OK - the idea of suggesting Linux - booted from a USB drive rather than a full installation - was to try and avoid or delay the dreaded Windows 10 automatic updates. So thank you for the suggestion as how to use a Control Panel setting to switch off updates. HOWEVER after the recent mega-update of Win 10 last November I get the impression that MS have spitefully blocked attempts to circumvent these happening.

There are other ways to stop these updates which - if connected to wifi - is to set this up as a 'metered' connection. However this does not work for me because I access the Internet via a Three dongle (aka via a pseudo-phone connection). Also I use a Three S2 Skypephone tethered to my laptop. This too cannot be set up as 'metered.' Both have pricey data-caps which I am damned are not going to be used for automatic updates. I am still awaiting a response from Three.

This thread is going to be very useful for many facing the same issue. Please continue to add to it. More later.