Configuring Windows updates using the Registry in the Windows server

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If you are on a network, you want complete control over other Windows computers on the network, so configure Windows Updates so that only you can access the settings. People can disable or delay Windows updates that go against your wishes. If you are the administrator, this article can help you configure Windows Server systems without using the Group Policy Editor, but configuring it with the Windows Registry Editor.

To configure Windows Update on Windows Server

The main keys for Windows Update on Server 2003 and 2008 R2 are as follows :

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwarePoliciesMicrosoftWindowsWindowsWindowsWindowsUpdate
• HKEY_CURRENT_USERoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesExplorer
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMInternetCommunication ManagementInternetInternetInternet Communication
• HKEY_CURRENT_USERoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesWindowsUpdate
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwarePoliciesMicrosoftWindowsWindowsUpdateAU

You must use keys in these paths, to configure Windows Updates so that users have access to Windows Updates or not. In most cases, you want to remove exclusive control and user access to Windows updates. Here are some examples of configuring Windows updates on the server.

Under the following key, you will find the entry DisableWindowsUpdateAccessAccess which indicates whether users should have access to Windows updates in the Control Panel or not:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwarePoliciesMicrosoftWindowsWindowsWindowsUpdate

A value of 1 disables access or if you want users to access the Windows Update function, use 0. If you use 0, you can increase the number of users so that they can install updates on your computer. In this case, you must change the value from ElevateNonAdmins to 1.

Disable Windows Update links in Internet Explorer in Windows Server

Using the same registration method, you can disable Internet Explorer from opening the Windows Update function. Go to the next button:

HKEY_CURRENT_USERoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesExplorer

Check for NoWindowsUpdate Dword here.

To disable access to Windows updates for Internet Explorer users, change the value of the MOT DWORD to 1. This prevents users from accessing the Windows Update Web site.

Disable Windows Server Update Services Internet Communications Access

You can also manage WSUS with the registry editor. To disable access to Windows Update on Windows Server systems, navigate to the next key :

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMInternet Communication ManagementInternet CommunicationInternet CommunicationInternet Communication

Check DisableWindowsUpdateAccess DWORD. Set the value to 1 to disable access to Windows Update. This disables access to Windows update functions on user machines. Even the Windows Update page is blocked, so browsers, including Internet Explorer, cannot use it to update every computer until you want to.

Errors in Windows registry management can cause system errors. Please save the registry before making any changes to the system.

For more information about using the Registry Editor to configure Windows Update on Windows Server, see this Technet page.

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