Tips for Windows

If you are concerned about making changes to the components of your Windows computer then read this guide first to help avoid issues with upgrading your hardware configuration.

Background apps - how to shut down unwanted background apps

Apps that run in the background can receive information, send notifications, and stay updated, even when you aren't using them. While this can be useful it can also suck your battery and your data if you're connecting via a mobile hotspot.

To control which apps are running in the background and save some battery power and data, go to Settings > Privacy > Background apps.

To stop all apps from running in the background, toggle Let apps run in the background to Off.

Or choose which apps to run in the background individually by going down the list on the same page.

Background scrolling

With Windows 10 you can scroll up and down on any window, even if it's not the one you're directly working in. This is a useful tool when you have a lot of windows open that you want to look through at the same time. For example if you want to open new sub-menu options in new windows to save you time clicking back and forward on the same page.

Try opening two programs, say an internet browser page and a notepad or Word document. Arrange both on the screen so you can see at least some of the text on each. While you are in one window, hover your mouse or use the touchpad to move to the second window, and scroll. Even though you aren't active in that window it should allow you to move up and down the page.

The feature should be on by default, but if it isn't, go to Settings > Devices > Mouse, and toggle Scroll inactive windows when I hover over them to On. Then you can place your mouse over a window that's in the background and use the scroll wheel to scroll.

Belarc Advisor

Click here to learn about a great utility tool that will provide a full audit of exactly what is inside of your computer.

It generates a report [in HTML that you can save] which is very easy to understand. Information includes all of the computer's components (CPU, motherboard, RAM, adaptors, cards, etc.) details of the make and model, including serial numbers.

Lists all of the installed software complete with any license numbers, and a security update check - what more could you ask for ?

BIOS & UEFI

Click here to see a HowToGeek article form Nov 2023 called "What Is UEFI, and How Is It Different from BIOS?"

Bloatware & Unnecessary Windows Services

Click here to learn how to uninstall bloatware from "Settings" and other tips.

Click here to learn how to "Disable These Unnecessary Windows Services to Boost PC Speed".

Bluestacks : Android Emulation

Click here to read about the v.5 release in February 2021 - still only emulating Android 7, but hopefully this will soon move forwards as it was a complete re-write.

Clipboard with optional History and Cloud Sync

Everybody uses a clipboard to copy something from one application and paste it into something else, usually by using Ctrl-C (copy) and Ctrl-V (paste). Windows 10’s clipboard has the option to store its history in the cloud.

Now you can re-paste items you copied earlier, pin items you paste often, and copy things on one device and paste them on a different device.

As with task view, there are privacy implications. However, you can control what’s allowed and clear your clipboard data from the clipboard page in the “system” section of the settings app.

N.B.

The cloud clipboard uses WinKey-V to paste, instead of Ctrl-V.

Sadly, it doesn’t have the “smart paste” features that you get with Ctrl-Alt-V in Microsoft Word.

Cloud Download for reinstalls.

Click here for a HowToGeek article that explains Microsoft's new recovery options for Windows 10.

Context Menu : "right-click" options

Click here for a TechRadar article that explains how you can take control of the different entries displayed in your "Context Menu" whenever you use it to examine anything displayed on your computer screen.

Customise the look and feel of Windows

Click here for a video, aimed at beginners, that explains how to go about personalising the Windows 10 user interface.

Defender.

Read this guide "Why Does Windows Defender Firewall Block Some App Features ?" from HowToGeek which explains different options for responding to pop-up messages like “Windows Defender Firewall has blocked some features of this app”.

Desktop Switching - Virtual spaces

Task view also lets you have multiple virtual desktops in Windows 10 simply by clicking “new desktop” or using the shortcut Ctrl+Winkey+D

You can set up different desktops for different scenarios: one for work, one for email and one for social networking, for example.

You can move rapidly between desktops by holding down Ctrl-WinKey and pressing a left or right arrow key, rather than going back to task view.

