In the Windows 8.1 (Windows 8) operating system, with default settings, system updates are downloaded and installed automatically. Once a month or more often, in case of special circumstances, for example, to urgently install a patch in the system that closes the vulnerability.
Operating system updates generally close security gaps found during the operation of Windows. Installing updates improves the overall security of the operating system. In addition, with the help of the update, fixes are installed in the OS to improve the operation of the system.
For some reason, users opt out of Windows updates by disabling such an option on the computer. In general, the reasons for refusing to search for, receive and install Windows updates are as follows:
- after installing updates, there may be malfunctions in the operation of the operating system and programs;
- with a limited Internet tariff, receiving updates leads to the consumption of a significant amount of traffic;
- users are afraid of losing Windows activation after installing an update;
- updates after installation take up a lot of disk space.
Therefore, users have questions: how to disable updates on Windows 8, or how to disable Windows 8.1 updates. You can solve this problem yourself by changing the system settings.
On these operating systems, the process for disabling updates is the same. Therefore, I combined these operating systems in one article. From the names of the OS, it is clear that Windows 8.1 is an improved version of the Windows 8 operating system (support for this operating system has been discontinued by Microsoft).
In the article I will tell you how to disable Windows 8 updates in automatic mode, and how to disable Windows 8.1 updates forever, using the example of Windows 8.1 Update (in Windows 8 everything happens the same way), using two different methods using the operating system.
How to turn off automatic updates in Windows 8.1
In automatic mode, the operating system independently searches for, downloads and installs updates on the user's computer through Windows Update.
To disable automatic system updates, perform the following settings:
- Enter Computer Settings from the Start Menu in Windows1, or from the Apps List in Windows 8.
- In the "All Control Panel Items" window, click on "Windows Update".
- In the Windows Update window, click on the "Settings" link.
- In the "Settings" window, in the "Important Updates" setting, select the "Do not check for updates (not recommended)" option.
- Next, click on the "OK" button.
Additionally, you can uncheck the "Recommended updates" and "Microsoft Update" settings.
To download and install system updates manually, select the "Look for updates, but I decide to download and install" option. In this case, you yourself decide which of the proposed updates you need to install on your computer.
How to disable Windows 8.1 update permanently
Another way to disable Windows 8 update is to stop the service responsible for updating the system.
To disable the Windows Update service, follow these steps:
- Enter the "Control Panel", select "Administration".
- In the "Administration" window, double-click the "Services" icon with the left mouse button.
- In the Services window, find the Windows Update service.
- Right-click on the Windows Update service, select "Properties" in the context menu.
- In the "Properties: Windows Update (Local Computer)" window, in the "General" tab, in the "Startup type" setting, select the "Disabled" option.
- In the "Status" setting, click on the "Stop" button.
- Then click alternately on the Apply and OK buttons.
Please note that when installing Microsoft applications, the Windows Update service may be enabled by the system. Therefore, after installing such applications, you must again disable the operating system update service.
To enable Windows 8 Update, in the "Properties: Windows Update (Local Computer)" window, select the startup type: "Automatic (Delayed Start)" or "Manual".
Article Conclusions
In the Windows 8.1 or Windows 8 operating system, the user can disable automatic system updates, or permanently disable the installation of updates for Windows.
Hi all! If for some reason you have disabled automatic updates in Windows 8.1 and, accordingly, the operating system is not updated, and you have a situation where you need to install a specific update ( for example, it is necessary for a game or for a program), but you do not know how to do this, then this material will be useful to you, since in it I will tell you in detail how you can manually install update on windows 8.1.
So let's get started. I will install the update on the 64-bit operating system Windows 8.1, I have it in the edition " Professional».
As an example, I will be installing the very important cumulative update KB2919355 ( what is this update you can read). The presence of this update in the system is mandatory for all future updates.
Where and how to download the update for Windows 8.1?
In order to download an update, you first need to know exactly what kind of update you need, i.e. for example, in our case it is KB2919355 for 64-bit Windows 8.1.
It is recommended to download updates for the Windows operating system only from the official Microsoft download center, so in order to find the update you need, go to the official Microsoft website - https://www.microsoft.com/ru-ru/.
