Hacksar

If you have used Windows in the past few years, (and now with Windows 7 out, if you aren’t using it, you should), you may have noticed that there are certain options that Microsoft claims to have implemented for “your benefit” or “security”, when in fact they are just plain annoying. Have you ever come across automatic updates downloading and completing installation all without even informing you, only to find a window pop up saying “Windows needs to restart to complete installing updates” and has a postpone button (which has a max time of clearly not long enough) and just a count down timer that will automatically restart your computer if you aren’t there to hit Postpone? I hate that option, because there have been so many times when I have important documents open, or processes that I’m waiting to complete (I’m looking at you, Adobe installation), and so I’m not at my computer. If you want to disable that option, there is a simple (but hidden) way to forever turn off the automatic restart and even stop automatic updates from pestering you to restart, so you can do it on your own time. Keep reading for the step-by-step guide.

1. Go to the Start Menu and hit Run. (Note: If you do not have the Run option in your start menu, you can either enable it through the Start Menu’s advanced properties, or simply search using the search bar in Windows 7’s Start Menu).
2. Here, open up (or search for) gpedit.msc.
3. Navigate to Local Computer Policy -> Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Update
4. Here, you will find an option along the lines of “No auto-restart with logged on users for scheduled automatic updates” – Double click it and set it to enabled.
5. Close that and now you should be rid of those pesky auto-restarts!

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