Disable Microsoft Auto Updates via ARD/Terminal

Hi there,
We have rolled out 100 copies of Office 2011 to our 10.6.7 users.
By default they are currently set to automatically check for Updates. I'd like to stop Microsoft Auto Update from running on each machine and then roll out updates (After our own testing) when we see fit using ARD. This will also save us huge amounts of bandwidth.
Does anyone know how the terminal commands to stop Microsoft Auto Update from running automatically?
I have asked over at Microsoft but I dare say they're not going to be too helpful!

As an update to this thread.
MCX would indeed be a way to do this for users, however MCX aka. Managed Preferences is deprecated in Mavericks and you should instead do this via Profile Manager. There is also another method you could use, if you put this preference in the User Template folder then any user account created afterwards will take a copy of the plist file and use it. The following command would create a plist in the User Template folder with this setting
sudo defaults write /System/Library/User\ Template/English.lproj/Library/Preferences/com.microsoft.autoupdate2 HowToCheck Manual
You could also add this to a DeployStudio (or similar) imaging work flow by adding the following to a generic script step
/usr/bin/defaults write /System/Library/User\ Template/English.lproj/Library/Preferences/com.microsoft.autoupdate2 HowToCheck Manual
By the way, my thanks to varjak for the original solution.

Similar Messages

How to disable yum auto-update in OL6

Hello,
What is the correct procedure to disable yum auto-updates?
The "yum-updatesd" daemon that existed in OL 5 does no longer exist in OL 6.
I found out that the "PackageKit Update Applet" seems to be responsible for running the auto-update. It can be enabled or disabled in the new Preferences/Startup Applications control panel. There is also the "gpk-prefs" control panel to set the update interval to "never". However, both control panels work on a per-user/login basis and cannot be used to disable yum auto-update system-wide.
Finally I found /etc/PackageKit/PackageKit.conf, which has a DefaultBackend parameter, but I don't know what I should put there.
Is there here a way, to disable the yum auto-update system-wide without uninstalling PackageKit?
I already checked the documentation at http://docs.redhat.com/docs/en-US/Red_Hat_Enterprise_Linux/6/html/Deployment_Guide/ch-PackageKit.html but it was not helpful.
Thanks!

The actuall problem I'm trying to fix is the following error:
<pre>
Another app is currently holding the yum lock; waiting for it to exit...
The other application is: PackageKit
Memory : 45 M RSS (357 MB VSZ)
Started: Tue Jul 10 09:27:04 2012 - 04:09 ago
State : Sleeping, pid: 2317
</pre>
The above error can happen if you have an active Gnome session and e.g. connect as root using ssh session and try to use yum.
I may have found a way now to disable the automatic system updates, however, I don't know if this is the proper solution since I cannot find any information about it.
I modified */etc/PackageKit/PackageKit.conf* and changed:
<pre>
DefaultBackend=yum -> DefaultBackend=nobackend
</pre>
It requires a re-login of your Gnome X session to take affect.
Then Administration/Software update does no longer scan for updates, and apparently no longer lock yum at the system level. At least the problem seems to be fixed globally that way.
I will mark this question as answered, but any ideas are still welcome.
Thanks!
Btw, here is a link to previous older thread to disable it on a per-user basis:
Disable PackageKit Update Applet

Disable JRE Auto update in Vista for all users?

I feel like a complete idiot that I can't figure this out, but it's either so obvious I'm overlooking it, or I just plain can't figure it out, so I'm hoping someone here can help.
We have not yet been able to figure out how to simply disabled the Auto Update option when installing JRE under Vista, so it will never check for updates, no matter what user is logged into a pc. I've just installed the newest version 1.6.0_05-b13, but get the same results.
Basically, we are creating a "base clone image" of a Vista workstation and we need the auto update feature of the JRE to be disabled so it doesn't check for updates. When a new user logs into the pc, we want them to 'inherit' this setting from the default user profile, or we simply want a 'global' setting on the pc that stops all JAVA update checks from occuring. But even though there are multiple registry keys that 'look' like they control the auto update function, no matter how we set them the update option still shows it is enabled when you open the JAVA control panel.
We have 2 basic problems:
- When a standard user runs the JAVA Control Panel applet and they select the 'Update' tab, the option to "uncheck" autoupdates is "grayed out". If we make the user a local administrator, then it is not grayed out anymore and they can set the option. Problem is, we have thousands of users and none of them are local administrators, hence the problem of getting it to already be defaulted to not check for updates. How do we get the update checkbox to NOT be grayed out for a NON-administrator?
- How do we set the 'global' (or default) option to disable the auto update checkbox for ALL users? No matter what we try, when a new user logs in, the auto update feature is still enabled after their initial profile is generated from the first time login.
I was able to figure out if I change the "EnableJavaUpdate" value in the below registry key, it will "remove" the Update tab from the JAVA Control Panel. But does the simply remove the tab? Or does it remove the tab AND disable auto updates for ALL users on the computer?
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\JavaSoft\Java Update\Policy
I've sent multiple emails to Sun asking for help on what should be a simple thing to do, but have never received a reply from them.
Keith Hemmelman

