Disabling Windows Automatic Update

This is useful when you want to control your Windows Automatic Update. Tested on WinXP SP1 & SP2.

1. Issue gpedit.msc on the Command Prompt/Start>Run
2. Navigate to Local Computer Policy > Computer Configuration > Admin. Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update
3. Set Configure Automatic Update to Disable.

Other method is by editing the registry.

1. Start the Registry Editor
2. Navigate to HKLM \ Software \ Policies \ Microsoft \ Windows \ WindowsUpdate \ AU
3. Create a DWORD called NoAutoUpdate and set the value to 1

To stop the Automatic Update service, net stop wuauserv to stop service immediately.

Update: 12-May-2008

The 5 DWORD will disable AU, and will be silent (no more annoying ballon message)

"NoAutoUpdate"=dword:00000001
"AUOptions"=dword:00000002
"ScheduledInstallDay"=dword:00000000
"ScheduledInstallTime"=dword:00000003
"NoAUShutdownOption"=dword:00000001

Cheers!