Hibernate and sleep are two optimizations to the boot/reboot process that can speed things up.
Windows
How Do I Find Out What Program Is Using All My CPU?
Occasionally, one program uses up all of your computer’s processing resources. Using Task Manager, it’s easy to figure out which program that is.
Why Does My Screen Go Black When My System is Out of RAM?
If your monitor suddenly goes black due to being out of RAM, it’s likely your computer has crashed.
What’s the Difference Between Windows 10 Home vs Pro Editions?
I prefer Windows 10 Professional edition. Here’s what I consider the important differences between Windows 10 Home and Pro.
How Do I Get the Windows 10 Creators Update 1709 to Install?
Every Windows 10 update should just work. Unfortunately, for some, they just don’t.
How Do I Disable Windows Updates in Windows 10 Home?
Windows 10 Home edition gives you little control of Windows Update. I do have a fairly large hammer you can use.
Why Does My Machine Take Forever to Shut Down?
Booting your machine can take time, but sometimes so does shutting it down. Various issues contribute to a slow shutdown.
Why is My System Slow If the CPU Is Mostly Idle?
The purpose of the System Idle Process is to get out of the way to let other processes run. So what does it mean if the SIP is using 100% CPU on your slow system?
Is Windows 10 Still Free?
If you meet a couple of criteria, you can still get Windows 10 for free, at least until the end of the year.
The First Dozen Changes to My Newly Reinstalled Windows 10
A peek into my priorities as I install apps and make changes after a Windows 10 reset.
What’s This New “People” Icon in My Taskbar?
A new icon has appeared on the Windows 10 taskbar. I’ll review what it is and how to make it go away.
Answering “How do you want to open this file?”
Deciding how you want to open a file depends on knowing what the file contains and knowing what program will understand that.
Why Does My Computer Say I Need to Be Administrator, When I Am?
We’ll look at why Windows asks you for administrator privileges even though you are the administrator, and what to do when it does.
What Are hiberfil.sys and pagefile.sys, and How Do I Remove Them?
Hiberfil.sys and pagefile.sys are two Windows system files that support two very important features: hibernation and virtual memory.
When Is It Safe to Say “Yes” to User Account Control (UAC) Notifications?
User Account Control, or UAC, pops up when programs need special permission to do something. I’ll look at when those are, and are not, appropriate.
The Four Characteristics of Computer Speed
A friend’s slow computer provided an opportunity to review the four primary characteristics of computer slowdowns.
Reinstalling Windows 10 from Windows 10: “Reset This PC”
Windows 10 makes it relatively easy to reinstall Windows and keep most of your data while doing so.
Using OneDrive for Nearly Continuous Backup
OneDrive can be used for many things, but one of the most valuable is ongoing, online backup.
When I Use Start-Run, Why Does a Window Just Flash and Disappear?
Start-Run, or the Run item on Windows Start menu, is a way to run any program on your machine. Sometimes it works as expected, but other times, it just produces a quick flash. We’ll look at why, and what to do instead.
Create a Windows 10 Recovery Drive
A Windows 10 Recovery Drive can be used to restore Windows backups to your machine, and more. I’ll show you how to create one.
How Do I Create a Shortcut that Bypasses UAC to a Program Needing Administrative Access?
User Account Control, or UAC, requests confirmation when a program needs administrative access. If you know it’s safe, we can bypass UAC with a shortcut.
How Do I Get a Program to Auto-start When I Sign in to Windows?
I’ll show you how to locate the Startup folder and put a shortcut to your program there.
What’s a Screen Shot and How Do I Make One?
A picture is worth a thousand words, and a screenshot – an image of your computer screen, saved as a picture – can eliminate a lot of frustration when trying to describe to someone what you’re seeing on your computer.
Will Microsoft Stop Forcing Windows 10 Updates?
While it is frustrating, Microsoft doesn’t give us as much control over Windows 10 updates as we might like.
Get the Windows 10 Creators Update Now, If You Like
If you’re eager to get the newly released Windows 10 Creators Update, I’ll show you how.