Every virtual desktop has the same taskbar, icons and wallpaper but it’s cheaper than buying three or four monitors.

Desktop Themes

The Settings app now has separate options for “Default Windows mode” and “Default app mode.”

With Windows set to dark and app mode set to light, you’ll use the old default theme.

With both set to light or dark, you’ll use a pure light or dark theme.

Microsoft has also added a new default wallpaper you can enable using Settings > Personalization > Themes and selecting “Windows Light.”

Device Encryption : SSDs on Windows 11

Click here to see a TechRadar article that explains the problem about "Device Encryption" within "Privacy & security in Settings" and how to fix it.

Disable annoying adverts

Click here to visit HowToGeek and get up to 6 driver updates free. Remember if you carry out Windows Updates regularly and use Device Manager to check on the currency of installed drivers then you may not even need to take more action.

Disc Clean Up

Using Windows 10 > Head to Settings > System > Storage and click “Free Up Space Now” under Storage Sense

Click here for the full HowToGeek article that recommends using above tool built in to Windows instead of something like CCleaner.

Disc / USB Formats

Click here for a HowToGeek article called "FAT32 vs. exFAT vs. NTFS: What's the Difference ? "

Drive Booster

Click here to read an iobit article that explains all.

Driver Tidy Up

Click here to read a MakeTechEasier article that shows you how to get rid of redundant drivers that may be clogging up your system.

Dual Booting

Click here to read a MakeTechEasier article called "Dual Boot Menu Not Showing in Windows? Here’s How to Fix It"

Edge Browser [based on open source Chrome / Chromium]

Click here to read a TechRepublic article that gives you the background to Microsoft’s long awaited Edge Browser for Windows 10 and tells you how to obtain a copy without waiting for the general roll out.

Click here to go straight to the Windows downloads page [also available for other systems, but not Linux] where you can install and have it import all of your existing Chrome settings.

God Mode

Click here to learn how to configure for Windows 10.

Quick method :-

Create a new folder on your Desktop then paste the following text as it's name - that's all there is to it.

GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

How to check your current version of Windows

To check the version of Windows 10 installed on your PC :-

- - - - Open the run command text box using the Win + R key combo
        Type winver into the run command text box
        Hit OK

A dialogue screen will appear containing the Windows build and registration information.

How to check details of your motherboard

A quick way to find out about your computer's motherboard is to fire up a Command Prompt and use the Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line tool. To do that, type this into the prompt window:

wmic baseboard get product,manufacturer,version

How to copy all of your personal files from an old computer to a new one.

If you are thinking about getting a new computer / laptop you may be worried about rescuing all of the personal information from your old machine before getting rid of it.

If you are already well organised and have your important data backed up to the cloud, or elsewhere, then there is nothing further to do - well done !

If however you are not in a position to say that you have copies of everything you may need securely backed up then consider these options.

Click here to see a Google support page called "Upload files and folders to Google Drive" that explains the esay steps involved.

Click here for an integralmemory article called "How do I copy my files and documents to the USB Flash Drive?"

Click here for a Microsoft support page titled "Move files off a Windows 8.1 PC with OneDrive"

How to Enable a Single Click to Open Icons on Windows 10

Click here for a HowToGeek article that describes the settings you can easily alter to change the way you activate icons.

How to make Windows 10 recognise an external hard drive

Click here for an article by The Guardian that might teach you a thing or two about solving recognition problems with USB sticks and drives.

How to Check Your RAM Amount, Type, and Speed on Windows 11

Click here for an article from HowToGeek that expands upon this 'key takeaway' statement ....

To check how much RAM is installed in your Windows 11 PC, open the Settings app, navigate to System > About, and then open the "Device Specifications" section. Alternatively, press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager, then navigate to Performance > Memory to view real-time RAM usage and the RAM's speed.

