hawkeye

Okay, I'm having a weird problem with Windows update, and need some help.
My school just forced me to go from sp1 to sp2 in order to get connected. When I installed it, it reset most of my security settings, and I can't switch automatic updates back off. I am running an admin account, and I can open the bit that allows me to change it, but all my options are greyed out, and I can't change the settings.
What am I doing wrong?

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Glory's Sun

go to a command prompt and type in " net stop wuauserv"

this should stop the auto updates

no quote marks

Pragma

Did you have to install any specific software aside from SP2, such as any extra security management software? If so, it's possible that they won't let you disable it. Do you have a specific reason to want automatic updates disabled?

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cyrnel

Have you tried to change it through gpedit.msc?
computer configuration:admin templates:Windows components:windows update:configure automatic updates

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There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

hawkeye

ah, that last one had what I needed, thanks much.

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You're not fat,
You're just a giant ball
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Livia Regina

I have the same problem Hawkeye did. I tried "net stop wuauserv" and it worked but automatic update turned itself back on later. When I try gpedit.msc I am told that Windows cannot find it.
Is there any way I can turn it off so that it remains so? All the options for automatic update are still greyed out.

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cyrnel

"net stop wuauserv" doesn't change the startup type which for Automatic updates is normally set to "automatic". Open services.msc and change it to manual or disabled.

XP Home? gpedit.msc isn't part of XP Home edition. (There's more to it than just adding the file.)

Automatic updates options can be greyed out for several reasons. You aren't admin, you're part of a domain and policy prevents it, or something has added registry entries that simulate the policy situation. I'm not sure why but that last one seems to have happened to many people in the last month.

Stopping the service will do, but look for this registry entry:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\...
...WindowsUpdate\DisableWindowsUpdateAccess

If it's there, delete it. Now check the control panel again.

__________________
There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

Livia Regina

services.msc seems to have worked. Thank you.

__________________
Rule 37: There is no 'overkill.' There is only 'open fire' and 'I need to reload.'