Carbonite Support > Configuring Windows Update

Configuring Windows Update

Summary:

    This article is for Windows only

Windows Updates are set to install automatically by default on most versions of the Windows operating system. These updates are important for maintaining a healthy computer. However, installing Windows Updates can cause the computer to restart. If the computer restarts during a Carbonite restore, it could significantly increase restore time.

Carbonite recommends configuring automatic Windows Updates during long restores to prevent interruptions and reduce the overall restore time. Windows Updates can easily be re-enabled after the completion of your Carbonite restore.

Solution:

The sections below are collapsed. Please click a section title to open / close the section which corresponds with your version of Windows:

Windows 11 & 10

Automatic Windows Updates for Windows 10 can be configured from within the Windows Update Settings. Click the Search field next to the Start Menu and type windows update. Click the Windows Update settings entry that appears in the search results:

Windows 10 Start menu: Sarch and select Windows Update settings

In the Windows Update settings, click Advanced options:

Windows 10 Update: Advanced options

Under Pause updates, click the Select Date dropdown and choose a date for Windows updates to resume.

Choose how updates are installed: Notify to schedule restart

You may now close the window.

Windows 8

Windows Updates for Windows 8 can be configured from within Windows Update Settings. Press Windows Key + S on your keyboard to open the Search charm. Type windows update in the Search charm and click on the Windows Update settings entry that appears in the search results:

Windows 8 Search for windows update

On the Windows Update settings screen, click Choose how updates get installed:

Windows 8 update: Choose how updates get installed

If automatic updates are enabled, the Important updates dropdown will be set to Install updates automatically (recommended). Click on the Important updates dropdown and select Download updates but let me choose whether to install them. Click Apply:

Windows 8 Windows Update settings: Download updates but let me choose whether to install them

Automatic Windows Updates are now configured. To re-enable automatic Windows Updates after the Carbonite restore is finished, follow the same steps above and set Important updates back to Install updates automatically (recommended).

Windows 7

Windows Updates for Windows 7 can be configured from within the Windows Update Settings of the Control Panel. Click the Start button (Windows logo) in the bottom left of your screen. Type windows update in the search box at the bottom of the Start menu and click the Windows Update entry that appears in the search results:

Windows 7 Start Menu: Search windows update and click on the result

The Windows Update settings of the Control Panel will be displayed. Select Change settings from the menu on the left side of the window:

Windows 7 Control Panel: Change Settings

If automatic updates are enabled, the Important updates dropdown will be set to Install updates automatically (recommended). Click on the Important updates dropdown and select Download updates but let me choose whether to install them. Click OK:

Windows 7 Windows Settings: Download updated but let me choose whether to install them

Automatic Windows Updates are now configured. To re-enable automatic Windows Updates after the Carbonite restore is finished, follow the same steps above and set Important updates back to Install updates automatically (recommended).

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