How to stop Windows Update completely?

[Bluecube]

I run several Windows 10 VMs that are used solely for to run single piece of old yet absolutely vital software. Updating Windows completely breaks the software so obviously I don't want this to happen. Yet despite being completely isolated from the internet, every single one of the VMs insists of trying to update, producing massive warnings that it's doing so. The update fails of course as there's no net access.

The question is, how do I stop this constant update attempt? Somehow Windows Update Assistant is persistently installed despite being equally persistently removed. Where the hell it's hiding I don't know... I've tried stopping the Windows Update service to no effect. Help!

 

[Bluecube]

There's a new one not mentioned here before. See Option 1, here:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials...e-automatic-updates-windows-10-a.html#option1

Thanks. I found a script on MajorGeeks which will hopefully sort the problem out.

MrBell - for the record, it's only these particular VMs that I need to disable updates. I have another Windows machine in the house which I let update as and when required as I like to live dangerously Also for the record, I loathe Windows and think MS have to seriously revamp the way they roll out updates especially. For a multi billion dollar company, it's shockingly amateurish.