Windows update group policy windows 7

Allow Automatic Updates Immediate Installation Specifies whether Automatic Updates will install updates immediately that don't require the computer to be restarted.

Turn On Recommended Updates Via Automatic Updates Determines whether client computers install both critical and recommended updates, which might include updated drivers. No Auto-Restart For Scheduled Automatic Updates Installations Specifies that to complete a scheduled installation, Automatic Updates will wait for the computer to be restarted by any user who is logged on instead of causing the computer to restart automatically.

Depending on other configuration settings, users might have the option of delaying a scheduled restart. However, the Automatic Updates client will remind them automatically to restart based on the frequency configured in this setting. This is a completely free program available to commercial customers to aid them in their validation of feature updates before they are released. Joining the program enables you to receive updates prior to their release as well as receive emails and content related to what is coming in the next updates.

In the Options pane, use the pulldown menu to select one of the preview builds. We recomment Windows Insider Program Slow for commercial customers using pre-release builds for validation. A Windows Update for Business administrator can defer or pause updates. You can defer feature updates for up to days and defer quality updates for up to 30 days.

You can pause feature or quality updates for up to 35 days from a given start date that you specify. In this example, there are three rings for quality updates. The first ring "pilot" has a deferral period of 0 days. The second ring "fast" has a deferral of five days. The third ring "slow" has a deferral of ten days. When the quality update is released, it is offered to devices in the pilot ring the next time they scan for updates.

Ten days after the quality update is released, it is offered to the devices in the slow ring the next time they scan for updates. If no problems occur, all of the devices that scan for updates will be offered the quality update within ten days of its release, in three waves. In this example, some problem is discovered during the deployment of the update to the "pilot" ring. At this point, the IT administrator can set a policy to pause the update. In this example, the admin selects the Pause quality updates check box.

Now all devices are paused from updating for 35 days. When the pause is removed, they will be offered the next quality update, which ideally will not have the same issue.

Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support. Feedback will be sent to Microsoft: By pressing the submit button, your feedback will be used to improve Microsoft products and services. Privacy policy. This article refers to these computers and users as WSUS clients. Supplemental information has the following subsections:. It also has information about accessing the policy extensions and Maintenance Scheduler settings in Group Policy for update services.

It's for administrators familiar with WSUS 3. Terms and definitions defines terms that pertain to WSUS and update services. This section provides information about the following three extensions of Group Policy. In these extensions, you'll find the settings that you can use to configure how WSUS clients interact with Windows Update to receive automatic updates.

This article assumes that you already use and are familiar with Group Policy. If you're not familiar with Group Policy, we advise that you review the information in the Supplemental information section of this article before you try to configure policy settings for WSUS.

Allow Automatic Updates immediate installation. Allow non-administrators to receive update notifications. Allow signed updates from an intranet Microsoft update service location.

Automatic Updates detection frequency. Configure Automatic Updates. Delay restart for scheduled installations. Enable client-side targeting. Enabling Windows Update Power Management to automatically wake up the computer to install scheduled updates.

No auto-restart with logged on users for scheduled automatic updates installations. Re-prompt for restart with scheduled installations. Reschedule Automatic Updates scheduled installations. Specify intranet Microsoft update service location. Turn on recommended updates via Automatic Updates.

Turn on Software Notifications. Specifies whether Automatic Updates will automatically install updates that don't interrupt Windows services or restart Windows. If the Configure Automatic Updates policy setting is set to Disabled , this policy has no effect. Specifies whether non-administrative users will receive update notifications based on the Configure Automatic Updates policy setting.

If the Configure Automatic Updates policy setting is disabled or is not configured, this policy setting has no effect.

Starting in Windows 8 and Windows RT, this policy setting is enabled by default. In all prior versions of Windows, it's disabled by default. In two situations, the effect of this setting depends on the operating computer: - Hide or Restore updates - Cancel an update installation In Windows Vista or Windows XP, if this policy setting is enabled, users won't see a User Account Control window. These users don't need elevated permissions to hide, restore, or cancel updates.

