Prevent a failed Windows update installing

Windows updates can cause problems if they fail to install. Chris Martin explains how to stop them

If, like most people, your computer runs the Home version of Windows 10, then you have less control over updates. However, Microsoft has realised the error of its ways and in the latest version of the operating system you can prevent restarts during your ‘Active Hours’. To set these, choose Settings from the Start menu, then Update and Security, then Change Active Hours.

Of course, simply setting Active Hours isn’t sufficient to prevent Windows updates getting installed. One of the issues with the forced and automatic updates in Windows 10 is that a broken update will be included and fail to install. When this happens, Windows will try to download and install it each time you shut down or start your PC.

The good news is that you can download an optional tool for Windows 10 called the Show or Hide Updates Troubleshooter (tinyurl.com/jLr2rut). There are two versions: one for the Anniversary Update and the other for computers running the November (2015) update.

You install this like any other program after downloading it, by clicking on the downloaded file in your browser, or heading to your downloads folder and double-clicking it. The troubleshooter should start and show a welcome screen. Click Next to perform a scan and find out which updates can be (temporarily) stopped from installing.

Then, you can click on Hide updates (see screenshot) and you’ll see a list of the updates which you can stop. Tick the box next to each one you want to stop. It’s best to use a search engine to try to find out which is the troublesome update rather than simply checking them all. The updates bring not only bug fixes and new features but important security patches. Without the latest updates your PC may be left vulnerable.

Click Next and the troubleshooter will show this screen, revealing that it has successfully suppressed the update(s).

It’s a good idea to keep tabs on when Microsoft has fixed the broken update. You can use the same tool to unhide the update so it can install. The process is the same. Just use the Show hidden updates option, and select those you want to unhide.