Computer-fu: I don’t want to restart Windows XP right now
Microsoft really wants to make sure have all the latest security updates for your comp: the default settings have the computer automatically download and install your security patches. And when that gets finished, Windows prompts you every 10 minutes “Do you want to restart your computer now?”
Now, if you’re in the middle of doing something on the computer (which you are, because you’re reading the blasted message), you choose “Restart Later”. 10 minutes later, it asks you again. This may start to get a smidgeon annoying.
But you have the power to change how often it pops up (or even eliminate it altogether):
1. Click the Start button, then Run (for those of you who speak keyboard shortcuts, it’s Windows key + R)
2. Type gpedit.msc in the box and hit enter.
3. You’ll see a window titled “Group Policy”. Open the folders as follows:
Local Computer Policy
+ Computer Configuration
+ Administrative Templates
+ Windows Components
Windows Update
4. The setting we want is “Re-prompt for restart with scheduled installations”. (If no one’s messed with it, the state will say “Not configured”, which defaults to showing the restart message every 10 minutes.)
Double-click to open.
5. Select the “Enabled” button, and fill in the box with the delay in minutes before the restart box will pop up, and click “OK”. Or you can disable it if you never want to see it again.