Thank you for the reply. I apologize for not getting back here sooner.
We actually already use a deployment.properties file located under the Default User profile on our Vista setup. It's located under the "C:\Users\Default\AppData\LocalLow\Sun\Java\Deployment" folder. This file does get copied over to a new user profile when a new person logs in. This is what we want since we have set things like the maximum cache size and temporary file location.
The problem though is there is no setting that disables the automatic update check within this file. The best I can figure out is that for some reason under the Vista environment, the auto update setting is controlled in the registry at: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\JavaSoft\Java Update\Policy
There is a REG_BINARY key there that appears to control this option. It is named "EnableAutoUpdateCheck". The problem is that the value of this key is "several" characters long and it is "different" from one user to the next. I tried disabling auto update under the Java Control Panel and then copied the value of this key into the same aread of the Default User hive but when a new user logs in, it ignores that setting and auto update is still enabled. I also tried using a simple "0" to disable the autoupdate or a "1" to enable it for this key, but it doesn't work either. (This is very frustrating why there isn't a simple 1 or 0 setting to turn the auto update setting on/off.)
We had no problem getting this to work under XP. Basically we didn't have to do anything special in XP. We simply created a temporary user account and made all the settings we wanted and then copied that profile over to our Default User profile and the Java autoupdate setting under the Java Control Panel was disabled for all new users. We did the same thing under Vista, but the auto update setting was ignored and re-enabled for all new users.
I read through the settings for the deployment.properties file located at the below link, but there is nothing there to control the auto update setting.
http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.5.0/docs/guide/deployment/deployment-guide/properties.html
Thus, we can't get the auto update setting to be disabled in the default user profile so it will in turn be disabled for all new users that log into the computer. This is extremely frustrating.
The other equally frustrating problem we have run into under the Vista environment is that when you run the Java Control Panel, the option to disable the auto update check is "grayed out" and the user can't uncheck this option to disable auto update. We have found you must be an administrator before this option is no longer grayed out. Since none of our thousands of users are admins, this is also a problem for us. (This option works fine for a standard user if you are on a XP machine though. It's just Vista where things have changed.)
I've sent repeated emails to Sun in the past asking for help, but they never replied.
Keith

How do you disable iPod Auto Update with iTunes?

How do you disable iPod Auto Update with iTunes? I know there is a key press combo that will do it but I forget which keys. Anyone?
Intel Piii Windows XP Pro

Keep iTunes from automatically updating your iPod
Another Easier Alternative:
While connecting the iPod to the computer, hold down the Shift + Ctrl keys in Windows (CMD + Option keys on a Mac). This will stop the iPod from auto-syncing with iTunes. The iPod will then appear in the iTunes source list. Wait until you are sure the iPod has mounted, and that it will not auto-sync and then you can release the keys. This action may take between 3 and 25 seconds depending on your computer.
You can then ‘right-click‘ on the iPod icon in iTunes’ source column and select iPod Options, then check the box that says “Manually manage songs and playlists”. You can now manage your library without losing any songs on the iPod.
Note: If connecting to a different computer than the ‘iPod’s Home Computer’, iTunes will ask you if you want to update your iPod and give you an opportunity to opt out. This will not happen if you connect to the ‘Home’ computer – iTunes will auto-sync without warning!. Best to know the difference.

Unix command to update Microsoft Office 2008 via ARD

I'm looking for a unix command I can send via ARD to update Microsoft Office 2008. It just needs to install all updates and then restart. Kinda like apple's software update one: softwareupdate -i -a; shutdown -r now

Why go through all the trouble of trying to do it in Unix. Apple and Microsoft made it a LOT easier.
Just download the update from Mactopia
Open the .dmg
(for convience and ability to have it stored) Drag the Update from the Microsoft folder that opens up and put the update on your desktop
In ARD Select what computer(s) you want to install the update in
Use ARD Install function to install the update
Go have a cup of coffee and a donut while ARD does the install.
You do not even have to do a restart. Microsoft uses a different icon for the update but it still is a package file operation.

How to disable software auto update from iPad

I was trying to download my favorite programs and iOS 7, but first I have to stop software auto update, how will I do this?

