Post by Bayer A.User on Mar 27, 2016 14:41:11 GMT -6
Yet another clean Win7x64 install this weekend. The problems with getting even 2012 sp1 up to date with WU persist. First, as we have known, WU gets stuck searching and svchost redlines the machines resources . This can go on for hours or overnight. Second, the WU GUI shows never checked/never installed even though wuauserv is installing updates at shutdown. Security only. Third, with WU set to check but NOT dwnld or install automatically AND NO recommended updates to prevent any GWX or 3am system upgrades.
Its getting more time consuming, but well worth the effort. Early on i went to catalog.update.com and got the standalone x64 KB 313 9852. As Noel mentioned, this security update for kernel-mode drivers seems to help un stick WU and get the updates rolling.
By now the windows update agents 7.6.7600. 256 & 320 have a bad reputation. After all the B.S, KB 295 2664, KB 303 5583, KB 312 3862 were offered and all the telemetry/diagnostic KB's that go with them NOT installed & hidden !
Another sweet runnin' 7 machine was born and will never see 10 !
One last thing for Locutus. Check out KB 982018hotfix for advanced format disk compatibility. 4kb phys sector size/emulate 512 bytes.
Last Edit: Mar 27, 2016 14:42:59 GMT -6 by Bayer A.User
Post by Bayer A.User on Mar 29, 2016 15:08:52 GMT -6
Ed Bott spoke of creating a reg key to prevent unwanted upDowngrade from 7 to 10 for those living without GPedit. I had a chance to try it , no way to know if it is the magic bullet. All i know is it does no harm.
RegEdit: HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate \OSUpgrade> create "AllowOSUpgrade"32bit DWORD and set the value 0 (zero)
I also tried: HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate \OSUpgrade> create"DisableOSUpgrade"32bit DWORD and set value to 1 (one)
While a registry value may presently be consulted, and if found GWX is blocked, bear in mind that's only true by the graces of the Microsoft programmers. They had to add code to specifically check for that particular value, and they can certainly take it away. So... Always be wary that they might remove that limitation! After all, they have been increasing the aggressiveness of their other tactics.
I think there is no "set it and forget it" approach that will both block GWX long-term and allow you to receive Windows Updates. You're going to have to keep actively involved and remain vigilant.
Several additional ways to be more sure you're keeping Win 10 out are:
Disable the Windows Update service except when you're ready to check for updates, then when you enable and run it vet every update presented. Always hide some updates.
This is the list I have settled on to always hide on Windows 7:
KB3035583 (this one is GWX itself and keeps unhiding itself) KB2952664 KB3021917 KB3068708 KB3080149 KB3123862 KB971033
Use a firewall setup that doesn't allow the services to contact Microsoft except when you reconfigure to allow it. I prefer the Sphinx Windows 10 Firewall Control product (the name contains 10 but it works on XP and newer, and will have some fantastic new features soon).
I check for GWX having shown up on my systems via this command:
DIR C:\*GWX*.* /S
No files/folders at all are shown when the system is clean.
Watch for a hidden C:\$Windows.~BT folder, into which Microsoft downloads Windows 10, to show up:
DIR C:\ /AHD
GWX has run if C:\$Windows.~BT is seen there.
At some point it will become prudent to just never run Windows Update again. At that point it might become more of a "set it and forget it" situation. What a relief that will be!
Not a bad idea, though it seems like the kind of thing they could easily anticipate and thwart.
Can you believe we're actually discussing having to take such exceptional measures to protect our systems from Microsoft?
It's taking our TIME, causing STRESS, and potentially disrupting our LIVES. Why isn't there legal action against Microsoft? The FBI would arrest a virus writer that would be so intrusive!
Thinking on this further, we have come to expect Microsoft to deliver Windows Updates to us that, to the best of their abilities, make the version of Windows we have licensed more reliable and more secure. So...
Doesn't usurping the Windows Update process to deliver something OTHER than what we originally expected (and which is widely being rejected) count as a failure to meet contractual agreements?
Why is it the EULA contract can only benefit them?
Hey Noel are you compiling all this info into one "easy to read and understand" guide for computer idiots like me? your information about win10 tweaks is scattered all over the net. nice vette, BTW!
While I always enjoy helping people, I suggest that doing a full "To Work" guide as I have done with Win 7 and 8 in the past will be akin to helping Microsoft succeed, and frankly I'm neither feeling the love nor perceiving an advantage to do so. I guess the short answer is "no".
My intent is to put the most useful info on this forum. And of course if there's anything you'd like to know how to do, just create a thread here. I'll be happy to contribute as I'm sure will the others.
-Noel
Author of the "How to Configure the 'To Work' Options" series of Windows books. Not feeling enough love to do one for Windows 10.
Post by Bayer A.User on Apr 6, 2016 18:58:38 GMT -6
Interesting. Noel,that you hid KB 971 033. Has nothing to do with GWX,but nevertheless... As long as the OS is legitimately activated we don't need MSFT snoopin' through our file systems.