How to upgrade your Hard Disk Drive [HDD] to a Solid State Drive [SSD]

The benefits of using an SSD can show a 10 fold increase in performance and the actual switching process is pretty simple:

Open up the PC and fit the new SSD drive.
Fire up the Windows Disk Management tool (press Windows Key+R on your keyboard to launch the Run dialog box and then type diskmgmt.msc and press Enter).
Find the new drive, which will be marked as "unknown" and "Not initialized" in the listing of drives at the bottom of the Disk Management window, and then right-click on where it says "unknown" and choose Initialize Disk and then follow the prompts.
Download, install and then launch MiniTool Partition Wizard Free Edition.
Click on Migrate OS to SSD/HD in sidebar and follow the prompts.
When the migration process is done [this may take some time, as much as a few hours] you will need need to set the system BIOS to boot up from the SSD.
You can, if you want, remove the old drive, or keep it in the system, wipe it, and use it for storage.

N.B.

Swapping out a drive like this will not trigger a Windows reactivation.
You can enter BIOS during theboot up process by pressing an appropriate key - this may dsiffer depending upon the make and model of your PC but it is typically just F10 or F12 or similar. Alternatively when running Windows you can open a terminal window via "Run As Administrator" and enter the command shutdown /r /fw

HP Printers

Windows solutions for resetting sneaky controls

Click here to see an article by tonergiant that provides 2 solutions for annoying features of modern HP printers. The first is to do with 'cartridge protection' [locking you into using HP cartridges only], and the second is to do with 'HP Instant Ink' where automatic reordering has been activated at some point and you wish to stop it.

N.B. When your printer updates this setting could be auto-enabled again so you may consider preventing updates by switching them off in the web services section.

Keyboard Mapping

Windows Shortcuts for launching Apps

Click here to see an example of how to create a custom shortcut - in this case the article shows how to use a simple keyboard sequence to launch the Chrome browser.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Windows StartUp:

Boot your computer into 'safe mode' using Shift + F8 [N.B. The F8 key may be switched to another depending upon the PC maker]

Windows Layout:

To control the layout of your open Windows click here for a HowToGeek article "How to Rearrange Windows with Keyboard Shortcuts on Windows 10"

Windows Menu:

Winkey + X to bring up menu

Windows Screen Images:

Winkey + Print Screen to capture image to 'Pictures' folder

File Explorer:

To open an Explorer window press Windows+E, to open up another press Windows+E again, or press Ctrl+N if Explorer is already open.

To close an Explorer window press Ctrl+W.

Open a second instance of an app

Have you ever wanted to open another window of an app that's already open? Just middle click (using your mouse’s scroll wheel if you have one) or Shift + select the icon on the taskbar! It works with any app that supports having multiple instances open, like Microsoft Edge and OneNote.

Run an app as administrator the fast way

Did you know that if an app supports being run as admin, you can quickly launch it with privileges by pressing CTRL + Shift, then selecting its icon in the taskbar ?

This works in Start too! And if you're using Search or the Run Dialog to launch the app, you can press CTRL + Shift + Enter, instead of just pressing Enter, to launch it, and it will run as admin for you.

The list goes on:

If you’re interested in learning more take a look at The 30 Essential Keyboard Shortcuts For Windows 10 from the HowToGeek guys.

Malwarebytes

You can install the free [or paid for] version of Malwarebyte from their site. Note after scanning it may identify ‘potential’ items of risk - these need to be checked and where they are just to do with Chrome Extensions, Java Script etc. a judgement call is required as to whether you quarantine them or just ignore the warnings. If you attempt to visit a website it may be flagged up - in this case if you trust the site you need to add it to 'exclusions' - see how to here.

Microphone Settings For External Webcams

Video Calls

If you use a desktop computer with an external webcam and you think the microphone sensitivity is too high [causing feedback] or too low [meaning others can't hear you with their volume up] then its time to check the 'hidden away' settings in Windows 10.

