Enable/disable windows-update from a vbscript

Question

I need to disable windows-update service from my installation. I already use vbscript to do some stuff so I would like to do it in vbscript.

My knowledge of vbscript (or any other script language) is very limited so...can anybody help me out with that? I'll really appreciate it!

Thanks.

Answer 1

If you want to use VBScript, use WMI:

strComputer = "."  'could be any computer, not just the local one '
Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:\\" & strComputer & "\root\cimv2")

Set colServiceList = objWMIService.ExecQuery _
("Select * from Win32_Service where Name = 'wuauserv'")

For Each objService in colServiceList
  objService.ChangeStartMode("Disabled")
Next

Look into the documentation of the WMI Win32_Service Class to find out what else might be doable.

Easier would be the use of sc.exe:

sc config wuauserv start=auto

Here is an excerpt of what sc.exe can do:

C:\>sc config
Modifies a service entry in the registry and Service Database.
SYNTAX:
sc <server> config [service name] <option1> <option2>...
CONFIG OPTIONS:
NOTE: The option name includes the equal sign.
 type= <own|share|interact|kernel|filesys|rec|adapt>
 start= <boot|system|auto|demand|disabled>
 error= <normal|severe|critical|ignore>
 binPath= <BinaryPathName>
 group= <LoadOrderGroup>
 tag= <yes|no>
 depend= <Dependencies(separated by / (forward slash))>
 obj= <AccountName|ObjectName>
 DisplayName= <display name>
 password= <password>

Answer 2

Thank you Tomalak.

I also found that:

Const SCHEDULED_INSTALLATION = 1

Set objAutoUpdate = CreateObject("Microsoft.Update.AutoUpdate")
Set objSettings = objAutoUpdate.Settings

objSettings.NotificationLevel = SCHEDULED_INSTALLATION
objSettings.Save

This is the link: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/resources/tales/sg0705.mspx

So now I have another question. Which solution is better?

Answer 3

Thanks Tomalak and Patrick Cuff. I really appreciate your help. I think this could be a good and complete answer.

Method 1: prevents the "Automatic Updates" service from starting automatically when the machine boots.

strComputer = "."  'could be any computer, not just the local one '
Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:\\" & strComputer & "\root\cimv2")

Set colServiceList = objWMIService.ExecQuery _
("Select * from Win32_Service where Name = 'wuauserv'")

For Each objService in colServiceList
  objService.ChangeStartMode("Disabled")
Next

Method 2: changes the "Automatic Updates" configuration from "Automatic" to "Turn off Automatic Updates". (MSDN lists the other NotificationLevel constants)

Const AU_DISABLED = 1

Set objAutoUpdate = CreateObject("Microsoft.Update.AutoUpdate")
Set objSettings = objAutoUpdate.Settings

objSettings.NotificationLevel = AU_DISABLED
objSettings.Save

In both cases you won't get automatic updates. With method 1 won't start while with method 2 the service is still running, just not doing anything.

You can do both of these things through the GUI:

• Method 1: Administrative Tools\Services\Automatic Updates, change "Startup type" from "Automatic" to "Disabled".
• Method 2: Control Panel\Automatic Updates, select "Turn off Automatic Updates".