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Abbreviations
W10 = Initial Release Windows 10 (v15xx
W10AU = Windows 10 Anniversary Update (v16xx
W10CU = Windows 10 Creators Update (v17xx
W10A8 = Windows 10 April 2018 Update (v18xx
WUP = Windows Update
Resources
AskWoody.com
########
Microsoft is at it again, trying to force-feed us the latest version of Windows. Updates KB4056254 + KB4023057 were re-released in June/July (2018) after first appearing in February. These two co-related updates are: Windows Update "Facilitator" and Update Assistant(V2). At the end of this post you will find a list of the files, services and scheduled tasks installed by the Feb updates -- I'm not sure of June/July details.
Together, these two updates are responsible for the annoying (and sometimes fatal) full-screen popup that interrupts what you are doing and tells you you MUST upgrade. By fatal I am referring to what happened in February when some users were FORCED to upgrade with no way to cancel.
February: these two updates, if installed, nagged the user to upgrade to W10CU v1709 and so should have appeared only if you were on v15xx, v16xx or v1703. Unfortunately, this invasive popup sometimes ignored the user's settings and started force installing! Microsoft soon after admitted this was 'human error' on their part.
June/July: I have no firsthand knowledge of this iteration because I have blocked both updates and plan to keep them blocked for the near future. My guess is their purpose is to force-feed us W10A8 v1803.
=> Why Have This "Facilitator"?
Here is Microsoft's stated purpose for the Facilitation Service:
"This update includes files and resources to address issues affecting background update processes in the Windows Update servicing stack. Maintaining Window Update service health and performance helps ensure that quality updates are installed seamlessly on your device and help to improve the reliability and security of devices running Windows 10."
I don't believe for a minute that it has anything to do with improving WUP; it's sole purpose is to nag you until you upgrade. FLASH: On 12 July 2018 AskWoody reported: KB 4023057 — an "update reliability" patch for older Win10 versions — has appeared again. Unless you want Microsoft to push you to a new version of Windows, you don’t need or want it — it only shuffles more telemetry data off to Microsoft.
=> How The "Facilitator" Works
It is important to note that once KB4056254 and KB4023057 are installed, they cannot be uninstalled.
The "Facilitator" is made up of three basic components
1. osrss Service
This System Service has the name "OS Remediation System Service". The service cannot be deleted, Disabled or even Stopped! It will always show Running, but does nothing if the UpdateAssistant Tasks are disabled.
2. UpdateAssistant
This is an executable which is invoked by the scheduled Tasks. By all accounts, this pops up the invasive window that tells you if you DON'T install the updates, life as you know it will end. To make things even worse, you can't do anything until this popup is dismissed. Hopefully, you will have a 'Skip' option which will do just that!
I believe UpdateAssistant can be uninstalled via Control Panel but will be re-installed by Microsoft. The only way to control it is by disabling the Tasks that invoke it.
3. UpdateAssistant Tasks
As of the February drop, there are four tasks that invoke UpdateAssistant at various times. All four Tasks (which are listed at the end of this post) must be !Disabled! Fortunately, so far Microsoft has not re-enabled these Tasks behind our backs. Let's hope this continues!
=> How to Avoid Installing These Updates
You probably installed these updates back in February. And, you got at least KB4056254 in June unless, if you're like me, you blocked them. In the off chance you haven't installed them, see my article:
How To REALLY Block Windows 10 Updates and Upgrades
If you have installed one or both of these updates, your only recourse is to disable the *four* Scheduled Tasks. Note: There were 4 tasks in the February drop; June/July may be different. Be sure and Disable any Task having a name starting with 'UpdateAssistant'.
