The Windows 7 Action Center, formerly known as Windows Security Center (in Windows Vista and Windows XP starting sp2), has evolved so that now it contains security as well as computer maintenance. This guide will show you how to tweak its settings.
Action Center is one of the numerous ways in which Microsoft tries to offer users an advantage, from the security point of view, by displaying notifications about Windows Update, firewall, virus and spyware protection. It is also a means to keep Windows 7 performing well by offering solutions to common maintenance problems. Some of the solutions offered by the Windows 7 Action Center also improve Windows 7 speed and performance.
When it needs user attention the Action Center will show an icon with a flag marked with an x in the System Notification Area. Clicking on that icon will display a notification tooltip that shows important messages. Clicking on one of the messages will trigger an action for that specific message, meant to help you solve that problem.
Open the Action Center
You have the possibility to open the Action Center by clicking on Open Action Center in the notification near the clock.
You can also open it by typing its name in the Start Menu search box and clicking on it once it appears in the search results.
View archived messages
By clicking on this button you will see a list of past events.
You can view each solution detailed after double clicking on it. You will also notice that the instructions are very easy to follow and that information is structured in a very nice and tidy way.
Change Action Center settings
Clicking on Change Action Center settings opens a window that allows you to select which messages should be displayed as notifications. They are grouped into 2 categories as follows: 
Security messages
- Windows Update
- Internet security settings
- Network firewall
- Spyware and related protection
- User Account Control
- Virus protection
Maintenance messages
- Windows Backup
- Windows Troubleshooting
- Check for updates
The default setting for Windows 7 is having all of these messages checked so that the notification for each one of them is activated. Unchecking one or more of the options makes the Action Center disable the notification for the specific item. When you’re done tweaking the settings according to your needs, hit OK.
If you know more about the Windows 7 Action Center you can share with us by posting a comment.
Tags: action center, optimize windows 7, tweak, Windows 7
