Solved Windows or something is changing my update settings

Ok so I recently reinstalled windows and upgraded to windows 8.1 and ever since I did all the updates something is changing my windows update settings. I keep the settings to "Check for updates but let me choose whether to download them or install them" but something keeps changing it back to "Never check for updates". At first I thought it was just after a reboot but today it happened multiple times. I installed winpatrol to see if I could see what was making this change but all I get is a warning saying a change has been detected. I have already done virus scan(I am using bit defender total security), also used malwarebytes and superanitspyware for scans but no viruses or anything. I will attach the screen shot to what it looks like(the winpatrol warning i mean)

Did you click Reject Change and does the situation re-occur?

In the elevated command prompt type sfc /scannow to repair possible corrupt system files.

Yes I rejected the change and the situation re-occured. Did the scan as you told and the scan went alright but the problem still persists.

So can anyone help me out this thing is getting annoying because everytime i am playing a game it minimizes it just to give me the warning

Try setting it using gpedit...

Configure Automatic Updates by Using Group Policy

It seems my version of windowsn 8 does not come with group policy

It sounds a lot like malware (Windows update gets disabled because it renders your PC more vulnerable to exploits). I know you said you already scanned, but try another anti-virus than your current one, maybe an online scanner.
Free Virus Scan | Online Virus Scanner from ESET
F-Secure ONLINE SCANNER
Free Online Virus Scan - Antivirus Software - Trend Micro USA

When do these changes happen ? Is it random ? After a certain event ? Maybe it happens after a fixed delay ?

System settings shouldn't be able to change like that if you use a User Account with UAC on, or at least not without prompting for the admin password.

WinPatrol has registry monitoring, so try to check the log for anything, that might change this:

Configure Automatic Updates using Registry Editor

Alternatively you can use RegMon for Windows and filter the results after the change.

oneeyed said:

It sounds a lot like malware (Windows update gets disabled because it renders your PC more vulnerable to exploits). I know you said you already scanned, but try another anti-virus than your current one, maybe an online scanner.
Free Virus Scan | Online Virus Scanner from ESET
F-Secure ONLINE SCANNER
Free Online Virus Scan - Antivirus Software - Trend Micro USA

When do these changes happen ? Is it random ? After a certain event ? Maybe it happens after a fixed delay ?

System settings shouldn't be able to change like that if you use a User Account with UAC on, or at least not without prompting for the admin password.

Click to expand...

Sorry for replying a bit late. I used all of the mentioned scanners and still got nothing. The change is random according to what I have witnessed. It does not happen after a certain event, just happens randomly lets say when I am watching a video or browsing the internet or even when I am playing games on the pc.

TairikuOkami said:

WinPatrol has registry monitoring, so try to check the log for anything, that might change this:

Configure Automatic Updates using Registry Editor

Alternatively you can use RegMon for Windows and filter the results after the change.

Click to expand...

Your link advised me to use Process Monitor. I just currently got it and I am trying to see if any changes happen. So far nothing. I will update when this setting change occurs and see what is going on in the registry. Thank you for the help.

TairikuOkami said:

WinPatrol has registry monitoring, so try to check the log for anything, that might change this:

Configure Automatic Updates using Registry Editor

Alternatively you can use RegMon for Windows and filter the results after the change.

Click to expand...

So used the Processmon and anytime my update settings get changed I am opening it up and trying to look if the autoupdate registry key is getting change but nothing

Used Process Monitor at the exact time to see the changes made to the windowsupdate registry and its not showing anything. Is formatting my pc the only option I have left because this is driving me insane.

I am having the same issue. It is being caught by win patrol. It seems to happen when I start up firefox and it happen when I open PDF files. Have have a good antivirus system bitdefender Internet 2015. I also use several different maleware products on a daily basis.

Hi I have exactly the same problem update settings keep getting changed from "Download updates but let me choose when to install them" to "Never install updates" and before anyone thinks a total wipe will sort this think again as ive already done this. Incidentally im running Vista but am posting here as I can find so little about this on the net, ive scanned with Malwarebytes and it came up with nothing I also have bitdefender 2015 running.
I have read somewhere on the net that this is probably caused by other microsoft programmes eg office silverlight etc which I have recently installed but cant really do without so to be honest for the moment at least im at a complete loss.

chopster said:

Hi I have exactly the same problem update settings keep getting changed from "Download updates but let me choose when to install them" to "Never install updates" and before anyone thinks a total wipe will sort this think again as ive already done this. Incidentally im running Vista but am posting here as I can find so little about this on the net, ive scanned with Malwarebytes and it came up with nothing I also have bitdefender 2015 running.
I have read somewhere on the net that this is probably caused by other microsoft programmes eg office silverlight etc which I have recently installed but cant really do without so to be honest for the moment at least im at a complete loss.

Click to expand...

Wow I should have posted about this when I solved it. I apologize. See the way I got my problem to go away is I reinstalled bit-defender. Going to program and settings in the control panel and choosing to repair it but there seems to be an easier way of doing this.

Double click on your bit-defender at the taskbar. Check to see what profile you are using. When the profile is in standard all of the thing is ok but if the profile is in "Game" or "Movie" it keeps changing the update settings to "Never install updates". I would just turn off auto-pilot and select the standard profile. Let me know if this works for you or not.

Also you should really ditch vista. It really sucks

Cheers for the reply Ill adjust my settings and see how that goes. Its much appreciated. Bit rude about Vista mind (naughty) cos at the end of the day just go on the net and you'll find a million folks moaning about 8 but don't think this is the place to kick that one off as I should imagine i'll be heavily outgunned.
Seriously though thanks again.

I've been having the same problem ever since I installed Win 8.1 on my laptop, this OS has a mind of it's own, every time this happens, I go back to the Windows Update settings and reset my settings to check with me first before downloading updates, but the next thing I know when updates are due, my laptop does the updates without my permission.

HI, DungeonKeeper
Read Avishk's post about bitdefender and turning off Autopilot as this worked for me! :thumb: Good Luck.
Chopster.

I don't use bitdefender.

Check all of the settings of your antivirus.

Bitdefender uses profiles, if you keep the settings of these profiles as the way they are and let the autopilot change it, the wu will stay at never update because that won't interfere.