How can I turn off messages for certain Action Center items?

Question

I'd like to find a way to turn off messages for Windows Update, Network Firewall and Windows Backup. Ideally I'd like to do it with Group Policy however I can't find a policy for this. We're deploying Windows 7 right now and we'll need a solution that's domain-wide.Orange County District Attorney

Answer 1

Here's a script I made to uncheck Windows Update, Network firewall, Windows Backup for Windows 7 machines: (Just comment or uncomment both the Hold__ = True lines below)
Note: this only un-checks the boxes
Option Explicit
Dim WshShell:Set WshShell=CreateObject("Wscript.Shell")
On Error Resume Next
Dim HoldReg, HoldProblem, HoldWindowsUpdate, HoldSpyware, HoldInternet, HoldUAC, HoldFirewall, HoldVirus, HoldBackup, HoldCheckUpdates, HoldTroubleshooting
HoldProblem = False
HoldWindowsUpdate = False
HoldSpyware = False
HoldInternet = False
HoldUAC = False
HoldFirewall = False
HoldVirus = False
HoldBackup = False
HoldCheckUpdates = False
HoldTroubleshooting = False
Err.Clear()
'Windows Update
HoldReg = WshShell.RegRead ("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Action Center\Checks\{E8433B72-5842-4d43-8645-BC2C35960837}.check.103\CheckSetting")
If Err <> 0 Then
    HoldWindowsUpdate = True
ElseIf uBound(HoldReg) < 220 Then
    HoldWindowsUpdate = True
End If
Err.Clear()
'Spyware
HoldReg = WshShell.RegRead ("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Action Center\Checks\{E8433B72-5842-4d43-8645-BC2C35960837}.check.102\CheckSetting")
If Err <> 0 Then
'    HoldSpyware = True
ElseIf uBound(HoldReg) < 100 Then
'    HoldSpyware = True
End If
Err.Clear()
'Internet
HoldReg = WshShell.RegRead ("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Action Center\Checks\{E8433B72-5842-4d43-8645-BC2C35960837}.check.104\CheckSetting")
If Err <> 0 Then
'    HoldInternet = True
ElseIf uBound(HoldReg) < 100 Then
'    HoldInternet = True
End If
Err.Clear()
'UAC
HoldReg = WshShell.RegRead ("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Action Center\Checks\{C8E6F269-B90A-4053-A3BE-499AFCEC98C4}.check.0\CheckSetting")
If Err <> 0 Then
'    HoldUAC = True
ElseIf uBound(HoldReg) < 100 Then
'    HoldUAC = True
End If
Err.Clear()
'Firewall
HoldReg = WshShell.RegRead ("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Action Center\Checks\{E8433B72-5842-4d43-8645-BC2C35960837}.check.101\CheckSetting")
If Err <> 0 Then
    HoldFirewall = True
ElseIf uBound(HoldReg) < 220 Then
    HoldFirewall = True
End If
Err.Clear()
'Virus
HoldReg = WshShell.RegRead ("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Action Center\Checks\{E8433B72-5842-4d43-8645-BC2C35960837}.check.100\CheckSetting")
If Err <> 0 Then
'    HoldVirus = True
ElseIf uBound(HoldReg) < 100 Then
'    HoldVirus = True
End If
Err.Clear()
'Windows Backup
HoldReg = WshShell.RegRead ("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Action Center\Checks\{01979c6a-42fa-414c-b8aa-eee2c8202018}.check.100\CheckSetting")
If Err <> 0 Then
    HoldBackup = True
ElseIf uBound(HoldReg) < 100 Then
    HoldBackup = True
End If
Err.Clear()
'Check for updates
HoldReg = WshShell.RegRead ("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Action Center\Checks\{945a8954-c147-4acd-923f-40c45405a658}.check.42\CheckSetting")
If Err <> 0 Then
'    HoldCheckUpdates = True
ElseIf uBound(HoldReg) < 100 Then
'    HoldCheckUpdates = True
End If
Err.Clear()
'Troubleshooting
HoldReg = WshShell.RegRead ("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Action Center\Checks\{A5268B8E-7DB5-465b-BAB7-BDCDA39A394A}.check.100\CheckSetting")
If Err <> 0 Then
'    HoldTroubleshooting = True
ElseIf uBound(HoldReg) < 100 Then
'    HoldTroubleshooting = True
End If
Err.Clear()
If HoldWindowsUpdate+HoldSpyware+HoldInternet+HoldUAC+HoldFirewall+HoldVirus+HoldBackup+HoldCheckUpdates+HoldTroubleshooting <> 0 Then
    WshShell.run "rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL wscui.cpl", 1
    Wscript.Sleep 1000
    WshShell.SendKeys("+{TAB}") 'shift-tab
    WshShell.SendKeys("+{TAB}")
    WshShell.SendKeys("+{TAB}")
    WshShell.SendKeys("+{TAB}")
    WshShell.SendKeys("+{TAB}")
    WshShell.SendKeys("+{TAB}")
    WshShell.SendKeys("+{TAB}")
    WshShell.SendKeys("+{TAB}")
    WshShell.SendKeys("{ENTER}")
    Wscript.Sleep 500
    WshShell.SendKeys("{TAB}")
    If HoldWindowsUpdate Then
        WshShell.SendKeys(" ")
    End If
    WshShell.SendKeys("{TAB}")
    If HoldSpyware Then
        WshShell.SendKeys(" ")
    End If
    WshShell.SendKeys("{TAB}")
    If HoldInternet Then
        WshShell.SendKeys(" ")
