{"id":1722,"date":"2013-12-12T16:18:22","date_gmt":"2013-12-12T16:18:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.obieta.com\/?p=1722"},"modified":"2013-12-12T16:18:22","modified_gmt":"2013-12-12T16:18:22","slug":"windows-update-and-automatic-reboots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/obieta.com\/?p=1722","title":{"rendered":"Windows Update and Automatic Reboots"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Windows Update plays an essential role in keeping your computer safe, and in order to do that, it sometimes has to reboot your computer.\u00a0\u00a0In this blog post, we want to help clarify how WU reboots your machine (including key differences between XP and Vista behavior), why it does it, and how you can change your WU settings to better fit your needs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Automatic Rebooting<\/span><\/h1>\n

The goal of Windows Update is to always keep your computer as safe and secure as possible.\u00a0\u00a0Therefore, if you decided that Windows Update should\u00a0Install updates automatically<\/strong>, an automatic system reboot may be a part of the process.\u00a0\u00a0Choosing any other option will disable automatic reboots, but we do recommend that you keep automatic updates enabled!<\/span><\/p>\n

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Why does Windows Update sometime require a reboot? \u00a0Well, some updates require access to files currently in use by your system.\u00a0\u00a0Windows Update does not know if or when those files will be available to use, so your system requires a reboot to avoid any conflicts. For security-related updates, your computer is\u00a0unsafe<\/strong> before that reboot occurs: it is vulnerable to attacks which exploit the issue(s) fixed by the update requiring a reboot. <\/span><\/p>\n

For that reason, when Windows Update\u00a0automatically installs<\/strong> an update that needs a reboot, it proceeds with an\u00a0automatic<\/strong> reboot<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0In order to make the updating process more convenient for you by preventing disruptions to your work, WU defaults to installing updates (and subsequently rebooting your computer) at 3:00AM.\u00a0\u00a0Additionally, if updates are installed while you happen to be using\u00a0the computer, and a reboot is required, Windows Update notifies you with this dialog:<\/span><\/p>\n

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The center countdown timer\u00a0\u00a0starts at 5 minutes.\u00a0\u00a0You can\u00a0Restart now<\/strong>, or\u00a0Postpone<\/strong> the reminder by\u00a010 minutes<\/strong>,\u00a01 hour<\/strong>, or\u00a04 hours <\/strong>(In Windows XP, you can postpone for\u00a010 minutes<\/strong>). <\/span><\/p>\n

There is one exception \u2013 a system administrator can\u00a0deny your rebooting privileges<\/strong>.\u00a0For user accounts without rebooting privileges, Windows Update\u00a0disables the Restart now button<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0You can still\u00a0Postpone<\/strong>, or your system will automatically reboot after 5 minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Update Deadlines<\/span><\/h1>\n

A system administrator can configure some computers behind a Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) server with update deadlines.\u00a0\u00a0When reaching a deadline, Windows Update begins an automatic install of those updates based on settings determined by the system administrator.<\/span><\/p>\n

This deadline-based automatic install behaves identically to a Windows Update automatic install.\u00a0\u00a0Therefore, if one or more of the deadline updates requires a reboot, Windows Update presents the same dialog box to you with the same options and conditions.\u00a0 However,\u00a0if a deadline update requires a reboot, then the reboot\u00a0cannot be postponed<\/strong> \u2013 the Postpone button in the dialog will be disabled.<\/span><\/p>\n

Policies to Change Automatic Rebooting Behavior<\/span><\/h1>\n

Two group policies allow you to configure how Windows Update handles automatic reboots.\u00a0\u00a0In order to edit these policies, you must own Windows XP Professional, Windows Vista Business, or Windows Vista Ultimate.\u00a0\u00a0The Group Policy Editor is not available in Home Windows versions.<\/span><\/p>\n

To use the Group Policy Editor, follow these directions for both Windows XP and Windows Vista: <\/span>http:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/kb\/307882<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

In Windows Vista, there is another way to access the Group Policy Editor:<\/span><\/p>\n