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Sledgehammer Changelog

What's new in Sledgehammer 2.7.2

Jun 2, 2020
  • Changed option to view current MS-DEFCON rating in script to opening
  • MS-DEFCON rating in browser instead.
  • Removed pre-lock check from LockFiles task.

New in Sledgehammer 2.7.1 (May 28, 2020)

  • Created LockFiles task that checks update hijacker file permissions at
  • boot and logon and locks them if they're not locked.
  • Fixed MS-DEFCON retrieval code for Windows 10 2004+
  • Various other improvements to code.

New in Sledgehammer 2.6.0 (Apr 30, 2019)

  • Put askwoody.com MS-DEFCON rating on first screen.
  • Tasks now work in any folder name in any language while still retaining task creation error message just in case!!!
  • Moved WDU and Wub_task to task scheduler MicrosoftSledgehammer folder to work in a multi-user environment. 2.6.0 automatically deletes the tasks in old location when script is run just in case.
  • Create dummy locked %systemdrive%Windows10Upgrade folder in addition to "%ProgramFiles%rempl", "%systemroot%UpdateAssistant", "%systemroot%UpdateAssistantV2". Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant now cannot be installed under any circumstances even if you try to force install it manually. Folders are system/hidden and can only be seen in file explorer if "protected operating system files" are unhidden.
  • Added "ping pool.ntp.org" internet connection check before configurator that can be bypassed by pressing a key in case of known working but unreliable internet connection. There's no point in enabling wuauserv or running WUMT or WuMgr without an internet connection, but the script will still let you override the internet check if you really want to. (Is this address available world-wide? If not, what is? If not, the script will still work)
  • Put "run WUMT or WuMgr" option in Configurator for one less screen of options tomake things simpler for the user.
  • Move all exe's and other unnecessary files to bin folder in script folder.
  • Put recovery script and readme for same in recovery folder in script folder.
  • Put uninstall files in uninstall folder.
  • Rename the "Version" entry in the start menu to the version of the script, i.e. "Version X.X.X".
  • Included all known WuMgr translations in "Translations.ini" file (and all known WUMT translation files in "binWUMT Translations" folder.

New in Sledgehammer 2.5.5 (Jan 7, 2019)

  • Script now includes WuMgr v0.9b along with WUMT giving you a choice of which to
  • use in the menu.
  • Script now uses NSudo 6.1 instead of Powerrun (NSudo thread here) to lock update
  • hijacker files. NSudo is faster and just works better.
  • Fixed accidental unicode in _readme.txt which caused strange characters to display
  • in Oriental languages. (No, really, I fixed it this time!)
  • Script now in addition to uninstalling Windows 10 Update Assistant, creates and
  • locks empty %systemroot%UpdateAssistant and %systemroot%UpdateAssistantV2 folders
  • to stop Update Assistant from ever installing from an update. Now no need to run the
  • script again after an update!
  • Fixed rare task creation error problem.
  • Not just some, but now all Update Hijacker folder and file permissions are now
  • removed as TrustedInstaller as required by 1809.
  • Wrapper Script Start Menu folder now has a "Version" icon to easily see what
  • version of the wrapper you have installed.

New in Sledgehammer 2.5.6 (Dec 31, 2018)

  • 1) Now disables upfc.exe
  • 2) Script includes Windows Update Manager (WuMgr) v0.9b along with Windows Update Minitool (WUMT) giving you a choice of which to use in the menu to perform updates.
  • 3) Script uses NSudo 6.1 instead of Powerrun (NSudo thread here) to lock update hijacker files. NSudo is faster and just works better.
  • 4) Fixed accidental unicode in _readme.txt which caused strange characters to display in Oriental languages. (No, really, I fixed it this time!)
  • 5) Script in addition to uninstalling Windows 10 Update Assistant, creates and locks empty %systemroot%UpdateAssistant and %systemroot%UpdateAssistantV2 folders to stop Update Assistant from ever installing from an update. Now no need to run the script again after an update!
  • 6) Fixed rare task creation error problem.
  • 7) Not just some, but now all Update Hijacker folder and file permissions are now removed as TrustedInstaller as required by 1809.
  • 8) Wrapper Script Start Menu folder now has a "Version" icon to easily see what version of the wrapper you have installed.

New in Sledgehammer 2.5.4 (Oct 9, 2018)

  • Script now uses PowerRun v1.3 (more info here) to lock update hijacker files.
  • Removed yellow highlighting from script screens for support of Windows 10 TH1 10240.
  • Language components Installer tasks disabled (you can reenable them manually if needed). If this causes any problems please report it.
  • Removed accidental unicode in _readme.txt which caused strange characters to display in Oriental languages.
  • Windows Update service is now forced to stay running as long as WUMT is running.

