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Windows 7

Disable Security or Maintenance Messages in the Action Center

SUMMARY: Prevent Windows 7's Action Center from alerting you when it detects what it thinks is a potential problem.

Windows 7's Action Center alerts you when potential computer problems exist such as the virus protection being out of date, a backup needing to occur, or if your computer needs to be restarted.

For various reasons you may not wish a particular message to appear. For example, if you backup your data manually or with third-party software, the Action Center message telling you to start the Backup tool may be annoying. Or, your third-party anti-virus software may not be recognized by the Windows Action Center, with it warning you that you need to install a scanner. Thus individual messages can be disabled.

Disable messages at your own risk! Disabling messages may prevent you from receiving needed warnings about Windows, security settings, or other software packages.

1. If the Windows Action Center flag appears in the Windows Taskbar, click it and select "Open Action Center". Otherwise, click the Start button, type "action center", and click the "Action Center" link.

2. The Action Center window appears. In the left pane click "Change Action Center settings".

3. On the following screen, uncheck boxes next to messages you do not wish to see. Message categories include:

Security messages
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Windows Update
Internet security settings
Network firewall
Spyware and related protection
User Account Control
Virus protection

Maintenance messages
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Windows Backup
Windows Troubleshooting
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