How to disable automatic Windows updates. How to remove unnecessary Windows updates and free up a lot of space Windows 8.1 updates are not removed

The most common of them are: incorrect installation of updates, system failures after installing updates, hardware failure, etc.

As you know, keeping Windows 8 up to date comes from the update center, so to speak, repositories. Often, all installations of updates, patches and packages occur automatically (depending on system settings). With the help of these installations, Microsoft developers solve problems with operating system security, software and device incompatibility.

If you suddenly need to remove one or several of the installed updates, say, not those that are “important”, but those that are “optional,” then by following the simple algorithm of actions described below, you can easily solve your problem.

How to remove a broken Windows 8 update and install it again?

In addition to the cases described above when Windows 8 updates need to be uninstalled, it also happens that the download of updates fails, or the installation fails. In such a situation, other update packages or patches stop being downloaded or installed on the system. In this case, uninstalling the failed update and then trying to install it can also help.

Good day. This week the site received a new record for traffic - 5407 unique visitors per day, for which we thank you very much. Although I rarely write lately, the site is still growing :)

Now let's talk about our problem. What is this WinSxS folder? This is the folder in which the Windows updates and components file is stored. Why does she weigh so much? Hmm... In fact, it weighs much less :) Files from Windows and System32 folders are projected into this folder using , which is why all file managers show such a large size - they do not see the difference between real files and symbolic links. Based on the same, it is highly not recommended to go into this folder through Explorer and try to delete everything manually. There are several standard tools that will help you clean this folder safely and efficiently. And, by the way, as updates are installed, it constantly grows, so it is recommended to repeat these steps periodically. By the way, I recommend using method No. 2.

Method number 1. Cleaning Windows updates using the Disk Cleanup utility (also works on Windows 7 SP1 with the KB2852386 update installed).

A very simple method and does not require any decisions from the user. But file evaluation works mediocrely, it makes mistakes both up and down. But this is not very important to us.

1) We need the “Run” utility, so press the key combination Win+R and enter cleanmgr in the window that opens.

3) Wait for the free space estimate and click the “Clean up system files” button.

4) Check the box for “Clean up Windows updates”. And click OK. The process of cleaning the update files will begin.

But this way you can only delete part of the files; more precise cleaning can be done using method No. 2.

Method No. 2. Clear Windows updates, disabled features, and Windows cache stored in the WinSxS folder using the DISM utility. (I recommend)

This method allows you to clear not only update files, but also all other garbage from the WinSxS folder.

1) Open the command line as administrator, to do this press the keyboard shortcut Win+X and select " Command Line (Administrator)«.

As you can see, 4.77GB of everything occupied is located in the Windows folder and is in no way superfluous, since these are files necessary for the operation of the system. But backup copies (needed in case your system does not boot after installing updates) and the cache with temporary files can be cleared. Well, let’s carefully read the penultimate line “ Component Store Cleanup Recommended: Yes". Therefore, let's move on to the next step.

Dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup

That's all. I hope you found this article useful, click one of the buttons below to tell your friends about it. Also subscribe to site updates by entering your e-mail in the field on the right.

Automatic Windows 8 updates are a required option and are therefore enabled by default. Eliminates previously found errors and vulnerabilities, improves the overall performance of your PC or laptop. It starts automatically - but not always at a convenient time. Due to this, some users want to disable automatic Windows 8 updates.

As you know, such a procedure can put a lot of stress on a computer (especially an old one). And if you are working on a project or playing a game, then it will interfere.

Another disadvantage is the inability to turn off the PC before the procedure is completed. What if you need to leave urgently? Don't leave the computer on. There are many similar reasons. But the solution to this problem is very simple.

How to disable automatic updates in Windows 8?

Due to the changed interface, familiar operations in Windows 8 are performed slightly differently. In particular, the control panel is not located in Start, as in the “seven,” but in the Hot Corners side menu. However, there is nothing complicated here anyway – the procedure has just changed a little.

A new window will open in which you can turn off automatic Windows 8 updates. To do this, select “Don’t check for…”. To save the settings, click OK.

Keep in mind that if you decide to disable Windows 8 Update, this will also affect the built-in antivirus. It will stop updating, which will reduce the security level of your PC or laptop. But the problem will not be relevant after installing any other antivirus.

The above method is suitable if you need to disable updates on Windows 8 temporarily. That is, in order to then launch them manually - at a convenient time. If you want to disable updates in Windows 8 forever, then it is better to use another method.