Then simply enter the update number in the search bar on the site, preferably indicating the bitness of the operating system, in our case it would be possible to write " KB2919355 X64". Further in the search results under " Downloads» You will find a link to the download page.
Of course, you could also use the usual search engine on the Internet, but in this case there is a chance of getting to another site that will offer to download some wrong update or there will simply be a lot of advertising.
Here is the official download page for update KB2919355 for 64-bit Windows 8.1.
After going to the page, you can immediately click " Download».
Then, since this is a set of updates, you must select all updates, and they will need to be installed in a certain order, but we will talk about this a little lower, click " Next».
As a result, all the marked files will be downloaded and you can proceed to install them.
Install update KB2919355 for 64-bit Windows 8.1
This update includes 7 files, each of which must be run and installed in the following order:
- clearcompressionflag.exe
- Windows8.1-KB2919355-x64.msu;
- Windows8.1-KB2932046-x64.msu;
- Windows8.1-KB2959977-x64.msu;
- Windows8.1-KB2937592-x64.msu;
- Windows8.1-KB2938439-x64.msu;
- Windows8.1-KB2934018-x64.msu.
Step 1
First, we run the clearcompressionflag.exe program, it simply prepares the operating system for installing updates.
Step 2
Now let's move on to installing the most important update, i.e. run the file Windows8.1-KB2919355-x64.msu. First, the screen will inform you that the Windows Update Standalone Installer is preparing the installation.
If you see the following message, it means that you do not have the mandatory update KB2919442 installed, in order to continue it must be installed ( it is installed in the same way as all other updates in this material).
Step 3
If everything is fine, then you will immediately see a window in which you must confirm the installation of update KB2919355, click " Yes».
As a result, the installation of the update will begin.
Step 4
After some time, the update installation program will ask you to restart your computer, click " Reload Now».
During the reboot, the update will continue.
And as soon as the computer boots up completely, the installation of update KB2919355 will be completed.
Installing updates KB2932046, KB2959977, KB2937592, KB2938439, KB2934018
All other updates that we have downloaded are installed in the same way as the KB2919355 update, so I will not describe the entire process of installing all these updates, I will only show screenshots of the installation process.
Installing update KB2932046
This is a package of new features of the Windows 8.1 operating system. After installing the update, you will need to reboot the system.
Installing update KB2959977
Update for Windows 8.1. This update also requires a system restart.
Installing update KB2937592
Another pack of new features in Windows 8.1.
Installing update KB2938439
A package of new operating system features. After installation, you will need to reboot the system.
Installing update KB2934018
Also the Windows 8.1 Feature Pack. You will need to restart the system again.
After installing all the updates, you can go to Windows Update ( Control Panel -> Windows Update -> View Update History) and see what updates are installed on your system.
That's all for me, I hope the material was useful to you, for now!
Windows 8.1 is an update to the Windows 8 operating system. The official release of the updated G8 took place on October 17, 2013. Starting from this date, all users of the licensed Windows 8 OS can upgrade their operating system to version 8.1 for free through the Windows Store. You can also get the new operating system from Microsoft in a “clean form” on physical media (DVD) or download a virtual ISO image (if you have an MSDN subscription), but you can do this on a commercial basis.
To date, the official cost of Windows 8.1 in Russia is 5990 rubles for the regular version (aka Core) and 9990 rubles for the professional edition (Windows 8.1 Pro).
Windows 7 users can buy and download the 8.1 upgrade and upgrade their system right away using the Upgrade Assistant, or they can delay the process and upgrade later using the ISO file disc or USB stick. Since the update is not available as such for XP and Vista owners, Microsoft recommends that all users who want to migrate from the above operating systems to use Windows 8.1 buy a DVD to install Windows 8.1 and perform a clean installation of the operating system on their hard drive.
If your PC or laptop was running Windows XP or Vista and you would like to run Windows 8.1, please make sure your PC meets the minimum system requirements before purchasing the DVD and installing the system. This will ensure that your computer will work correctly with the new Windows 8.1 operating system. In addition, it would not be superfluous, if possible, to find (on the Internet or using special diagnostic programs) information about the hardware component of your PC, check for updated drivers and make sure that the hardware is compatible.