I did that on the advice of someone here. It stopped an infrequent attempt I detected to get data through my firewall.
My system is legitimately activated, so why would I allow it to continue to run software that could conceivably break that on Microsoft's whim? I have better things for it to do.
In general whenever I see an attempt to communicate that isn't allowed for normal operations, I try to find out why it's happening and cut it off at the source by reconfiguration or deinstallation or whatever.
-Noel
Author of the "How to Configure the 'To Work' Options" series of Windows books. Not feeling enough love to do one for Windows 10.
After requesting Windows Update to start, Windows 7 ‘s TrustedInstaller.exe initially does a WHOLE bunch of work (minutes of CPU time and lots of disk I/O) at first, with NO network I/O. I presume this is what’s needed to characterize the system.
The hard CPU loop with NO network I/O and NO disk I/O consumes a single core on a high-end Xeon x5690 for almost 40 minutes!! Only THEN do you get to see the available updates!
Then, once updates that have once been hidden have been hidden AGAIN, finally the download and install can commence. That part, unlike in past iterations, at least moves along and takes only a few minutes.
All in all, on a very powerful system Windows Update took well over an hour to complete. That’s a full hour of wasted resources, reduced system responsiveness, and overall aggravation. Thanks loads, Microsoft!
As a career software engineer I would bet my paycheck that there is NO WAY a hard CPU loop like this could be anything other than intentional on Microsoft’s part. If nothing else, it’s been well known by them for months now, and they have done nothing to fix it!
Why would they do this?
Maybe to push more and more people entirely off of doing updates, so that their older systems gradually become more and more vulnerable?
Maybe to burn a few systems out because of the heat generated by looping the processor so hard?
Maybe to corrupt them because of people not being able to wait around for such a horrendous waste of resources to finish and just shutting the machine off in the middle of the process?
Maybe just to put a bad taste in the mouths of the users of Windows 7?
Are we seeing no less than Windows 7 Deprecation As A Service?
You decide.
-Noel
Author of the "How to Configure the 'To Work' Options" series of Windows books. Not feeling enough love to do one for Windows 10.
Post by Bayer A.User on Apr 14, 2016 12:44:07 GMT -6
Been thinking the same thing ,Noel Updating a windows pc never was like this prior to 2015. Whats going on now is unbelievable. With an i7,16GB ram an SSD and impressive internet speed there is no reasonable explanation for the very harsh hardware thrashing thats going on,now. Systems heat up and fans run full speed. Shit, what will happen in July when temps are in the 90's ? I've been using > net stop wuauserv quite a bit,lately.
Just Disable the Windows Update service entirely using Services.msc, then when you want to check for updates set it briefly to "Manual", Start it, then set it right back to "Disabled" (yes, while it's running; this is no problem).
It's what I've been doing for a long time.
If wresting control away from Microsoft seems wrong, never forget whose computer and data it is!
-Noel
Author of the "How to Configure the 'To Work' Options" series of Windows books. Not feeling enough love to do one for Windows 10.
Post by Bayer A.User on May 12, 2016 6:58:29 GMT -6
The older update agent (both my Vista installs)is still a problem. Like you say, it uses mondo resources for hours on end to provide a dozen security updates plus another "important"LOL KB 315 3731 AzerbaijanChileHaitianMorrocan daylight savings time piece of crappola.
Win7 and 8.1 did all the same in minutes on the same multiboot machine so we know without a doubt that that older update agent is to blame !
Apparently having actual updates available is what sends it into its "loop 4 billion times" frenzy.
Remember this behavior. Document it. When Microsoft claims your computer is no longer fit to be online because you've refused to keep it up to date, this will be good legal cannon fodder.
-Noel
Author of the "How to Configure the 'To Work' Options" series of Windows books. Not feeling enough love to do one for Windows 10.
SVCHOSED.EXE 100% CPU for hours nonstop is still a problem with win 7 here can't get any update agent higher than 7.6.7600.256
For Win7 you CAN get a better/newer/higher# Update Agent.
I experimented with the three available since last summer. KB 305 0265 June2015 v7.6.7601.18847 KB 307 5881 Aug2015 v7.6.7601.18937
KB 308 3324 Sept2015 v7.6.7601.18979 that i am currently using & having no trouble with on a Win7x64 HomePrem install. Nothin' fancy dsktp : Athlonx2 with 4GB ram. WU responds with updates(5-10 min) and installs (10-15 min) without hardware thrashing. I believe it is available standalone from support.microsoft.com
Post by Bayer A.User on Jul 7, 2016 14:56:35 GMT -6
KB 317 3040, for those with WU turned off.... I call it the DEN update, DesperationExpirationNotification It's an optional update for all the metrotards unaware the free upgrade offer will end on July 29,2016 It's a friendly reminder to do something stupid like upgrade a fully functional,rock solid stable, does everything you want & more install of Win7sp1 or Win8.1
Noel, Did you ever find out what was calling cdf-anon.xboxlive.com , My windows 10 box explorer.exe is calling cdf-anon.xboxlive.com/en-US/video/feeds/1.2/videolivetile upon loggin in. I also removed xbox apps and cant figure out what's causing the call, except that maybe its looking for live tile info, even though I uninstalled app and there is no tile
Post by Locutus deBorg on Jul 12, 2016 22:53:01 GMT -6
> Been offered the June2016 version,said no thanx.
