Stop windows update xp

Please note: Do not post advertisements, offensive material, profanity, or personal attacks. Please remember to be considerate of other members. All submitted content is subject to our Terms Of Use. Did turn it off shortly thereafter but by then it had already started downloading.

This download now resumes the moment I go online. Is there any way of stopping this? Many thanks in advance. Irfan Karachi, Pakistan. Share Flag. All Answers. This procedure forces Windows to reset the files that track what updates you have installed. This means that the automatic update will stop nagging you to update even though you already have. For Riggy, this procedure means Windows will stop trying to download and install SP3.

One word of warning though, in general Windows updates are important not only for your security and peace of mind but also for the security of everyone else. I highly recommend that you apply the patches as soon as you can. Our Windows Patch Tuesday feature will keep you informed of just what each patch contains. Mark W.

Kaelin has been writing and editing stories about the IT industry, gadgets, finance, accounting, and tech-life for more than 25 years. Most recently, he has been a regular contributor to BreakingModern. Or, as in the case of TechRepublic member Riggy , Windows may be telling you that SP3 is available, even though you have decided you don't want to apply it right now or in the near future. You can also turn on Windows Update by selecting one of following settings in the Automatic Updates item in Control Panel:.

After you turn on Windows Update, the required updates to components of Windows Update will be downloaded and installed automatically without notifying you.

This behavior occurs regardless of which setting you use to turn on Windows Update. If you do not want to receive required updates, you can disable automatic updates in Control Panel. The updates to Windows Update itself typically do the following: Address feedback from customers, improve compatibility, service performance and reliability, and enable new service capabilities.

When the Windows Update server is updated, a corresponding client update is typically required. During an agent self-update operation, Windows Update Agent files may be added, modified, or replaced. For example, Windows Update Agent files that help display the user experience or that determine whether updates apply to a particular system may be added. This behavior occurs when a system is set to automatically check for available updates.

This does not occur when automatic updates are turned off. Skip to main content. This browser is no longer supported. Download Microsoft Edge More info. Contents Exit focus mode.