The system requirements for Windows 8.1 are listed below:
- Processor: clock speed 1 GHz or higher;
- Memory (RAM): 1 GB for 32-bit (x86) system and 2 GB for 64-bit operating system;
- Hard disk: 16 GB for 32-bit and 20 GB for 64-bit Windows 8.1;
- Graphics: Microsoft DirectX 9 capable device with WDDM driver
For those users who already own the original Win 8, simply download and install the Windows 8.1 update from the Windows Store without paying a penny. Please note that version 8.1 is available precisely as an update, you cannot perform a clean installation and activate windows 8.1 with a key from windows 8. If you want to install windows 8.1 using the key from windows 8, then nothing will work for you, you need to buy an installation disk, even if you have already purchased a license for the eight. But you can update your system absolutely free of charge, and you will not need any keys or other information that is necessary for activation.
Windows 8.1 is not an update in the usual sense (meaning the Service Pack), as such, but a truly complete operating system that significantly transformed the image of the innovative Microsoft Windows 8 system, which was ambiguously perceived by users, introduced in a little less than year (October 26, 2012) before the release of a major update, which is 8.1.
The very process of updating to 8.1 through the Windows Store allows you to make sure that this is really a new software product, which involves a complete reinstallation of the operating system. This process will take quite a long time, commensurate with a clean installation of the same Windows 8, but as a result we will get a completely new operating system, which has been improved and finalized by the Microsoft team in accordance with the wishes of users.
And so, consider the process of upgrading from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1.
If your computer or laptop (other mobile device) is running Windows 8 or Windows RT, then you can download the update for free and upgrade your operating system to Windows 8.1 (Windows RT 8.1).
It should be noted here that not all editions of Windows 8 support a free upgrade to 8.1 through the Windows Store.
Upgrading through the Windows Store is not supported for: Windows 8 Enterprise, Windows 8 Pro (using KMS activation), operating systems that were installed using an MSDN ISO and activated using a Multiple Activation Key (requires installation using a similar ISO image from MSDN) .
With the exception of the above editions of Windows 8, a free update is available for download through the Windows Store to all users of the original 8.
Just in case, before starting the upgrade process, create backup copies of important files and documents for you, although all files and applications will be saved when upgrading to Windows 8.1, but it’s better to do this anyway in order to avoid unforeseen situations. Make sure (if you have a laptop or tablet computer) that your computer is connected to the mains, as a power failure during installation may adversely affect the further operation of the operating system. It is also recommended (optional) that you be connected to the Internet during the installation of the update.
Before you install the Windows 8.1 update, you need to have the latest important and critical updates from Windows Update installed on your PC. Otherwise, you simply will not find a link to upgrade to Windows 8.1 in the Windows Store.
In the event that, for example, you just installed windows 8 and would like to immediately upgrade to windows 8.1 by updating the operating system through the Windows Store, then you will find that there is no link to upgrade to the 8.1 release in the store. Why is there no link to upgrade to Windows 8.1? The answer to this question is as follows: in order for the update to become available for download from the Windows Store, it is necessary that most of the important and critical updates released in the year since the official release of Windows 8 have been installed on the computer. This process, it must be said, is far from momentary, but at low speed Internet connections are quite long. In order to shorten the wait until all the updates released for the year are finally downloaded, you can go to Windows Update and find the update there, which has the designation KB 2871389, which is responsible for displaying the Windows 8.1 download link in the Windows Store. Install only this update, and then restart your computer, after which you will be able to download the update to Windows 8.1 from the Windows Store. Depending on the version of Windows 8, the update required to download 8.1 may have a different designation, so you may simply not find KB 2871389 in Windows Update. In this case, type in the address bar of your browser literally the following: ms-windows-store:WindowsUpgrade. The Windows Store will open, where you should see a huge, relative to other apps, tile that says "Free Upgrade to Windows 8.1" like the one shown in the screenshot below.
The first thing we need to do is download the update, after which we can proceed directly to the installation process of Windows 8.1.
Please note that the download, depending on the speed of your Internet connection and the hardware configuration of your PC, may take from 30-40 minutes to several hours, during this process you can continue working on your computer without problems. This process is identical to the normal installation of Windows 8 applications and runs in the background.
At the end of the download, the system will automatically prompt you to restart your computer, after which the update installation phase will begin - in many ways similar to the standard installation of Windows 8, with the exception of some steps.
After restarting the computer, the final stage of updating the operating system to Windows 8.1 will begin. The main points are as follows: you will need to read and accept the terms (if you do not agree with the terms of the agreement, then the installation of Windows 8.1 will be canceled and the operating system will roll back to Windows 8) of the Microsoft Software License Agreement.
Next, we will be offered a list of standard settings for the Windows 8.1 operating system, we will not dwell on them in detail here, just go ahead and click "use standard settings".
If you wish, you can change any of these parameters at this step as well by pressing the appropriate "Settings" button, but it's still better to return to them later after installing the operating system.
The setup wizard will then prompt us to sign in with a Microsoft account. Also, as in Windows 8, in the Windows 8.1 operating system, you can use both a local account and a Microsoft account to log in. Thus, you will need to sign in with a Microsoft account at this stage, if you do not have one, then you can create one.
Having and signing in with a Microsoft account when working with Windows 8.1 is highly recommended, as using this method of signing in to the system provides a great advantage over local entry, which does not use the full potential of the new operating system.
By refusing to use a Microsoft account, you will not be able to synchronize system settings or documents between different computers (mobile devices), fully interact with SkyDrive cloud storage, losing the ability to archive photos there, which would allow you to access them wherever you are, download and install apps from the Windows Store and more.
Next, SkyDrive cloud storage options. You can accept the default settings, any of the options presented can be configured later using the computer settings after installing the update. If you don't want to use SkyDrive, there is an option to disable these options (not recommended). When you sign in with a Microsoft account, you get 7 GB of free storage space to store your files. Additional space can be obtained additionally for money: 50 GB - 780 rubles, 100 GB - 1570 rubles, 200 GB - 3140 rubles per year. It is possible to get additional space in SkyDrive for free, so when you subscribe to office 365 (about 250 rubles per month) you get 20 GB of disk space for free, for a total of 27 GB in SkyDrive for free, which is pretty good.
Before we see the updated Windows 8.1 start screen, it may take one or more restarts of your computer to apply important updates.
Your desktop apps and their Start screen settings have been preserved, and apps you previously installed from the Windows Store for Windows 8 will need to be reinstalled and are located in the Windows Store under Your Apps.
As for the innovations in Windows 8.1, they affect the interface of the operating system to a greater extent than software features. In particular, the settings of the start screen, which replaced the Start button, have become more convenient and flexible. There are new tile sizes, you can now use desktop wallpaper as a background for the start screen. Now it is possible, using the system itself, to set the desktop display when Windows 8.1 boots, and not the start screen, as it was in Windows 8. You can do this as follows: right-click on the taskbar, then click "Properties", then open the "Navigation" tab ”, where we select the appropriate menu item, as shown below.
The Start button also appeared, or rather the Windows logo, when you left-click, the start screen with tiles opens (in Windows 8 this place was simply not indicated in any way), but when you right-click on the logo, a very functional context menu opens.
Using this button, you can get quick access to such system settings as the control panel, task manager, command line, device manager and many others, as well as to the computer's power management settings or, more simply, to the shutdown, restart, hibernation buttons. Windows 8 also includes an updated browser IE 11, which demonstrates high speed and performance, and which is the best match with the new operating system, opening up a wide range of opportunities to work not only in desktop PCs, but also in mobile devices.
You can find out about other new features and capabilities of Windows 8.1, and with a direct personal acquaintance with the new system, the classic Help and Tips application will help you a lot,
designed to visually acquaint and orient the user in the intricacies of setting up and managing the new operating system from Microsoft.
