Cancelling Windows Update

[Maus]

Hi all.

Windows update is downloading one absolutely whopping file at the moment, and I would rather like it to not be. I suspect it is downloading SP2 (I use xp home) over my tiny wee modem, and since (a) I do not want sp2 yet and (b) I have a nice shiny CD with it on courtesy of PC Gamer and © It's fluffing up my online gaming by making me laggy as can be, I was wondering if anybody could tell me how on earth I convince it to stop doing what it's doing. Left and right-clicking on the systray icon do nothing - any other suggestions?

[Dr Sadako]

Bring the comp to work and finish the DL there.

[smilodon]

You need XP AntiSpy
Download it HERE

Apart from stopping Windows Update from taking over your PC it allows you to turn off and or disable all the other crap Microsoft seem happy to litter XP with. A must have IMHO

[Anonymous]

Right click on my computer.

Select "Properties"

Select "Automatic Update" tab

Turn off automatic updates

Right click on menu bar at bottom of screen.

Select "Task manager"

Select the "Processes" tab

Click TWICE on the column entitled "Image Name" to sort alphabetically in reverse

select "wuaclt.exe" and click the "end process" button.

Hopefully that will fix it. If it doesn't stop the download then rbooting may do the trick once you have applied the other settings

[Maus]

Fan tabulous, thanks BB

... wait a sec. it's back

Maybe I should just wait this thing out.

[A Twig]

This prob has cropped up for me too, any ideas?  :huh:

[Anonymous]

What about this then?

[A Twig]

Hmm, I re-installed the XP anti-spy thing that Smilo recommended and so far waupdate hasnt cropped up again! We shall see, I shall bear your suggestion in mind tho, cheers BB!  :thumbsup:

[smilodon]

Anti-spy just automates the registry hack sugested by BB. The result is the same.

For those that care SP2 is glued to the  front of this months PC Gamer. A pretty good mag in it's own right, it's a painless way to get a copy. Plus you get the Rome Total War Demo to boot! Nice.

[Anonymous]

I've made a reg file that will disable it for you.

Get it here

To enable again edit the file and replace the 4 with a 2