Reboot Nag [Restart Alert] [Prompter]

Overview

This automated procedure ensures that managed workstations are rebooted in a timely manner after system updates or after extended periods of uptime. Regular reboots are essential for applying security patches, maintaining system stability, and ensuring optimal performance.

To minimize disruption to end-users, this procedure uses a friendly, customizable prompt that allows users to postpone the reboot around their schedule, while still guaranteeing the reboot eventually happens.

How It Works

1. Configuration Generation: When the procedure runs, it first checks which settings were provided by your IT administrator (such as how long to wait before prompting, custom messages, or suppression windows). It safely writes these specific settings into a temporary configuration file (JSON format) on the local machine.

2. Script Execution: The procedure then launches a secure, pre-approved PowerShell script.

3. Smart Defaults: The script reads the configuration file created in step one. If a specific setting was not provided by the IT administrator, the script automatically falls back to built-in, best-practice default values so the process never fails.

4. User Interaction: If the criteria for a reboot are met, the script displays a user-friendly prompt. The end-user can choose to reboot immediately or postpone.

5. Autonomous Management: Once the initial prompt is shown, the script manages its own schedule in the background. It will continue to remind the user at the defined intervals. If the user ignores the final prompt, the system will automatically schedule and execute a forced reboot to ensure compliance.

Key Benefits & Behaviors

• Non-Disruptive: Prompts can be suppressed during specified off-hours (e.g., overnight) and on weekends.

• Intelligent Skipping: The script automatically delays prompting if it detects that no user is currently logged in, or if the computer screen is locked. It can also detect if Windows Updates or software installations are currently running in the background and will hold off the reboot until they finish.

• Self-Cleaning: After the machine is successfully rebooted, the script automatically detects the fresh boot, cleans up its temporary scheduled tasks and files, and exits silently without leaving any clutter behind.

Default Prompt Flow (5 prompts, 4 hours apart)

Prompt	Type	User Options	What Happens If Ignored
1st – 4th	Regular	Postpone or Reboot Now	Treated as postpone; script reschedules for next interval
5th	Final (scheduling)	Date/time picker + Schedule Reboot	Reboot is forced after timeout (default 15 min)

Desktop_reboot_max_postpone controls the total number of prompts in the cycle (regular + final). With the default of 5: 4 regular prompts + 1 final = 5 total.

After the final prompt

• If the user picks a time 15+ minutes in the future → reboot is scheduled, and a reminder appears 10 minutes before.
• If the user picks a time less than 15 minutes away → reboot is forced after the configured delay.
• If the prompt times out → reboot is forced immediately.

Automatic Behaviours

Scenario	What Happens
User reboots on their own	On the next scheduled run, the script detects either fresh uptime (less than the interval) OR that LastBootUpTime is newer than the last prompt timestamp, cleans up all tasks and state, and exits. No further prompts.
User reboots after reminder / during shutdown countdown	Windows automatically cancels the pending shutdown /r timer. All tasks and state were already cleaned up when the shutdown was scheduled, so nothing remains to trigger a second reboot.
Machine is locked	Prompt is skipped; script reschedules for the next interval. If Desktop_reboot_max_missed_prompts is set, skipped prompts increment a counter until a forced reboot is triggered.
No user logged in	Prompt is skipped and rescheduled — unless Reboot_if_not_logged_in is enabled, in which case the machine reboots directly.
No user + install in progress	Even with auto-reboot enabled, the script defers if it detects an active installation (Windows Update, MSI, BITS, winget, etc.) and reschedules.
Weekend / Suppress window active	Prompt is skipped; script reschedules. If Desktop_reboot_during_suppress is enabled, unattended or forced reboots will bypass this restriction and proceed.
No internet	Script reschedules itself rather than failing.
Component run again while cycle is active	Exits without changes unless Desktop_reboot_force_reset is set.
Dutch-language user	Prompts automatically appear in Dutch for nl-NL and nl-BE display languages.

Dependencies

• Invoke-RebootWithPrompt
• OmniPrompt
• SilentLauncher

Implementation

1. Export the agent procedure from ProVal's VSA RMM instance.
   Name: Reboot Nag [Restart Alert] [Prompter]

   The export will download the necessary XML file.