Windows 8 Update is a service provided by Microsoft that allows you to update the operating system and its components automatically with little or no user intervention. It updates security components (core) and application software from Microsoft (Windows Live, Office).
It's time to talk about this service, sometimes useful, sometimes unnecessary and annoying with its notifications. Let's take a closer look at what the update center is, how to use it and disable it in order to get rid of the constant installation of updates. We will also briefly consider how the service parameters are configured, started and stopped.
What is Windows 8 auto-update
If the update center is configured correctly, the OS will keep itself up to date automatically, even without user intervention. When important and critical updates related to improving security and closing serious errors are released, the center, with the appropriate configuration, will independently detect and install them, or notify the user of their presence and offer to perform the installation manually.
Starting the Windows Update Implementation Center
- We go to the "Control Panel", for example, through the search bar.
- Click on "System and Security".
- Click on the link "Center ...".
The goal has been reached.
Disable receiving updates
In order to be able to deactivate the service responsible for the functioning of the center in the background, you need to go to the appropriate snap-in and stop the Windows Update service.
- We launch the "Administrative Tools" tool through the "Control Panel" or using a key phrase in the search.
- In the "Computer Management" window, we move through the tree-like list in the left frame of the window to the last item and expand it by double-clicking.
- We perform a single click on the "Services" item.
- Having sorted the list of services by name, we find one of the latest services, which is called "Update Center" or "Windows Update".
- We call the context menu of the active object and set "Disabled" in the "Startup type" field, and in the status bar click on the "Stop" button to unload the service from RAM now without restarting the computer.
- Press "Enter" or "OK" to exit the window.
This is the most reliable method to disable Windows 8 Update: prevent searching, downloading and installing patches for the operating system and its components. When you turn off the update feature, the service will automatically start when the computer boots, alerting the user that a misconfiguration of the center compromises the computer's security.
Setting up automatic updates
Windows Update is configured in the window of the same name, which is also launched by another simple method.
- Press "Win + R" to call the command interpreter.
- We set the command "wuapp" and execute it with "Enter" or "OK".
In the "Important updates" drop-down list, select one of the proposed options that satisfies our needs:
- automatic check, downloading if updates are available and their subsequent installation according to a schedule specified by the user or configured by the developers;
- downloaded updates are installed only with the permission of the user;
- updates are installed with the permission of the user, and he is given the opportunity to specify what needs to be installed, and what should be skipped and ignored;
- deactivate the update checking service on Microsoft servers (not recommended by the developers).
After selecting the option, click "OK" to close the window with the entry of changes to the registry.
Updating Windows 8 manually
The last thing worth mentioning when looking at Windows 8 Update is the manual check for critical patches and security fixes.
Sometimes users who disable the service for receiving updates periodically activate it to receive and install updates, and then turn it off again to avoid constant notifications and installation of obscure components and highly specialized utilities from Microsoft.
The service is turned on in the same way as it is turned off, but with the difference that you need to click "Start" instead of "Stop" and select automatic or manual in the "Startup type".
Then we open the list of available components for installation, mark the necessary and / or important ones and install them, followed by a reboot of the computer.
This completes the introduction to the Windows 8 Update Center.
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Good afternoon, dear readers and subscribers of the blog and channel, remember not so long ago I told you how I solved the problem that windows 7 is looking for updates for a long time, so I caught the same in the eight. As you know, every quarter I try to rebuild my builds with Microsoft operating systems, sewing new updates into them in order to keep a fresh image at hand at any time and not waste time on updates. So in the G8 there was no glitch with an endless update before, but apparently the insidious hands of Microsoft came there, and today I'll show you how I decided windows 8.1 endless update, I will try to cover this topic in as much detail as possible so that everyone can install the latest security patches.
Why does windows 8.1 keep updating
And so let's see why windows 8.1 update makes an endless search for updates, leading to nothing but wasting your time and nerves. There are several reasons, which we will discuss in detail below:
- Corrupted updates in C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder
- Microsoft servers not available
- Problem with Windows Update 8.1
- Glitchy update
- The latest Windows Update Agent is not installed
I'll tell my story before. As I wrote above, I started to collect a fresh build of Windows 8.1. I did a clean install of Windows 8.1 and of course the first thing I did was go to the System Update Center. Up to this point, I never had problems downloading and installing them, but now I saw a more familiar picture, in the form of an ever-running green slider, I even waited a day for the purity of the experiment, but the picture has not changed.