The actuall problem I'm trying to fix is the following error:
<pre>
Another app is currently holding the yum lock; waiting for it to exit...
The other application is: PackageKit
Memory : 45 M RSS (357 MB VSZ)
Started: Tue Jul 10 09:27:04 2012 - 04:09 ago
State : Sleeping, pid: 2317
</pre>
The above error can happen if you have an active Gnome session and e.g. connect as root using ssh session and try to use yum.
I may have found a way now to disable the automatic system updates, however, I don't know if this is the proper solution since I cannot find any information about it.
I modified */etc/PackageKit/PackageKit.conf* and changed:
<pre>
DefaultBackend=yum -> DefaultBackend=nobackend
</pre>
It requires a re-login of your Gnome X session to take affect.
Then Administration/Software update does no longer scan for updates, and apparently no longer lock yum at the system level. At least the problem seems to be fixed globally that way.
I will mark this question as answered, but any ideas are still welcome.
Thanks!
Btw, here is a link to previous older thread to disable it on a per-user basis:
Disable PackageKit Update Applet

Auto update via Jabber-Config.xml file

All,
I wan't to force J4W updates via the jabber-config.xml file, but that's the only thing I want to do. Can the jabber-config.xml file be populated only with the auto update option and nothing else so the user still has control over their own client's options? Or, do the rest of the options need to be defined within the xml file as well? The install guide seems to indicate that one can pick and choose the J4W options they want to globally set within the jabber-config.xml file, but it's not entirely clear.
Thanks,
Joe.

Hi Joe,
yes, you are right. You only have to define settings in the jabber-config.xml file that are not default. Everything else stays default.
Regards
Andre

Disabling Java Auto Update Check

I work for a large company that uses Deep Freeze on all of our Mac machines. Therefore, we turn off "auto-updating" in all applications that have an "auto-update" or "check for updates" feature.
When it comes to Java, we run into problems. Java (found in System Preferences) has an auto-updating feature which reads, "Check for Updates Automatically". We obviously uncheck the box, apply the change, and click "OK". But the problem is, when you re-open the Java Preferences, the check magically re-appears!!!!! It seems that there is no way to turn it off!!! The check ALWAYS re-appears!!!!
We thought that maybe it's a glitch and we were hoping the auto-updating feature is actually staying off, but our employees are getting pop-up windows asking them to update Java!!!
Does anybody know how to disable the "check for updates" feature in Java???
Thanks for taking the time to read this and I hope it made sense!!!
I've attached a screenshot of the "Update" window in Java preferences.

Disguise,
That worked!!! Thank you so much!!!! But I think you had a typo in your script..... you need to add an extra "/" between Library and Preferences. But OH MY GOD..... I cannot believe that it worked!!!!!!!!!!! You are a genius!!!!!
Diane,
We are completely on top of security threats, but thank you for the advice!!! We update Java and Flash manually the day the updates are released. We just don't want our computers checking for updates all day every day, or our employees running the updates themselves, because once they restart their computers, they simply go back to the way they were when we last froze them (using Deep Freeze).
Thank you EVERYBODY for your input!!!

Keychain update via ARD?

Hello,
I'd like to run a unix command via ARD to update a password for a user and update the keychain login paassword is this possible?
It's an AD enviroment and sometimes when the AD password is changed via web or some other means the keychain password doesn't update automatically I would like to run a command to force this update behind the scenes.
Thanks in Advance.

Here's the full data:
usage: softwareupdate <mode> [<args> ...]
     -l | --list          List all appropriate updates
     -d | --download          Download Only
     -i | --install          Install
          <label> ...     specific updates
          -a | --all          all appropriate updates
          -r | --recommended     only recommended updates
          -u | --url <url> ...     from signed package URLs
     Per-user preferences:
     --ignore <label> ...     Ignore specific updates
     --reset-ignored          Clear all ignored updates
     --schedule (on | off)     Set automatic checking
     -h | --help     Print this help
So in the Send Unix Command, to see what updates a workstation needed, you'd type:
softwareupdate -l
(that's the letter l as in "list")
and to have the system get all updates, you'd send:
softwareupdate -i -a
Set the user as root for all these commands (the Run Command as... dialog)

Remote App Store Updates via ARD

Has anyone managed to do App Store Updates over ARD, probably via a shell script or Apple script?
Would be great, if you could share.
Pete

it would be nice if apple added a command line tool to do this.

Disable JRE Auto Updates

We are looking to deploy and manage JRE across all machines on our network using SCCM 2012 R2. So far, we've created a transform file setting AUTOUPDATECHECK and JAVAUPDATE to 0. This doesn't appear to be working or it just doesn't remove the checkbox "Check for Updates Automatically" in the Java Control Panel. We do not want to make changes in the registry to work around this. Any body have any suggestions or know a way to disable automatic updates during installation using a config or transform file?