To completely stop searching for updates, you must disable the service responsible for this task

So, if you want to disable Windows 8 updates on your laptop permanently, then do the following:

This method completely disables the search for updates on a computer or laptop running Windows 8, so they will no longer run.

But there is one small nuance here: when installing programs from Microsoft, this service may turn on again. That is, all settings are reset to their previous settings. Take this into account.

Do Windows 8 need updates?

Microsoft developers will definitely answer you - “Yes”. Like many PC users. It’s not for nothing that this option is enabled by default.

On the other hand, it always starts at the wrong time and constantly interferes. In this regard, there is a desire to go to Windows 8 Update and turn it off.

To stop for a while or forever is the second question. And there is no definite answer to it. The first solution is supported by the fact that patches increase the security of Windows and improve the performance of a laptop or computer. And in favor of the second one, disabling this service does not affect the operation of the PC in any way. This will be proven by thousands of users who completely blocked it and forgot about it.

Yes, at first, while the OS is raw, it is advisable to leave this service enabled. But since Windows 8 came out a long time ago, today it already works stably. Therefore, the decision to disable the search for updates in Windows 8 will not affect the security of your laptop or PC.

Here in order:

1. Component storage size as seen by Explorer, i.e. excluding hard links inside WinSxS.
2. Actual Component Storage Size taking into account hard links (except for links to the Windows folder), including:

• Shared files with Windows folder. These files are necessary for the operation of the system and are in no way superfluous. In my example, they are 87% of the storage size, but the more updates are installed, the lower this percentage is.
• Backups and disabled components. These files are stored in case of problems with updated components or to enable roles or features. They can be conditionally considered superfluous, since they are not critical for the current operation of the system.
• Cache and temporary files. These files are necessary for the quick operation of the maintenance system, but are not absolutely necessary for the functioning of Windows.

I can just see how your hands are itching to clean out your storage and free up space :)

How to empty the WinSxS folder in Windows 10, 8.1 and 8

Starting with Windows 8, the OS has three cleaning methods.

You can clear the component store manually with one command.

Dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup

This is the fastest way to perform optimization (after this, you will not achieve anything with the next two methods).

Disk Cleanup utility

Andrey Bayatakov, thanks for the reminder about this method!

Type in a command prompt running as administrator. Windows' built-in disk cleanup utility will show you how much space you'll save by deleting Windows update files.

Basically, the utility does the same thing as the key /StartComponentCleanup. However, it is very frivolous in its estimates of the freed space, and in my experiments the error was measured in hundreds of megabytes, in both directions.

Scheduled task

Windows cleans out the winsxs folder on a schedule using the Microsoft – Windows – Servicing – job. StartComponentCleanup.

The specific command is not visible because the cleanup is implemented by the COM object handler. And the absence of triggers indicates that the job operates within the framework of ubiquitous automatic maintenance. By running a task from the scheduler or command line, you achieve almost the same effect as the DISM command with the key /StartComponentCleanup. The differences are:

• Updates installed in the last 30 days are ignored.
• There is an hour-long pause; all files may not be cleared.

Once you've completed the cleanup, you can analyze the storage again and evaluate the changes.

As you can see, in my case, cleaning 10 packages saved 60MB, which is not that much on a folder scale. However, you can still clean it :)

How to remove all old versions of components from the WinSxS folder in Windows 10 and 8.1

During Windows XP, a very popular question was whether it was possible to delete $NTUninstallKBxxxxxx$ folders from the Windows folder. Remember this?

A similar feature appeared in Windows 8.1, although it was implemented completely differently due to global differences in the service systems of 8.1 and XP.

Command to delete

Starting with Windows 8.1, the option /StartComponentCleanup there is an additional key /ResetBase, with which you can remove all previous versions of components. This key is not used in the scheduled task.

Attention! Uninstalling previous versions of components prevents you from removing installed updates and Service Packs, but does not block the installation of future updates.

This warning is not at all routine, if you remember the recent error 0xc0000005 after KB2859537, from which the Runet cried with burning tears. Anyway, the magic command:

Dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup /ResetBase

Obviously, the gain in disk space depends both on the number of updates being cleared and on the volume of components they replace. In my example, I was able to free up about 24MB more.

