Can I stop "Automatic Update is turned off" nag message?

I just installed XP SP2, and one thing is annoying me: I prefer to manually install Windows Updates myself, so I turned off Automatic Update. But every time I re-boot I get this balloon reminding me that it is off, and directing me to click on the balloon to fix this "problem ". It's not a problem <grrr>! Anybody know of a way to stop the nag?

Thanks,
Ted

 

or

Goto Control Panel>Security center. Click on "Change the way Security Center Alerts Me ". Turn off alerts.

 

Thanks. That was what I was gonna do .. IF I can't find out how to actually stop it from nagging me.

Ted

 

THAT sounds like what I am looking for. BUT ..... that option is *grayed out* !! <grrrrr>

Freakin Microsoft. XP wants to do too much for me.

Anybody know where (probably) the registry key is that will turn that option on?

Thanks,
Ted

 

I think Arie already posted that didn't he?

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center\Updatesdisablenotify

edit the value to 1 to disabling

 

Hmmm, this folder (hive?) doesn't exist in my registry.

Thanks,
Ted

 

Create it.

 

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center]
 "UpdatesDisableNotify "=dword:00000001

Copy/paste to Notepad, save as notify.reg and run it.

 

I thought that was something different. We're talking about two different actions that were suggested:

1. Leaving Automatic Update ON, but making it "Notify" when updates are available (instead of just going ahead and applying them), and
2. Turning Automatic Update OFF ... and getting rid of the nag balloon.

I thought what PeteC and Arie posted were two different ways to do the same thing, which is number 1 above.

But what I really want to do is number 2, which is entirely different. It sounded like Bmoore1129's post said how to do that. The only problem is the option Bmoore1129 said to click on was grayed out on my machine. The registry key I was asking for was to un-gray that option, not to set Automatic Update to "On but only Notify" mode.

"Change the way Security Center Alerts Me" was grayed out on my computer at work. Interestingly enough, I went home and checked it there, and it was available, so I was able to do what Bmoore1129 said. Hopefully that will take care of it.

Thanks,
Ted

 

How about just turning off the balloon tips? They're kind of a pain anyway. If you want to do this, look at this page for instructions.

Customize the Notification Area

If you do this, the balloon tips will be turned off for everything.

 

THAT's the best possible solution! Very cool, thanks.

 

For some of us, those balloons are a pain and always seem to paste themselves right where I need to look.

I have automated the disable process to pass it along to those who are afraid of manually editing the Registry.

NoBalloons.reg

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
 "EnableBalloonTips "=dword:00000000

YesBalloons.reg

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
 "EnableBalloonTips "=dword:00000001

Then I found that I liked NoBalloons so well that I never use YesBalloons.

 

I also found some good looking info on the topic at http://www.winxptutor.com/sp2/seccenteralert.htm

but it still doesn't address why "Change the way Security Center Alerts Me" is grayed out. I would think there's a registry key for that.

But I found this:

Disclaimer: Under the Resources tab, the header "Change the way Security Center alerts me" may be grayed out. This indicates that the Firewall is already turned off.

at http://www.clemson.edu/client/sguides/XPSP2/index.php

But I checked and my firewall was on, and the link is still grayed out.

<shrug>

Ted

 

pianoman1948

Go to Control Panel>administrative tools>services. Scroll down to Security Center and start it to running. Back out of this stuff and then go to the greyed out and see if it is working now. You should see three check boxes for alerts.

 

Thanks for the repsonse. Nope, Security Center was already running.