From the desktop right click on the ‘Speaker’ icon in the system tray [bottom right corner]
Click on the top entry for “Open Sound Settings”
Scroll down past the “Sound” > “Output” section to the “Input” section
Click on the ”Device properties” link [in yellow text] above the ‘Test your microphone‘ bar
Scroll down to the “Related Settings” section and click on “Additional Device Properties” [in yellow text]
A pop up window panel “Capture Input terminal Properties” will appear with 4 tabs for the controls
Click on the 3rd tab called “Levels”
The content of the “Capture Input terminal Properties” panel changes to show “Capture Input terminal”
Beneath this there is a wide adjustable slider with a box showing the numeric value to the right
Apparently the ‘default’ setting can vary on some devices but is usually around 50%
If your setting is high reduce it to cut out feedback from speakers.
If the setting is low, meaning others can't hear well, then increase it gradually put probably not beyond 90%

Minimise all open Windows except the active one

If your desktop is too crowded with open windows you can keep the one you are currently working in open and quickly minimise all of the others.

Just click the title bar of the window you want to remain open to select it. Then, hold the mouse down and move the window back and forth quickly - essentially shaking it. After a couple of quick shakes all other windows will minimise leaving only the one you've shaken open. Neat, huh?

Multiple Monitors

Click here to visit a Windows Central support page that explains how to configure and use multiple monitors.

Network : 10 Commands

Click here to see a TechRepublic article "Windows 10 network commands everyone one should know"

Network : Information

Click here to see a useful video that demonstrates how to go about identifying different components on your network using Windows commands, together with some recommendations of some free 3rd party tools that may be useful.

One Drive : Cloud Storage

Click here for a full review by the TechRepublic - the main benefits are listed below.

Microsoft OneDrive adds several notable benefits to the Windows 10 user experience:

Access from any device--Once a file is saved to a OneDrive folder and is subsequently uploaded to the cloud, it becomes available to all your devices.
Offline access--Because files are downloaded from the cloud to the local hard drive, you can access and modify files while offline. When the device gains access to the cloud later, the new version of a file will be uploaded to the cloud.
Back up files automatically--Because files are automatically uploaded to the cloud, you always have a cloud-based backup. For OneDrive for Business, files can be continuously uploaded to the cloud as they are modified using the AutoSave feature.
Sharing and collaboration--Specific files or folders can be shared with other users, and permission may be granted for shared document editing. OneDrive for Business users may access files simultaneously for collaboration purposes.
Personal Vault – Files designated as containing sensitive data are protected by identity verification. Files in your Personal Vault can only be accessed with authentication protocols like fingerprints, face recognition, or dual authentication via SMS codes.

Note for Personal Vault:

The vault can only be used for a maximum of 3 files in the free version. However you can get around this limitation by 'zipping' together a number of files so they only count as one - this is a bit inconvenient but may suit your purposes. Another way to combine your data [assuming it is in a data/text format you can manipulate] would be to use something like a multi tab spreadsheet, or a structured document, to hold several 'secrets' in one place.

The Personal Vault currently works in OneDrive on Windows 10, Android, iPhone, iPad, and on the web at onedrive.live.com.

Click here to see a HowToGeek article on the topic.

Options for capturing screen information

Click here for a quick video clip with some good tips.

Options for switching between different windows

Click here for a quick video clip that explains about four ways of accessing your recent work.

Personalisation Setting - and those to avoid

Click here for a TechRepublic article called "Why you should never use the personalized device usage settings in Windows 11" to learn more.

Quick access to files

The “jump list” provided Start menu access to recently used files has not gone away. First, you get a jump list of recently used files by right-clicking an icon on the taskbar. Second, there’s a list of 20 recently used files in the “quick access” panel in file explorer. Third, the new task view provides access to the hundreds you may have used over the past few days.

If your file explorer shows default folders such as documents and pictures, you can scroll up to find the “quick access” section, which has bookmarks for files and folders. If you want to get to a folder very quickly, right-click it and select “pin to quick access” to bookmark it. (Another option is “pin to Start”.)

