Category Archives: sysadmin

How to Disable Windows 10 Update in Every Way – EaseUS

 

Change the way Windows 10 Updates Using Registry

Customize a Windows 10 update without receiving any forced updates on your computer. Here’s how to make the change in Registry:

1. Use the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run command.

2. Type regedit, and click OK to open the Registry.
Browse the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

3. Right-click the Windows (folder) key, select New, and then click Key.

4. Name the new key WindowsUpdate and press Enter.

5. Right-click the newly created key, select new, and click Key.

disable windows 10 update in registry

6. Name the new key AU and press Enter.
Inside the newly created key, right-click on the right side, select New, and click on DWORD (32-bit) Value.

7. Name the new key AUOptions and press Enter.
Double-click the newly created key and change its value to 2. It’s for “Notify for download and notify for install”. Click OK.

8. Close the Registry to complete the task.

Using this value prevents Windows 10 from downloading updates automatically, and you’ll get a notification when new updates are available. By this way, you can avoid any auto Windows 10 update effectively.

Source: How to Disable Windows 10 Update in Every Way – EaseUS

How to Find Your Lost Windows or Office Product Keys

Set WshShell = CreateObject(“WScript.Shell”) MsgBox ConvertToKey(WshShell.RegRead(“HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\DigitalProductId”)) Function ConvertToKey(Key) Const KeyOffset = 52 i = 28 Chars = “BCDFGHJKMPQRTVWXY2346789” Do Cur = 0 x = 14 Do Cur = Cur * 256 Cur = Key(x + KeyOffset) + Cur Key(x + KeyOffset) = (Cur \ 24) And 255 Cur = Cur Mod 24 x = x -1 Loop While x >= 0 i = i -1 KeyOutput = Mid(Chars, Cur + 1, 1) & KeyOutput If (((29 – i) Mod 6) = 0) And (i -1) Then i = i -1 KeyOutp

Source: How to Find Your Lost Windows or Office Product Keys

OpenWrt Project: Prosody XMPP Server (open messaging protocol)

Renew the SSL certificate Not required if SSL stuff was not installed, Ex.: 4 MiB installation. Same old key used for brevity, some RTFM required for completeness. cd /tmp scp root@routerlogin.net:/etc/prosody/certs/localhost.[ck]e* . openssl req -new -x509 -days 365 -nodes -out “localhost.cert” -key “localhost.key” scp localhost.[ck]e* root@routerlogin.net:/etc/prosody/certs/

Source: OpenWrt Project: Prosody XMPP Server (open messaging protocol)

Block Ads & Malvertising on pfSense Using pfBlockerNG (DNSBL)

This walkthrough uses the DNSBL portion of pfBlockerNG to remove ads/advertising and more importantly, malvertising. It essentially creates a functionality similar to the pi-Hole project except it doesn’t require a separate piece of hardware. Instead, you just use your pfSense + pfBlockerNG! If you’re interested in a write-up on installing/configuring the pi-hole on Ubuntu, I have one here. Please note this walkthrough is for the new devel version of pfBlockerNG. The pfBlockerNG-devel package is now in the standard list of…

Source: Block Ads & Malvertising on pfSense Using pfBlockerNG (DNSBL)

Disabling Windows Services When Access is Denied

First of all, to disable all the other Xbox services: right-click Start, click Run, enter ‘services.msc’—backup the list before making changes by right-clicking at the top left ‘Services (Local)’ -> ‘Export List’.

Now find all the services involving Xbox, right-click each one and do the following:

  • General tab: change Startup type to ‘Disabled’

  • Recovery tab: change all three conditions to ‘Take no action’

Feel free, with caution, to do this for any other unwanted app eg., wallet, maps, fax/printer, cloud and/or updating services for Razer/Adobe/Skype

Now to get around Denied Access to Xbox Game Monitoring. Do the following. Right-click Start, click Run, type ‘regedit’. Always backup registry before making changes.

  • Locate: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\xbgm

  • Change Start REG_DWORD—-> (by right-clicking Start ‘change binary’) then change the first 03 to 04 —-> the value will update from 0x00000003 (3) to 0x00000004 (4)

The service is now disabled. You can Restart your computer. Also if you want, you can now delete/rename the dll file located at C:\Windows\System32\xbgmsvc.dll

If you get an error that you need permission from the owner to make changes, then google how to transfer ownership of the System32 folder. I’d highly suggest backing up the System32 folder before altering any of the files.

After every Windows update check and re-disable the above along with the other Windows Gaming settings. Updates are highly likely to undo these changes.

 

Originally from the reddit article in:

How do I disable "Xbox Game Monitor" Service?
byu/ReadFoo inWindows10