Don’t you just love Windows Automatic Update? On the second Tuesday of each month Microsoft releases their software updates and patches for Windows, which are usually numerous, and most computers receive these updates automatically if Windows Update is turned on.
You might notice your computer slow down while these updates are installed in the background. After they are installed, you’ll always get a message to restart your computer.
If you are not in the middle of doing work, which is probably not going to be the case considering the update always occurs in the middle of the work day for me, then you’ll probably click on Cancel or Restart Later.
However, Microsoft felt that when you clicked that button, you were somehow dishonoring their great service, so they keep reminding you of your injustice by popping up the same NAGGING message every 10 minutes!!! Yes I know I have to restart the computer, I do it ALL THE TIME anyway, you don’t have to keep telling me to do it!
Anyway I’ve gotten rid of this message for a long time on my computer and it’s wonderful not having to see that stupid message while I’m watching a movie on Netflix!
There are two ways to get rid of the nagging Restart Now message, one of which is preferable over the other:
1. Stop the Automatic Updates Service
Go to your Control Panel, then Administrative Tools and then click on Services.
In the list of services, find Automatic Updates, right-click on it and click Stop.
Once you have stopped the service, the nagging message stops also. Then you can reboot when you FEEL LIKE IT. Note that the Automatic Updates service will automatically restart when you reboot, so you will get future updates (and hence have to follow the same procedure again the next time your computer installs updates).
2. Modify Group Policy Settings
The problem with the above-mentioned method for disabling Automatic Updates restart message is that it’s a one time fix. A better way is to modify some group policy settings so that your computer will always be updated, but you won’t be asked to restart constantly.
To get to the Group Policy editor, click on Start, and then Run and type in gpedit.msc.
Now navigate down to the following security settings:
Local Computer Policy
Computer Configuration
Administrative Templates
Windows Components
Windows Update
You’ll now see a bunch of options on the right hand side related to Windows Automatic Update. Here is where we can configure your message to disappear! There are basically two settings that we can manipulate to get what we want.
No auto-restart for schedule Automatic Updates installations
Set it to Enabled and Windows will wait for the logged on user to restart the computer instead of automatically trying to restart. No prompt will be displayed at all, so you will have to remember to restart yourself.
Re-prompt for restart with scheduled installations
You might notice your computer slow down while these updates are installed in the background. After they are installed, you’ll always get a message to restart your computer.
If you are not in the middle of doing work, which is probably not going to be the case considering the update always occurs in the middle of the work day for me, then you’ll probably click on Cancel or Restart Later.
However, Microsoft felt that when you clicked that button, you were somehow dishonoring their great service, so they keep reminding you of your injustice by popping up the same NAGGING message every 10 minutes!!! Yes I know I have to restart the computer, I do it ALL THE TIME anyway, you don’t have to keep telling me to do it!
Anyway I’ve gotten rid of this message for a long time on my computer and it’s wonderful not having to see that stupid message while I’m watching a movie on Netflix!
There are two ways to get rid of the nagging Restart Now message, one of which is preferable over the other:
1. Stop the Automatic Updates Service
Go to your Control Panel, then Administrative Tools and then click on Services.
In the list of services, find Automatic Updates, right-click on it and click Stop.
Once you have stopped the service, the nagging message stops also. Then you can reboot when you FEEL LIKE IT. Note that the Automatic Updates service will automatically restart when you reboot, so you will get future updates (and hence have to follow the same procedure again the next time your computer installs updates).
2. Modify Group Policy Settings
The problem with the above-mentioned method for disabling Automatic Updates restart message is that it’s a one time fix. A better way is to modify some group policy settings so that your computer will always be updated, but you won’t be asked to restart constantly.
To get to the Group Policy editor, click on Start, and then Run and type in gpedit.msc.
Now navigate down to the following security settings:
Local Computer Policy
Computer Configuration
Administrative Templates
Windows Components
Windows Update
You’ll now see a bunch of options on the right hand side related to Windows Automatic Update. Here is where we can configure your message to disappear! There are basically two settings that we can manipulate to get what we want.
No auto-restart for schedule Automatic Updates installations
Set it to Enabled and Windows will wait for the logged on user to restart the computer instead of automatically trying to restart. No prompt will be displayed at all, so you will have to remember to restart yourself.
Re-prompt for restart with scheduled installations
Using this setting, you can configure the restart message to come up again, but at a longer interval. Go ahead and double-click on the setting and set it to Enabled. You’ll see the default value is 10 minutes. Go ahead and change it to something like 1440 minutes, which is one day. This is better if you want to still be reminded, but not so often.
Hopefully, now you won’t see that message anymore and you can do your work without being interrupted every 10 minutes! Enjoy!
Hopefully, now you won’t see that message anymore and you can do your work without being interrupted every 10 minutes! Enjoy!
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