############
Associated with these evil updates:
file=>C:\Windows\UpdateAssistant\UpdateAssistant.exe -access denied-
file=>C:\Windows\UpdateAssistantV2\UpdateAssistant.exe
service=>osrss "OS Remediation System Service"
Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > Update Orchestrator
task=>UpdateAssistant
task=>UpdateAssistantAllUsersRun
task=>UpdateAssistantCalendarRun
task=>UpdateAssistantWakeupRun
W10 = Initial Release Windows 10 (v15xx
W10AU = Windows 10 Anniversary Update (v16xx
W10CU = Windows 10 Creators Update (v17xx
W10A8 = Windows 10 April 2018 Update (v18xx
WUP = Windows Update
Resources
AskWoody.com
########
Microsoft is at it again, trying to force-feed us the latest version of Windows. Updates KB4056254 + KB4023057 were re-released in June/July (2018) after first appearing in February. These two co-related updates are: Windows Update "Facilitator" and Update Assistant(V2). At the end of this post you will find a list of the files, services and scheduled tasks installed by the Feb updates -- I'm not sure of June/July details.
Together, these two updates are responsible for the annoying (and sometimes fatal) full-screen popup that interrupts what you are doing and tells you you MUST upgrade. By fatal I am referring to what happened in February when some users were FORCED to upgrade with no way to cancel.
February: these two updates, if installed, nagged the user to upgrade to W10CU v1709 and so should have appeared only if you were on v15xx, v16xx or v1703. Unfortunately, this invasive popup sometimes ignored the user's settings and started force installing! Microsoft soon after admitted this was 'human error' on their part.
June/July: I have no firsthand knowledge of this iteration because I have blocked both updates and plan to keep them blocked for the near future. My guess is their purpose is to force-feed us W10A8 v1803.
=> Why Have This "Facilitator"?
Here is Microsoft's stated purpose for the Facilitation Service:
"This update includes files and resources to address issues affecting background update processes in the Windows Update servicing stack. Maintaining Window Update service health and performance helps ensure that quality updates are installed seamlessly on your device and help to improve the reliability and security of devices running Windows 10."
I don't believe for a minute that it has anything to do with improving WUP; it's sole purpose is to nag you until you upgrade. FLASH: On 12 July 2018 AskWoody reported: KB 4023057 — an "update reliability" patch for older Win10 versions — has appeared again. Unless you want Microsoft to push you to a new version of Windows, you don’t need or want it — it only shuffles more telemetry data off to Microsoft.
=> How The "Facilitator" Works
It is important to note that once KB4056254 and KB4023057 are installed, they cannot be uninstalled.
The "Facilitator" is made up of three basic components
1. osrss Service
This System Service has the name "OS Remediation System Service". The service cannot be deleted, Disabled or even Stopped! It will always show Running, but does nothing if the UpdateAssistant Tasks are disabled.
2. UpdateAssistant
This is an executable which is invoked by the scheduled Tasks. By all accounts, this pops up the invasive window that tells you if you DON'T install the updates, life as you know it will end. To make things even worse, you can't do anything until this popup is dismissed. Hopefully, you will have a 'Skip' option which will do just that!
I believe UpdateAssistant can be uninstalled via Control Panel but will be re-installed by Microsoft. The only way to control it is by disabling the Tasks that invoke it.
3. UpdateAssistant Tasks
As of the February drop, there are four tasks that invoke UpdateAssistant at various times. All four Tasks (which are listed at the end of this post) must be !Disabled! Fortunately, so far Microsoft has not re-enabled these Tasks behind our backs. Let's hope this continues!
=> How to Avoid Installing These Updates
You probably installed these updates back in February. And, you got at least KB4056254 in June unless, if you're like me, you blocked them. In the off chance you haven't installed them, see my article:
How To REALLY Block Windows 10 Updates and Upgrades
If you have installed one or both of these updates, your only recourse is to disable the *four* Scheduled Tasks. Note: There were 4 tasks in the February drop; June/July may be different. Be sure and Disable any Task having a name starting with 'UpdateAssistant'.
############
Associated with these evil updates:
file=>C:\Windows\UpdateAssistant\UpdateAssistant.exe -access denied-
file=>C:\Windows\UpdateAssistantV2\UpdateAssistant.exe
service=>osrss "OS Remediation System Service"
Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > Update Orchestrator
task=>UpdateAssistant
task=>UpdateAssistantAllUsersRun
task=>UpdateAssistantCalendarRun
task=>UpdateAssistantWakeupRun