Restriction Notice on Windows Update Pages

DaveH1 · 14 May 2017

Hi everyone, my first post here! :)

I have a strange puzzling issue with the Windows Update pages on my system, which has been there ever since I updated to Windows 10 version 1703, the so-called "Creators Update".
Everything seems to be functioning OK, it's just annoying me!

There is a notice in red at the top of the first page that says "*Some settings are hidden or managed by your organisation". It includes an asterisk at the start for some reason, I don't know if that is significant.

The same notice appears at the top of the "Advanced options" page, but nowhere else.

This is something that I would normally expect to see if I had Group Policy restrictions in place, but I have no Group Policies configured, in fact I have the whole Group Policy system disabled, as I have no use for it.

I can't see any options that are disabled/greyed-out that I wouldn't expect to be, and I'm not aware that any are missing. I thought that it might have been the "Include driver updates when I update windows" check box on the Advanced options page, but I gather that this was removed in the final release of version 1703 anyway.

So, has anyone got any idea why I'm seeing this?
It's a standalone system, not connected to a domain or anything like that. It is on a home network, but no Homegroup is configured. Searching the registry has provided no clues as to why I'm seeing this notice.

Any suggestions gratefully received, and I would of course like to know if anyone else is seeing this!
Cheers, Dave.
:)

dalchina · 14 May 2017

Hi, you could try this (taken from pre creator's update post):
This may fix 'Some settings are managed by your organisation..' on Windows update Settings dialogues:

1. Using the Group Policy Editor:

Launch the "Group Policy" editor
Press [WinKey] + [R] and type gpedit.msc

In the window that appears, follow "Computer Configuration" then "Administrative Templates" finally right click "All Settings

Select "Filter Options"

"Change the drop down for "Configured" to "Yes". Untick the check boxes if any are ticked."

Press OK

I found that setting Managed, Configured, Commented - all of them- to 'Any' removed the message.

DaveH1 · 14 May 2017

Thanks, I've tried that and no difference I'm afraid, the message is still there!

As I said in my first post, I have Group Policy completely disabled anyway, by checking both boxes on the properties of "Local Computer Policy", so I don't think that anything in Group Policy is going to change anything.
The message must be being generated as a result of something else other than a Group Policy setting.
:)

dalchina · 14 May 2017

Are you saying that the registry keys which the group policy editor accesses are somehow disabled, or access to them by anything is blocked?

I don't know what you mean by having

the whole Group Policy system disabled

I'm afraid. Do you simply mean the group policy editor is rendered inaccessible?

I've tried that

- so did you despite the above use the group policy editor for that?

The intent of the message is to indicate registry data corresponding to group policies is different to what is expected. Thus it is very confusing for individual users. Such changes don't have to be made by the Group Policy editor- could be by 3rd party programs.

Thanks.

See:
Remove in Windows Update : Windows10
Some settings are managed by your organisation - Windows 10 Forums

In the 2nd is a solution to exactly your symptom.

DaveH1 · 14 May 2017

If you right click on "Local Computer Policy" at the top of the left pane of the Group Policy editor, and select "Properties" there are two check boxes to disable Group Policy for the whole machine and for the current user. I have always had both of these checked as I have never had any need to apply any Group Policies. They are all set to "Not Configured" anyway, and always have been.
I have tested, and if I re-enable Group Policies and apply a setting, it does work, so the system is functional, I just don't use it.
It is certainly possible that a Group Policy is being applied in the registry, despite what the Group Policy editor says, even though I took steps to reset the whole of Group Policy in case that was the case, but I've never been able to identify any.
Most of the registry keys that refer to "Policies" are empty, as I would expect them to be.
I will check out your links, thanks!
:)

DaveH1 · 14 May 2017

I checked out the links, which were very helpful thanks.

I backed up the registry and ran all the delete commands in post #14 in the second link.
They all deleted OK except the one that had reported "Access Denied" for @simrick.

Unfortunately, again no difference, the message is still there!

I notice that in the other instances of it that have been reported, there does not seem to be an asterisk at the start of the message. Is this significant, and does anyone know what it means?
Cheers, Dave.
:)

simrick · 14 May 2017

Hi.
I haven't seen this problem in a while. Have you installed any anti-telemetry programs?
Can't update Windows - Page 8 - Windows 10 Forums

Please be sure you've got a current image of your entire OS (using Macrium or another imaging program).

Another options would be to perform an in-place repair install.
Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials

This will keep all your apps and data, so no damage done, (but best to be prepared with an image).

simrick · 14 May 2017

Another option would be to try Tweaking.com and only select Reset File Permissions and Reset Registry Permissions.

Content Overview

But if you've used any anti-telemetry programs, you need to "undo" what they've done first.

dalchina · 15 May 2017

@simrick- thanks, when I looked at this a while back, I have a note that an in-place upgrade will not reset so-called 'privacy' settings (Spybot Anti-beacon, OO Shutup etc).
@DaveH1- Tweaking.com's cautious free repair tool which Simrick refers to is considered safe- follow its cautious steps, and only use relevant repairs if you try it.

As you say, the * in the message is unusual. I've just remembered I saw one report here:

References:
um, what? : windowsphone

*Some settings are hidden or managed by your company - Windows 10 Forums
(unresolved by some of our experts)

(That 1st like looks odd as shown, but it's a valid reddit link)

simrick · 15 May 2017

dalchina said:

@simrick- thanks, when I looked at this a while back, I have a note that an in-place upgrade will not reset so-called 'privacy' settings (Spybot Anti-beacon, OO Shutup etc).

Hi Dalchina. It's been about a year since I've seen this problem, and my memory is not the best. It's quite possible an in-place repair won't do anything. Perhaps Tweaking.com is the way to go. But, if anti-telemetry software has indeed been used, that needs to be reversed first.