2. Import this XML file into the partner's VSA RMM instance.

3. Export the Invoke-RebootWithPrompt-KI.ps1 from the ProVal's Internal VSA. This is also placed under the below path:
   Manage Files > Shared Files > PVAL > Invoke-RebootWithPrompt-KI.ps1

4. Map the Invoke-RebootWithPrompt-KI.ps1 into the 92th step of the script in the client's environment.

Sample Run

To execute the component on a specific machine:

1. Select the machine you want to run the script on from Kaseya RMM.

2. Search the script Reboot Nag [Restart Alert] [Prompter] and click on Select.
   

3. Click on the Run Now button.
   

4. After selecting the component, configure the variables as described below.

Configuring the Variables

Enablement & Overrides:

5. Set Enable_reboot_nag to True to bypass all enablement checks and immediately start prompting.
6. Set Desktop_reboot_force_reset to True to clear stored state and scheduled tasks, then restart the prompt cycle from the beginning.

Enablement Conditions:

7. Set Desktop_reboot_show_popup_if_pending_reboot_days — if a pending reboot is detected, prompts start after this many uptime days. Set to 0 to disable this condition.
8. Set Desktop_reboot_show_popup_if_not_rebooted_days — prompts start if uptime exceeds this many days, regardless of pending reboot. Set to 0 to disable this condition.

Prompt Scheduling:

9. Set Desktop_reboot_max_postpone — total number of prompts in the cycle (regular + final). Regular prompts = value - 1.
10. Set Desktop_reboot_popup_interval_mins — minutes between successive prompt attempts.
11. Set Desktop_reboot_regular_prompt_timeout_secs — seconds before a regular prompt auto-closes (treated as postponed).
12. Set Desktop_reboot_final_prompt_timeout_secs — seconds before the final scheduling prompt auto-closes (triggers reboot).
13. Set Desktop_reboot_delay_after_final_prompt_secs — seconds to wait before rebooting when the user selects an invalid or too-soon time.

Behaviour Switches:

14. Set Desktop_reboot_suppress_popup_time_windows — time range when prompts are suppressed (for example, 1800-0900 for 6 PM to 9 AM).
15. Set Desktop_reboot_skip_weekends to True to skip prompts on Saturdays and Sundays.
16. Set Reboot_if_not_logged_in to True to auto-reboot when no user is logged in (guarded by install-in-progress checks).
17. Set Desktop_reboot_max_missed_prompts — number of consecutive skipped prompts (e.g., locked screen) before forcing a reboot without the GUI. Set to 0 to disable.
18. Set Desktop_reboot_during_suppress to True to allow unattended or forced reboots to proceed during suppress windows or weekends.

Branding:

19. Set Icon — URL or local path for the prompt window icon.
20. Set HeaderImage — URL or local path for the prompt header image.
21. Set Desktop_reboot_theme — prompt window theme (Dark or Light). Default is Dark.

Custom Messages (Optional):

22. Set Desktop_reboot_title — custom window title (leave blank for language-appropriate default).
23. Set Desktop_reboot_regular_prompt_message — custom message for regular prompts.
24. Set Desktop_reboot_final_prompt_message — custom message for the final scheduling prompt.
25. Set Desktop_reboot_reminder_title — custom title for the reminder before a scheduled reboot.
26. Set Desktop_reboot_reminder_message — custom message for the reminder prompt.
27. Click on Submit to initiate the component.

Sample Prompts (English)

Regular prompt (Postpone or Reboot Now):

Regular prompt (Postpone or Reboot Now):

Final scheduling prompt (date/time picker):

Reminder prompt (10 minutes before scheduled reboot):

Windows Shutdown Warning:

Note: The Windows shutdown warning says "shut down" — this is standard Windows behavior. Despite the wording, the machine will restart (not power off) because the script uses shutdown /r (restart flag). This is a cosmetic quirk of the Windows notification and does not affect functionality.

Sample Prompts (Dutch)

Regular prompt (Postpone or Reboot Now):

Regular prompt (Postpone or Reboot Now):

Final scheduling prompt (date/time picker):

Reminder prompt (10 minutes before scheduled reboot):

Windows Shutdown Warning:

Note: The Windows shutdown warning says "shut down" — this is standard Windows behavior. Despite the wording, the machine will restart (not power off) because the script uses shutdown /r (restart flag). This is a cosmetic quirk of the Windows notification and does not affect functionality.

