Can't disable Automatic Updates

I can't disable automatic updates in Vista. It says I need to be a system administrator. I'm connected to a university's network. Are they using Group Policy? If so, is there anyway to get around it. Its bothering me because all the language packs (which take up a lot of space) are labeled as 'important' by Microsoft, so I have to DL them.

 

I was going to suggest adjusting the domain dropdown on the login screen, but I just found out that Vista doesn't have one-I really don't know how to help you out

 

Huh? If it's your laptop, how can disabling automatic updates in Vista, have anything to do with the network?

Other huhs too but never mind.

 

'If your computer is part of a network at an organization such as a school, government agency, or a business, your organization's system administrator might have disabled or even removed certain settings by using Group Policy. Group Policy is a feature of Windows that lets system administrators manage users' access to Windows features. If you suspect that Group Policy is preventing you from changing a setting that you need to access, contact your system administrator.'

 

The group policy definition is correct however that is applicable to a computer that is in a controlled environment like a computer lab. In that case you don't own the computer and are therefore bound by the rules that the system administrator has set.

AFAIK if it is your own notebook then you control the group policy, not the network. For instance when I used to take my notebook into the computer lab at my university, they have the computer network (desktop) computers locked down(via the same group policy) to the point that you can't even change the time or install any programs; but when I connected my notebook to the network via ethernet cable I had no such restrictions.

So if you suspect group policy maybe interfering then check the group policy settings on your notebook and also make sure you are logged onto an administrator account in windows before you try to disable automatic updates.

Unless you mean that you are using a lab computer because then you would have no control other than what the system administrator has allowed.

 

Some universities and corporations require that if you use resources on their network then you must meet certain criteria. Some of them use Group Policy to control that. For example they may require you to have antivirus, antispyware and a firewall. Group policy can insure that. It is part of the due diligence these folks have to take to protect their networks, if they do not do this, then any machine that is attached to their network could easily be or become a vector for all sorts of infestation. It's a sad fact but true. I have been inside several corporations where they have two networks. One for use by machines, subject to group policy, with access to all the companies networked resources. And then a second network (typically wireless) with access to nothing behind their corporate firewall.

In the case of the OP, it may be part of the "terms of service" at the university that any machine granted a domain account, must meet certain criteria including making sure you keep the machine up to date with all critical patches.

To the OP: I know the language packs are marked important, but I am pretty sure that even in a draconian network like I just described, that those particular updates can be marked to NOT be installed and further marked that you don't want to be "nagged" about them in the future. Your mileage may vary due to the particulars of how Group Policy is configured at your school.

Gary

 

If I uncheck the language packs and install only 'real' updates, the language packs will still try to install themselves the next auto updater runs (which is everyday at 3am).

 

Have you tried right clicking on each of the language packs and selecting "Hide Update" the option of bypassing those updates in the future?

I've done that for each of the updates I don't want to be bothered with in the future.

 

agreed with Gary in post#6

ur best bet would be speaking directly to ur admin support and see if they accomodate ur concerns about taking away disk spaces (in this case around 20mb+ on the language pack) on ur comp, by add ur comp to the non-update list (or something like that)

cheers ...