I want to turn off the automatic restart for Windows Update on Windows 7 Home Premium. How do I do this?

Anonymous
2009-11-05T12:57:50+00:00

I went to sleep last night and when I woke up my computer had been restarted.  I did not tell it to restart, I did not want it restarted, and I had documents opened that I cannot recover because it restarted.  It restarted because Windows Update had a single update to install.  I am running Windows 7 Home Premium, so I do not have the group policy editor, and the registry key that some websites mentioned to use to disable the restart is not there.

Keep in mind, I just want to prevent an involuntary restart.  I do not want to turn off Windows Update, and I don't mind being prompted to restart.  I just don't want my computer restarting on its own ever again.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

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Anonymous
2009-11-05T13:05:29+00:00

In Windows Update, click on change settings. Under Important Updates, select 'Download updates but let me choose whether to install them'. This will give you the control on when to install and restart if required.

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-10-25T14:03:12+00:00

    Note: MS MVPs neither represent nor work for Microsoft: We're all volunteers here.

    Good thing too. The design of this forced restart "feature" (and a number of others) suggests there must be quite a few arrogant people working for Microsoft, but I don't think I've ever seen a MS employee being so openly arrogant and condescending as yourself.

    Your knowledge about facts might be exceptional, or so I guess from your MVP status, but you're by no means a "volunteer" until you learn not to talk down to people just because their area of excellence doesn't coincide with yours. (The very reason they come to this forum.)

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-10-25T18:26:32+00:00

    i dont understand your message.there is no answer to my question

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-11-09T11:26:55+00:00

    Geeze!!

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-11-09T11:33:04+00:00

    Why can't you just do it through control panel?

    Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Update > "On the left pane" choose "Change Settings" > Use the drop down to choose the setting you want.

    I honestly dont understand why you would need to go into the registry to do this.

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