Windows 7: How do I stop updates from installing on shutdown?

Hi,

My setting for Windows Updates is "Download updates but let me choose whether to install them". When I get updates and shut down my PC, I get the exclamation mark icon next to the "Shut down" button indicating that updates will be installed on shutdown. How do I shutdown my PC without installing the downloaded updates?

In the past, I would go to the Windows Update window to see what was downloaded and uncheck the updates that had a tick in the checkbox. This worked until today i.e. updates that weren't ticked, weren't installed.

I had IE9 downloaded for quite a while now and I always unchecked it from being installed as I wasn't ready to use it yet. Today, I did the same thing but the exclamation mark icon on the "Shut down" button wouldn't go away. I tried several times to uncheck it on the Windows Update screen but the icon on the "Shut down" button wouldn't disappear. In the end, I thought I risk it and shutdown the PC. It then proceeded to install IE9!

I thought that by going to the Windows Update window and unchecking the checkbox against the downloaded updates meant that they won't be installed when the PC is shutdown. In XP, there used to be a shutdown but don't install updates option when shutting down the PC. Is there an equivalent on Windows 7 as I can't see it.

Thanks.

Hello Staffy,

You can use OPTION ONE in the tutorial below to disable this.

Shut Down Windows - Enable or Disable "Install Updates and Shut Down"

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Thanks, Brink. That was a fast reply!

I'll give it a shot and see what happens

I have mine set to "Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them".

You can also right click on an update then "Hide update".

Windows Update - Hide or Restore Hidden Updates - Windows 7 Forums

Change how Windows installs or notifies you about updates

You're welcome Staffy. Please let us know how it went.

Just a quick feedback. Before changing registry entries with Brink's suggestion, I thought I'd try the option that Flatiron has his set to. This did what I wanted. I was notifed of updates and the exclamation mark icon wasn't present next to the "Shut down" button. This meant (I assume) that I could shut down without installing any updates.

I had to wait a few days to get notified of updates before I could tell if this did what I wanted. I installed all the updates that I was notfied of but with hindsight, I should have left one off just to see if it was still reported on re-boot. I'll have to wait for the next lot of updates but it seems that this option does what I want I misunderstood the option I originally had mine set to and should have chosen the one that Flatiron suggested instead

Tha'ts great news Staffy. Thank you for posting back.

Thanks for your help