WindowsXP & automatic updates-How to turn off if grayed out even if admin?

[rmlrobert-networkdesign]

Hello all,

I am new to this so bare with me. At our work we have
run into issues where you can set the Windows automatic
updates to pre-notify you, download automatically and let
you know when ready to install, or download and install.

Problem, we have some users, even though they have local
admin rights to their pc's, that even if they try to
Right Mouse click on My Computer icon, select properties,
then select Automatic Updates tab, the options are grayed
out to unselect "Keep My computer up to date" with the
auto updates. This happens when the user is a local
admin, the local machine admins are logged on, or a user
with admin or domain admin privileges logs on. QUESTION--
No matter who logs on, you cannot turn off the auto
update settings. Does anyone know how to get around this
or have you run into this problem and know a fix????

Thanks,
frustrated admin

 

[neo [mvp outlook]]

Machines have a policy set. The location of the registry where these values
are set is:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate

 

[rmlrobert-networkdesign]

I am running WinXP now and am not seeing that location.
Is that because I am currently not having that problem on
my pc? If So exactly what do I change in regedit, and
under what user account? I am assuming an admin account,
but what exactly do I change? Your assistance is much
needed and appreciated.

 

[Guest]

It should be specified wether an XP Home or XP Pro install. I have Home and
this key doesn't exist on my OS either so I rather suspect it's a PRO key.
{]:~)

 

[rmlrobert-networkdesign]

Yes, I am running XP Pro at home and at work. I cannot
find the key that was mentioned by the other helper.

I remotely connected to work, and could not find it there
either. Anyone else have any ideas???

 

[rmlrobert-networkdesign]

OK, I reconnected to the machine in question at my work
and found this reg. key. The machine is XP Professional.

Under the path you specified is a subfolder called AU, so
what do I change from here??

Which key do I modify to help resolve this problem.

Help.. I have found the location, now need to know what
to do.

thanks to anyone that can help.

frustrated

 

[rmlrobert-networkdesign]

I found this key, and under this key the sub key
\AU\AUOptions and right clicked on that key and changed
the Value Data to 1, and that solved the problem.

I had to toy around with a few changes, but this is what
worked and I hope it works for someone else out there
having a similar problem.

Thanks for the initial start there neo....

 

[neo [mvp outlook]]

If the machine is governed by an active directory domain policy, any changes
you make will be reestablished. (default value is every 9 hours).

Outside of that, if you delete the folder/values under the location i gave,
the user interface controls will become active again if you stop/start the
automatic updates and background intelligent transfer service.

 

[bl]

Thanks for the added tips on the subfolders. I have
connected to that machine under different user right
permissions and all is working great. Could not have
done it without your primary HKLM tip. I kind of had to
tweak it there.

I hope this helps others,

Regards and thanks again.