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Three Methods:Using a Third-Party ProgramEditing the RegistryUsing XP Pro

After downloading and installing an update from Windows Update, a window constantly pops up nagging you to restart, and even counting down to an automatic restart. Tired of this? Disable it.

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EditMethod 1 of 3: Using a Third-Party Program

  1. Disable Automatic Reboot After Windows Update Step 1.jpg
    1
    Download Find and Run Robot (FARR).
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  2. Disable Automatic Reboot After Windows Update Step 2.jpg
    2
    Download the Service Control plugin for it located here.
  3. Disable Automatic Reboot After Windows Update Step 3.jpg
    3
    Type in "sctrl autom".[1] Windows Update will stop nagging you until the next reboot.

EditMethod 2 of 3: Editing the Registry

  1. Disable Automatic Reboot After Windows Update Step 4.jpg
    1
    Back up your registry.
  2. Disable Automatic Reboot After Windows Update Step 5.jpg
    2
    Open regedit by typing "regedit" into the Start > Run dialog.
  3. Disable Automatic Reboot After Windows Update Step 6.jpg
    3
    Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ Software\ Policies\ Microsoft\ Windows\ WindowsUpdate\AU.
  4. Disable Automatic Reboot After Windows Update Step 7.jpg
    4
    Create or change the DWord value NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers to 1.
  5. Disable Automatic Reboot After Windows Update Step 12.jpg
    5
    Exit and reboot.

EditMethod 3 of 3: Using XP Pro

  1. Disable Automatic Reboot After Windows Update Step 9.jpg
    1
    Enter gpedit.msc into the Start > Run dialog.
  2. Disable Automatic Reboot After Windows Update Step 10.jpg
    2
    Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Template > Windows Components > Windows Update.
  3. Disable Automatic Reboot After Windows Update Step 11.jpg
    3
    Right click on No auto-restart for scheduled Automatic Updates installations. Enable it.
  4. Disable Automatic Reboot After Windows Update Step 12.jpg
    4
    Exit the Group Policy editor and reboot.
    • Note that using the "No Auto-Restart" feature does not achieve the goal that you want. It will stop the auto-restart but you will continue to get pop-ups asking for a restart until you do. To prevent this, you need to enable "Re-prompt for restart with scheduled installations", found in the same section, and set the interval for reprompts to the max allowed which is 1440. Thats 24 hours. You will probably turn off or restart your computer normally during that time. With this option set, you will be asked only once to restart now or later. After you click later, you will not be asked again until the next day if you have left your PC on for 24 hours.
      Disable Automatic Reboot After Windows Update Step 12Bullet1.jpg
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EditTips

  • If you're desperate, you can disable automatic Windows Updates entirely by entering services.msc into the Start > Run dialog and stopping as well as disabling Automatic Updates.
  • Another method for disabling the "Automatic Update service" is to type [net stop "automatic updates"] (without the []) in a command prompt. As a shortcut you could also type this into a text document and save as "no restart.bat" (without the ""). Make sure that notepad does not automatically append .txt to your file name, by selecting "ALL Files". Double click on your bat file to kill the service. NOTE: The service will restart on reboot.

EditWarnings

  • Caution: Group Policy Editor is a very powerful tool. Improper use may turn your computer into a paperweight.[2]

EditRelated wikiHows

How to
Configure Automatic Updates

How to
Update Microsoft Internet Explorer

How to
Disable the Windows XP Security Center

How to
Uninstall All Windows Updates

How to
Remove Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications

How to
Enable Automatic Updates

EditSources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.donationcoder.com/Forums/bb/index.php?topic=13518.msg116956#msg116956
  2. ↑ http://www.theeldergeek.com/group_policy_editor.htm

Article Info

Categories: Hacks

In other languages:

Español: Cómo deshabilitar el reinicio automático después de una actualización de Windows, Italiano: Come Disabilitare il Riavvio Automatico dopo un Aggiornamento di Windows, Русский: отключить автоматическую перезагрузку после обновления Windows, Português: Como Desativar o Reinício Automático Após uma Atualização do Windows

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