A new newsletter from PC Advisor reveals a surprising feature of Win8 that new users may want to know can be changed.

According to the article, the default setup is to download and install updates automatically. This is the same (in name) as the preferred setting for earlier versions, but with earlier ones when Windows decided it was time to install and informed you that "updates will be installed in 15 minutes" a simple click told it "not now, I'll tell you when."

For the default setting, when Windows 8 says "updates will be installed in 15 minutes" there's no "waitabit" button, and whatever you're doing will cease and go away if you don't save and get out, since the update will be installed in 15 minutes and you can't stop or delay it.

The instructions say that you can change the settings, with the prefered setting being "download automatically and notify me when updates are ready to be installed."

I'm a little puzzled by the instruction on how to waggle your finger or where and how to swoop your mouse to get to the settings, by the comment (after a couple of steps that say to click on specific commands) that

"Depending on which view you're presented with, go to xxx and do yyy and then zzz, or if kkkk click qqqqq and chose &%^#$@! and choose whatevrthef**."

Ordinarily I'd just post the instructions, but the article has several screen shots that (based on the above simple instruction) may be necessary for some to follow them.

Get the instructions at How to stop Windows 8 installing updates automatically

John