Win10 automation? Can even use the system!

Although many tasks in Windows 10 still require manual input, there are situations where you might want to automate certain processes. For example, automatic login without user interaction, automatic selection of the boot option, unattended system updates, and automatic backups when the system is idle. These features can be set up to make your computing experience more efficient and less time-consuming.

1. Automatic Login Without a Password

Every time you start your computer, entering a password can be inconvenient. While setting an empty password may seem easier, it's not secure and could expose your system to potential threats. A better solution is to keep a password set but configure the system to automatically log in. There are multiple ways to do this.

The first method involves using the "Run" command. Press Win+R, type Rundll32 Netplwiz.dll, UsersRunDll, and press Enter. This opens the User Accounts dialog. Select the account you want to auto-login with, then uncheck the box that says "To use this computer, the user must enter a username and password." After confirming, you'll be prompted to enter the password for that account. From now on, the system will automatically log in without requiring manual input.

Tip: You can also run NETPLWIZ directly from the Run window to access the same settings.

Another way is through the Registry Editor. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon. Create a new string value named AutoAdminLogon and set its value to 1. Then, set DefaultUserName to the desired username and create a new string value called DefaultPassword with the corresponding password. Restart the system for changes to take effect.

2. Automatic Boot Selection

On shared computers or those running multiple operating systems, manually selecting the boot option every time can be tedious. If you want your system to automatically boot into a specific OS, like Windows 7, you can configure this using the System Configuration tool (MSCONFIG).

Open MSCONFIG via the Run window or Command Prompt. Go to the "Boot" tab, select the desired OS entry (e.g., Windows 7), and click "Set as Default." This ensures the system boots into the selected OS automatically without any user input. You can also combine this with the automatic login method to avoid needing a password during boot.

3. Unattended System Updates

If your Windows 10 machine serves as a file or print server, it should remain online and updated. To ensure continuous updates without interruption, disable the scheduled restart feature and prevent update pauses.

Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Under "Restart Options," turn off the "Scheduled Time" toggle. Also, in the "Advanced Options" section, ensure "Pause Updates" is set to "Off." This allows the system to update automatically and apply changes without user intervention.

4. Automatic Backup When Idle

Windows 10 systems can be unstable due to frequent updates, making regular backups essential. However, scheduling backups during work hours might interfere with productivity. Instead, use an unattended backup solution that runs when the system is idle.

Tools like Acronis Backup allow you to schedule daily or weekly backups. Choose the system partition to back up, set the backup type (full or incremental), and enable the option to shut down the computer after the backup completes. Specify the storage location and confirm the settings. Once configured, the system will perform the backup automatically when it's idle.

By implementing these automation techniques, you can significantly reduce manual tasks and improve the reliability and efficiency of your Windows 10 environment.