How to Remove the Windows Update Tool in Windows 98

ID: Q189525

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 98

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SUMMARY

You can use the Windows Update tool to download updated product features, device drivers, and system files. Shortcuts to the Windows Update tool (Wupdmgr.exe) appear in two locations on the Start menu. A shortcut appears at the top of the Start menu, and in the Settings folder on the Start menu. The Windows Update wizard is also available in the Update Device Driver wizard in Device Manager. This article describes how to remove the shortcuts to Windows Update tool on the Start menu and how to remove the Windows Update wizard check box in the Update Device Driver wizard.

MORE INFORMATION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. The easiest way to back up your registry in Windows 98 is to run the Windows 98 Registry Checker (ScanregW).

To remove the Windows Update tool, use the appropriate method:

Start Menu

To remove the Windows Update shortcut at the top of the Start menu, right- click the shortcut, and then click Delete.

Settings Folder

To remove the Windows Update shortcut from the Settings folder on the Start menu, add the DWORD value "NoWindowsUpdate" (without quotation marks) to the following registry key:

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

Set the data value to 1.

Update Device Driver Wizard

To remove the Windows Update wizard check box in the Update Device Driver wizard, add the DWORD value "NoDevMgrUpdate" (without quotation marks) to the following registry key:

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

Set the data value to 1.

To restore the Windows Update tool in the Settings folder on the Start menu, or the Update Device Driver wizard in Device Manager, use Registry Editor to change the appropriate data values from 1 to 0.

Note that when you add or remove the Windows Update shortcut on the Start menu, the change takes effect when you restart your computer. When you add or remove the Windows Update wizard check box in the Update Device Driver wizard in Device Manager, the change takes effect immediately.

For information about the Windows Update tool, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: Q189306
TITLE : How the Windows Update Tool Determines if an Update Is Valid


Keywords          : kbtool winshell win98 
Version           : WINDOWS:
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: February 12, 1999