How to disable automatic restart after windows update

Issue:

Windows restarts automatically after critical windows update. All the unsaved work gets lost or some files gets corrupted.

Solution:

1. Click on Run and type regedit.exe (Registry editor).

2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU
 
3. If you do not see WindowsUpdate\AU, you can create it by following the procedure below.

   a. Click on Windows
   b. Select Edit Menu
   c. Choose New -> Key
   d. Type WindowsUpdate

   e. Click on WindowsUpdate
   f. Select Edit Menu
   g. Choose New -> Key
   h. Type AU

4. Click on AU. On the right hand side, create a new 32-bit DWORD called NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers. Use the procedure below to create it.

   a. Select Edit Menu
   b. choose New -> DWORD.
   c. Type NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers
   d. Double Click NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers
   e. Change the value data to 1 (hexadecimal)

5. Close registry editor.

How to disable automatic restart after windows update, Windows XP or 7

Works with Windows 7 & Windows XP