To change the default setting, open file explorer, go to the view tab, and click the down-arrow, under options on the far right. Next, select “change folder and search options” from the drop-down menu. The top line of the resulting panel says “open file explorer to:”, and you can choose either “this PC” or “quick access”.

Reactivate Windows after a Hardware Change

Click here for a HowToGeek article from Oct 2019 that describes what Microsoft deems are permitted hardware changes and those that are a step too far and require attention to your licencing arrangements.

Reset Windows 10

Click here for a PC_Gamer article from April 2021 explaining latest features.

Click here for an older PC Mag article from July 2020 that goes over some recovery options.

Sandbox : Little known "2nd PC" ?

Click here to learn how to activate this hidden gem.

Screenshots - 8 ways to capture an active window or full screen

Click here to see details methods, and shortcuts, for saving selected parts of your screen.

Security changes all Windows 10 users need to make

Click here for a CNET article that details 6 simple, but important, changes you should make.

Seven ways to make Windows 10 work better

Click here for an article by The Guardian that covers the seven points in detail. (1) The Taskbar (2) Quick Access To Files (3) Try Task View (4) Virtual Desktops (5) Cloud Clipboard (6) Mousewheel Scrolling (7) Tame Notifications {and Ads}

Shortcuts - how to fix broken links

Click here to visit the 'brockenshortcutfixer' site where you can download their products.

Speed Up Windows 10

Click here to see a Computer World article "15 ways to speed up Windows 10" that might help a sluggish PC.

Start menu - how to get rid of annoying ads

When you run Windows 10 with default settings, you may sometimes see apps on the right side of your Start menu. Microsoft calls them "suggestions," but they are actually ads for Windows Store apps you can buy.

To get rid of the ads in your Windows 10 Start menu, go to Settings > Personalisation > Start. Toggle the setting called Show suggestions occasionally in Start to the off position.

Start menu - how to open the second 'secret' menu

You know that to get to the Start menu, you hit the Windows icon at the bottom left of the screen or on your keyboard. But Windows 10 includes a lesser-known second Start menu that makes accessing important features like the Command Prompt, the Control Panel and the Task Manager much easier. You can access it two different ways, either by pressing the Windows key + X, or right click the Windows icon/Start button.

Start menu - how to replace the standard interface with "Open Shell"

Click here to read a TechRepublic article on “Open Shell” that is a 3rd party replacement for the standard user interface for Windows 10 that gives gives you endless customisation options so you get set things up the way you want them to be more intuitive and productive.

System Settings - how to quickly find specific settings

Click here to read a HowToGeek article that tells you a couple of ways to find settings you are looking for.

Take a screenshot

There are at least eight different ways you can take a screenshot with Windows 10. If you want to capture and save a picture of your entire screen, the easiest way is to hit the Windows key + Print Screen key, and that picture will be saved to the Pictures > Screenshots folder.

To capture just one part of your screen, hit the Windows key + Shift + S to open a tool called Snip & Sketch, which allows you to click and drag to create a screenshot, which is saved to your Clipboard.

Task Manager

Click here to read the "The Complete Guide" by the HowToGeek team - full of good stuff.

Task View

Task view also lets you have multiple virtual desktops in Windows 10, simply by clicking “new desktop”. You can set up different desktops for different scenarios: one for work, one for email and one for social networking, for example. You can move rapidly between desktops by holding down Ctrl-WinKey and pressing a left or right arrow key, rather than going back to task view.

Every virtual desktop has the same taskbar, icons and wallpaper but it’s cheaper than buying three or four monitors.

There’s an even easier way to return to something you were doing earlier: click its thumbnail image in Windows 10’s task view, aka timeline. You can call up the task view by clicking its white icon, which is next to the search box on the taskbar, or by pressing WinKey+Tab.

Task view saves time-stamped thumbnails of files you have used recently. It’s usually easier to recognise and click a thumbnail than to pick a file name from a text menu.