Variables

Enablement & Overrides

Variable	Type	Default	Description
Enable_reboot_nag	String	False	Enable to bypass all enablement checks and immediately start prompting. Accepted values: 1, Yes, True
Desktop_reboot_force_reset	String	False	Enable to clear stored state and scheduled tasks, restarting the prompt cycle from the beginning. Accepted values: 1, Yes, True

Enablement Conditions

Variable	Type	Default	Description
Desktop_reboot_show_popup_if_pending_reboot_days	String	2	If a pending reboot is detected (Windows Update or CBS registry keys), start prompting after this many days of uptime. Set to 0 to disable this condition.
Desktop_reboot_show_popup_if_not_rebooted_days	String	30	Start prompting if system uptime exceeds this many days, regardless of pending reboot status. Set to 0 to disable.

Prompt Scheduling

Variable	Type	Default	Description
Desktop_reboot_max_postpone	String	5	Total number of prompts in the cycle (regular + final). Regular prompts = value - 1. Default gives 4 regular + 1 final.
Desktop_reboot_popup_interval_mins	String	240	Minutes between successive prompt attempts.
Desktop_reboot_regular_prompt_timeout_secs	String	600	Timeout in seconds for regular prompts. When it expires, the prompt is treated as postponed.
Desktop_reboot_final_prompt_timeout_secs	String	900	Timeout in seconds for the final scheduling prompt. When it expires, the machine reboots.
Desktop_reboot_delay_after_final_prompt_secs	String	600	Seconds to wait before rebooting when the user selects an invalid or too-soon time on the final prompt.

Behavior Switches

Variable	Type	Default	Description
Desktop_reboot_suppress_popup_time_windows	String	(not set)	Time window during which prompts are suppressed, in HHmm-HHmm 24-hour format. Example: 1800-0900 suppresses from 6 PM to 9 AM. Spans midnight.
Desktop_reboot_skip_weekends	String	False	Enable to skip prompts on Saturdays and Sundays. Accepted values: 1, Yes, True
Reboot_if_not_logged_in	String	False	Enable to reboot immediately if no user is logged in. Guarded by install-in-progress check — if an update or installer is running, the reboot is deferred to the next interval. Accepted values: 1, Yes, True
Desktop_reboot_max_missed_prompts	String	0	Number of consecutive skipped prompt attempts (due to locked screen or no user logged in) before the GUI is bypassed and the reboot is forced. Set to 0 to disable forcing.
Desktop_reboot_during_suppress	String	False	Enable to allow an unattended or forced reboot to proceed inside a suppress time window or on a weekend. Interactive prompts are never shown during suppression. Accepted values: 1, Yes, True

Branding

Variable	Type	Default	Description
Icon	String	(not set)	URL or local path to an icon file for the prompt window. URLs are downloaded automatically.
HeaderImage	String	(not set)	URL or local path to a header image for the prompt window. URLs are downloaded automatically.
Desktop_reboot_theme	Selection	Dark	Prompt window theme. Valid values: Dark, Light.

Custom Messages

All message variables support substitution variables (see table below) and \n for line breaks.

Variable	Type	Default	Description
Desktop_reboot_title	String	(language-appropriate default)	Custom title for the prompt window (default is defined in the PowerShell script).
Desktop_reboot_regular_prompt_message	String	(language-appropriate default)	Message body for regular prompts (default is defined in the PowerShell script).
Desktop_reboot_final_prompt_message	String	(language-appropriate default)	Message body for the final scheduling prompt (default is defined in the PowerShell script).
Desktop_reboot_reminder_title	String	(language-appropriate default)	Title for the reminder shown 10 minutes before a scheduled reboot (default is defined in the PowerShell script).
Desktop_reboot_reminder_message	String	(language-appropriate default)	Message body for the reminder prompt (default is defined in the PowerShell script).

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Substitution Variables

Use these in any custom message. They are replaced with live values when the prompt is displayed.

