Windows Update tweaking

Windows Update tweaking


One of the most annoying features of Windows is: Windows Update


I will give tips on how to modify the registry, so this feature will be more under our control.
Be careful about modifying the registry, as it can make Windows unbootable!
However, modifiying only this part of the registry is not that harmful.


My personal settings under Windows 7 are:
1. Don't restart the computer automatically if a user is logged on
2. Set the reboot reminder option to show up again only after 2 hours, if we choose postpone


These settings should work on Windows XP as well as Windows Server versions.


Find this registry key (start regedit.exe):
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU


If this specific key is not exist, you can create it. Then make these new specific DWORD values:


NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers
-> with value 1, this will make Windows don't restart automatically if a user is logged on


RebootRelaunchTimeout
-> with decimal value of 120, this will set the reboot reminder option to show up again only after 2 hours, if we choose postpone




That's all, after system restart the new settings are applied.


If everything is done properly, it should look like this in Regedit:

For more information and other settings (like WSUS and scheduled updates), visit these sites:



http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/Registry-Keys-Tweaking-Windows-Update-Part1.html
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/Registry-Keys-Tweaking-Windows-Update-Part2.html

Easier setup:
select and copy all of this text below (to begin the file with "Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00" line is important!) and paste it to Notepad. 
Save as Unicode format, for example name it WindowsUpdateSettings.reg then just double-click on it to import to the registry:


Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00


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

;Don't restart automatically if a user is logged on
"NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers"=dword:00000001
;Set the reboot reminder option to show up again only after 2 hours, if we choose postpone
"RebootRelaunchTimeout"=dword:00000078
;If this set to 0, the reboot reminder window prompt won't appear
"RebootRelaunchTimeoutEnabled"=dword:00000001