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Restrict Access to the Windows Update Feature (All Windows)
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The Windows Update feature allows users to easily update Windows components and software over the Internet. These settings allow can be used to grant or restrict access to this function.

Open your registry and find the keys below.

Create a new DWORD (or Binary for Windows 98) value named "NoWindowsUpdate" and set the new value to equal "1".

This restriction may also be enforced by using the "DisableWindowsUpdateAccess" DWORD value in the [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\WindowsUpdate] key.

Refresh your desktop, or restart your Windows session for the change to take effect.

Registry Editor Example
|NameTypeData|
|(Default)REG_SZ(value not set)|
|NoWindowsUpdateREG_DWORD0x00000001 (1)|
-
|HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Exp...|
-

Settings:
User Key: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer]

System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer]

Name: NoWindowsUpdate
Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value: (0 = default, 1 = disabled)

Disclaimer: Modifying the registry can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. We cannot guarantee that problems resulting from modifications to the registry can be solved. Use the information provided at your own risk.

Last Modified: September 20, 2002

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