Windows Forced Restarts

Recently I came in to work to find that my computer had restarted some time during the night. I thought there was a power outage, but that wasn't the case. Apparently an automatic update was installed, which forced a restart of the computer.

How can Microsoft allow this? How can they simply restart the computer no matter what the user might have open or what long-running jobs happen to be executing? There was no warning whatsoever.

If you ask me, this kind of crap is absolutely unacceptable. I asked around and others agree - they said they've lost work because Microsoft forced their computer to reboot. My opinion is that Microsoft needs to release a hotfix that prevents this from happening. I don't mind restarting Windows (when I have to use Windows), but it should happen when it's convenient for ME, not for Microsoft.

There are people who will tell me that there are frequent security updates to Windows that, if not activated by restarting, put the whole network at risk. Well that's fine. Just disable the network and don't let me reconnect to it until I've restarted. But shutting down the whole computer? Come on. Is this still the 90's and no one told me?

13 Comments

  • yes restart without my permission is not acceptable.

  • Then why dont you turn automatic updates off? You're most likely the one who enabled them in the first place, Windows is quite clear about the update options you have after its install is finished.

  • Yes, many computers stay on for weeks or months without a reboot and thus are still vulnerable. I definately think the default should be for Microsoft to provide multiple prompts (if the user is logged on), but eventually force a reboot - but enable more technical users to change it to 'prompt when updates are available' if they don't want this default.

    We really need operating systems secured for the 'average person' and then technical people change the defaults are required.

  • Psst... Might wanna check out the Automatic Updates settings... And actually read the options they give you... And choose the one that suits your needs...

  • I appreciate the sarcastic response, but as I'm sure you know, users don't always have control over that - especially on their work computers. All I'm saying is, if you're going to install an update at 3:00 in the morning, at least give me a little time to save my work. Maybe even tell me that a restart is required, too.

  • Look,the option is there to choose whether to automatically install updates or not...it's hardly MS's fault if your admin chooses to force this option. And you're telling me you leave your machine with unsaved information overnight...really??? If you don't like the auto restart then change your options (or tell your sys admin to change the group policy). But don't blame MS for keeping your machine secure after all the flak they took for not doing it! (And please, Apple fanboys don't even try to say OSX does it better I have a couple of Intel and PowerPC macs in my company and they're way more intrusive in this respect)

  • i lost loads of work because i left the computer for a few mins.. its unacceptable.. im goin back to mac.. windows sucks balls

  • I have the same problem and I have the automatic update setting set to automatic update at a certain time but my computer just updates whenever sometime with only a 10 min. warning. What's the point of setting a time if it doesn't matter anyway?

  • i have mine on auto download and ask me when to install and yet again I lost a load of work last night and no I dont leave work unsaved but as a programmer I'll have about 30 files open and I find it extremely useful tobe able to ctrl+z and ctrl+y to be able to *possibly* undo some horror story I've created ;p or at least get back to where I started,its certainly not practical for me to save versions at every stage of every change......
    I just dont see why it cant wait with a prompt that would force a reboot but atleast give me 5 mins to save work in away that works for me

  • Yep it's a major pain in the ass.

    My PC's were set to download updates and let me decided when to install them but Microsoft like to ignore this setting and restart my PC's during the night. Not very helpful when I set an image or animation to render over night on networked PC's via distributed rendering.

    For those idots above that think I should set the PC's to save the work or its all my fault work is lost,, I do and they are. Problem is the PC's will only save the files when they are completed so if an image takes 12 hours to render and at 50% the PC is forced to restart, all that render time is lost as is the rest of the nights render time. This can and has cost me a days production time in the past. The only option I've been left with is to disable automatic updates altogether since Microsoft ignore my settings when it suits them.

  • Windows forced restarts.. Super :)

  • To the dinks who cannot understand why anyone would leave unsaved work open all night... Try rendering video with Adobe Premiere. The process takes HOURS to complete and sometimes you have to leave the PC running over night. I have my PC set to download updates but wait for me before installing and it still updates and reboots at will. Microsoft blows when it comes to this particular "feature." They do it to cover their ass because they are known for spreading worms, but their ass covering comes at the expense of my lost work. I'm typing this on my Ipad 'cuz this Windows fanboy is disillusioned with Microsoft. Trust me... There's a reason Windows 8 looks like an iOS.

  • FACT of the matter is .. ITS MY COMPUTER... I should be dictating when it restarts ... NOT my OS .. NOT a program ... ME... the fact that windows does this automatically is completely retarded... The work i do is irrelevant.. i should be able to dictate to my computer when i want it to restart and when i don't.... What i do with my computer is my own business.. BUT ITS MINE .. when i have to go to the registry and edit it to take away windows ability to auto restart is a flawed design .. NO END USER SHOULD SEE IT ... NO END USER should have to have their experiences marginalized because windows felt it knew better ... I agree with security updates and fixes.. and USERS should choose to update or not update at their own peril .. BUT ... to presume that microsoft knows better and risks destroying hours of work that was being done will the computer user was away is completely out of line.

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