You know that the updates that Windows automatically downloads are important. They often contain important anti-virus protections created to keep cybercriminals out of your computer and software. But it can be annoying when Windows automatically restarts your machine after every update. Fortunately, the Lifehacker Web site recently covered how you can edit your computer’s registry to keep Windows from automatically restarting after an update.
No more automatic restarts
Stopping the automatic restarts will take a small amount of effort on your part. You’ll need to edit your computer’s registry, something that not every user feels confident doing.
Editing the registry
Begin the process of disabling Windows’ automatic reboots by turning on your computer’s “Start” menu. Next, open your computer’s registry by typing “regedit.” Lifehacker now recommends that you start the registry editor. Then look for this specific line in the registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsWindowsUpdateAU. Click on the “AU” key. This should make this key appear in the right pane. Once this happens right-click on the empty space and select New >DWORD (32-bit) Value. Now, name the new DWORD: “NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers”. To end the process, double-click on the new DWORD and give it a value of 1.
Protecting yourself
Now you’re done. When Windows downloads an update, it won’t automatically restart your computer. You’ll need to remember, though, to reboot your computer in the future. Or else, your new updates – and they may be important – won’t take effect.