Can Windows force its way in, even if your computer's wi fi key is set to off? (Page 2): Some of those tips they give are long involved processes. I took that list and went through it...

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Linda From Maine wrote:

Thanks, Robert. When I turned the computer back on, the wi fi button was still to OFF. The reason I didn't care about updates is because I had not intention of putting that laptop back online once it was all fixed from last year's issue. I use a Chromebook for all internet activities.

I will check your link, many thanks.

Some of those tips they give are long involved processes. I took that list and went through it with the family's three desktops and two laptops that go on line.

IR Jim Loc: St. Louis

You can check which were installed by going to Start > Settings > Update > Windows Update.

There should be a history of updates on the right where you can get more information about them. I suspect Larry is correct and the updates downloaded the last time you were online. I'm not aware of Windows being able to circumvent Wi-Fi settings to get online.

As for disk usage you can hot CTRL + SHIFT + ESC to bring up task manager. Make sure you select more details at the bottom. Check the CPU and Disk columns for high usage which should allow you to find the offending process(es). Then it's a matter of googling its name with "high disk/CPU usage".

pendennis

I'm a retired IT manager, mostly in the infrastructure area. Although a lot of folks like to hold on to what they believe is control, by controlling update timing, I've found that it's best to take the updates as they come, and always update your PC when you can.

Security concerns are primary, and MS has been very vigilant about insuring that their products and O/S's are secure.

If you're concerned that you may have a virus, it may well be that it attacked as a result of failing to update timely. I don't know this to be a fact, but the folks who perpetrate virus attacks spend all their time figuring out how to get around security.

In my prior professional life, our company owned (still does) two complete domains, one facing outward, the other facing inward. At the time I retired, we were fending off more than 6 million attempted hacks per month.

Haydon

Linda, I've turned off all update with Windows 10 using a small free app called WinAero. I was forced to do a clean install a number of times on lower powered machines because after the upgrade (not update) it turned the machine into sludge. What you are describing are symptons I encountered as well with an abundance of CPU loading. On one machine I worked on it had over 180 gigabyte left on the 250 SSD drive whereas after the windows UPGRADE it only had 10. I spent a lot of time looking into hidden directories and never found where this was rooted and no it wasn't from the Windows.old folder.

I don't have any issues with updates but I see very little benefit from the upgrades personally and they push them out every six months in a cycle.

https://winaero.com/request.php?1796

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I wonder if the 100% disk usage means "access" not space used. Can you look at Windows Explorer and see the disk properties to see the space remaining? I know updates are disk usage (access) intensive. Sometimes the disk usage light seems like it's on constantly.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

IR Jim wrote:

You can check which were installed by going to Start > Settings > Update > Windows Update.

Ah, one mystery solved. It says April 2018

Working on the other suggestions. Many thanks.

pendennis wrote:

I'm a retired IT manager, mostly in the infrastructure area...

Dennis, the last time I was totally into Windows was Win 7 and using a PC for work. Upon retirement and discovery of the joys of a 13" Chromebook running Google Chrome OS, I have only grudgingly kept another machine...strictly for photo editing - and offline.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Linda From Maine wrote:

I just heard from my brother, who is very computer knowledgeable, that if computer wi fi button is off, there is no way for anyone, even big brother Bill, to enter.
....
....
....

Thought as much.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Longshadow wrote:

I wonder if the 100% disk usage means "access" not space used.

No, not hard drive space, yes usage. I'm looking at the column that displays when you open task manager. The only reason I even know this much is because of the issue 13 months ago.

I'm now seeing it go down to 5% and then periodically jump to 99, with other percentages in between. Wi fi is off again (I did let virus program update), so I will watch it for awhile and see what's showing as active.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Haydon wrote:

Linda, I've turned off all update with Windows 10 ... (show quote)

Many thanks!

BebuLamar

Linda From Maine wrote:

No, not hard drive space, yes usage. I'm looking at the column that displays when you open task manager. The only reason I even know this much is because of the issue 13 months ago.

I'm now seeing it go down to 5% and then periodically jump to 99, with other percentages in between. Wi fi is off again (I did let virus program update), so I will watch it for awhile and see what's showing as active.

You may as well remove the anti virus program.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Linda From Maine wrote:

This would make sense if it hadn't been many month... (show quote)

Absolute statements can be really dangerous, but it should. I've never blocked a Windows 10 update, though.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

BebuLamar wrote:

You may as well remove the anti virus program.

I still have Win 7 on three machines, and will keep Norton active.
I've no idea what Win 10 does, or is capable of doing regarding AV. I'll look at it as a <second> safeguard if Win 10 has an AV process.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

BebuLamar wrote:

You may as well remove the anti virus program.

True dat

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

larryepage wrote:

Absolute statements can be really dangerous, but it should. I've never blocked a Windows 10 update, though.

I've been watching and it periodically jumps to 90 or 100 % but then comes down again quickly, way down to single digits at times.

BebuLamar

Longshadow wrote:

I still have Win 7 on three machines, and will keep Norton active.
I've no idea what Win 10 does, or is capable of doing regarding AV. I'll look at it as a <second> safeguard if Win 10 has an AV process.

Linda said she never connect her computer to the internet so there is very little chance of virus. Besides she won't update the anti virus program so it's not all that good. I found anti virus program can slow a PC down to a crawl.