Command Update 4.0.0 no longer has the option to prevent an automatic reboot

We tried reaching you on a private message asking for the Service Tag but did not receive a response. Please feel free to reply to the private message whenever you are available.

"I'm not sure how anyone at Dell thinks having computers being forced reboot in the middle of a workday is acceptable in any enterprise environment. Was the option of never auto rebooting overlooked or was it deliberately removed?"

I have the exact same question.  Removing the ability to suppress automatic reboots complicates matters for the Enterprise environment.  I want to force devices to update, but forcing reboots will only increase help desk calls and cause dismay with our user base.

Bump.  This is still a problem.  Some application packages with DCU 4.1.0 are rebooting the system.  This is obviously a problem when we don't want it to.

Bumping again.  THis is a huge issue for anyone using the product to update drivers, bios/firmware during "imaging"

We are seeing the same issues but with specific models only and sometimes depending on what application needs it (E.g. BIOS generally triggers it on Latitude 7410, OptiPlex 7050, OptiPlex 7060, OptiPlex 9030 AIO & Precision 7740)

During the install command, we tried using the /reboot=disable, gets ignored...

On top of that, we run scans in the SYSTEM context so there is ZERO warning to the user (regardless of reboot time.)

This is unacceptable for an ENTERPRISE grade solution DELL.

You need to fix this ASAP!! This has been tested in 4.1

Posting the DELL response for everyone with the same problem that they sent me in a private chat:

Hi,

As we checked with our internal team the option been removed in an effort to ensure required reboots are performed, driver installations are completed and reliant hardware regains functionality, the "never" reboot option has been removed from DCU 4.0 and above.

Note: DCU 4.0 will not reboot the system automatically, it will display a pop-up reminder to reboot.

Hi,

Prajwal here from Dell community.

We had the case reviewed by our internal team and have an update.

The option to disable Automatic restart is removed on the latest version of Dell Command Update to ensure there is a reboot operation done when an update is installed.

However, the application will not restart the system but it will give you a prompt that the system needs a restart for updates to configure.

Also, the auto restart options are enabled on urgent updates like BIOS and audio video drivers as these drivers require a restart to configure.

Optional updates will not prompt a restart as it is not required on optional updates.

As per our check, the application is working as designed.

Be rest assured, this will not hamper the functionality of the system.

Regards,

Prajwal

Hi,

We have sent you a private message, please check and reply. 

"However, the application will not restart the system but it will give you a prompt that the system needs a restart for updates to configure.

Also, the auto restart options are enabled on urgent updates like BIOS and audio video drivers as these drivers require a restart to configure."

Forgive me for not understanding this right, but it seems these two statements are conflicting and I want to be perfectly clear on what it means.  Are you saying that even after selecting the option to 'Download and install updates (Notify after complete)' and critical updates are installed, that an automatic restart will NOT happen, but only notify the user that a restart is required?  If so, what is the purpose of removing the disabling of automatic restarts?

Most of my clients are in back to back meetings all day and a 1-hour window for an automatic restart is almost sure to conflict with those meetings.  Wouldn't it be more beneficial to have the option to set a time for a reboot?

To be clear, to EVERYONE, if you are using the command line to initiate driver updates (like we so with SCCM) then there is ZERO notification to the user!!! A few mins after the URGENT driver installs it will simply REBOOTS the machine, wham bam thank you sir/ma'am. DELL assertion that the user get notified is soo wrong it's in another zip code!! So as you say Jay Dubyuh, if the user is in a meeting, then too bad....

I have gone back/forth in private messages with DELL and they don't seem to understand, they just keep repeating what it *should* do and the it's by design...

Either live with it or don't use it, they don't understand or care about large Enterprise users...

Think about it.  Many users only have their PCs on during the work day, so updates cannot run after business hours.  Okay, so they run during business hours...good practice.  Force a reboot after the updates without prompting the user?  BAD PRACTICE!

At least build in a bit more before forcing something like this.  Alert ALL users on the machine or not require a reboot when it is not a logged in user or something...anything but this.

That is unfortunate.  We are also a medium size business impacted by this and agree this is NOT a good practice.  Do I have a lot of users who never reboot?  Sure.  I call them enough times and they will reboot or I will make them reboot mid-day, but AFTER they save their documents.  One user has lost documents MULTIPLE times because of mid-day reboots WITHOUT prompts because as mentioned earlier they are automated in the background NOT by the user.

Come on, Dell!

Thank you to all those that posted to get clear answers here. I am another admin that finds this setting unacceptable for our user base. 

We need an option that does not automatically restart the computer ever. You can re-nag them every hour, but never restart. 

Moderators here: your approach to DM'ing people instead of responding about this issue where everyone can see is very frustrating. This is clearly something others care about, and is posted in the *community* forum, not in private support .

To the others that reported back about their conversations with Dell, thank you!! 

This is very frustrating; I can understand the goal of what Dell wants by removing the never option but the results are not working out. Removing this never option has me rethinking about other hardware options moving forward. The Automatic > Download updates (Notify when ready to install) is the only real option left for any Admin using the Dell Command Update application. Just think of all the hours wasted having someone check each machine manually, because we surely do not want a possible unpatched vulnerability. And no one wants their machine to reboot in the middle of the day with unsaved work.

Have any of you tried changing the HKLM\SOFTWARE\Dell\UpdateService\Clients\CommandUpdate\Preferences\Settings\Schedule\RebootWait to Never?