How to cancel Windows 10 upgrade after installation failure

Anonymous
2015-08-29T20:45:08+00:00

I've waited for my free Windows 10 upgrade (currently running Windows 8.1 with no problems). It finally came through, and about 10% through the second (black-background) reboot the computer just went black -- did not restart, just completely black-screened and shut down. I wound up having to restart, and it immediately went into "Restoring previous version of Windows" mode. It then black-screened again, and on the second attempt to restart, Windows 8.1 restored.

I am currently laid up with a broken back and don't have the ability to deal with computer issues right now (I'm not even supposed to be sitting upright for more than ten minutes at a time) so wish to completely cancel my Windows 10 upgrade. I have already clicked the "agreement", though and no longer see a "cancel upgrade" link anywhere.

I have "hidden" the update to Windows 10 in Windows Updates, but want to eliminate it completely, and also remove all of the temporary set-up files from my PC. I'll be buying a new computer in the spring, most likely, anyway, so will just get Windows 10 then.

Please provide SIMPLE steps to:

  1. Permanently cancel any upgrade reservation to Windows 10
  2. Permanently remove the update from Windows Updates so it leaves my 8.1 alone
  3. Permanently and cleanly remove all temporary update files from my computer to restore the space they are hogging up.

Thank you. I hope you can reply quickly with steps that won't have me tied to the computer for hours, so my doctors don't yell at me. ::smile::

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

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Anonymous
2015-09-08T16:24:18+00:00

Hi Gayle,

What you need to do here first of all is to change the way you receive updates. With Automatic Updates enabled, the operating system will reinstall the nagware prompt which is KB3035583 after you uninstall it which will be a step we'll take in a minute.

So proceed as follows:

  1. Right click the Action Center icon on the taskbar and go to "Windows Update".
  2. In the left hand menu, click "Change settings".
  3. Change it from Automatic Updates to "Download updates but let me choose whether to install them".
  4. Click "Save Changes" and then click "Control Panel Home".
  5. Go to "Programs and Features" and click the link to "View installed updates".
  6. Copy/paste KB3035583 into the Search field top right and when it appears below, right click it and select "Uninstall".This is a large installation so uninstalling it can take several minutes.
  7. Reboot next and then go back to Windows Update again.
  8. Since you now have different WU settings, click the link if there's any which are awaiting your approval which will take you to the menu where you can decide what to install.
  9. If you see KB3035583 in the list, right click it and select "Hide update". The box you normally have to checkmark to select an update will turn grey and when you exit WU, those files will be sent to the repository called "Restore hidden updates".You can restore any updates which have been hidden in there at any time by clicking the link, making your selection and then selecting "Restore".

The next step is to make a registry change which will prevent Windows 10 from downloading and installing.

Hit Windows key + R to launch the Run command, type: regedit and click OK.

Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE --> SOFTWARE --> Microsoft --> Windows -->   CurrentVersion --> WindowsUpdate --> Auto Update --> OSUpgrade

Click the OSUpgrade key (which looks like a folder) and then in the right hand pane you should be able to see four values called respectively:

AllowOSUpgrade

KickoffDownload

KickoffSource

OSUpgradeInteractive

Some or all of these will have a value of 1. You need to change those to a 0 like you see in the screenshot.

To change a registry value, right click it and go to Modify. In the Value field at the bottom, change the figure 1 into a 0

Click OK and Windows will add the 0x00000000 (0) itself.

If it's already a 0 then you don't have to touch it.

In addition, you need to create a value. To do that, right click a blank part of the right hand pane and choose New --> DWORD with the name DisableOSUpgrade.  Windows will add REG_ to the beginning of DWORD after you create it.

If you inadvertently lose the highlight when you create the new value, right click it and select Rename.

Next, right click your new value and go to Modify. Change the 0 into a 1 in the Value field. Click OK to confirm and exit.

Reboot and then go to Windows Updates. You will now be able to install 8.1 updates without being nagged by Windows 10.

I posted the same instructions in the following thread and as you can see from the responses, it clearly works:http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows8_1-update/windows-10-upgrade-cannot-be-removed-from-windows/4854a84d-a8a8-47da-a936-bd5d08138bfb

If there's anything you don't understand though, please don't hesitate to ask.

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-09-04T14:14:32+00:00

    I really NEED a response to this question. No one else has successfully done this? I am currently in a very difficult situation, and want to get rid of the "Get Windows 10" update box, the repeated "Your update is ready to install" notifications (DESPITE the fact that I have hidden the update) that interrupt the little time I have to get computer work out of the way, and anything to do with Windows 10 on this computer.

    Recent developments in our home life, my health, and a situation that is causing me pain and grief every day mean that problems like this are magnified and causing me a great deal of extra stress.

    PLEASE someone from Microsoft, or another user who has successfully nuked the whole "Windows 10" nonsense from their computer, provide an answer! Certainly, SOMEONE at Microsoft thought ahead as to what to do when the "wonderful, magical, free upgrade process" goes down the toilet irreparably!

    Thank you for a response ASAP. I need this resolved now.

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