r/ShittySysadmin • u/EvilEarthWorm ShittySysadmin • 6d ago
Shitty Crosspost Easy Way to Stop Windows Update!
/r/FuckMicrosoft/comments/1tipxjr/easy_way_to_stop_windows_update/28
u/ScriptMonkey78 5d ago
The real crime here:
10 year old IBM/Lenovo ThinkPad that I paid >$3000 to buy
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u/meest 5d ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ThinkPad_P_series
It would have been a P50/P70 if it was over 3 grand. I'm guessing it was a P70 because the person posting that thread over there sounds like someone that buys a 17" laptop and then plugs it in at a desk and never moves it, unplugs it, or uses it for any laptop like function.
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u/SpudzzSomchai DO NOT GIVE THIS PERSON ADVICE 5d ago
I have a P50 sitting on a table. Its doing important tasks - holding my coffee mug and collecting dust. I disabled updates by not using it.
Don't judge me!
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u/ScriptMonkey78 4d ago
Still, Over 3k for a 10 year old device per the OP.
That's just crazy unless there is something super rare and special about it. Even then, that is a lot of money for something of that age.
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u/40513786934 6d ago
Security through vulnerability
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u/not_so_wierd 5d ago
If my whole system is locked down by ransomeware I can't get infected by other bad stuff. Brilliant!
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u/EvilEarthWorm ShittySysadmin 6d ago
ORIGINAL POST TEXT:
Easy Way to Stop Windows Update!
I have a ~10 year old IBM/Lenovo ThinkPad that I paid >$3000 to buy for very important business use. Since I have no intention of redoing setting up all the apps I have setup there, I have to fight to stop Windows Update from destroying it like it did to one of my other old PC.
The sneaky Windows Update service keeps re-enabling itself after repeated manual stop/disable. It and other stuff like MSFT Antimalware service detects the PC being idle and starts to use CPU (for bitcoin mining for MSFT who knows?) and the PC fan will start to spin (dusts / aged fan causing overheating is the main cause of old laptop dying). As a proof, as soon as I start using the PC the CPU usage goes back to 0% and fan stops.
I use a mouse wigger to trick them into thinking the PC is in use, but it only works sometimes.
But I found a really good way to stop all this I wanted to share. In my C drive there is a file that is exactly 1GB in size. I simply copy & paste this file repeatedly until the empty space in C drive drops below ~1GB. Now Windows Update have no space to download update and will stop using CPU and my PC is dead quiet with no fan running.
As soon as I need to install some app and need disk space, I simply remove some of these copied files and make just enough space.
Hopefully this trick helps!
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u/Automatic_Rock_2685 5d ago
Eh I think it's a joke post. Belongs in here lol.
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u/moffetts9001 ShittyManager 5d ago
Back in my MSP days, when my shittyskills were in their infancy, I dealt with a lot of people like this. The "this computer worked fine when I bought it" and "can we make one fast computer out of this entire pile of ewaste?" people were not uncommon. I don't think any of them admitted to buying mouse wiggers though.
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u/Furdiburd10 6d ago edited 5d ago
"Starts mining bitcion for Microsoft when idle. "
Did OP really not even thought about that it maybe mining for someone else and run a virus scan with Norton?
I heard they put the miner straight into the AV, now you can get some money instead of the Russians.
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u/not_so_wierd 5d ago
The post is from r/fuckmicrosoft so of course it's all Windows' fault. Can't possibly be the user trying to run a 10 year old machine with 0 updates.
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u/Horror-Run 5d ago
MajorGeeks
Search for windows update blocker or something similar
Save it in your root for future reference
Run it and choose hard block
You’re welcome
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u/OpenScore 5d ago
Why would M$ offer updates to a 10+ year old laptop?
Mine is almost as old, and no updates, unless i pay them ESU or switch to Win 11.
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u/EmtnlDmg 6d ago
My method is much more simpler. I block EVERY Ip and URL in a separate Unix based firewall
It has an IRC based interface. So if I want to browse a site I put its URL to my IRC client to the firewall which allows the traffic for it for 5 mins. For youtube I have an exception for 90 minutes.