    End If
    WshShell.SendKeys("{TAB}")
    If HoldUAC Then
        WshShell.SendKeys(" ")
    End If
    WshShell.SendKeys("{TAB}")
    If HoldFirewall Then
        WshShell.SendKeys(" ")
    End If
    WshShell.SendKeys("{TAB}")
    If HoldVirus Then
        WshShell.SendKeys(" ")
    End If
    WshShell.SendKeys("{TAB}")
    If HoldBackup Then
        WshShell.SendKeys(" ")
    End If
    WshShell.SendKeys("{TAB}")
    If HoldCheckUpdates Then
        WshShell.SendKeys(" ")
    End If
    WshShell.SendKeys("{TAB}")
    If HoldTroubleshooting Then
        WshShell.SendKeys(" ")
    End If
    WshShell.SendKeys("{TAB}")
    WshShell.SendKeys("{TAB}")
    WshShell.SendKeys("{TAB}")
    WshShell.SendKeys("{TAB}")
    Wscript.Sleep 500
    WshShell.SendKeys("{ENTER}")
    Wscript.Sleep 500
    WshShell.SendKeys "%{F4}" 'alt-f4
    If HoldWindowsUpdate Then
        HoldReg = WshShell.RegRead ("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Action Center\Checks\{E8433B72-5842-4d43-8645-BC2C35960837}.check.103\CheckSetting")
        If uBound(HoldReg) < 220 Then
            MsgBox "Problem unchecking Windows Update"
            HoldProblem = True
        End If
    End If
    If HoldSpyware Then
        HoldReg = WshShell.RegRead ("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Action Center\Checks\{E8433B72-5842-4d43-8645-BC2C35960837}.check.102\CheckSetting")
        If uBound(HoldReg) < 100 Then
            MsgBox "Problem unchecking Spyware"
            HoldProblem = True
        End If
    End If
    If HoldInternet Then
        HoldReg = WshShell.RegRead ("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Action Center\Checks\{E8433B72-5842-4d43-8645-BC2C35960837}.check.104\CheckSetting")
        If uBound(HoldReg) < 100 Then
            MsgBox "Problem unchecking Internet"
            HoldProblem = True
        End If
    End If
    If HoldUAC Then
        HoldReg = WshShell.RegRead ("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Action Center\Checks\{C8E6F269-B90A-4053-A3BE-499AFCEC98C4}.check.0\CheckSetting")
        If uBound(HoldReg) < 100 Then
            MsgBox "Problem unchecking Firewall"
            HoldProblem = True
        End If
    End If
    If HoldFirewall Then
        HoldReg = WshShell.RegRead ("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Action Center\Checks\{E8433B72-5842-4d43-8645-BC2C35960837}.check.101\CheckSetting")
        If uBound(HoldReg) < 220 Then
            MsgBox "Problem unchecking Virus"
            HoldProblem = True
        End If
    End If
    If HoldVirus Then
        HoldReg = WshShell.RegRead ("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Action Center\Checks\{E8433B72-5842-4d43-8645-BC2C35960837}.check.100\CheckSetting")
        If uBound(HoldReg) < 100 Then
            MsgBox "Problem unchecking Backup"
            HoldProblem = True
        End If
    End If
    If HoldBackup Then
        HoldReg = WshShell.RegRead ("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Action Center\Checks\{01979c6a-42fa-414c-b8aa-eee2c8202018}.check.100\CheckSetting")
        If uBound(HoldReg) < 100 Then
            MsgBox "Problem unchecking Backup"
            HoldProblem = True
        End If
    End If
    If HoldCheckUpdates Then
        HoldReg = WshShell.RegRead ("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Action Center\Checks\{945a8954-c147-4acd-923f-40c45405a658}.check.42\CheckSetting")
        If uBound(HoldReg) < 100 Then
            MsgBox "Problem unchecking Check Updates"
            HoldCheckUpdates = True
        End If
    End If
    If HoldTroubleshooting Then
        HoldReg = WshShell.RegRead ("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Action Center\Checks\{A5268B8E-7DB5-465b-BAB7-BDCDA39A394A}.check.100\CheckSetting")
        If uBound(HoldReg) < 100 Then
            MsgBox "Problem unchecking Troubleshooting"
            HoldProblem = True
        End If
    End If
    If HoldProblem Then
        Wscript.Sleep 1000
        WshShell.run "rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL wscui.cpl", 1
        Wscript.Sleep 1000
        WshShell.SendKeys("+{TAB}") 'shift-tab
        WshShell.SendKeys("+{TAB}")
        WshShell.SendKeys("+{TAB}")
        WshShell.SendKeys("+{TAB}")
        WshShell.SendKeys("+{TAB}")
        WshShell.SendKeys("+{TAB}")
        WshShell.SendKeys("+{TAB}")
        WshShell.SendKeys("+{TAB}")
        WshShell.SendKeys("{ENTER}")
        MsgBox "Please select options manually"
    Else
        MsgBox "Done"
    End If
Else
    MsgBox "No changes made"
End If
Set WshShell = Nothing