If this policy setting is not enabled, users will always see a User Account Control window, and they require elevated permissions to hide, restore, or cancel updates. In Windows 7, this policy setting has no effect. Users will always see an Account Control window, and they require elevated permissions to do these tasks. In Windows 8 and Windows RT, this policy setting has no effect.

Disabled Specifies that only logged-on administrators receive update notifications. Note that in Windows 8 and Windows RT, this policy setting is enabled by default. Options: There are no options for this setting. Specifies whether Automatic Updates accepts updates that are signed by entities other than Microsoft when the update is found on an intranet Microsoft update service location.

Updates from a service other than an intranet Microsoft update service must always be signed by Microsoft. This policy setting doesn't affect them. This policy is not supported on Windows RT. Enabling this policy won't have any effect on computers running Windows RT.

Specifies whether a restart timer will always begin immediately after Windows Update installs important updates, instead of first notifying users on the sign-in screen for at least two days. If the No auto-restart with logged on users for scheduled automatic updates installations policy setting is enabled, this policy has no effect. The restart timer can be configured to start with any value from 15 to minutes. When the timer runs out, the restart will proceed even if the computer has signed-in users.

Disabled Specifies that Windows Update won't alter the computer's restart behavior. Options: If this setting is enabled, you can specify the amount of time that will elapse after updates are installed before a forced computer restart occurs. Specifies the hours that Windows will use to determine how long to wait before checking for available updates. The exact wait time is determined by using the hours specified here minus 0 to 20 percent of the hours specified.

For example, if this policy is used to specify a hour detection frequency, all clients to which this policy is applied will check for updates anywhere between 16 and 20 hours.

The Specify intranet Microsoft update service location setting must be enabled for this policy to have effect. If the Configure Automatic Updates policy setting is disabled, this policy has no effect. Options: If this setting is enabled, you can specify the time interval in hours that Windows Update waits before checking for updates. If this Group Policy setting is enabled, you must select one of the four options that the setting provides.

To use this setting, select Enabled. Then in Options under Configure automatic updating , select one of the options 2 , 3 , 4 , or 5. When this setting is enabled, local administrators will be allowed to use the Windows Update control panel item to select a configuration option of their choice.

However, local administrators won't be allowed to disable the configuration for Automatic Updates. Users can then run Windows Update to download and install any available updates. The user is not notified or interrupted during the process. When the downloads are complete, users are notified that updates are ready to install. Users can then run Windows Update to install the downloaded updates.

If no schedule is specified, the default schedule for all installations will be every day at AM. If any updates require a restart to complete the installation, Windows will restart the computer automatically. I am not ElderN. I am the guy ElderN advised earlier in this thread. I will think of some way to include a quick way to fix the problem without adding so many details. Sometimes I go overboard with details thinking that if I explain the problem in detail it will help to understand the problem better and then folks will know why the other ideas about things to "try" will not ever work.

I adjusted the topic so it might work better with no images Perhaps John's new computer needs a video driver update The thing about these Windows Policy adjustments and malware scanners is that the scanners can't tell if the policy adjustment is legitimate or not it could be so depending on the scanner they might reports it as a PUM Potentially Unwanted Modification and give you a chance to remove it I get carried away with details sometimes thinking others might find it interesting to know how things work.

It is extremely unlikely to be a malware infection never seen it. The quick fix is to just remove the suspicious Group Policy registry key causing the problem.

First make a manual System Restore point just in case. For those that are interested here are more details about problem: I don't know all the possible ways these Policies may have been set but I know how to fix it. Then launch the registry editor regedit. No reboot should be needed but do it anyway to be sure the adjustments "stick". Another common example afflicting System Restore settings: Notice all the messages end with " Report abuse.

Details required :. Cancel Submit. How satisfied are you with this discussion? Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site. Previous Next. Thank you. I agree with CanadianTech that your insight deserves its own thread. How satisfied are you with this reply? You started a thread for it, I failed to notice.