Anyone know from the top of their head how to disable the forced restarting of Windows XP after an update?

LinkI'd rather not use a tool for knowledge-gathering reasons.

Start - run - gpedit.msc - computer configuration - administrative templates - windows update.
Check those settings, several of them will do what you want.Thanks Calum, that's pretty good of you.

You're welcome.
I ran into the solution a while back, purely by accident when I was looking for something else.
I never have automatic updates on on my own MACHINES, but it's HANDY to know how to disable the automatic reboot for other people.I always wait with installing new updates until the computer forces me or I hold a 'maintenance' DAY. That way I'm sure I won't get any updates that haven't thoroughly tested yet.

The quick way to disable the reboot for the current session is to stop the Windows Update service from running, by executing this command:
net stop "windows update"
It works on Vista, I didn't check it on XP.Quote from: Broni on December 19, 2008, 01:52:04 PM

The quick way to disable the reboot for the current session is to stop the Windows Update service from running, by executing this command:
net stop "windows update"
It works on Vista, I didn't check it on XP.

of course, one should have automatic updates (it will download, but it will install upoon the next regular pc bootup)....

of course, one should have automatic updates