Win10 automation? Can even use the system!

Although many tasks on Windows 10 still require manual input, there are situations where you'd prefer the system to operate without human intervention. For example, automatic login, automatic startup selection, unattended updates, and scheduled backups. These features can enhance convenience and security while reducing user effort. Here’s how to set them up.

1. Automatic Login Without Password

Manually entering a password every time your computer starts can be tedious. While setting an empty password is risky, a safer alternative is to configure the system to automatically log in with a stored password. This ensures security without the hassle of typing in credentials each time.

The first method involves using the "Netplwiz" tool. Press Win+R, type Rundll32 Netplwiz.dll,UsersRunDll, and press Enter. In the User Accounts window, uncheck the box that says “To use this computer, the user must enter a username and password.” Then, enter your password when prompted. From now on, Windows will automatically log in using the selected account.

Another approach is modifying the registry. Open the Registry Editor and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon. Create a new string value named AutoAdminLogon and set it to 1. Also, set DefaultUserName to the desired account name and DefaultPassword to the corresponding password. Restart the system for changes to take effect.

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

2. Automatic Startup Selection

If your office uses multiple operating systems, such as Windows 7 and Windows 10, you might want the system to boot into a specific OS automatically. This avoids the need to manually choose the boot option each time.

To do this, open System Configuration (MSCONFIG) by typing msconfig in the Run window. Go to the Boot tab, select the desired OS (e.g., Windows 7), and click “Set as Default.” This ensures the system boots directly into the chosen OS without user input.

For added convenience, you can also enable automatic login for the selected OS using the methods described earlier.

3. Unattended System Updates

Keeping a server or file-sharing computer updated is essential for security. However, automatic restarts during updates can be disruptive. To prevent this, disable the scheduled restart feature in Windows Update settings.

Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Under “Restart Options,” turn off the scheduled restart. Also, make sure the “Pause Updates” option is set to “Off” in Advanced Options. This allows the system to update automatically without interrupting users.

4. Unattended Automatic Backups

Windows 10 is prone to issues due to frequent updates. Regular backups are crucial for data protection. However, performing backups during working hours can be inconvenient. Instead, schedule backups during idle times.

Using tools like Acronis Backup Utility, you can automate the process. Set up a backup task, choose the system partition, and schedule it to run daily or weekly. Select full or incremental backup options, and in the Advanced settings, choose to shut down the computer after the backup completes. This way, your system will back up automatically without requiring any manual input.