Stop click2run from being re-enabled by MS

Hi,

I went though all the trouble of creating batch files to stop/start services as I see fit and not as MS see's fit.

Specifically the Office 2016 click2run service.
I use Office on my personal desktop about once every 2-5 months.

Therefore I have 2 services that run when I want them to run and are stopped and set to disabled when I do not want to use them.
Click2Run is one of them
Private Internet Access service is the other (PIA).

PIA acts according to my wishes.

Click2Run WAS acting according to my wishes until recently when MS, in their wisdom, decided that the disabled click2run service was a mistake on every single PC in the world and so they implemented a "click2run helper" AND , what does this helper do, why it re-enables, sets to automatic and starts the click2run service.

EVEN Linux will allow you to defer updates forever or stop whatever service you want to stop. AS root of course but still. ON Windows, the equal of Linux root, administrator, Is flipping crippled.y to uninstall every single network driver from Windows. Go ahead, I dare yah. I had to boot into safe mode and even there nogo-can't delete that last network card driver, I had to run pnptools from an admin cmd prompt in SAFE MODE in order to get it done. FFS WHY? I am an administrator and a highly qualified tech, why do this to Administrators? Even in safe mode?BUT, I digress.

If you delete the executable for the click2run helper (I mean even admin can't delete it permanently so whats the flipping point?) it comes back, if you manage to rename the executable it comes back, I am thinking about creating a firewall rule to just completely block click2run and then a couple batch files to disable/enable that firewall rule.

BUT seriously, do I need to do this?

Hopefully someone has a more permanent and flexible solution that that?

Brink? Are you as pissed of about this as I am (and dozens of technicians I know personally).

Hello, and welcome.

AppLocker may be something to try to block it.

I never thought of using app-locker - will that work against a MS executable that they WANT to run? OK - I'll give that a go for sure.

Ty sir!

yodamin said:

I never thought of using app-locker - will that work against a MS executable that they WANT to run? OK - I'll give that a go for sure.

Ty sir!

Click to expand...

It should at least not get undone by the same thing.

Looks complicated to me, I never used app locker before and I do not want to learn how.
I am 4 years or so away from retirement and once that happens, Windows is gone from my life except for the odd game here and there.

I changed the logon for the click2run service to the local guest account and ensured it is still disabled.
I tried to start the service with my batch file and it change the startup type from disabled to automatic but the service failed to start and yes, there is a corresponding error in my event log , I don't care crap about that

TY for your suggestions Brink.
I've followed your stuff for a LONG time-since the beginning I believe, I am already registered in the ten-forums.

Hopefully, it won't run anymore.

In Task Scheduler, there exist a whole bunch of scheduled tasks that automatically re-enable the Microsoft Office Click-to-Run Service. To disable these scheduled tasks in Task Scheduler, you can run this as an administrator:

hdmi said:

In Task Scheduler, there exist a whole bunch of scheduled tasks that automatically re-enable the Microsoft Office Click-to-Run Service. To disable these scheduled tasks in Task Scheduler, you can run this as an administrator:

Batch:

SCHTASKS /Change /DISABLE /TN "Microsoft\Office\Office Automatic Updates 2.0"
SCHTASKS /Change /DISABLE /TN "Microsoft\Office\Office ClickToRun Service Monitor"
SCHTASKS /Change /DISABLE /TN "Microsoft\Office\Office Feature Updates"
SCHTASKS /Change /DISABLE /TN "Microsoft\Office\Office Feature Updates Logon"
SCHTASKS /Change /DISABLE /TN "Microsoft\Office\OfficeBackgroundTaskHandlerLogon"
SCHTASKS /Change /DISABLE /TN "Microsoft\Office\OfficeBackgroundTaskHandlerRegistration"
SCHTASKS /Change /DISABLE /TN "Microsoft\Office\OfficeInventoryAgentFallBack"
SCHTASKS /Change /DISABLE /TN "Microsoft\Office\OfficeTelemetryAgentFallBack"
SCHTASKS /Change /DISABLE /TN "Microsoft\Office\OfficeTelemetryAgentFallBack2016"
SCHTASKS /Change /DISABLE /TN "Microsoft\Office\OfficeInventoryAgentLogOn"
SCHTASKS /Change /DISABLE /TN "Microsoft\Office\OfficeTelemetryAgentLogOn"
SCHTASKS /Change /DISABLE /TN "Microsoft\Office\OfficeTelemetryAgentLogOn2016"
SCHTASKS /Change /DISABLE /TN "Microsoft\Office\Office Subscription Maintenance"
SCHTASKS /Change /DISABLE /TN "Office Background Streaming"

Click to expand...

I also added this in your Batch File Thanks
SCHTASKS /Change /DISABLE /TN "Microsoft\Office\Office Office Performance Monitor"