How to block upgrade to Windows 10, and remove update icon and notifications For Windows 7 and 8.1 Scott Gilson

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1 How to block upgrade to Windows 10, and remove update icon and notifications For Windows 7 and 8.1 Scott Gilson NOTE: These instructions involve editing the Registry, a critical part of the Windows Operating system. If you do something wrong, you may end up having to do a system restore to fix it. If you follow these instructions exactly, you should have no problems. However, I cannot be responsible for any damage or loss to data. CREATE A RESTORE POINT FIRST! Microsoft recommends always creating a restore point before editing the registry. This allows you to undo any accidental changes you make by doing a restore. Here are their instructions for creating a restore point. If you need to do a restore for any reason, search support.microsoft.com for "restore point". Note that they no longer support Windows 8, only 7 and 8.1. Windows 7 System Restore helps you restore your computer's system files to an earlier point in time. To restore your system using a recommended restore point: 1. Open System Restore by clicking the Start button. 2. In the search box, type System Restore, and then, in the list of results, click System Restore. 3. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation. 4. Click Recommended restore, and then click Next. 5. Review the restore point, and then click Finish. 6. If there isn't a recommended restore point, follow the steps at the link below to choose a specific restore point: Restore system files and settings Windows 8.1 To restore your PC to an earlier point in time: 1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search. 2. Enter Control Panel in the search box, and tap or click Control Panel. 3. Enter Recovery in the Control Panel search box, and then tap or click Recovery. 4. Tap or click Open System Restore, and then follow the instructions. -- End of restore point instructions --

2 On to the business of getting rid of those pesky upgrade reminders. 1. Click Start, and enter the word regedit into the Search programs and files box, then press Enter. 2. The User Account Control window pops up. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the administrator password, or provide confirmation by clicking Yes. Note that on some systems, you may need to right-click on regedit.exe in the search results and select "Run as Administrator".

3 3. The Registry Editor window should now be open. Here we will create two new registry entries, and enter a value for each. It should look like this: Note: In moving around the Registry Editor, you will need to click on some of the "+" marks next to entries to change it to a "-", and thus be able to view items under that heading. This will not cause any harm. 4. First, we will create and modify an entry that will disable the Windows 10 update icon. Scroll down the left window until you find the entry HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\ Click on the "+" sign next to Windows so it becomes a "-", and the listings below Windows expand like this:

4 Check and double-check that you are in the right location; many entries look similar. 5. Right-click on the word Windows, and follow it down to New > Key, and left-click there. A new highlighted entry appears called New Key #1. Type the word Gwx, it will replace the words New Key #1, and press Enter. It's probably important to follow upper and lower case exactly. This creates a new key called HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Gwx

5 It should look exactly like this: FYI: Gwx stands for Get Windows Now right-click on the word Gwx, and left-click on New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.

6 A new highlighted entry appears in the right-hand window with the name New Value #1. Type in the word DisableGwx and press Enter. Confirm that it looks like this: If you accidentally typed something else, you can right-click on DisableGwx and select Rename to correct it.

7 Now right-click on DisableGwx and left-click on Modify... The Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value window pops up, and the Value Data field is highlighted with 0. Press 1 and the value changes to 1, then press Enter.

8 Now confirm that in the row to the right of DisableGwx and REG_DWORD you see the exact value of 0x (1) in the Data column as shown below. This completes creation of the first registry entry that will hide the update icon. Celebrate, and then continue.

9 7. Scroll up a ways until you find the following entry. Note that you are no longer under Policies, but in another location entirely. You will need to click on some of the "+" marks next to entries to change it to a "-", and thus be able to view items under that heading. This will not cause any harm. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\ Check and double-check that you are in the right location; many entries look similar. 8. Right-click on the word Windows, and follow it down to New > Key, and left-click there.

10 A new highlighted entry appears called New Key #1. Type the word WindowsUpdate, it will replace the words New Value #1, and press Enter. It may be important to follow upper and lower case exactly. This creates a new key called HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate It should look exactly like this:

11 9. Now right-click on the word WindowsUpdate, and left-click on New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. A new highlighted entry appears in the right-hand window with the name New Value #1.

12 Type in the word DisableOSUpgrade and press Enter. Confirm that it looks like this: You may need to left-click and hold then drag right on the vertical line between the Name and Type headings where shown in red to widen the Name field and see the whole name DisableOSUpgrade. If you accidentally typed something else, you can right-click on DisableOSUpgrade and select Rename to correct it. Now right-click on DisableOSUpgrade and left-click on Modify...

13 The Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value window pops up, and the Value Data field is highlighted with 0. Press 1 and the value changes to 1, then press Enter. Now confirm that in the row to the right of DisableOSUpgrade and REG_DWORD you see the exact value of 0x (1) in the Data column as shown below. This completes creation of the second registry entry that will prevent Windows from upgrading to Windows 10.

14 10. Exit the registry editor with File > Exit. There is no need to save the changes; they save as you make them. 11. Restart your computer. Now you should not see the Windows Update icon in the system tray (bottom right of the screen), and you should not get any pop-ups asking you to upgrade. Celebrate!!

15 ***Advanced user information*** For those who know how to edit the registry, here are greatly simplified instructions. For all others, have someone you know who understands how to edit the registry do it using the instructions above. *** Note: these keys and DWORDs do not exist, you have to create them! *** To hide the Update icon, add and modify the following registry value: Subkey: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Gwx DWORD value: DisableGwx = 1 To block the upgrade to Windows 10 through Windows Update, add and modify the following registry value: Subkey: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate DWORD value: DisableOSUpgrade = 1 The original article from Microsoft is here: