abadidea6d ago
well this is the scariest thing my work computer has ever done. I didn’t even know it was structurally possible for popup windows to appear over the Windows Update screen
Show threadabadidea6d ago

to my genuine but relieved surprise, it still booted after this.

what's truly mystifying, however, is how the Dell firmware manages to have two or three ⚠️Critical⚠️ bios updates a week. I understand neither where they're all coming from nor how Dell sustains such a rapid release cycle of high-risk firmware patches long-term.

Show threadiloo5d ago
@0xabad1dea This is interesting, I use linux on my Dell, so does my better half and there's no firmware updates unless we say so ☺️
Show threadabadidea5d ago
@Iloo I'm confused why you think that's different from Windows? the updates exist whether you choose to install them or not, in either case
Show threadiloo5d ago
@0xabad1dea I don't get them automatically, if I want them I can do them as needed in the time that is convenient for me, which means I get to decided what my laptop is doing at any given time not the other way around ☺️
Show threadabadidea5d ago
@Iloo please turn down your sunny evangelization rays for a moment so you can hear me repeat that is not in any way different from how it works on Windows
Show threadkauer

@0xabad1dea @Iloo So you can decide to never install an available Windows update? Or are you talking only about firmware updates specifically?

My partner's Windows system seems to update itself. The only control seems to be that you can defer it a few times, but eventually it happens regardless. Most of the time it happens when noone is watching, and without asking whether it is OK to do so.

Are we missing some simple setting?

Jun 16 at 12:03pmWeb
Show threadabadidea5d ago

@kauer @Iloo I'm talking about Dell firmware updates. Blocking Windows updates is harder. In particular, if you are using a home license, they don't consider you smart enough to make an informed decision on the matter.

Apparently one trick is to lie to Windows that your home wifi connection is "metered", that is, charged by the megabyte, as it won't download updates in the background while metered. However, this may cause other apps to also stop doing what you expect them to do in the background.

Show threadkauer5d ago
@0xabad1dea @Iloo Thanks. I thought that was the case.