Microsoft KB Archive/892894

= How to turn off the Windows Update feature in Windows XP =

Article ID: 892894

Article Last Modified on 1/28/2005

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional
 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
 * Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
 * Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005
 * Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004
 * Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005

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Important This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry



INTRODUCTION
This article explains how to turn off the Windows Update feature in Microsoft Windows XP.



MORE INFORMATION
Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To turn off the Windows Update feature, follow these steps:  Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK. Locate the following registry subkey:

 Right-click Image File Execution Options, point to New, and then click Key. Type wupdmgr.exe to name the new subkey. Right-click wupdmgr.exe, point to New, and then click String Value. Type Debugger to name the new string value. Double-click Debugger, type ntsd -- in the Value date box, and then click OK.</li> Quit Registry Editor.</li></ol>

After you follow these steps, you cannot click Windows Update in the Start menu or use the wupdmgr command to start Windows Update. However, you can still update Windows by visiting the following Microsoft Web site:

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

Additional query words: action exit block access disable deactivate dash

Keywords: kbhowto kbinfo KB892894

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