Win 10 updates are welcome, but the auto part is a REAL pain

[Peter Kinross]

Since upgrading a couple of weeks ago, I have had to re-start my computer an average of 2 - 3 times per day.
This on it's own is frustrating, but adding insult to injury is the fact that frequently when re-starting I am faced with an out of the blue, totally unexpected auto Win 10 update, delaying things considerably. That MS should foist these auto updates on us, when many times they occur at very inconvenient times is just plain bad policy.
Don't get me wrong, free upgrade is great, updates are great, just not the way MS is forcing on us.
I cannot see any way of having updates download and then notify me so I can install them at my convenience. I guess it is just another example of MS's riding roughshod over users wishes.

[John Gray]

There is a registry setting
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU]
"NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers"=dword:00000001
which might be of help, but it won't stop the updates being installed.

[Peter Kinross]

Microsoft got there before me.
There is no folder -----------\WindowsUpdate in my win 10 registry.

[HansV]

You can create it yourself...

[Peter Kinross]

Thanks for the idea Hans, but I'm too scared to do that with a brand new operating system.

[John Gray]

Microsoft got there before me.
There is no folder -----------\WindowsUpdate in my win 10 registry.

That's why I gave you the bare bones of the .REG file you should run!

Run NOTEPAD, copy and paste those two lines into the file, and save it as NARWLOU.REG
From a Command Prompt window (probably Run as Administrator) type
REG /IMPORT NARWLOU.REG
and press Enter.
Done!

[Peter Kinross]

I did that John.
got ERROR: Invalid Argument/Option - '/import' in the administrator command line.
Attached is the NARWLOU.REG file (renamed NARWLOU.txt as .reg isn't allowed on the Lounge). I had to save it in C:\Users\Peter as Win 10 wouldn't allow me to save it in C:\

[HansV]

Does the following work?

regsvr32 narwlou.reg

[Peter Kinross]

Thanks Hans, but nope - gave "Failed to load" error

[HansV]

Do you have Windows 10 Home? The setting in the .reg file may apply to the Enterprise (and perhaps Pro) versions only.

[JoeP]

In Win10 do NOT use a "/" before IMPORT.

Joe

[Rebel]

Would it not be simpler to Start>Settings>Update & Security>Windows Update>Advanced Options>Choose how updates are installed and select "Notify to schedule restart"? That way, you can schedule the restart for anytime you wish, or you can choose to restart immediately - your choice.

[Peter Kinross]

Hans; Yep Win 10 Home.
Joe; thanks for that tip. However I'm even less comfortable with doing the reg alteration now.
Rebel; that option was already set. Clearly Win 10 isn't aware that it is set.

[Cah]

Will Flight mode stop Windows 10 looking for updates? If it can't find them it can`t install them. My default is not to be connected online unless I have a specific reason for doing so. Having said this I guess Windows 10 will hijack me as soon as I do go online if it has updates it wants to push. Would be glad if there were a way to avoid updates

[HansV]

See online petition asking MS to change Win10 updating.

[Cah]

Thanks, Hans, I really dislike sites like this one that ignore my language preferences and decide the language based on my location. I wouldn't hold my breath that Microsoft will make any useful changes especially given the way they are foisting Windows 10. They want a captive user base.

[Cah]

The Antispy tool from O&O claims to be able to prevent Windows Updates. I wonder if it really can.

[HansV]

You could give it a try...