installed it here, (surprised it was even offered the last ones were never offered) however it doesn't fix the SVCHOSED.EXE 100% CPU Usage for hours on end it did lower the amount of RAM it gobbles up from 3-4GB to about 400-500MB
don't know what the update agent version is now but it's not 100% fixed
tonight when I start my XP Alarm Clock it will get MRT.EXE downloaded and ready to be installed in under 2 minutes sometimes the download starts and finishes before I even log in
Last Edit: Jul 12, 2016 22:56:04 GMT -6 by Locutus deBorg: text
I find the lack of configuration options disturbing !
I felt a great disturbance in the force.. as if millions of win 7 systems suddenly cried out in terror.
Post by Locutus deBorg on Aug 11, 2016 3:26:10 GMT -6
it's Baaack! hours of CPU and RAM Abuse win 7 x64 Ultimate SP1 after the initial 20 hours last month after rebuilding my HP Pavilion G6 to replace the dead Samsung the first round of updates, which I do in reverse order now starting with the newest except anything which requires previous updates went in and lowered the CPU eating to about 1.5 hours and less RAM eating all update batches went in fine after that with the same 1 - 1.5 hours of SVCHOSED.EXE doing it's abuse now it's time for the Aug. updates and it's Baaaack! will leave it overnight near the window to keep it cooling if it's not ready in the morning then WUAU gets turned off and stays off and I'll switch to the KB913086 update ISO files for vista and win 7 I've started collecting the ISO files again, still missing a few but I have almost all of them now
I find the lack of configuration options disturbing !
I felt a great disturbance in the force.. as if millions of win 7 systems suddenly cried out in terror.
<Rick> Good video. It's almost hard to believe that at one time Windows 98 was the resource hog, but even then, it still ran circles around what Windows 10 can do on today's modern hardware and look a heck of alot better doing it.
May 25, 2021 22:55:12 GMT -6
<Rick> As stated elsewhere, So much for the launch of Windows 11, "The Great Crash." Myself, I had a hard time getting into the site listed above, when I did get in, the video was partly done and then it crashed. There has been many other reports of crashing.
Jun 24, 2021 9:52:33 GMT -6
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<Rick> I see Microsoft has been very quick to pull down reports of site crashing regarding the Launch of Windows 11 on the Microsoft Insiders forum.
Jun 24, 2021 9:57:31 GMT -6
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<Rick> The rebroadcast is working okay.
Jun 24, 2021 11:00:25 GMT -6
<Rick> With reports of people being able to install the dev-edition of Windows 11 on machines not meeting spec, I thought I would give it a what-the-heck try. Lucky me, I'm caught in the downloading, doesn't meet spec, clearing, re-downloading loop on my machine!
Jul 2, 2021 7:08:46 GMT -6
<Rick> I've recently purchased a license for ArcaOS from www.arcanoae.com/ to play with. First impressions, it's still OS/2, but it now has a Linux twist to it.
Jul 2, 2021 7:32:53 GMT -6
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<dozrguy> laptop shit out and am stuck buying a new one. os win11 as fucked as win10 was?
Oct 2, 2021 12:56:10 GMT -6
<Rick> Let's see ..., my impression of Windows 11 is that it is a spruced up version of Windows 10 requiring a 64-bit processor plus a piece of security hardware that is less than 4 years old in order for it to run.
Oct 4, 2021 18:25:49 GMT -6
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<Rick> On the plus side, Microsoft is supposed to be supporting Windows 10 for some time to come for those of us still using systems with I7 or older processors.
Oct 4, 2021 18:44:35 GMT -6
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<dozrguy> i tried installing win10 om the 'shitout' pc this morning usung media creation. EPIC FAIL! went into an endless bootloop. win7 reinstalled just fine
Oct 21, 2021 11:23:38 GMT -6
<dozrguy> STILL so much bullshit and so little time for the kiddie ideas from the hill. My new laptop (MSI GE 11-UH461) would be an awesome "10" machine but because of Winblows I can only give it a "2"......wasted $3500
Oct 27, 2021 9:36:47 GMT -6
<Rick> Hello. Just checking in.
Mar 17, 2022 10:46:54 GMT -6
<isidroco> Each new w10 update adds >100000 useless files to \Windows\Servicing\LCU\Package_for_RollupFix... folders. Even in a SSD takes time to delete that stuff. In each version they manage to worsen stuff.
Mar 27, 2022 16:14:51 GMT -6
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<dozerguy> still traffic here?
Oct 9, 2022 17:32:44 GMT -6
<Rick> No, there does not seem to be very much traffic these days. I still check in from time to time.
Oct 9, 2022 20:08:58 GMT -6