Stopping Windows 10 Update Attempts?

[fiction-factory]

I'd be grateful if someone could advise me on whether it's possible to stop the frequent attemots to update Windows 10 on my HP laptop. Several times already this morning my laptop has seized up for half an hour- a big black square takes over- and then I get a message saying the update failed and then I get various other Windows windows taking over telling me how to troubleshoot/ resolve the problem. All these Update attempts are bound to fail because they need a minimum of 6GB afree space nd I simply cannot create that much space on my small HP laptop which is only 28Gb and most is taken up by Windows and HP files which can't be touched. I have got rid of all superfluous programs, music, pictures, and most documents onto pendrives but I cannot create more than 1-2 Gb free space.
I wish I could see how to stop these very intrusive update attempts.
Can anyone advise please?

[jim360]

The easiest solution I can find is a setting to pause updates for 35 days (Settings >> Windows Update >> Advanced Options), but that's not ideal.

Try this:

Control Panel >> System and Security >> System >> Advanced System settings (left menu), then click on the Hardware tab. Go to "Device Installation settings", and it will ask if you want to "Automatically download manufacturers' apps". Select "no", in defiance of the "this is not recommended" warning.

[fiction-factory]

Thanks - will have a look.

[fiction-factory]

Thanks. Have tried the second one. Will see what happens.
I tried your first solution first but the Advanced Options did not give me any frequency options- only Automatic and Notify Me. I had tried both of those previously and both had the same effect- ie they didn't stop the problem.

[Bertrum]

If you cannot get the updates and are unable to make room for them your only option to stop them is to download “Win Updates Disabler”
http://www.site2unblock.com/win-updates-disabler/

[fiction-factory]

Thanks. Have tried jim's 2nd option and will see whether it works over the next 24 hours. If it doesn't, I'll look into your suggestion, Bertrum.

[Guilbert53]

There are various suggestions here.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/askjack/2017/jan/05/what-is-the-best-way-to-deal-with-windows-10-updates-on-a-32gb-netbook

So you could maybe put a Micro SD card in your laptop (if it has a slot)

Or maybe download the huge Windows 10 update on another PC and save it to a memory stick and do an install of it from there.

Have a read through these various options.

[Buenchico]

The usual trick for disabling all but the most important of Windows 10 updates is to tell Windows that you're using a metered connection. (i.e. one with a data cap):

https://www.howtogeek.com/226722/how-when-and-why-to-set-a-connection-as-metered-on-windows-10/

[fiction-factory]

Thanks. The method (disabling via control panel) suggested by jim360 seems to be working so far in that my laptop use hasn't been interrupted at all in the last 7 hours.
I do appreciate though that it may be stopping important security updates so I will look into Buenchico's suggestion some time this week when I get chance

[fiction-factory]

And thanks Guilbert. Some useful ideas there- it's good to know it's a problem others have encountered and managed to get round.Thanks everyone.

[Peter Pedant]

maff pro speaks to maff pro
perfick - thanks to Jim

and having seen Mark 'the Zuck' Zuckerman at Congress, I just wanted to stop Gates et al 'improving' the service on my machine so i was gonna do it anyway.

hey two questions - what about making people pay for FB (yesterday ) and so if they whine about selling on your data, you can say sozza it is in the contract !
good huh ?

and Jim if I want an academic of your level to teach me the contents of Couplands Computability and Logic - how do I go about it ? write the local prof of maff at Manch ? for moolah - I am willing to pay.

thanks gents