New in Sledgehammer 2.5.3 (Oct 1, 2018)

  • Supports Windows 10 1809
  • Script now only supports Windows 10.
  • Windows Update Service is disabled after running script and closing WUMT
  • No matter how you set the Update Service in Configurator.
  • Lots of cosmetic improvements. Screen doesn't change size or flicker.
  • Numerous code improvements with extensive testing and error checking.
  • In addition to supporting English, Western European, and Latin language
  • Script path, script now provides helpful error message in case of tasks
  • Creation error in unsupported path.
  • WDU (Windows Defender Update) and wub_task tasks are now created before first
  • Screen.
  • WDU task now shows correct last run error code.
  • Changed Windows Defender update frequency to every six hours.
  • Added 5 minute delay to WDU (Windows Defender Update) task to minimize
  • Resource hogging after reboot with missed Windows Defender update.
  • All Windows Update tasks are now disabled.
  • Added FAQ to readme
  • As always, uninstaller undoes all script changes.

New in Sledgehammer 2.4.8 (Jul 31, 2018)

  • Windows Defender Updates frequency changed to every 2 hours from 4 hours.
  • Wub_task now forces off the update service at login as well as on reboot.

New in Sledgehammer 2.4.7 (Jul 27, 2018)

  • Had error in uninstaller that unnecessarily enabled "MicrosoftWindowsWindowsUpdateScheduled Start" task. Not a big deal but is now fixed. Now the script disables and locks all "MicrosoftWindowsWindowsUpdate" tasks
  • thanks to a remark made by @s1ave77 plus I was already thinking of doing it. The uninstaller unlocks the tasks, but leaves them disabled. You can enable them manually if you want to unless they turn themselves back on first. ;) This is absolutely all I can do to help those who choose to leave the windows update service running in the script to use the Store. The Store and Windows Update are so tied together that you can't have one without the other so I've come up with the best compromise I can without harming
  • the operation of the store or allowing unwanted updates.

New in Sledgehammer 2.4.5 (Jul 25, 2018)

  • Previously disabled items up to wrapper script v2.4.4:
  • Remsh.exe
  • EOSNotify.exe
  • Osrss.dll
  • UsoClient.exe
  • WaaSMedic.exe
  • WaasMedicSvc.dll
  • WaaSMedicPS.dll
  • WaaSAssessment.dll
  • MusNotification.exe
  • MusNotificationUx.exe
  • SIHClient.exe
  • Added disabled items in v2.4.5:
  • The following cause the windows update service to start if enabled in script and so are disabled:
  • "InstallServiceTasks.dll"
  • "InstallService.dll"
  • "compattelrunner.exe"
  • Task - "MicrosoftWindowsWindowsUpdateScheduled Start" (runs "sc start wuauserv"). "pushtoinstall.dll" (pushtoinstall.dll being disabled makes it not possible to push apps to other pc's. If this, or any other issue is a problem, please report it here in this thread. This is a pesky item and causes lots up update starts. I put a lot of thought into disabling this. I didn't want to disable it, but if needed I can easily re-enable it. Leave feedback ;)
  • So, with v2.4.5 I got lucky and a Cumulative Update became available so I could test the Script with the new added disabled stuff. I did have to run the Settings > Update app with updates turned on in the configurator for the CU to be detected and available but that happens anyway sometimes. Then I installed the CU with the wrapper script. In other words, all this crap I'm disabling isn't needed for updates to work.
  • Also, the uninstaller undoes everything and puts everything back like it was originally. The chances of damage to the system are zero.

New in Sledgehammer 2.3.9 (Jun 27, 2018)

  • Fixed windows service configurator in script got confused if windows update service was enabled but not running.
  • Cosmetic and informational improvements.
  • Still has bug in Configurator.

New in Sledgehammer 2.3.8 (Jun 25, 2018)

  • A lot of cosmetic and code improvements.
  • The Windows Update Configurator is now integrated into the script for easier use (except for versions of Windows that are not 10 where the Configurator is bypassed).
  • Now manipulates only windows update service with versions of windows below 10, and "Update Hijacker" protection only applied in Windows 10. These changes automatically detect the Windows version for increased compatibility with earlier versions of Windows down to XP.

New in Sledgehammer 2.3.7 (Jun 23, 2018)

  • Disables Windows 10 Update Facilitation Service (OS Remediation System Service - osrss)
  • Script behaves like the old script with Windows 7 and below only manipulating the update service and running WUMT.
  • Script converted back to batch script.
  • Improved Configurator.

New in Sledgehammer 2.3.4 (May 31, 2018)

  • Fixed issue of Configurator not keeping correct settings if wrapper script is updated (installed on top of itself) under certain conditions
  • Configurator now tells you the state of the Windows
  • Update Service before you make a change
  • Readme and script documentation updated

New in Sledgehammer 2.3.3 (May 30, 2018)

  • Improved installer. Now lets you install as portable installation.
  • Also includes just the portable script folder for those who prefer that.
  • Code cleanup.

New in Sledgehammer 2.3.2 (May 28, 2018)

  • Improved installer.
  • Fixed serious bug with Windows Update not opening in Settings App.
  • Disabling usocore.dll in 2.3.1 was the problem.
  • v2.3.2 re-enables usocore.dll and leaves it enabled.

New in Sledgehammer 2.2.5 (Mar 11, 2018)

  • Fixed logic of rempl folder renaming in case of re-creation of rempl folder by subsequent updates.
  • Changed order: now usoclient is disabled first, then remsh.exe