Variable	Description	Example Value
%PromptsToSend%	Total number of prompts the user will receive	5
%PromptsSent%	Number of prompts already shown	2
%PromptsLeft%	Remaining prompts before the final one	3
%PromptIntervalMinutes%	Interval between prompts in minutes	240
%PromptIntervalHours%	Same interval in hours	4
%RegularTimeoutSeconds%	Regular prompt timeout in seconds	600
%RegularTimeoutMinutes%	Same timeout in minutes	10
%FinalTimeoutSeconds%	Final prompt timeout in seconds	900
%FinalTimeoutMinutes%	Same timeout in minutes	15
%DelayAfterFinalSeconds%	Delay after final prompt in seconds	600
%DelayAfterFinalMinutes%	Same delay in minutes	10
%ScheduledRebootTime%	User-selected reboot time	14:30
%MinutesUntilReboot%	Minutes until scheduled reboot	10
%ComputerName%	Machine name	PC-OFFICE-01
%UserName%	Logged-in username	jsmith

Notes:

• Variables that don't apply in a given context (e.g. %ScheduledRebootTime% during a regular prompt) are replaced with an empty string.
• Use \n in any message to insert a line break in the prompt.
• Unit conversion is automatic — Desktop_reboot_popup_mins is in minutes so %PromptIntervalHours% divides by 60; timeout/delay values are in seconds so the Minutes variants divide by 60.

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Default Messages

When no custom message is set via site variables, the component uses language-aware defaults. Language is auto-detected from the logged-on user's UI language or the system locale.

Default English Messages

Field	Default Text
Window Title	Device Reboot Required
Regular Prompt	Patching has been completed on your machine. Please save your work as a reboot would be required. You will receive %PromptsLeft% more prompt(S) for a reboot with an interval of %PromptIntervalMinutes% minutes. After the last prompt, regardless of your choices, the machine will be rebooted.\n\nPlease save your work and reboot as soon as possible.
Final Prompt	This is the final prompt. Please select a time within the next 48 hours for the reboot to begin. If no action is taken within %FinalTimeoutMinutes% minutes, the reboot will proceed automatically.\n\nChoose a time and click Schedule Reboot.
Reminder Title	Device Reboot Required - Starting Soon
Reminder Message	Your reboot is scheduled to begin at %ScheduledRebootTime%.\n\nPlease save all your work now. The reboot will start in %MinutesUntilReboot% minute(s).\n\nClick OK to acknowledge.

Default Dutch Messages

Applied automatically when the user's UI language matches nl-NL or nl-BE.

Field	Default Text
Window Title	Herstart vereist
Regular Prompt	De updates zijn voltooid op uw computer. Sla uw werk op, want een herstart is vereist. U ontvangt nog %PromptsLeft% herinnering(en) voor een herstart met een interval van %PromptIntervalMinutes% minuten. Na de laatste herinnering wordt de computer, ongeacht uw keuze, automatisch opnieuw opgestart.\n\nSla uw werk op en herstart zo snel mogelijk.
Final Prompt	Dit is de laatste herinnering. Selecteer een tijdstip binnen de komende 48 uur waarop de herstart moet plaatsvinden. Als er geen actie wordt ondernomen binnen %FinalTimeoutMinutes% minuten, wordt de herstart automatisch uitgevoerd.\n\nKies een tijdstip en klik op Herstart plannen.
Reminder Title	Herstart vereist - Start binnenkort
Reminder Message	Uw herstart staat gepland om te beginnen om %ScheduledRebootTime%.\n\nSla al uw werk nu op. De herstart begint over %MinutesUntilReboot% minuten.\n\nKlik op OK om te bevestigen.

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Real-Life Scenarios

Scenario 1: Default Configuration

Settings: All defaults (5 total prompts, 4 hours apart, pending reboot + 2 days or 30 days uptime).

What the user experiences:

• Machine has a pending Windows Update reboot and has been up for 3 days.
• 9:00 AM — Prompt 1 appears: "Please save your work... You will receive 3 more prompts." User clicks Postpone.
• 1:00 PM — Prompt 2 appears. User clicks Postpone.
• 5:00 PM — Prompt 3 appears. User clicks Reboot Now. Machine reboots. Cycle ends.

