How do I stop Windows Update from restarting my computer in Windows 7 Home Premium?

Anonymous
2009-11-04T14:27:38+00:00

While I do not mind Windows Update automatically updating my PC, hacing it force a reboot when I am logged in is causing a problem.  I currently have WU set to perform the updates at 3am, and when it finished, if there needs to be a reboot, I am not there to tell it to wait.  I would prefer to leave the time settings as they are, and simply disable the automatic reboot, instead opting for WU to let me know it needs to reboot the PC.  I found ways of doing this in XP and Vista, including registry edits and group policy modifications.  However, The registry is obviously slightly different so the keys do not exist compared to what I found, and since I am running Home Premium I do not have gpedit.

Where in the registry can I make a change so I don't have lost data when WU resets my computer at night?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2009-11-05T21:05:54+00:00

Another way to do it without hacking the registry, which can be scary for some users), is to follow the instructions on the following website:

http://weblogs.asp.net/jgalloway/archive/2006/02/11/438009.aspx

I've pasted in the main parts of it, in case the link goes dead (but no nice pictures though):

  1. Go to Start -> Run(or in Vista and 7 simply press the windows orb)
  2. Type: gpedit.msc
  3. Expand Local Computer Policy / Computer Configuration / Administrative Templates / Windows Components / Windows Update
  4. Double-click "No auto-restart for scheduled Automatic Updates installations"
  5. Select "Enabled", then OK. Close the Group Policy configuration program.

That should stop it autorestarting.

Was this answer helpful?

30+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

41 additional answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2013-07-01T17:24:16+00:00

    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows\_7-windows\_update/how-do-i-stop-windows-update-from-restarting-my/2c1a75f3-7cc3-4ea1-93a3-418718e95fb9

    1st reply by Sokratees9 replied on November 6, 2009

    Go to Start -> Run(or in Vista and 7 simply press the windows orb)

    Type: gpedit.msc NOT ABLE TO OPEN IT,error-CANT FIND It

    Azeez N replied on November 5, 2009

    Try this and check if it works :

    Open up regedit.exe through the start menu search box or run dialog, and navigate down to the following key, creating new keys if they don’t exist.

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU

    Create a new 32-bit DWORD value named NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers and give it a value of 1 to prevent automatic reboot while users are logged on. Delete the value to put things back to the way they were.

    IN THIS THERES NO OPTION LIKE THIS-NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers

    I DONT WANT TO STOP AUTO UPDATE for the getting latest SECURITY UPDATES and keep myself safe.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2013-09-07T17:13:02+00:00

    The gpedit.msc fix doesn't work. I just got the popup, so I went to gpedit, but it was already enabled.

    they should have called it windows 8 amateur

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2014-03-22T02:19:35+00:00

    Hi,

    I tried this and it didn't make any difference. Are my settings correct?:

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2014-03-22T02:22:16+00:00

    Hi

    gpedit.msc comes up as search not found in Windows 7.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments