Can I stop Windows 10 updates to keep my mouse working?

QMy LG LSM-100 Scanner Mouse is invaluable, but online chatter suggests it’s incompatible with Windows 10 Anniversary Update (AU) — and LG won’t be providing a fix. I’m still using Windows 10 build 1511, and Creators Update (CU) has no features I want either. With Microsoft recently ceasing support for some earlier Windows 10 editions, is it possible to select which upgrades are installed, so that I might continue using the full facilities of the LG Scanner Mouse? It seems stupid that a £55 gadget is rendered useless due to its incompatibility with new operating software.

AWe assume that you’ve set your PC as being on a metered connection, thus preventing Windows 10 AU from installing — otherwise it certainly should’ve done so by now, followed by CU. That strategy will work indefinitely but, as you say, older versions of Windows 10 are already reaching ‘retired’ status for Microsoft support. Your version — 1511 — hasn’t yet been assigned a date to be given the elbow, but it’ll certainly be on the way. The recent global Wannacry ransomware outbreak has demonstrated how deeply unwise it is to continue using an unsupported version of Windows, so keep an eye on 1511’s status at www.snipca. com/24400.

There’s no way for us to know if your mouse would work with CU or future Windows 10 updates, but certainly fellow users cannot get it to work with AU. LG washed its hands of LSM-100 support with Windows 7. The firm didn’t ever advertise the product as being compatible with later Windows versions, so it has not done anything wrong — but obviously we understand your frustration.

One possibility would be to turn detective to see if there’s a particular post-au driver update that’s causing the problem. If so, there’s a littleknown Microsoft troubleshooter that’ll prevent particular updates from being installed. You’ll also have a 10-day window to uninstall AU, so you might decide it’s worth a go.

First, disable the metered connection option to allow AU to download and install. Click Start followed by Settings, then ‘Network & Internet’ and ‘Change connection properties’ — then flip the switch to Off. Next, download the ‘Show or hide updates’ troubleshooter from www.snipca.com/24401. Click ‘Hide updates’ (see screenshot), select everything then click Next. Now repeat but this time choose ‘Show hidden updates’. Clear any ticks, and click Next. Let the update install, then see if it’s stopped your mouse from working. If not, carry on using trial and error until you find the offending update. Note it down.

Now return to Settings, click ‘Update & security’ followed by ‘Update history’, then ‘Uninstall updates’. Select the offending update and click Uninstall. Now return to the troubleshooter and hide the problematic update, thus preventing it from being reinstalled.

If after all this your mouse still won’t work then you’ll either have to accept the situation or roll back AU to 1511.