Thanks for your reply Boggin
I already have the GWX control panel , and also various scripts from other forums where current M$ policy update
is making people angry.
I previously had my Update settings the same as yours , but refused any update that wasn't labelled as "security"
as well as all of the notorious "toxic" GWX updates ... they were all hidden .
It's looking like the disabling of M$ Telemetry ( eg CEIP and others ) is what really "mugged" my system.
It's a work-around for now , at the very least , and I can still turn on W7 updates for " Bork Tuesday " each month,
and on the bonus side I'll get up to 30 hassle-free days each month , when all will be slick and groovy.
FWIW - the word around the campfire is that from now on , there's going to be nothing worthwhile on offer from MS ,
for W7/W8 systems , only new ways of repackaging the dreaded GWX updates ....
"End of Life " for W7 is not far away !
M$ have clearly moved their core business out of software and into data-mining , some time ago .
Note that W10 is described not as an OS , but as a "platform " ( which has COMPULSORY updating !!! )
And what does W10 actually offer us ?
Well , we get to sell every aspect of our online personal lives into perpetual whoredom ....
... but let's look on the bright side ! .... at least the "Start" button is back !
My regards ,
Jethro