How to disable Microsoft Update? for good?

[BigMac]

As you probably know, MSE installs Microsoft Update automatically after installation. I always disable it via the settings on the Microsoft Update website and revert back to Windows Update due to issues with slowing down PCs, especially older ones with XP. It seems that when you update to a new version of MSE, it turns it right back on.

A few of questions...

1) Is it possible to disable it easier via a registry patch?

2)It it possible to uninstall it using MsiExec.exe and a GUID?

3) Is there a way to prevent it from ever being turned on again?

I know multiple programs can give the user the option of turning it on (MSE, Works, Office, ...)

Thanks for any input.

 

[16k_zx81]

Perhaps Ive misunderstood your question? Im floundering to find any good reason to permanently disable WU.

Its possible to disable it. Ive seem purpose built machines with it off (for example computers that run a single program, like CNC or POS software, that just need to run one program, and arent used for any other kind of computing. The software having been written for the OS at the time, and has to run stable for the single purpose its used for). Dont know why you would do this on a home/business machine.

I think you might want to revisit your thinking on this, particularly in regard to reliability/stability/SECURITY

If your customer has a machine that can't handle slow windows, then IMO the correct approach would be to add RAM so that it can.

Its cheaper for them to install a couple of sticks of RAM than to pay someone to do repeated virus removals because the machine is not adequately secured to current patch level, or to continually pay for other issues that will arise from running an out of date OS.

You understand that WU fixes security holes, right?

Just one example, pre SP1 Vista is not an operating system anyone should use. I hope this is not the sort of thing you're proposing.

 

[Ccomp5950]

Im floundering to find any good reason to permanently disable WU. [...]

Knowing windows update gets turned on by various programs (MSE being the given one in the OP).

Some possible reasons...

1.) He has a computer that he doesn't want to ever restart due to updates. (I know a guy that failed college because of this, computer rebooted and his term paper written in notepad was not recoverable)
2.) He has some custom software that runs on the computer that works through a loop hole that is patched in existing windows updates (Honda ATV dealerships have this problem with Windows Server 2003 and their microfiche program)
3.) He just wants to. Though everyone that replies is probably going to explain why it's a bad idea and not really answer his question.

 

[TLE]

Perhaps Ive misunderstood your question? Im floundering to find any good reason to permanently disable WU.

Its possible to disable it. Ive seem purpose built machines with it off (for example computers that run a single program, like CNC or POS software, that just need to run one program, and arent used for any other kind of computing). Dont know why you would do this on a home/business machine.

I think you might want to revisit your thinking on this, particularly in regard to reliability/stability/SECURITY

If your customer has a machine that can't handle slow windows, then IMO the correct approach would be to add RAM so that it can.

Its cheaper for them to install a couple of sticks of RAM than to pay someone to do repeated virus removals because the machine is not adequately secured to current patch level, or to continually pay for other issues that will arise from running an out of date OS.

You understand that WU fixes security holes, right?

Just one example, pre SP1 Vista is not an operating system anyone should use. I hope this is not the sort of thing you're proposing.

+1 I was struggling to understand what the OP was meaning, and like you, I can't think why you would totally want to disable it. At the very least, I would have Windows Update download the updates and notify the user that they are available.

 

[TLE]

Knowing windows update gets turned on by various programs (MSE being the given one in the OP).

Some possible reasons...

1.) He has a computer that he doesn't want to ever restart due to updates. (I know a guy that failed college because of this, computer rebooted and his term paper written in notepad was not recoverable)
2.) He has some custom software that runs on the computer that works through a loop hole that is patched in existing windows updates (Honda ATV dealerships have this problem with Windows Server 2003 and their microfiche program)
3.) He just wants to. Though everyone that replies is probably going to explain why it's a bad idea and not really answer his question.

1. Set the system to download and notify that updates are available (Oh, he shoud have saved his work before restarting ).

2. A company like Honda will be using a centralised method of distribution such as WSUS to control updates so they wouldn't have the issue described.

3. It's up to him, but for the standard home user I think it's a bad idea.

I personally prefer that my clients PC's are up to date when they leave my workshop, and that they continue to update them. I stress this to them as much as possible. Microsoft don't just release patches for the hell of it.

 

[Ccomp5950]

Oh it looked like I forgot to answer the question...

1) Is it possible to disable it easier via a registry patch?

Yes but it's not needed. What you can do with the registry you can do through the services list as well or group policy.

Tell windows update to never run then...

Start run > Services.msc

find Windows update, set to disabled

2)It it possible to uninstall it using MsiExec.exe and a GUID?

Not sure

3) Is there a way to prevent it from ever being turned on again?

You can add a batch script that does the following and put it in your startup folder for all users (C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\StartMenu\Programs\Startup\)

net stop wuauserv

it basically turns off the windows update service in case it is ever turned back on.

I'm 2 for 2.

 

[Ccomp5950]

If you are feeling REALLY adventurous (meaning I don't recommend this path but it would make it impossible to turn on windows update again, unless these settings are imported back in or rebuilt...)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\ Services\wuauserv
^^^ backup that key, and then delete it.

ROT IN HELL WINDOWS UPDATE!

 

[BigMac]

I was afraid there would be some confusion. There is a difference between MICROSOFT Update and WINDOWS Update.

Microsoft Update - Keeps all Microsoft products up to date.
Windows Update - Keeps only the OS up to date.

Do a little searching to see the complaints associated with Microsoft Update slowing down your PC.

 

[Xander]

As you probably know, MSE installs Microsoft Update automatically after installation. I always disable it via the settings on the Microsoft Update website and revert back to Windows Update due to issues with slowing down PCs, especially older ones with XP. It seems that when you update to a new version of MSE, it turns it right back on.

If I'm reading this right, the OP is not asking about turning off all updates. He's asking about turning off Microsoft Update (with Office updates and such) and reverting back to regular old Windows Update. With XP and the Windows Update site, you had the option of turning on Microsoft Update. MSE apparently pushes MU on the user and it sounds like he wants just plain WU.

 

[NETWizz]

At an administrator's command prompt run...

sc delete wuauserv


Enjoy.


This is a really, really bad solution though. He is much better configuring it to never automatically restart without prompting him and waiting for an answer (if someone is logged on)... This can be done via group policy using the local policy editor.

 

[MobileTechie]

I'm not aware of a way of permanently disabling Microsoft Updates other than the way you already mentioned - via Windows Update and turning it off (XP) or just telling WU not to get MS app updates (Windows 7).

I've not noticed it getting re-enabled to be honest. Do you think it's MSE that's doing this?

I've never noticed it slowing anything down. All it's doing is getting MS app updates. I would have thought this was a good thing overall.

 

[sys-eng]

There are options to set a schedule to perform updates. I often set it to perform updates at 3:00 AM so it does not interfere with user activity.

At a Microsoft Developers Guild meeting, Microsoft said they merged the updates (OS & applications) because of security problems. Updating some OS files sometimes caused problems for MS Office operation and updating the OS without updating MS Office often left the system vulnerable.

I like Windows Security Essentials and have never figured out why the definition file update is not considered an Important Update by Microsoft. Seems pretty darn important to me.