Block Windows from Automatically Installing XP SP3 or Vista SP1

Contributed by shamanstears May 14, 2008  
Tagged: Windows

If you want to wait until you’re sure that all the bugs are out of the latest Windows service pack for your OS, you can use a registry entry to block the automatic installation.

1. Open up Notepad and copy the following:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate]
"DoNotAllowSP"=dword:00000001

2. Save the text file and rename it to “BlockWindowsSP.reg”. Then merge it into the registry by double clicking it.

Note: This registry entry will only block the automatic installation of the service pack for 12 months. After that, the service pack will install automatically.

If you change your mind later, follow these steps:

1. Open up Notepad and copy the following:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate]
"DoNotAllowSP"=dword:00000000

2. Save the text file and rename it to “AllowWindowsSP.reg”. Then merge it into the registry by double clicking it.