I have usually Windows Automatic Updates set to “Download updates for me, but let me choose when to install them“, but last week I changed it to “Automatically download recommended updates for my computer and install them:” and set the time to 8pm. I can’t remember why I changed it but that decision just came back to haunt me! I was in the middle of a five hour video render and went to dinner. When I came back, the computer had been restarted and Windows informed me that has kept my computer up to date for me!
Now I have to re-render the video and can’t finish this project tonight! 
yeah automatic windows updates are a no no.. i hate not having control over what I’m doing and when..
If you get into the advanced settings of it, I think you can keep the auto update enabled, however you can disable the auto restart. Make it restart only when you have it do it by hitting “yes” or “no”. Thats how I have it setup.
There aren’t any advanced settings!
“You know that the advanced settings are not always in the GUI grasshopper.”
I can control things at the Domain Level for all the PCs on my domain. Its real easy when you get into the Advanced Active Directory settings. Since there are controls for it, I’m sure there is some back door way into all of the settings like that at the Local Computer level.
If you do find out how - which I’m sure it may end up being a Regedit, you should post about it - I’m sure many would be interested in it. I know that the Active Directory settings by creating a Group Policy give me a few more options than the normal screen….
In Group Policy it is called:
“No auto-restart for scheduled Automatic Updates installations”
There has to be a way to activate that at the local level.
I was thinking that there had to be a Registry Hack for this, I’ll have to look into it!
Oh..that sucks!!! I’ve lost hours and hours of work on papers and stuff for similar things, one being an automatic virus check, that started, then managed to freeze my computer, while I was writing a 15 page paper…and not saving regularly
Hey David,
What Word Processor are you using? I know most now have an “Auto-Save” feature built into them that auto saves the files at a chosen duration. I know a lot of college students live and die by this setting.
Oh, this was back in the day, when I was running Windows 95 and some other ancient Word version…now I’m much more up-to-date..so loosing essays and papers isn’t a problem now.
Ouch, that sucks. I remember having a few instances a few years back when I tried some video editing where I had problems like a complete freeze after hours of rendering.
I’ve currently got my machine to auto update but I have it set for 3am.
Wow! That’s definitely tough luck for you!
Yup, I know the feeling!
I leave my computer on all night to download podcasts. Noting pisses me off more than going to retrieve my iPod and finding my PC on the login screen!!!
Hi Smanathon(g) , I can’t help but laugh..
. Thats pretty funny. (of course when it happens to others - not me 
). Be care ful afterwards
Aw bad luck.
I keep updates on download but not install for that very reason.
I use to have a computer that would lock up if left alone from more that 10 minutes. Know the pain.
Even if you do say no to the restart, windows will keep asking you until you do restart.
That pisses me off too!
and this is why i switched to Macs!
Is a Netscape on a Mac better than an Opera on a Windows
you sir
are an idiot
I’m going to kill you.
That is so annoying…sympathy!!!
Man…I’m sitting here right now as I read this post, and XP is keeps attempting to restart every 10 minutes. Grrr….