K-State's Software Update Services for Windows

Set up automatic Windows updates
Remove an auto-update setting
For technical staff only
Contacts

K-State provides a centralized Software Update Services to automatically install Microsoft Windows updates on K-State-owned computers and those in the residence halls.

Set up automatic Windows updates

1. Verify your computer meets system requirements.

Windows 2003 Server or Enterprise Server
Windows 2000 Pro, Server, or Advanced Server with Service Pack 2 or higher
Windows XP Pro or Home with Service Pack 1 or higher
A connection to the Internet

2. To see your computer's current settings in the Automatic Updates section.

For Windows 2000: Open the Start menu, click on Control Panel, and double-click Automatic Updates. You should be able to change settings on the updater and see what its current configuration is.
Windows 2003 and XP: Open the Start Menu, right-click on My Computer and Select Properties, then select the Automatic Updates tab. You should be able to see and change the update settings for your computer.

3. Select the time you want the auto-update to be done each day on your computer. To select a time, click on one of the following auto-update links. Be sure it is a time when your computer will likely be turned on and connected to the Internet.

12PM.reg sets the daily update time to 12 p.m. (noon)
3PM.reg sets the daily update time to 3 p.m.
10PM.reg sets the daily update time to 10 p.m.
2AM.reg sets the daily update time to 2 a.m.
5AM.reg sets the daily update time to 5 a.m.

4. Reboot your computer after applying the .reg file above.

5. Verify the desired auto-update is in place.

Open the Control Panel, and double-click Automatic Updates.
Verify the time in the "Automatically download and Install Updates" box matches the file you selected. (Notice that other options are grayed out, and you no longer have control of when updates are downloaded and applied.)

Remove an auto-update setting

Use this process to remove auto-update settings on your computer at any time and return it to manual mode.

Click on the following link: Remove automatic settings
Reboot your computer.
Verify that the settings were removed. Open the Automatic Updates applet. Settings should no longer be grayed out, and you should again have control of how and when your updates are downloaded and applied.

For technical staff only

A downloadable zip file is available for technical staff. It includes several .reg files that set your machine to download and install updates from the K-State SUS server at specific times. Select the one that best suits your schedule and apply it by double-clicking the file, selecting Open, and answering Yes when prompted to merge the information into the registry. Select only ONE entry. Double-clicking on another .reg file will overwrite the previous entry.

Included in the .zip file are two files named remau.bat and regdel.vbs. Since .reg files cannot be used to remove registry settings, a VBS script must be used. Execute the remau.bat file to remove the Windows Update settings that were applied by the .reg file used previously. Or, simply click on the following link: Remove automatic settings

Contacts

Questions about these procedures can be sent to the IT Help Desk, (785) 532-7722, helpdesk@k-state.edu.