Disable Automatic Forced Restart After Windows Update for Windows 8 Home Edition

Anonymous

I am using Windows 8 Home Edition. I want to keep automatic updates enabled but I do not want my computer to automatically restart after certain Windows updates are installed.

I am aware that there is a notification on the lock screen stating that a restart is necessary, but I normally keep my computer on all of the time and don't ever see this notification. There are no notifications on the desktop until 15 minutes prior to the forced restart. It always seems to be at an inconvenient time and results in losing work.

I've seen posts and articles describing methods of disabling the forced restart on different versions of Windows by editing registry keys or using the Group Policy Editor. But Windows 8 Home edition does not have the registry key mentioned nor does it have a Group Policy Editor.

Is there a way to display the notification on the desktop further in advance?

Is there a way to indefinitely postpone or completely disable the forced restart?

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Anonymous

I get a "Windows cannot find gpedit.msc" error message, presumably because I have the Home version rather than Pro (though I don't really care as to the reason I get the error, to be honest). Which unfortunately for MS does nothing to increase the likelihood that I will buy the Pro version (of Win8 or any future edition), and instead decreases the likelihood that I'll ever buy another MS product at all. If anything this behavior makes more sense in a professional (i.e. IT Department-coordinated group policy settings) rather than a home setting, so for me to have no way to remove/adjust this "feature" really turns me off of buying Windows for home use.

Oh if you have a home version, you won't get the group policy editors. Actually the policy makes the most sense for home users. Send the editorializing to MS, not me.

Open an elevated powershell prompt and run this (it's one line):

New-ItemProperty "HKLM:SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\au" -Name "NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers" -PropertyType "DWord" -Value 1

Or this, if you don't want to use powershell, open an elevated command prompt and run this (all one line):

reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU" /v NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

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Anonymous

Here is the best solution: This come from Redmondpie: http://www.redmondpie.com/how-to-stop-windows-8-updates-from-force-restarting-your-pc/

Local Group Policy Editor

If you’re using Windows 8 Professional or (Ultimate), then you have access to Local Group Policy Editor, which is the easier (albeit longer) route for achieving this.

Step 1: Launch the Local Group Policy Editor by entering gpedit.msc in the Run dialog box.

Step 2: In the editor, navigate to this location:

Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Update

Step 3: In the right-side pane, locate this setting:

No auto-restart with logged on users for scheduled automatic updates installations

Step 4: Double click this item, and enable it. Click Applywhen done.

That’s it – the setting has been implemented. It’s advisable, however, to restart your PC once after doing this to ensure that changes have taken effect.

Windows Registry Editor

In case you’re running a version of Windows 8 that does not come with Local Group Policy Editor, the same can be done using the standard Registry Editor in Windows. For doing that, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Launch the Registry Editor by entering regedit in the Run dialog.

Step 2: Navigate to the following Registry key:

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

Step 3: Create a new DWORD here (32-bit) with the following name, and give it a hexadecimal value of 1.

NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers

Step 4: Reboot the system, and that’s it.

Both these methods achieve the same method, but cater to different versions of Windows 8, so opt for the one that suits you best.

I am using Windows 8 Home Edition. I want to keep automatic updates enabled but I do not want my computer to automatically restart after certain Windows updates are installed.

I am aware that there is a notification on the lock screen stating that a restart is necessary, but I normally keep my computer on all of the time and don't ever see this notification. There are no notifications on the desktop until 15 minutes prior to the forced restart. It always seems to be at an inconvenient time and results in losing work.

I've seen posts and articles describing methods of disabling the forced restart on different versions of Windows by editing registry keys or using the Group Policy Editor. But Windows 8 Home edition does not have the registry key mentioned nor does it have a Group Policy Editor.

Is there a way to display the notification on the desktop further in advance?

Is there a way to indefinitely postpone or completely disable the forced restart?

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Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

It does say it's an administrative account, but I guess "administrative" doesn't really mean what it used to. I ran command prompt as administrator, and it worked! Thanks! Still trying to figure out where everything is in Windows 8.

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48 additional answers

Anonymous

2013-03-25T00:35:45+00:00
This isn't what you asked, but may help in any case:

• I.- Open the Windows 8 Control Panel.

• II.- Click or tap on the System and Security link.

Note: If you're on the Large icons or Small icons view of Control Panel in Windows 8, choose the Windows Update applet and then skip to Step IV.

• III.- In the System and Security window, click or tap on the Windows Update link.

• IV.- With Windows Update now open, click or tap the Change settings link to the left.

This will open a window with a Choose your Windows Update settings həading.

• V.- These settings control how Windows 8 will receive and install updates from Microsoft. See Explanation of Windows Update Settings in Windows 8 section below for help deciding how best to configure Windows Update.

While there are several options here, most people either:

a) want updates to install completely automatically, or

b) don't ever want an update to download or install by itself.

• VI.- Once you've made your choice, click or tap the OK button to confirm the changes.

Explanation of Windows Update Settings in Windows 8

•Check, Download, & Install

Choose Install updates automatically (recommended) from the drop-down box under Important updates to fully enable automatic updates. Click or tap the Updates will be automatically installed during the maintenance window link and make sure the Automatic Maintenance time is one when your computer is on or sleeping, but isn't in use.

Microsoft recommends this option because you don't have to remember to do anything. Specifically, enabling automatic updates ensures that the Windows 8 operating system is always kept fully updated with the latest security patches reləased on Patch Tuesday.

•Do Not Check At All

Choose Never check for updates (not recommended) from the drop-down box under Important updates to completely disable automatic downloads, installations, and even checks for updates.

•Check & Download (Do Not Install)

Choose Download updates but let me choose whether to install them to force Windows Update to check for, and download, available updates. However, no downloaded update will install automatically. You have to explicitly choose to install the updates either from Windows Update or during the next shutdown process.

If you're looking for a little more control over updating Windows 8, this is a good option.

•Check Only (Do Not Download & Do Not Install)

Choose Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them to stop Windows Update from downloading and installing updates. You'll still get notifications about new Windows 8 updates but that's all they'll be - notifications.

This option gives you complete control over downloads and installations but still keeps you informed of new Windows 8 patches. This is probably a better choice than disabling automatic updates completely.

~

try these steps:
1. Open Windows Update by clicking the Start button , clicking All Programs, and then clicking Windows Update.
2. In the left pane, click Change settings.
3. Important updates, Choose Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them.
4. Under Recommended updates, unselect the box.
5. Under Who can install updates, unselect the box.
NOTE: Any change you make now will NOT effect any updates already in the installation queue.

As far as Automatic Updates is concerned, you've already Approved those updates.

Reboot

-=-

Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them. Windows automatic updating checks for updates and informs you by using an alert icon in your desktop tray that updates are available, but downloads and installs only the updates you choose.

FYI

Microsoft release security updates on the second Tuesday of every month at 10.00 am Pacific time.

Non-security updates are released on the fourth Tuesday of every month.

There are not normally more than one or two updates a month outside this cycle.

~

Windows Update and Automatic Reboots

<<http://blogs.technet.com/b/mu/archive/2008/10/02/windows-update-and-automatic-reboots.aspx>>

~

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Anonymous

2013-03-25T02:50:31+00:00

Thanks for the info... although it didn't answer my question, it's still good info.
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