Windows 10: How do I know which updates are pending

Win 10 Pro 1703
The other day I paused updates to prevent new big one coming through.

Yesterday I unpause it to get a Defender/Antivirus update, it worked and let it download and install. I then paused updates again.

However I cannot find a way to see which updates are pending, and if such a way is possible to see, how do I chose which ones, like antivirus to download/install, with pause on ,...to block problematic updates as reported from internet time to time, but still being able to see all pending....-?

:)

 

Defer upgrades: How do I know which features are deferred

It appears that with Microsoft's new "Windows as a service" paradigm you're expected to like what you get and not pick and choose -- like how public transit operates: You don't get to pick which stops are on the route or decide how the bus operates.

It appears to me Microsoft has firmly decided that Windows users are not to be in complete control of their machines. For this reason I am looking into non-Microsoft products for my personal use.

 

Defer upgrades: How do I know which features are deferred

I understand, there's no choice to include/exclude certain updates, but I can defer the delivery of non-security related updates.

My question ist, is it planned for the future that I at least get a notification (a list) telling me what upgrades were deferred so far?

Also, I would put following items on my wishlist:

1) Show WHICH updates / features are currently deferred (in the case I have opted for DEFER UPGRADES)

2) Let the user see UNTIL when the items are deferred or make them available immediately if I want to install them

3) In UPDATE HISTORY: Display a short summary of what the recent updates were about. Like every APP does it when an update comes available: also e.g. if MS Outlook for iPhone etc has an update those developer folks tell you what the update is about. Why
is not done by Microsoft's WIN OS developers ?

(I am aware that I can go online and look for details of a specific update but that is cumbersome, so, ... just make it user-friendly...)

All that stuff can help a user to monitor without effort what has been installed recently and that will help do trouble-shooting if anything works different than the day before.

Thanks,... and,... any input on this?

 

As you have Pro, you can set updates to Notify only.

I find this very useful. What happens? You get an action centre notification. Click that, Settings opens, revealing the pending updates. You can then choose to download them - or not.

How?
1. Use Winaero's tweaker (free)
2. Use the group policy editor
3. Read the relevant tutorial in the Tutorial section - it's in a section in the tutorial on enabling and disabling Windows Updates (search for Notify).

(All these do the same thing- the first is the easiest).

However to block a particular update you must first have received it, then 'hide' it. (Tutorial - hide Windows updates).

 

Ok, I tried that today, but I can only see it needs updates, and it show a defender update, but I had to undo the pause to get it to update.
What happened next is it threw that new KB update at me(the one causing problems on some systems), I cannot pause it again, so I let it go. It went to 3% with lots of disc activity and stay there.
I let it go on for some time then pull the network plug, restaterd it(cannot pause it), then restarted it again, this time it says its preparing windows....
I waited some time, it then rebooted, this time I could pause it.
However when I plugged the network cable in again, it start to download something, and just kept on, with updates paused.

I went to town for an hour, on return it finished. Eventviewer setup had entries about apps, so out of the blue it updated some app stuff, with updates paused.

Pc still ok nothing weired on boot etc.

This whole windows 10-update thing is a mess to use good words, needs a rethink in design(Fire the current programmers will be a good start). This is an engineering concept that only deliver practical issues, it cannot go on like this.......

 

I agree with you that MS made this a problem for users (and it still is) by virtue of updates being automatic and unrestricted by default.

Only if you are relatively technically aware- and aware conceptually of the issues- do you

- set Active Hours
- set updates to Notify (which has worked excellently for me for months until recently, when I've suddenly started to get a Defender update every day or so
- Pro upwards can choose to Defer feature updates (= build upgrades) - and with the later versions of the CU added time options (formerly available via the group policy editor).

I'm happy I've got control; I'm not happy it has to be a learning curve, and MS is only slowly making it a bit easier for users.

But hey, whoever said Windows is a true consumer product? It isn't.

 

"Qwote:
Only if you are relatively technically aware- and aware conceptually of the issues- do you=Yes I looked at this some time ago, I had this PC for a few years not connected to internet at 1511, no problems with what I used it for.

- set Active Hours=I did change that....

- set updates to Notify (which has worked excellently for me for months until recently, when I've suddenly started to get a Defender update every day or so=I did this, but the prolem here is from what I can see, is I cannot select those I want from a clear listing...

- Pro upwards can choose to Defer feature updates (= build upgrades) - and with the later versions of the CU added time options (formerly available via the group policy editor).=Yes I did this....., but will look at it again.

I'm happy I've got control; I'm not happy it has to be a learning curve, and MS is only slowly making it a bit easier for users.= I agree with you.

But hey, whoever said Windows is a true consumer product? It isn't.=I see it this way in life........A very simple rule to determine if you bought a good product, HW or SW."

##############Simple test, Good versus Bad###################

How do you know you got something well designed and well manufactured in your hands:From a toaster to a rocket and everything in between.
1-It works flawlessly out of the box.
2-It update flawlessly.
3-It keep on working for many years or in case of a car for many thousands of kilometers without a problem.
4-Its a relief to use.
5-You can talk to, helped by manufacturer easily and swiftly should a rare problem does occur.
6-The complications of the product does not surface as problems to the user.
- or-
On the other hand if you got a failure in your hands*SadOne rule).
1-You have to keep on tinkering to keep it going.

Changing for the sake of change is probably enemy nr-1 of the "modern" world.