If the user had postponed all 4 regular prompts:

• 9:00 AM next day — Prompt 5 (final) appears with a date/time picker.
• User selects tomorrow at 8:00 AM → reboot is scheduled.
• 7:50 AM next day — Reminder appears: "Your reboot will start in 10 minutes."
• 8:00 AM — Machine reboots automatically.

Scenario 2: Quick Cycle for Critical Patches

Settings:

• Desktop_reboot_max_postpone = 2
• Desktop_reboot_popup_mins = 60
• Desktop_reboot_final_prompt_timeout = 600
• Enable_reboot_nag = True

What the user experiences:

• 10:00 AM — Prompt 1 (regular) appears. User postpones.
• 11:00 AM — Prompt 2 (final) appears with date/time picker. If ignored for 10 minutes, machine reboots at 11:10 AM.

Scenario 3: Overnight Suppression with Weekend Skip

Settings:

• Desktop_reboot_suppress_popup_time_windows = 1800-0800
• Desktop_reboot_skip_weekends = True

What the user experiences:

• Prompts only appear between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
• If a prompt is due at 7:00 PM Friday, it is skipped and rescheduled. The user won't see it until Monday morning after 8:00 AM.

Scenario 4: Unattended Machines (Kiosks, Shared PCs)

Settings:

• Reboot_if_not_logged_in = True
• Desktop_reboot_popup_mins = 120

What happens:

• If no user is logged in when the script runs, the machine reboots immediately.
• Exception: If Windows Update, an MSI installer, winget, BITS transfer, or similar is actively running, the reboot is deferred by 2 hours and checked again.
• If a user IS logged in, the normal prompt flow is used.

Scenario 5: User Reboots on Their Own

Settings: Any configuration.

What happens:

• Component runs at 10:00 AM. Prompt 1 shown. User postpones.
• User manually restarts the computer at 1:00 PM.
• Scheduled task fires at 2:00 PM. Script detects uptime (1 hour) is less than the interval (4 hours), concludes the machine was rebooted, removes all tasks and state, exits silently.
• No further prompts are shown.

Scenario 6: Custom Messages with Substitution Variables

Settings:

• Desktop_reboot_regular_prompt_message = Hi %UserName%, your PC %ComputerName% needs a restart.\n\nYou have %PromptsLeft% reminders left.\nNext reminder in %PromptIntervalHours% hours.

What the user sees:

Hi jsmith, your PC PC-OFFICE-01 needs a restart.

You have 3 reminders left. Next reminder in 4 hours.

Scenario 7: User Reboots After Reminder or During Shutdown Countdown

Settings: Any configuration. User received the final prompt and scheduled a reboot.

What happens:

• 7:50 AM — Reminder prompt appears: "Your reboot will start in 10 minutes."
• Reminder task waits 60 seconds for the prompt to display, then issues shutdown /r /f /t 540.
• 7:55 AM — User saves work and manually restarts before the countdown expires.
• Windows automatically cancels the pending shutdown timer.
• All scheduled tasks and state were already cleaned up when the shutdown was issued — nothing remains to trigger a second reboot.
• Machine boots cleanly with no leftover artifacts.

Scenario 8: Forced Reboot After Missed Prompts

Settings:

• Desktop_reboot_max_missed_prompts = 3
• Desktop_reboot_during_suppress = True

What happens:

• The user leaves their machine locked or logged off for multiple prompt cycles.
• The script skips the prompt 3 consecutive times, incrementing the missed prompt counter.
• On the 3rd missed attempt, the threshold is met. Because Desktop_reboot_during_suppress is enabled, the script bypasses any active weekend or after-hours suppress windows and forces the reboot immediately (provided no installations are running).

Output

• Script log

Changelog

2026-08-13

• Updated the implementation with the latest template.
• Replaced the .NET-based prompter with OmniPrompt, a native binary that requires no desktop runtime.
• Replaced legacy wrappers with SilentLauncher to eliminate console window flashing and bypass EDR/AV blocks.
• Added Desktop_reboot_max_missed_prompts to force a reboot if a machine repeatedly misses prompts.
• Added Desktop_reboot_during_suppress to allow unattended or forced reboots to bypass suppress windows and weekends.

2026-07-29

• Initial version of the document