What happens when you remove all previous versions of components

Compressing components in the WinSxS folder (secret knowledge)

However, there is virtually no information in the official documentation that compression is used for component storage in Windows 8 and higher to save disk space. I will highlight a few points that I know:

1. Compression is applied to files that the operating system does not use. This includes previous versions of components and disabled components. This, apparently, explains the not so significant gain from deleting previous versions with the parameter /ResetBase.
2. Uses differential compression. According to unconfirmed information that has already been confirmed, Windows 8.1 uses differential compression to compress replaced components.
3. Saving disk space can be quite significant in some scenarios. So, on an installation of Windows Server Core 2012 R2 Preview, compression frees up about 20% of space if you exclude paging and hibernation files from the equation. The savings are achieved by compressing the components of disabled server roles.

In the article, which contains all the technical details, I described the different compression mechanisms of Windows 8 and 8.1+.

What are the changes in the Windows 8 and 8.1 maintenance system?

Of course, only Microsoft can give an exact answer to this question, so I will simply share my vision of the situation.

Server OS

It is difficult to imagine modern infrastructure without virtualization technologies, the benefits of which are directly related to the efficient use of system resources. This fully applies to disk space, of which there is never too much.

Removing unused server roles in Windows Server 2012 helps IT professionals manage disk space more efficiently. For those who don't know about this feature or don't consider it worthwhile, compressing unused role components in Windows Server 2012 R2 can help.

Client OS

By the time Windows 7 was released, the cost of 1GB of hard drives was so low that the WinSxS folder only caused headaches for those with small you-know-what. However, SSDs were already coming onto the scene, and the Windows servicing system didn't fit well with their modest capacity.

It would seem that by the release of Windows 8, a 128GB solid-state drive was no longer something out of the ordinary, but a new problem befell the developers of the service system - tablets, including their own Surface.

Indeed, all modern Clover Trail tablets are equipped with a 64GB disk at best. And in more popular junior models, after subtracting the recovery partition, about 25GB remains, which is not enough for more or less long-term operation of Windows.

In Windows 8, clearing component backups aims to make better use of the space on small tablet drives, while in Windows 8.1, uninstalling previous versions provides a fallback for the worst cases.

Discussion and poll

This post is a good reason for you to express everything that bothers you about the Windows component store :) The survey is designed to reveal the quantitative situation, and write in the comments if the growing size of the WinSxS folder creates problems for you. If it does, describe them and provide a link to a full-screen screenshot of the diskmgmt.msc snap-in.

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 if special circumstances arise, for example, to urgently install a patch to a system that closes a vulnerability.

Operating system updates mainly close security holes identified during the operation of Windows. Installing updates improves the overall security of the operating system. In addition, an update installs patches in the OS to improve system performance.

For some reasons, users refuse Windows updates by disabling this feature on their computer. Basically, the reasons for refusing to search for, receive and install Windows updates are as follows:

• After installing updates, problems with the operating system and programs may occur;
• 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 take up a lot of disk space after installation.

Therefore, users have questions: how to disable updates on Windows 8, or how to disable updates on Windows 8.1. You can solve this problem yourself by changing the system settings.

In these operating systems, the process of disabling the update is the same. Therefore, I combined these operating systems in one article. From the OS names 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 this article I will tell you how to disable Windows 8 updates automatically, and how to disable Windows 8.1 updates permanently, using Windows 8.1 Update as an example (in Windows 8 everything happens similarly), using two different methods using the operating system.

How to disable 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, complete the following settings:

1. Access PC settings from the Start menu in Windows1, or from the list of applications in Windows 8.
2. In the All Control Panel Items window, click on Windows Update.
3. In the Windows Update window, click the Customize settings link.
4. In the "Configure Settings" window, in the "Important updates" setting, select the "Don't check for updates (not recommended)" option.
5. 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 option “Search for updates, but the decision to download and install is made by me.” In this case, you yourself decide which of the proposed updates needs to be installed 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:

1. Log in to the “Control Panel”, select “Administration”.
2. In the "Administration" window, double-click on the "Services" shortcut with the left mouse button.

1. In the Services window, find the Windows Update service.

1. Right-click on the Windows Update service and select “Properties” from the context menu.
2. In the “Properties: Windows Update (Local Computer)” window, in the “General” tab, in the “Startup type” setting, select the “Disabled” option.
3. In the “Status” setting, click on the “Stop” button.
4. 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 disable the operating system update service again.

To enable Windows 8 update, in the “Properties: Windows Update (Local Computer)” window, select the startup type: “Automatic (Delayed Start)” or “Manual”.

Conclusions of the article

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.