Removing or Changing the Windows Update Feature

To remove the Windows Update icon from the Start / Settings group:

Start Regedit

Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\Policies\Explorer

If it is not already there, create a new string value NoWindowsUpdate and give it a value of 1

Log off and back on again

To remove the Windows Update icon from the Start menu (top group):

From the command line run Wupdmgr.exe -shortcut. No restart of the computer is required.

To redirect the Remote URL:

Start Regedit

NoWindowsUpdate should remain 0

Either create or go to the following registry key string value: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Update

Create a string value called Remote URL

For the value, enter the appropriate remote web address.


To redirect the Local URL

To replace the Windows Update local page (WUM.htm) with some other local page and have the appropriate local URL point to it:

Start Regedit

NoWindowsUpdate should remain 0

Either create or go to the following registry key string value: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Update

Create a string value called Local URL

For the value, enter the appropriate local web address.