Scroll to the bottom of the task view for the option to store up to 30 days of activity online, rather than on your PC. This also lets you continue an activity on a different device. However, it may involve a loss of privacy, even if only Microsoft’s AI reads your data to make suggestions.

To clear or manage your data, go to the privacy section of the settings (cogwheel) app and click “activity history”. This page has tick boxes for “store my activity history on this device” and “send my activity history to Microsoft”.

Taskbar - how to open items with keyboard shortcuts

If you've pinned programs to your Taskbar at the bottom of your screen to create a shortcut, you don't have to click the icons to open them. Instead you can use the keyboard shortcut Windows key + [Number key] where the Number key corresponds to the position of the program on the Taskbar. For example, Windows key + 2 will open the second item on the Taskbar.

This is especially useful if you're typing furiously and don't want to lift your fingers from the keyboard. It may feel more natural to reach for the Windows key.

Terminal Window

Click here to read about the enhanced features made available in Build 2020 on May 19, 2020. Microsoft announced that the new Windows Terminal was stable and “ready for enterprise use.”

Click here to watch a video explaining a few of the key points.

Troubleshoot Blue Screen Errors

Click here to learn what to do if you encounter a blue screen error (also called a stop error) that can occur if a problem causes your device to shut down or restart unexpectedly.

You might see a blue screen with a message that your device ran into a problem and needs to restart.

USB / Drive formatting options

Click here to read an article from Feb 2023 by HowToGeek called "FAT32 vs. exFAT vs. NTFS: What’s the Difference ?"

Click here to see an article from Aug 2022 by MakeTechEasier called "How to Format Your USB Drives in Windows"

USB access / formatting problems

Click here to read a HowToGeek article from April 2023 called "How to Fix Your USB Drive Not Showing Up on Windows 10 or Windows 11".

Click here to read an article [updated in Jan 2024] by MakeTechEasier that explains all about USB storage drive problems and if / how they can be fixed.

Click here to see what is described as "an old but trusted" tool called HDD LLF Low Level Format Tool

Click here to see an article from Sept 2010 by CNET for links to download a USB format tool program from HP.

Video : Playing Unsupported Formats

Windows apps like Movies & TV and Windows Media Player can only playback of certain types of video. If you’re struggling to play unsupported video formats then you’ll need to use a third-party video player or codec, or convert the file instead.

Click here for a HowToGeek article that explains options.

Virus Detection

Does Your Computer Have a Virus ? Click here to learn how you can check.

Virus Protection : Free

Click here to visit the download page for Avast Antivirus

Vocal Commands

Click here to see a TechRepublic article called "Windows 10: Lists of vocal commands for speech recognition and dictation" that includes 3 tables that explain how to use speech to get common tasks done :-

Table A—Common speech recognition commands in Windows 10

Table B—Common dictation commands in Windows 10

Table C—Common Windows 10 application and windows commands

Wifi Adapter

If your router transmits a 5.8Ghz signal [as well as the traditional 2.4Ghz signal] you will be able to take advantage of faster network / internet speeds if your equipment supports it. Older computers without the 5Ghz capability can be upgraded by plugging in an external USB Adapter. The market is full of these, across a wide price range, but less expensive ones can be picked up on eBay etc. One model, that is identified by these lines on it's label [WLAN 11ac USB Adapter 2T2R F@CE FCC ID : PANWL8210] works fine under Windows 10 with no driver issues. See User Guide.

Wifi Tip : Hot Spot

Click here to read “How to Turn Your Windows PC Into a Wi-Fi Hotspot” from HowToGeek that might be useful some time.

Windows PIN

Click here for a HowToGeek article called "How to Reset Your Windows PIN If You Forget It"

Windows 11 Start Menu Adsl

Click here for a HowToGeek article called "Windows 11 Shows Start Menu Ads Now: Here’s How to Turn Them Off"

Windows 11 Product Key

Click here for a techRepublic article called "How to Find Your Windows 11 Product Key With 3 Simple Methods"

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