Windows 10 Anniversary Update: Notify to Schedule Restart Missing

[HaloEffect17]

Before the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, I used to be able to select "Notify to schedule restart" in the Windows Update settings to prevent my computer from doing a sudden restart after it finished downloading updates. It worked perfectly as I was able to hit decide when I wanted to restart my computer to complete the update.

However, after the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, you'll notice that this option is no longer available in the advanced update options. Go see for yourself - it's not there, and it's replaced with this stupid "active hours" setting that tells Windows the hours not to restart your computer for updates. Sounds good? Well... think again, you can only set 12 active hours and not the entire day.

As you can tell, this is problematic because say I was working outside active hours while Windows was conducting updates and I had some important documents, other downloads, or windows open. I go to do something else for awhile (leaving my computer idle), and then return, only to find that my computer restarted itself and I lost everything that I had open. I find this really frustrating.

Apparently, a handful of people on Reddit are concerned about the same issue that I have. I'd advise you to check out this link for some context.

Does anyone here have a problem with this, too? And also, does anyone know of a fix that can prevent Windows from restarting automatically even outside of active hours? I want to be able to decide when I want my computer to restart like I was able to before the anniversary update. Thanks.

 

[the_randomizer]

Always leave it to Microsoft to screw people over as usual.

 

[Armadillo]

Does anyone here have a problem with this, too? And also, does anyone know of a fix that can prevent Windows from restarting automatically even outside of active hours? I want to be able to decide when I want my computer to restart like I was able to before the anniversary update. Thanks.

If you're on pro, you can use the group policy manager to do it.

You can set it to notify only. So Windows will tell you there are updates, but won't download or install them until you tell it to (this is the setting I use)
Or you can set it to, download and notify (it will download and tell you, but won't install automatically).

Both those options will stop it randomly restarting as it won't install stuff automatically and then need a restart.

http://www.howtogeek.com/224471/how-to-prevent-windows-10-from-automatically-downloading-updates/

If you're on home, you're fucked & stuck with it.

 

[HaloEffect17]

If you're on home, you're fucked & stuck with it.

Damn... I used winver and it said I'm using a Windows 10 Home operating system.

 

[xy2_]

You might want to look into getting a Linux distro in order to be able to use your computer for the entire day.

 

[HaloEffect17]

You might want to look into getting a Linux distro in order to be able to use your computer for the entire day.

Or maybe if Microsoft can have their head screwed on straight for once, they would recognise this is a major problem and fix this.

 

[xy2_]

I think moving on from blaming a company (hint: it's not a person!) to using the free, superior solutions will get you somewhere else.

 

[the_randomizer]

Or maybe if Microsoft can have their head screwed on straight for once, they would recognise this is a major problem and fix this.

This is one of many reasons I've refused to update from 7 to 10, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Besides, my GPU can't take advantage of the DX12 API, so really, nothing compels me to update, and Win 7 support ends in 2020, so I'm good. Windows 7 has been the most stable Windows OS I've ever used.

 

[Armadillo]

Let me know when Linux is fully compatible & gives the same performance for the 94 games in my library and I'll be the first to jump over.

 

[xy2_]

Can you provide a comprehensive list?

 

[Armadillo]

http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197970356378/

Have at it. Let me know when they all work and to the same performance standards as they do on Windows.

 

[dankzegriefer]

http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197970356378/

Have at it. Let me know when they all work and to the same performance standards as they do on Windows.

You only play 10 of those games, and they easily run under Linux with WINE or without WINE.

 

[xy2_]

All of these are steam games, and most of these are steam indie games. This means they will run pretty much perfectly under Linux natively, via the Steam Linux client, and otherwhise run under Wine with minimal effort. I could only find two (that you played over 5 hours) that do not run under Wine. In case you really want to run Windows, know that there is the option to have - multiple - operating systems on your hard drive, as well as run multiple operating systems (such as your linux distro + Windows whatever) at the same time.

 

[HaloEffect17]

Alright, figured it out guys. It revolves around disabling "Reboot" in Task Scheduler. I'm going to try this out now: http://winaero.com/blog/how-to-permanently-stop-windows-10-reboots-after-installing-updates/. Here's an excerpt of it below.

With Windows 10 Anniversary Update, Microsoft implemented a new feature called "Active Hours". It is intended to not disturb the user during the specified period of time. You can use it to postpone reboots.

If you do not want to wait for Anniversary Update (which will be released in July 2016) or if Active Hours is not a solution for you, you can permanently stop Windows 10 reboots after updates are installed if you follow the steps below.

 

[dankzegriefer]

Alright, figured it out guys. It revolves around disabling "Reboot" in Task Scheduler. I'm going to try this out now: http://winaero.com/blog/how-to-permanently-stop-windows-10-reboots-after-installing-updates/. Here's an excerpt of it below.

With Windows 10 Anniversary Update, Microsoft implemented a new feature called "Active Hours". It is intended to not disturb the user during the specified period of time. You can use it to postpone reboots.

If you do not want to wait for Anniversary Update (which will be released in July 2016) or if Active Hours is not a solution for you, you can permanently stop Windows 10 reboots after updates are installed if you follow the steps below.

It's also dangerous and worse than changing to Linux.

 

[HaloEffect17]

It's also dangerous and worse than changing to Linux.

Um... how is this method dangerous?

 

[dankzegriefer]

Um... how is this method dangerous?

Security flaw needs to be fixed; Update sent; Refuse to reboot for said update; Computer gets exploited.

 

[HaloEffect17]

Security flaw needs to be fixed; Update sent; Refuse to reboot for said update; Computer gets exploited.

This method only disables Windows Update from auto-rebooting after installing updates. I can still click "Restart Now" in settings to commence the update process. This was how it was before the anniversary update anyways; I have control of when I want to restart and thus update the computer.

 

[dankzegriefer]

This method only disables Windows Update from auto-rebooting after installing updates. I can still click "Restart Now" in settings to commence the update process. This was how it was before the anniversary update anyways; I have control of when I want to restart and thus update the computer.

And how many times a day do you READ the update notes?
Never you say?
Hmmmm

 

[HaloEffect17]

And how many times a day do you READ the update notes?

Are you concerned with a Windows 10 computer not updating as soon as an update becomes available? Because I've disabled auto-reboot that I would not get it updated in time? I am always diligent anyways in ensuring my computer updates on Patch Tuesdays; I don't defer it to later. If there is a security flaw that the update rectifies, I update... obviously.