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Author Topic: Keeping my HTPC off the internet.  (Read 2057 times)

rec head

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Keeping my HTPC off the internet.
« on: October 22, 2018, 01:28:23 pm »
Is there a way to keep my HTPC active on the LAN to access my NAS but blocked from the internet? Basically I don't want to deal with forced Windows 10 updates. I'm happy with how everything is running and would like to keep it that way. Any updates to MC that I want I can easily download from this PC and have available on the NAS.

Network equipment is Eero router (I asked them about this and they said no) and an AT&T modem.

Is there any other way to accomplish this?

Thanks
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~OHM~

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Re: Keeping my HTPC off the internet.
« Reply #1 on: October 22, 2018, 04:52:43 pm »
can't you turn off the updater as you can in W7?
I don't have W10

does 10 have >services.msc< if so scroll down and look for windows update and disable it....reboot...just a thought
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Hendrik

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Re: Keeping my HTPC off the internet.
« Reply #2 on: October 22, 2018, 05:02:34 pm »
We don't recommend doing that. Media Center is designed to download a variety of playback plugins, metadata, cover art, and whatnot, from the internet. Especially the playback plugins could result in some of MCs functionality to just fail, and its not designed to install them from any other source.
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TheShoe

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Re: Keeping my HTPC off the internet.
« Reply #3 on: October 22, 2018, 05:31:57 pm »
you can use a firewall to block windows update URL’s and IP addresses - there used to be a list floating around of the domains to block.

you can also upgrade to windows 10 pro and stop automatic updates completely.   i did this and it works fine.   windows will tell you there are updates but you can ignore them.

there used to be a way to stop it in windows 10 home but that has since been prevented by microsoft

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rec head

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Re: Keeping my HTPC off the internet.
« Reply #4 on: October 22, 2018, 06:18:03 pm »
Thanks for the replies.

If I did this I would move the server to this PC instead of the HTPC server/client. I understand about the plugins though. I guess every new version I'd need to unblock it to download them.

Not sure if this bothers me the $150 it would cost to upgrade. If I blocked or turned off the updates and left my computer on the internet it seems like I could be facing even bigger problems with security risks.

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alglove

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Re: Keeping my HTPC off the internet.
« Reply #5 on: October 22, 2018, 06:24:52 pm »
There are some hidden registry keys / local group policy settings you can set for Windows 10 that will give you more control over Windows Updates. The local group policy editor is available only in the Windows 10 Pro version. I am not sure if the registry keys will work for Windows 10 Home, but you can give it a shot.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/328010/how-to-configure-automatic-updates-by-using-group-policy-or-registry-s

Quote
To use Registry Editor, follow these steps:
Click Start, click Run, and then type regedit in the Open box.
Locate and then click the following key in the registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU

Add one of the following settings:

Value name: NoAutoUpdate
Value data: 0 or 1
0: Automatic Updates is enabled (default).
1: Automatic Updates is disabled.
Registry Value Type: Reg_DWORD

Value name: AUOptions
Value data: 1 to 4
1: Keep my computer up to date has been disabled in Automatic Updates.
2: Notify of download and installation.
3: Automatically download and notify of installation.
4: Automatically download and scheduled installation.
Registry Value Type: Reg_DWORD

There are more options available, but these are probably to most important ones. I have done this on Windows 10 Pro, and I can vouch that it works. I have never tried it on Windows 10 Home, though.
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Vocalpoint

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Re: Keeping my HTPC off the internet.
« Reply #6 on: October 23, 2018, 01:30:08 pm »
Quote from: alglove on October 22, 2018, 06:24:52 pm
I have never tried it on Windows 10 Home, though.

Reg edits donot work on Home.

Here is a better solution:

Press Windows key + R
Type: services.msc
Hit Enter
Scroll down to Windows Update
Select it then right click it
Click Properties
Under the General tab, choose Startup type to DIsabled
Click Stop
Click Apply then OK

Like it or not - you will need to update Windows from time to time - but it's nice to have some control.

This leaves you the option to turn it back on - on your schedule - and apply updates.

VP
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rec head

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Re: Keeping my HTPC off the internet.
« Reply #7 on: October 23, 2018, 01:54:17 pm »
Thanks, I'll give it a shot. Will I get update notifications?
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~OHM~

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Re: Keeping my HTPC off the internet.
« Reply #8 on: October 23, 2018, 02:30:38 pm »
Quote from: ~OHM~ on October 22, 2018, 04:52:43 pm
can't you turn off the updater as you can in W7?
I don't have W10

does 10 have >services.msc< if so scroll down and look for windows update and disable it....reboot...just a thought

I guess I need to be more clear! ;)
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jachin99

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Re: Keeping my HTPC off the internet.
« Reply #9 on: October 23, 2018, 08:46:18 pm »
I'm on a win 10 home build from 2015.  I disabled the Windows update service, told windows not to download updates over a metered connection, and found a reg hack to set my Ethernet connection as metered.
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TheShoe

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Re: Keeping my HTPC off the internet.
« Reply #10 on: October 23, 2018, 08:52:17 pm »
i am fairly certain the latest versions of Home since 2015 no longer allow you to disable the updates permanently nor does metered work if you are wired

the update service will actually re-enable after some time so it is not a permanent solve


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syndromeofadown

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Re: Keeping my HTPC off the internet.
« Reply #11 on: October 23, 2018, 09:25:39 pm »
In windows try setting a static IP address but use an incorrect DNS server address. This should keep your PC on your network but off the internet. I do this quite regularly on my Linux PCs by accident. I haven't done it on Windows before so I can't give specific instructions.
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Awesome Donkey

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Re: Keeping my HTPC off the internet.
« Reply #12 on: October 24, 2018, 03:21:17 am »
In my opinion, disabling Windows Updates is a very bad idea (regardless how buggy those updates may be).
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JimH

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Re: Keeping my HTPC off the internet.
« Reply #13 on: October 24, 2018, 03:38:39 am »
I agree.  Better a few bugs than a deadly disease.
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alglove

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Re: Keeping my HTPC off the internet.
« Reply #14 on: October 26, 2018, 07:00:16 pm »
Quote from: TheShoe on October 23, 2018, 08:52:17 pm
i am fairly certain the latest versions of Home since 2015 no longer allow you to disable the updates permanently nor does metered work if you are wired

Setting an ethernet connection to "Metered" actually does work in Windows 10 Home. Microsoft added this as an official option in 1803, I believe, no registry hacks needed.

Go to Settings --> Network & Internet --> Ethernet --> (click on your network connection) --> Metered connection --> On

This one I do have personal experience with, since I set it up on the computers at my parents' house with a slow internet connection. It cuts out on a lot of the miscellaneous Windows background download chatter, especially apps from the Windows Store autoupdating. I vaguely recall it gave more control over the timing of Windows Updates. I forget exactly how much, though. When he upgraded to a faster internet connection, I turned this setting off.
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jachin99

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Re: Keeping my HTPC off the internet.
« Reply #15 on: October 27, 2018, 10:53:20 pm »
Quote from: TheShoe on October 23, 2018, 08:52:17 pm
i am fairly certain the latest versions of Home since 2015 no longer allow you to disable the updates permanently nor does metered work if you are wired

the update service will actually re-enable after some time so it is not a permanent solve

I have been on this setup for a few months and it hasn't updated yet.  To be clear I'm not advocating going without updates and I wouldn't rule a sudden surprise update out of the realm of possibility.  I am trying g to illustrate a point that it does seem possible.
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