KB ID 0000773

Problem

I realise that updates are important, and Microsoft made updating easier by only releasing them once a month. But my laptop always wants to reboot at the point where I’m doing something critical! and Windows 8 unilaterally decides that its updates are far more important than my work.

OK this will only happen once a month, (normally) and it will only happen a maximum of 72 hours after the update. It affects me because I never shut my machine down, (I just close the lid).

Warning: Like I said updates are a good thing, if you disable this feature the onus is on you to keep your machine up to date!

Solution

Stop Windows 8 Rebooting Due To Updates with Group Policy

1. Press Windows Key+R > In the run box type gpedit.msc {Enter}.

2. Navigate to;

[box] Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update [/box]

3. Locate the ‘No auto-restart with logged on users for scheduled automatic updates installations’ policy. Set its value to enabled > Apply > OK.

4. Press Windows Key+R > In the run box type cmd {Enter} > At command line issue the following command;

[box] gpupdate /force [/box]

Stop Windows 8 Rebooting Due To Updates via the Registry

Note: If you have already set this in policy (above) you don’t need to do this as well.

5. Press Windows Key+R > In the run box type regedit {Enter} > Navigate to;

[box]HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Policies > Microsoft > Windows[/box]

If there is not a Key Called WindowsUpdate create one.

6. And within the WindowsUpdate Key create another key.

7. Call that key AU.

8. Within that create a new DWORD (32 bit) value called ‘NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers’.

9. Set its value to 1 (one).

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links

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