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So I have a very specific use case and need to use my old backup win10 laptop for a test (only windows or mac allowed, no linux). I never connect this laptop to the internet because I need it to stay on 10 to work with specific software/hardware I have on it. But this test requires internet. How can I block the windows update servers on my VLAN? I know the second I connect this thing microslop will corrupt it to force me to update.

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Hey, you might have trouble blocking windows 10 servers themselves, by IP or otherwise. I think it might be a lot more feasible to massgrave win 10 pro on your machine and disable updates by group policy.

Is it Windows 10 Pro or ..?

With Windows 10 Pro you can disable Windows updates by editing group policy (run gpedit.msc with elevated permissions), look for Computer Configuration / Administrative Templates / Windows Components / Windows Update and set "Configure Automatic Updates" to Disabled.

Not sure how to do that on Windows 10 Home or other versions - the above probably corresponds to registry setting(s) but am not sure which one.

[-] bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works 1 points 6 days ago

Nah, never had pro. Win 10 home Toshiba from 2015

[-] Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 4 points 6 days ago

Use Group Policy to disable updates.

If you have a Home version, disable the Windows Update service and the Windows Update Health service which prevents the Windows Update Service from being disabled.

Hkey_local_machine\system\CurrentControlSet\Services\WaaSMedicSvc

Change the Start value to 4 (disabled).

Now you can disable the Windows Update Service.

This is a Microsoft-provided solution to this question on their forums.

[-] Paragone@lemmy.world 4 points 6 days ago

Remove all windows-machines, morelike.

For your use-case, you might want to block ALL the internet for that notebook, & then open ONLY the internet-link you require, for your test.

Trying to blacklist a dynamic-set of cloud IP-addresses seems like a losing-game.

Flip it: whitelist only what you explicitly require, for your test.

_ /\ _

[-] slazer2au@lemmy.world 4 points 6 days ago
this post was submitted on 20 Mar 2026
6 points (100.0% liked)

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