Windows Update keeps restarting itself after I turn it off

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Okay so I disabled and stopped windows update as usual to keep updates from trying to sneak in, but today something weird happened-each time I disable and stopped windows update it keeps going back on.

 

I just updated my computer with the safe updates that I follow on the master patch list and everything was normal: Did the defragment, restarted, shut down and turned back on and boom fresh as a daisy.

This tiny issue is kinda getting annoying ya know? I mean its off for the whole day after I disable and stop it in the morning, but today it seems to like to switch itself back on.

 

Anyone know how to remedy the situation that’s easy and isn’t complicated?

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I noticed the same thing after installing the December updates…you can’t stop and subsequently disable the Windows Update service and have it stay that way through a reboot. Turns out that there’s a service called “Windows Update Medic Service” that, to me, seems to be in charge of keeping tabs on the WU service. If it detects that WU has been stopped or if its startup type shows as “Disabled” it corrects it during the next system reboot.

I’ve tried setting this service (the WU Medic service) to disabled, but all I get is an “AccessDenied”message when I try to complete the action by clicking the “OK” button at the bottom of the window for it.

I found this out when I suffered some self-inflicted trouble due to trying to install KB5012170 after installing all of this month’s other updates.

That issue forced me to use another method to clear the WU cache besides the one suggested initially by @PKCano in AKB2000013 here on AskWoody. I wound up using, I think, @Matador ‘s method to clear the cache. That method is described further down in the thread that deals with AKB2000013.

To clear things up a bit and to confirm this was true, I tried stopping and disabling the Windows Update service on another computer that I have that had NOT had the December updates applied and then restarting it using the directions in AKB2000013. After rebooting, that computer still had the Windows Update service unstarted and its startup type was still listed as “Disabled”. However, after applying the December updates (and keeping KB5012170 hidden), that computer also will no longer let me stop and subsequently disable the WU service and have it stay that way through a reboot…the service is automatically started and the startup type is changed back to “Manual (Trigger Start)” during the reboot process!

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Bob99 wrote:

I’ve tried setting this service (the WU Medic service) to disabled, but all I get is an “AccessDenied”message when I try to complete the action by clicking the “OK” button at the bottom of the window for it.

You can’t just set this service to ‘Disabled’ without first deleting its ‘Security’ protection key and ‘Security’ sub-key recursively in the registry.

If you want to do this the easy way then run Registry Editor in the context of System or TrustedInstaller. (Actually, I’m not even sure that System works these days… but it’s been a long time since I stopped manually fighting the Borg.)

Easier still, just use something like sordum.org’s Windows Update Blocker.

Just be very aware that MS will throw its weight against you changing ITS operating system that you agreed (via EULA) to abide by whilst you use it.

Your first clue was the Windows Update Medic Service that was once only triggered (i.e. downloaded and installed) if you ‘fiddled’… but is now ‘de rigeur‘ for all.

Think ‘John Connor’ and his rearguard action again Skynet… or think Linux…

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I’ve been doing well with wushowhide. Have only had to resort to fiddling with the WU service when I’ve forgotten to change the defaults I have in GPEdit for receiving Quality Updates. That’s when I was using some of the instructions that @PKCano initially mentioned in AKB2000013, which is why I’ve had to mess with WU service on occasion.

In the times that I’ve had to mess with it, I’ve never had to dip into the registry to modify anything for WU…I’ve got the Pro version of Win10, so I’ve had the “luxury” of using GPEdit.

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Mine is set to manual. Have you tried that?

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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@wavy –

Mine is set to manual. Have you tried that?

The normal startup type for the Windows Update service is “Manual” as shown in the drop-down box that you can select the startup type from.

However, after selecting “Manual” and then clicking the “OK” button, you’ll notice that the startup type listed in the Services window actually shows as “Manual (Trigger Start)”, which is what’s normal for that service. 

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