If you’ve got automatic updates turned on in Vista (you do, don’t you?) you’ve probably noticed that wonderful warning that your computer is going to automatically reboot in ten minutes.

In general I’m ok with this but the trouble is when I’ve intentionally left my computer running so it can accomplish something that doesn’t need me present, and then reboots while I’m gone due to some updates. I then come home that evening, or sometimes days later, to find the login screen and my program no longer running. (Oh, and I can’t remotely login to my computer either when this happens.)

So, if you’re interested in preventing this from happening just head on over to HowToGeek.com and check out their article on this exact topic. They provide two solutions: one a registry edit, the other a small .exe which will turn this “feature” on and off with just a few clicks.

I do not know if this will work in Windows 7.