Try the "AUTO_UPDATE=Disable" parameter instead.
From here: Installing With a Configuration File
When I run the offline 8u25 install exe with a config file, the Java control panel has the "Check for Updates Automatically" option on the Update tab is unchecked.
My config file has these entries:
     INSTALL_SILENT=Enable
     AUTO_UPDATE=Disable
     STATIC=Disable
     WEB_ANALYTICS=Disable
     REBOOT=Disable
When I run the offline 8u25 install msi with these switches: AUTO_UPDATE=Disable STATIC=Disable WEB_ANALYTICS=Disable NORESTARTMENU=Enable REBOOT=Disable
the Java control panel doesn't even show the Update tab.
I see the JAVAUPDATE and AUTOUPDATECHECK values in the msi, but I'm not sure if they are used anymore.

Disabling "Check for Updates" via registry

I'm trying to edit the registry to prevent itunes from checking for updates. I've followed the instructions at http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2102 to add the AdminFlags key and the values listed. We're trying to do this on Windows 7 x64 bit machines. After the changes are made, we reopen itunes and go to "check for Updtates" and it still works. Has anyone else ran into this issue? Help on this would be greatly appreciated.
thanks!

I figured this out eventually and its actually pretty simple. You create the adminflags DWRORD 32-bit value under "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Apple Computer, Inc.\iTunes\Parental Controls\Default" and simply add the decimal value of all of the controls that you wish to have.
Fo instance if you want to disable updates and lock the parental controls so only admins can change them, you would enter 257 for the DWORD value (The sum of kParentalFlags_DisableCheckForUpdates and kParentalFlags_Locked

Disabling auto-update doesn't work

I need to stop at Firefox 14 for now, and need to prevent auto-updates.
In Firefox 14.0.1 when I disable auto-update by setting 'never check for updates', and/or use about:config to clear 'app.update.url', both settings are ignored. When I close and re-open Firefox, auto-update is again enabled, and the update URL is again set.
Recommendations?

As it turns out, it's not a matter of 'preferences not being saved'.
It's Firefox spontaneously changing my preferences at start-time.
I've been testing; here's what i discover.
1. I install FF14, start it the first time, and disable auto-update (via Tools/Options/Advanced)
At this point - prefs.js in my profile now starts with
user_pref("app.update.auto", false);
user_pref("app.update.enabled", false);
2. now I exit FF.
prefs.js in my profile STILL starts with
user_pref("app.update.auto", false);
user_pref("app.update.enabled", false);
3. i restart FF (#1)
prefs.js in my profile STILL starts with
user_pref("app.update.auto", false);
user_pref("app.update.enabled", false);
4. i close FF
prefs.js in my profile STILL starts with
user_pref("app.update.auto", false);
user_pref("app.update.enabled", false);
5. I restart FF (#2)
NOW prefs.js has dropped those 2 initial lines, and starts with user_pref("app.update.lastUpdateTime.addon-........etc
Firefox is spontaneously changing my prefs.js.
Before this series of tests I adjusted the prefs.js in all other profiles in this XPSP3 machine to start with
user_pref("app.update.auto", false);
user_pref("app.update.enabled", false);
This is obnoxious.
I expect better from Mozilla.
Suggestions?

Disable auto-update for SYSTEM on windows

I wrote an AIR app that is called via a php 'exec' command for my employer. This is part of an automated system where there is no user interaction. The problem is that whenever the application is run, every now and then it will open the Adobe AIR Updater, expecting user input to allow the update or cancel.
I downloaded the AIR Settings Manager app, and it does a great job of disabling this auto-update, but ONLY for the user running the app. Is there any way to disable the auto-updates for SYSTEM?

Hi Ozzy,
Setting HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Adobe\AIR\UpdateDisabled to 1 will disable runtime updates for ALL users. Adding the file%APPDATA%\Adobe\AIR\updateDisabled will disable updates on a PER user basis.
Hope this helps,
Chris

Disable auto updated on Crystal Viewer 2011

Hi,
I'm not sure if this is the correct board for this query, but there was nowhere else that looked appropriate.
A client of ours has deployed Crystal Reports Viewer 2011 to a number of users on XP and Windows 7 laptops. She wants to disable the auto updates function within the viewer.
In Crystal Reports Viewer 2008 this was possible with a registry edit, can anyone help with how it is achieved in the 2011 version of the viewer?
thanks
Keith

Thread moved to the .NET - SAP Crystal Reports forum
In CR 2008, there was a registry key under Crystal Reports; DisableCheckForUpdates
That key would disable the check for updates for the Crystal Reports Designer, but the "viewer" in .NET never checked for updates. E.g.; at runtime, there is no checking for updates.
In CRVS2010, there is no "DisableCheckForUpdates" entry. And as with CR2008 installed runtime will not be checking for updates.
- Ludek
Edited by: Ludek Uher on Mar 8, 2011 10:13 AM

Disable Microsoft Auto Updates via ARD/Terminal

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for