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How can I use the registry to configure the Windows XP or Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 (SP3) Automatic Updates feature?

A. I described the Automatic Updates options you can set with the user interface in a previous FAQ. You can use the registry to configure these same Automatic Updates options by performing the following steps:

  1. Start a registry editor (e.g., regedit.exe).
  2. Navigate to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update subkey.
  3. Set the DWORD values according to the table below.
  4. Close the registry editor.
Function AUOptions value AUState value ScheduledInstallDay ScheduledInstallTime
Disable automatic update 1 7    
Notify before download 2 2    
Download automatically 3 2    
Download and install automatically 4 2 Numeric, indicating day--0 for every day or 1 to 7 for Sunday to Saturday (e.g., Monday is 2) Numeric, indicating hour--0 for midnight, 23 for 11:00 pm (e.g., 17 for 5:00 pm)
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