Fixes for Windows Annoyances
Show of hands if this has happened to you: You step away from the computer for a little while, and when you come back, all your windows and work are gone. Why? Because Windows downloaded some updates and took it upon itself to reboot without your permission. This week I’m going beyond my usual Windows advice to tell you how to deal with that Windows quirk and more.
Stop Vista from Rebooting After Automatic Updates
This particular annoyance happened to me not long ago, and I lost some in-progress work as a result. (Note to Microsoft: beyond inexcusable, guys. Beyond inexcusable.)
Actually, I’d instructed the Windows Update pop-up to postpone rebooting for four hours–and just happened to be away from the PC when that timer ran out. Unlucky me.
There’s a ridiculously easy fix for this, and I’m kicking myself for not applying it sooner. If you’ve been plagued by the same problem, here’s what you need to do:
In Vista, click Start, type Windows Update, and then hit Enter. Click the Change Settings option. Change the setting to “Download updates but let me choose whether to install them.” Click OK.
That’s all there is to it. Windows may still nag you about installing updates, but at least it won’t reboot without your permission.
Why Your Laptop Flakes Out at the Coffee Shop
Has this ever happened to you? You fire up your laptop at the local coffee shop (or library, airport, or any other Wi-Fi hotspot), only to get a barrage of error messages from various programs.
Don’t panic! There’s a very simple explanation for this: When you boot your system, some startup programs require immediate Internet access–and when they don’t find it, they produce errors (and often-cryptic ones at that).
Complete articles : www.computerworld.com
Related posts:
- What Are Your Biggest Windows Annoyances? [Ask The Readers]
- Cache My Work: reopen your Apps after reboot
- Uninstall & Remove Windows XP Updates With Windows Update Remover
- Boot Snooze Reboots and Hibernates Your Computer for Faster Startup Time
- Disabling User Account Control (UAC) in Windows 7