold the Windows key and R, type regedit, and hit enter).

Next, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows. Right-click Windows, choose New, then Key, and then type in WindowsUpdate without a space. Click on the newly created key and create a 32-bit DWORD called DisableOSUpgrade with a value of 1. Restart your computer.

 

[MTS52]

Hi Taplice.

Thanks for the info. This can be done with one click in the the program I mentioned.
There is a button for enable/disable Windows Operating System Upgrades in Windows Update.
No need for anything to be installed from windows update.
It places an entry in the registry to forbid Upgrades.

 

[derekimo]

There is another option will allow you to avoid the automatic download of Windows 10.
It specifically targets the Windows 10 download files. First, install KB3065987 (Windows 7) or KB3065988 (Windows 8.1) updates from Microsoft’s website, depending on which operating system you have. After you’ve restarted your computer, open up the registry editor (search for it or hold the Windows key and R, type regedit, and hit enter).

Next, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows. Right-click Windows, choose New, then Key, and then type in WindowsUpdate without a space. Click on the newly created key and create a 32-bit DWORD called DisableOSUpgrade with a value of 1. Restart your computer.

Upgrade to Windows 10 Update - Enable or Disable in Windows 7 or 8.1 - Windows 10 Forums

 

[MTS52]

In case anyone is curious this is what the app looks like.
It makes it very simple to deal with the upgrade process.

View image: GWX control panel

 

[Monster212]

thanks for this info i have installed the app and it works and is super easy...

 

[wiganken]

As well as upgrade to Win 10 it stops Win Updates

I tried this and then ran "Windows Update" which failed with a message "Windows could not search for new Updates" and displayed "Error Code 80244019". Registry key DisableOSUpgrade = 1 doesn't only stop OS upgrade to Win 10 it stops Windows Update as well so it is no use? I changed the DWORD value to 0 and was able to use Windows Update again. Any other suggestions to only disable upgrade to Win 10 without affecting other Windows updates please?

 

[Brink]

I tried this and then ran "Windows Update" which failed with a message "Windows could not search for new Updates" and displayed "Error Code 80244019". Registry key DisableOSUpgrade = 1 doesn't only stop OS upgrade to Win 10 it stops Windows Update as well so it is no use? I changed the DWORD value to 0 and was able to use Windows Update again. Any other suggestions to only disable upgrade to Win 10 without affecting other Windows updates please?

Hello wiganken,

This should work for you.

Upgrade to Windows 10 Update - Enable or Disable in Windows 7 or 8.1 - Windows 10 Forums

 

[wiganken]

Thanks for replying but what you suggest I do is exactly what I did do but it stopped Windows Update search completely. Message displayed: - "Windows could not search for new Updates" and displayed "Error Code 80244019".
I want something that allows Windows update to search for updates as normal but prevents Windows 10 from being installed. Any other suggestions are welcome.

 

[Brink]

That by itself shouldn't cause any issues to Windows Update since it's only a policy to disable the "Upgrade to Windows 10" update.

Did you do anything else that may have adversely affected Windows Update?

To be safe, do a full scan of your system with an AV program such as Malwarebytes Free to make sure your system is clean.

If it comes back as clean and you are not having network issues, then you might see if resetting Windows update using OPTION THREE below may help.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91738-windows-update-reset.html

 

[wiganken]

Thanks. I'll give it a try and re-post with results in a couple of days (I want to run Windows Update several times after a few re-boots to see if the problem has really been sorted). I don't want to say it is fixed until I have proved Windows Update works consistently. Thanks again. Ken.

 

[wiganken]

I followed your Option 3 and ran the batch file. I have run Windows Update several times now with DWORD "DisableOSUpgrade" switched ON (1) and the Search works fine now so the problem seems fixed. Thank you.
Are we sure that "DisableOSUpgrade" works when switched ON because Windows Update re-offered me "Optional" update KB3035583 which is the update that puts the "Upgrade to Windows 10" icon in the Notification area? It may be that the icon would have been placed there (if I had not deselected it) but perhaps "DisableOSUpgrade" would have stopped it working had I tried it?
I am not able to mark this thread as solved because it is not my thread but it is solved (apart from the question above) as far as my part in it is concerned. Thanks again

 

[MTS52]

GWX Control panel has recently been updated to v.1.6
It now has the ability to monitor when windows changes any settings that have been made using GWX.
It monitors in real time and gives balloon tips when changes occur.
You can download either the installer or standalone version and checksums are provided.