Windows 10: Pausing updates

First the question, then the background.

I'm on Windows 10, build 1703, kb15063.786. I turned on the Pause update option. What exactly will this stop? Namely, will this prevent build 1709 from downloading and updating, and for how long?

The background:

I was on anniversary edition, when Windows decided to update me to 1709. It rebooted, and just when it was about to finish up, gave me the "Can't complete installation" message, and threw me into an endless loop I couldn't get out of. I'm not sure why, though it may be my AMD driver. Anyway, nothing I tried worked (reset, system restore), and I eventually reformatted my drive, and reinstalled everything and it put me back to build 1511. Windows then again tried to update me to build 1709, crashed my system again, and I was forced to reformat and reinstall again. Long story short, I turned on "defer updates" but despite this, it then first updated me to Anniversary edition, and then when I woke up this morning it was the Creator's edition 1703. I then found I had to turn on "Pause updates" again (why the name change?). So again, what will this do? Can I expect to get updated up to build 15063.877? And more importantly, will it prevent 1709 from downloading and crashing my computer again?

By the way, one thing I did learn in this process. If 1709 crashes your computer, let it crash it three times until you get to the advanced startup and immediately ask it to restore to a previous build. Reset and restore don't work, and if you try it first, then restoring to a previous build won't either.

:)

 

Pausing of Windows Updates - Which updates does it actually pause?

Thank you!

 

Pausing of Windows Updates - Which updates does it actually pause?

Actually, this include security updates too that are paused.

 

Pause updates is a temporary pause for all updates, including the cumulative updates which you'd want.

1709 is a 'Features Update' so you should be looking at the options to defer features updates. These too have had some name changes, but in 1703 you get the option to choose between 'Current Branch' or 'Current Branch for Business' (this is the 'deferred' option) as well as an option to delay a features update for up to 365 days. 1607 or earlier just had a 'tick-box' to defer feature updates.


Windows Update - Defer Feature and Quality Updates in Windows 10

If deferring the features update is not working for you, you could try hiding the Features Update....

Hide or Show Windows Updates in Windows 10

 

Thanks. I'll look into it.