For the sake of the purity of the experiment, I looked at the network activity, it was zero and there were no hits, and I did not find any downloads from Microsoft servers.
Let's now figure out what needs to be done so that your windows 8.1 update center stops the endless search for updates.
Cleaning the SoftwareDistribution folder
The endless search for windows 8.1 updates may be due to corrupted updates that have downloaded in the background or could have been downloaded before. To get rid of them, I advise you to delete the contents of the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder.
Then you need to restart the Windows Update service:
- Via service snap-in
- Through the command line
I prefer the command line where you type
net stop wuauserver
net start wuauserver
By the way, if you get an error that there are not enough rights, then run the command prompt as an administrator, this will fix everything.
If you still have an endless search for updates in Windows 8.1, then don't get upset and try the next method.
Install additional KB updates (KB2999226, KB3172614, KB3173424)
In order to solve the endless search for windows 8.1 updates, you can download and install these additional updates that can help your system upgrade.
List of standalone service packs
- KB2999226
- KB3172614
- KB3173424
I want to note that you should install these standalone update packages only with the Windows Update service turned off.
To do this, press Win + R and enter services.msc and press Enter.
As a result, you will open the Services snap-in, at the very bottom find the Windows Update service, right-click on it and select Stop.
And to avoid glitches with an endless search for additional updates themselves, put in the settings, the item "Do not check for updates"
As soon as the service finishes its work, you can start installing updates that fix the endless search for updates in windows 8.1 update center. Install KB2999226 first, then KB317342 and then KB3172614.
The offline update installation wizard does not require anything from you.
When finished, you will see that the installation is complete.
We do the same with KB3173424
and with KB3172614, but unlike the others, this is the July 2016 hotfix rollup.
Once KB3172614 is installed you will be prompted to reboot to apply the fixes, do so.
After the reboot, go back to Windows 8.1 Update and try to search for updates, in my case it was a win, I was able to find 189 important updates in a minute.
If, when installing updates, you have a download window for a very long time and you are worried that nothing is happening, then in order to understand whether Windows 8.1 updates are downloading or not, you can check the following things.
Open resource monitoring, go to the Disk tab and make sure that the WinSxS folder is being accessed, and you can also check if new files have appeared in the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\downloads folder.
By the way, when searching for updates, you can see error 80244019, I already told you how it is solved, but before trying the methods described there, check this.
Go to Options Settings.
And make sure you have Install updates automatically (recommended)
If you already have these updates or their installation did not work, then installing the monthly security quality patch for Windows 8.1 systems under the code KB4048958 will help you, you can download it at http://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com /Search.aspx?q=KB4048958 and KB4057401 http://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB4057401
Troubleshooting Windows Update
As we know from the latest Windows 10 Redstone operating system, they are far from ideal. The number of glitches in the system has increased greatly over the past year, plus Microsoft has shifted all its forces to the top ten and thereby worsened support for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. If the described methods with installing KB did not help you and your search for updates in Windows 8.1 is spinning endlessly, then try using the troubleshooter in the system.
To do this, go to Control Panel > Troubleshoot
Under System and Security, click Troubleshoot using Windows Update.
Your operating system will try to detect problems that may cause you to endlessly search for updates in windows 8.1, in parallel, it may still find something. In general, the tool is very good, and in some cases can greatly help out.
Even to complete the task, the troubleshooter may ask you to run it with administrator rights, do that.
Since when installing, for example, the same antivirus solutions or hypervisors, the TCP / IP stack may be affected,
I also advise you to try disabling your antivirus, at the time of trying to install updates, it may prevent access to Microsoft servers
I hope the methods described above can help you eliminate the endless search for windows 8.1 updates and you can close all the security loopholes in it, in general, this is another stone in Microsoft's garden, it's a shame, comrades, to abandon their old products with official support.
