I play the PC version of the game and it's been running fine so I'd rather not install the update that breaks my resistances. I caught the update before it completed but was only able to pause it. Is it possible to cancel the update, prevent the game from updating and continue playing my current version?

Disable Steam and launch the game from the exe.

The game runs fine for me so I'd rather keep my resistances in-tact and just roll with whatever other bugs this patch is fixing. I caught the update but was only able to pause it. Is there any way to cancel it and continue playing the old version of the game?

Go to your Steam library and right click Skyrim. Select properties then select the 'Updates' tab. In the drop down menu, change it to 'Do not automatically update this game'.

First, I'm pretty sure I'd need some sort of crack to run the game without the steam client. Second, that's what I have updates set to but the game starts updating when I try to start it.

Thanks for trying though.

If you had Steam in Offline Mode before the patch went live, you will be ok. Otherwise, you're getting the patch the next time you play.

Was afraid of that. Steam was online and the patch had already started; I only caught it before it finished.

You can cancel updates for specific games.

Right click the game in your library, select properties, and open the updates tab. Change the setting to 'do not update' and then exit steam. This will generally stop any future updates.

Unfortunately, they will at times override your preferences and push updates regardless of your wishes, which is why I keep a backup of my game .exe files to correct this ninja douchebaggery on their part.

Good thing too, since both patches for the PC have been worth less than used cat litter.

You could try starting Steam in offline mode if you're having issues. If it's in offline mode, it can't update.

Nope, the game will play fine from the exe, providing you haven't updated it at all since it was installed. No crack needed, just the way it is I believe the first patch (1.1) "fixed" this so you DO need Steam to play, but if your game is the same as it was installed with no updates, you can switch Steam off, prevent Windows from auto-starting it (assuming you have no other Steam games) and run Skyrim from the exe.

If you never downloaded the first update then you can still launch from the exe. On release day and for a week afterwards you could launch it without steam, and you aren't breaking any copyright laws if you didn't update your game to add more drm.

Stuff You STEAM and your update once and you update for life settings.

If you haven't patched yet and are still in offline mode. Do not go online until they fix this [censored]. You will automatically get the patch.

I can't even restore from a backup because the minute I start the game it connects to STEAM and updates. Even if I have set it to not update and set STEAM to offline mode. FAIL!!!

I am now going to use my cracked 1.1 version FTW.

You know Bethesda could solve this problem today, relase the CK and i swear the community will have this game sorted in no time, just like they fixed oblivion. You guys are obviously not going to fix it any time soon

Thanks for making what was an awesome game into a complete disaster of a game. 10/10 for FAILURE!

I don't mind bugs but the steam updates being mandatory thing is really annoying. I've already hopped onto steam in online mode and the download started so I think I'm stuck; it won't let me play offline even until I finish the update.

I won't be using a crack but still, lame.

The fact Steam pushed the patch means it done it's job properly and the right way. The fact the patch is a broken horrendous, awful piece of [censored] is down to Bethesda's incompetence. I want a [censored] refund.

Well I only just got my DVD...so I really don't have much choice. However, I can't find the Skyrim folders to install the mods I downloaded...where the heck did steam hide the thing?

Fixed.
The best thing to do if you want to avoid any unwanted updates is to run Steam in offline mode.

Steam doesn't have to force every patch onto your client; this is a single-player game so forcing everyone to play the most current version is completely unnecessary. Yes bethesda messed up this patch but the way steam operates is stupid.

I'm sticking to 1.1 until I know it's safe to upgrade. I've backed up my entire game folder (to restore my current version if I do get a bad update), and I always keep Steam in offline mode. See no benefit of having Steam online anyway.

I don't fathom how steam gets off on changing user preferences despite strict instructions otherwise.

its as simple as telling a child, "NO" and them doing it anyway.
It's dishonest and underhanded.

It's in Steam>Steamapps>Common>Skyrim

If it's already started to update then I don't think you can do anything about it now unfortunately.

Alas, that doesn't always seem to work. I'd set that option this morning, and when I ran Steam this afternoon, it happily switched it back to Auto-update and started downloading. :sadvaultboy:

That's cool to know but unfortunately it's too late for me. I've been running online and eating updates this whole time; it's just this specific one I'm trying to stop.

Of course I have to actually\ get it running first...my first two attempts brought up something called the "Steam Client Service" window, which I've never seen on any of my steam games (Half Life, Portal, etc). and when I click "Play" on the Skyrim popup with the nicely rendered mountainscape, the computer thinks about it a bit, then the Skyrim popup closes and...nothing happens. No game, no nothing. Tried it twice so far, about to try a third time.

LOL...so many things in place to set it up for failure. "You will take this patch and our bugs with no recourse. Bye! " Lame...I so hope I can save my non-patched version when i get home. Steam does not start when my computer starts...so I might have hope.