Automatic Updates dialog greyed out

[rick cameron]

Hi, all

When I go to the Automatic Updates tab of the Properties for My Computer,
all the controls are greyed out. This happens on my Windows XP SP1 computer
and on my Windows 2000 Pro SP 4 computer.

I've seen several other messages describing the same problem, and there are
two explanations usually given: that the computer is connected to an SUS
server; and that the Automatic Updates service is not running on the
computer.

Neither of these is true in my case. My computers are connected to our
company's network. Other computers on the network (running Windows XP) have
the controls on the Automatic Updates tab enabled.

Is it possible that group or local policy is doing this? If so, can anyone
suggest specific items to look at in the policy lists.

My logon ID is a local administrator on the computers.

Thanks

- rick

 

[Chris Lanier]

Why can't I download updates?
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/top10faqs.htm

 

[Stephen Johnson]

I just noticed this on my computer. You probably have to set the "Automatic Update" service to
automatic. That's what I had to do. I don't know how it got turned off, but it did. Right-click My
Computer, and click Manage. Click the plus-sign next to "Services and Applications", then click
"Services". Right click "Automatic Updates" and click "Properties". Set "Startup Type" to Automatic,
then start the service. Now Windows Update shouldn't be greyed.

Stephen

 

[rick cameron]

Hi, Stephen

Thanks for replying, but as I said below, the Automatic Updates service _is_
running.

Any other ideas?

Cheers

- rick

 

[Stephen Johnson]

I don't know why this might work, so don't ask, but it was on Kelly's site to try. Make sure the
"default" values for the following keys are set to "(value not set)". If they aren't, then delete
the default value, and it will create a new one with "(value not set)".

HKEY_USERS
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21... (anything that starts with S-1-5-21)


I don't acually have any trouble with Automatic Updates, but I noticed in my registry that the
second S-1-5-21 key's default value was set to "DAT Files" for some reason. No idea. Hope that
helps.

Stephen

 

[Kelly]

Why can't I download updates?
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/top10faqs.htm

 

[Stephen Johnson]

Attached is the reg file that may apply.

Stephen

 

[rick cameron]

It turned out that my computers were set to use SUS (Software Update
Service). This causes the Automatic Updates tab to be disabled.

I fixed this by deleting
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate and
everything under it.

Kelly - if you're listening, you may want to add this to your website.

Thanks, all

- rick

 

[Kelly]

Hi Rick,

I am listening and it has been on my site for a great while now. )

Windows Update Greyed Out (Line 179) Right hand side
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
/top10faqs.htm

It turned out that my computers were set to use SUS (Software Update
Service). This causes the Automatic Updates tab to be disabled.

I fixed this by deleting
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate and
everything under it.

Kelly - if you're listening, you may want to add this to your website.

Thanks, all

- rick

I don't know why this might work, so don't ask, but it was on Kelly's

site
to try. Make sure the

"default" values for the following keys are set to "(value not set)". If they aren't, then delete
the default value, and it will create a new one with "(value not set)".

HKEY_USERS
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21... (anything that starts with S-1-5-21)


I don't acually have any trouble with Automatic Updates, but I noticed

in
my registry that the

second S-1-5-21 key's default value was set to "DAT Files" for some reason. No idea. Hope that
helps.

Stephen

service

_is_

 

[Stephen Johnson]

That's not the same thing. You're changing something else in that fix.

Stephen

Hi Rick,

I am listening and it has been on my site for a great while now. )

Windows Update Greyed Out (Line 179) Right hand side
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

 

[Kelly]

Have you compared the two, Stephen enough to even warrant this post of
yours? You are getting to be annoying!

/top10faqs.htm

 

[Torgeir Bakken (MVP)]

That's not the same thing. You're changing something else in that fix.

Take a look at the last line in the updaterestore.reg file at Kelly's site:

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\]


This will delete HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate and
everything under it...

 

[Stephen Johnson]

Man, am I not paying attention or what?! For some reason I thought he said something closer to the
root. Never Mind. duh.....

Stephen

 

[rick cameron]

Hmm... The first time I looked at that .reg file, I don't think it had the
line

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\]

....but it's there now!

One of our IT guys said he thought these keys might be reinstated
automatically, by Group Policy being pushed down from the AD server. Do you
know anything about that?

Cheers

- rick

 

[Torgeir Bakken (MVP)]

Hmm... The first time I looked at that .reg file, I don't think it had the
line

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\]

...but it's there now!

One of our IT guys said he thought these keys might be reinstated
automatically, by Group Policy being pushed down from the AD server. Do you
know anything about that?

Hi

This will happen if you have created a GPO that configures WU/SUS.

 

[rick cameron]

Hi

This will happen if you have created a GPO that configures WU/SUS.


--
torgeir
Microsoft MVP Scripting and WMI, Porsgrunn Norway
Administration scripting examples and an ONLINE version of the 1328 page
Scripting Guide: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter

Hi, Torgeir

I don't know much about Group Policy Objects. How can I tell if there's such
a GPO?

Thanks

- rick

 

[Torgeir Bakken (MVP)]

I don't know much about Group Policy Objects. How can I tell if there's such
a GPO?

Hi

Gpresult.exe can be used to see what GPO's are in action for a user/computer.

Run it like this to get the output redirected to a text file (from Start/Run or
a command prompt):

Gpresult.exe /v >C:\GpresultLog.txt

(/v is for verbose output)


Gpresult.exe comes default installed with WinXP Pro.

For a Win2k computer, Gpresult.exe can be downloaded freely from here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/tools/default.asp

 

[rick cameron]

Excellent - thanks!

Hi

Gpresult.exe can be used to see what GPO's are in action for a user/computer.

Run it like this to get the output redirected to a text file (from Start/Run or
a command prompt):

Gpresult.exe /v >C:\GpresultLog.txt

(/v is for verbose output)


Gpresult.exe comes default installed with WinXP Pro.

For a Win2k computer, Gpresult.exe can be downloaded freely from here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/tools/default.asp


--
torgeir
Microsoft MVP Scripting and WMI, Porsgrunn Norway
Administration scripting examples and an ONLINE version of the 1328 page
Scripting Guide: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter

 

[Gena]

I have a slightly different problem from Rick's. Can anyone give me
suggestions? We have XP and 2000 computers with limited user
privileges and their computers are set to auto download and install.
However, the "No" option to restart at a later time is greyed out.
They can't cancel the reboot at a later time that administrators can
do. I've tried editing the group policy of "No auto-restart for with
logged on users" and have made sure that that is in effect with the
regedit value set to 1 but that didn't work. The "No" button is still
greyed out. The only thing it does now is that the dialog just sits
on top of everything and wait for you to accidently hit the "yes"
button for reboot. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Gena

Attached is the reg file that may apply.

Stephen

Hi, Stephen

Thanks for replying, but as I said below, the Automatic Updates service _is_
running.

Any other ideas?

Cheers

- rick

begin 666 updaterestore.reg
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#, T*
`
end