I'm sysprepping a lot of Windows 8-images for educational and lab use and decided to disable Windows Update so that students don't need to suffer from Windows Update restarts etc during lab time and classes. However, this option just isn't available. What I am missing is the "Never check for updates" (see http://www.softwareok.com/?seite=faq-Windows-8&faq=34). The machine isn't joined to domain, and when I try to set the local policy setting for Windows Update I can only find the following options for the "Configure Automatic Updates" policy:

2 - Notify for download and notify for install
3 - Auto download and notify for install
4 - Auto download and schedule the install
5 - Allow local admin to choose setting

What is even worse is that when I leave the setting at "2 - Notify for download and notify for install", there would be a security warning similiar to the UAC-prompt whenever Windows detects that there are updates available.

How to re-enable the option "Never check for updates (not recommended)? Can I hard-code it into the registry directly or something? Where do I find that place in that case?

What I've done is to Set the NoAutoUpdate to 1 in subkey HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU. Is that really the best way to go? Has anybody else here in any way been able to disable Windows Update for Windows 8?

Just do one thing, follow the path 

Control Panel\System and Security\Windows Update\Change settings

In change settings choosenever check for updates, may be this will resolve your problem just give a try.

By the way it is highly recommended that you must update your systems from time to time atleast once a weak by your own-self.

Thanks  

Just do one thing, follow the path 

Control Panel\System and Security\Windows Update\Change settings

In change settings choosenever check for updates, may be this will resolve your problem just give a try.

By the way it is highly recommended that you must update your systems from time to time atleast once a weak by your own-self.

Thanks  

Like I said, if the "Never check for updates" option is missing, how do I get it back?

Have you tried the Windows Update Troubleshooter?

"C:\Windows\System32\msdt.exe" -ep TSControlPanel -path C:\Windows\Diagnostics\Index\WindowsUpdateDiagnostic.xml -context {E58C37C7-0D9F-4CDE-8AA8-D0D0F3660972}

My option it there, but it's greyed out at 'Never check for updates'. I'd like to check for updates... I tried to get to "C:\Windows\System32\msdt.exe" -ep TSControlPanel -path C:\Windows\Diagnostics\Index\WindowsUpdateDiagnostic.xml -context {E58C37C7-0D9F-4CDE-8AA8-D0D0F3660972}, but I get:

An error occurred while loading the troubleshooter:

An unexpected error has occurred.  The troubleshooting wizard can't continue.

Package ID:    Unknown
Path:              Unknown
Error Code:     0x80070002
Source:           Command line
User:              HEFFNER01\tomhe_000
Context:         Restricted

Any suggestions?  Thank you.

Micheline