How to Stop Windows Updates

1.  Click Start | Control Panel and then double-click Administrative Tools

2. Click on Services to open the dialog box (Figure A)

3. From the list of services, right-click and then click Stop for the following services:

-Automatic Updates

-Background Intelligent Transfer Service

-Cryptographic Services

4. Next click Start | My Computer

5. Double-click the drive where XP is installed, usually C:\

6. Double-click Windows

7.Right-click on the file folder SoftwareDistribution and rename it to SoftwareDistribution.old

8. Next double-click on the System32 file folder

9.Right-click on the folder Catroot2 and rename it to Catroot2.old

10. Right-click on the folder SoftwareDistribution and rename it to SoftwareDistribution.old

11. Close C:\Windows\System32 explorer window

12.Now, go back to the Services folder. Right-click and then Start the following services:

-Automatic Updates

-Background Intelligent Transfer Service (unless it was originally set to manual and you never had to stop the service in the beginning)

-Cryptographic Services

13. Close the Services Window and go to the Administrative Tools window (which should still be open)

14.Click the Back Button on your toolbar to get back to the Control Panel

15. Double-click Automatic Updates (Figure B)

16. Select "Notify Me but Don't Automatically Update Or Install Them" radio button then the OK button.

17. Close the Control Panel and resume computing.