Taking control of my upgrade to Windows 10 Pro?

I apologize for asking what must be happening to lots of others, but I cannot find what I'm looking for searching the forums.

My computer is a home-built one, with a paid/purchased (vs. OEM-pre-installed) version of Windows 7. When Windows started prompting me in the spring to reserve a free upgrade to Windows 10 (however that was phrased - I think people know what I mean), I did, and the "Get Windows 10" icon still appears in my system tray to the left of my clock.

Because, to put it mildly, I have no problem with Windows 7, and because also I tend to be a late adapter, I have planned all along to let others post-beta test it, and then get my upgrade, if I use it at all, later in the eligibility period.

However, I currently have three (8/2, 8/3, 8/3) failures from Windows Update on "Upgrade to Windows 10 Pro." In each case, it's "WindowsUpdate_80240020" as the error.

My Avast! free AV software has, also, starting 8/2, reported "some files could not be opened" and pointed to files in a folder created on 8/1, that appears to be tied to the Windows 10 upgrade (C:\$Windows.~BT is the folder under which these unopenable files fall).

Here's my question:

How do I "take control" of this, so Windows isn't trying this upgrade every day, when it will likely be months before I want to try this? I don't want this daily Windows Update failure, or the AV failure to read files. I REALLY don't want Windows to SUCCEED in doing an upgrade that I don't yet want.

But of course I'd like to reserve my right to later get this free upgrade, at a time and under conditions of my choosing.

Thanks.

fireberd said:

See this thread

How to stop Windows 10 from installing from tray icon?

Not sure if that addresses my concern.

I have no problem with the tray icon that has been there for months.

I don't want Windows Update doing whatever it's doing, resulting in Windows Update failures in upgrading to Win10 Pro, and I don't want stuff in the background creating C:\$Windows.~BT folder structures containing files that my AV can't open.

Without my initiating something like that, that is.

I think it's possible to also hide the specific "Win10" updates and to delete the folder created in lieu of you updating. You will need to keep a watchful eye on both Important and Recommended updates to ensure nothing Win10 slips through. You might also choose to uninstall the update that sits in the tray, and then hide that also if it again shows up. This way, if you do decide to update within the 12 month period you can unhide the relevant updates and install them.

I think I'm right in saying you can also update down the track by downloading the Win 10 ISO and entering your Win 7 product key.