How Do I Upgrade Windows When I Can’t Actually “Upgrade”?
Unfortunately an upgrade isn’t always an upgrade, sometimes it’s a complete replacement.
How Do I Make the Taskbar Smaller or Larger?
It’s easy to make the Windows taskbar smaller or larger – perhaps too easy, since it can happen by accident. I’ll show you how to change it and how to lock it.
Why is My Screensaver Asking for a Password, and How Do I Fix That?
On returning from a screen saver, Windows can ask for a password. That’s a security measure that can be turned off – but be sure first.
Is There a Way to List All Programs Installed on My Computer?
Unfortunately, there’s no consensus on what it means to be an “installed program”, or how to find them.
Get Rid of Cortana Completely
How to kill Cortana for good (and bring her back if you change your mind).
Backup and Restore the Registry Using System Restore
In my opinion, System Restore is good for exactly one thing: backing up and restoring the registry.
Four Options for XP Die-hards
If you’re still clinging to XP and wondering what to do next, here are four options to consider.
How Do I Disable Cortana?
There are ways to disable Cortana “under the hood”, but in most cases, simply turning a number of options off will do the trick.
How Do I Move My OneDrive Folder?
Windows assumes it knows where you want your OneDrive folder. If you want it somewhere else, it’s easy to move.
How Can a PIN Be As Secure as a Password?
On the surface, signing in to Windows using a PIN feels less secure than a traditional password. It’s possible that it might actually be more secure.
How Windows 10 Changed Setting Default Programs
Windows 10 changed the mechanism used to modify the default program for certain operations, forcing you to make the choice explicitly.
Turn Off Fast Startup in Windows 10
Fast startup optimizes boot-time speed, and is an occasional suspect in boot-time problems. Turn fast startup off to get clues.
What is Event Viewer, and Why Does It Have So Many Errors?
Many Windows components log messages, which Event Viewer is used to display. Sadly, the messages are often cryptic and inconsistent, and the result is a mess.
How Do I Downgrade from Windows 8 or 10 to Windows 7?
Downgrading isn’t as easy as you might think. Simple, perhaps, but not easy. So let’s look at an alternative.
Are Automatic Updates a Good Thing?
Unless you’re willing to pay a lot of attention on a very regular basis, automatic updates are an important part of keeping your machine safe.
How to Manage Taskbar Space
The Windows taskbar is a very flexible piece of screen real estate. There are many things about it you can change to adjust taskbar space.
What Is the System File Checker, and How Do I Run It?
The System File Checker is a little-known, simple-to-run command-line program. It validates that Window’s operating files are undamaged.
What Is a “Microsoft Account”?
A Microsoft account is almost any account you have with Microsoft, and there’s a high likelihood you already have one.
Where Do I Report Windows 10 Issues?
There are a couple of ways to report Windows 10 issues. One involves searching for an answer, and the other is a tool built into Windows 10 itself.
How Do I Reformat and Reinstall Windows?
To reformat and reinstall is considered the “nuclear option” when it comes to dealing with Windows problems (or just cleaning up).
How Do I Recover from a Crash During an Uninstall?
A crash at any time can cause problems, but a crash during an uninstall can be disastrous. I’ll look at what steps to take and how to avoid problems in the future.
How Do I Keep Windows Update from Rebooting While I Use My Computer?
You can keep Windows Update from rebooting for certain key hours of the day, within limits… and as long as you’re not a work-a-holic.
What’s the Difference Between an App and Application?
“App” and “application” are two terms that in years past have been used interchangeably to refer to computer programs. In Windows 10, the difference between them has become significant.
Saving Your Free Windows 10 Upgrade For Later
While the Windows 10 free upgrade offer expires July 29, it turns out there are a couple of approaches that, while they are a little bit of work, can save the free upgrade so you can use it after the deadline has passed. There are the normal number of caveats and possible issues, but if […]
Should I Upgrade to Windows 10?
The most common question related to Windows 10 seems to be “Should I upgrade?” I’ll cover my recommendations.
