Articles in Category: Windows
How Long Does Windows 7 Have Before It’s Phased Out?
The end is coming for Windows 7. But what does that really mean?
How Do I Clean Up After Windows Update Breaks Other Applications?
Software rot can result in odd behavior, including a Windows update causing other software to fail. Here's one approach to try to get things working again.
Why Do System Cleanup Utilities Report So Many Errors on a Supposedly Clean System?
System and registry cleaners often report wildly differing results. The reason? Sales tactics, and no clear consensus of what it means to be clean.
How Do I Move the Taskbar Back to the Bottom?
Occasionally, the Windows taskbar can end up on either side (or even the top of) your screen. I'll show you how to move the taskbar bar back to the bottom.
How Do I Decompress All the Files that Windows Compressed for Me?
Windows includes the tools needed to uncompress files that you (or prior versions of Windows) might have compressed using Windows File Compression.
Can I Copy Windows 10 System Files to Another Drive?
Copying, moving, and licensing Windows 10 isn't nearly as simple as we might like.
How Do I Figure Out My Windows Edition?
The "edition" of Windows you're running -- Home, Pro, or others -- defines some of the features made available. It's not difficult to find out which edition you have.
How Do I Fix Jagged Fonts in Windows 10?
A simple setting I'd assume to be on by default, wasn't. As a result, the text on my screen looked ... ugly.
Critical: Back Up Before the 1809 Windows 10 Update!
The October 2018 Windows 10 Update is apparently deleting some people's files. Here's how to prepare and protect yourself.
How Do I Upgrade Windows from 32-bit to 64-bit?
If you have a 64-bit capable machine, you may want to upgrade from 32-bit Windows to 64. Unfortunately, the upgrade, while quite possible, isn't easy.
Can I Tell If Something’s Been Pasted Instead of Typed?
In theory, pasting text is the same as typing it. Except when it's not.
How Do I Remove My Personal Data from My Computer Running Windows 10?
It's almost impossible to remove all personal information from a Windows installation, short of one extreme option.
Do “Fix All Your Windows Problems” Utilities Work?
'Fix All Your Windows Problems' is a claim made by many products and utilities, and it's best viewed with skepticism. We'll look at how to evaluate some of those claims.
Why Do Windows Updates Mess Up My Computer?
We hear of Windows Update messing up computers. I'll look through one scenario and offer some advice and a reminder: it's not your fault.
Why Do Things Disappear from the Clipboard When I Close a Program?
Sometimes the clipboard behaves mysteriously. Let's look at why.
Where’s the Recycle Bin on My USB Drive?
Relying on a Recycle Bin can be a costly mistake, particularly when USB and other removable drives may or may not even have one.
How Do I Clean Up After Windows Update?
What Windows Update leaves behind isn't trash at all, but rather files with a specific purpose.
Why Does My Microsoft Word Document Display Differently on Different Computers?
Microsoft Word documents display differently on different systems because of differences between the systems. Getting Microsoft Word documents to display identically typically means processing them into something else.
Fixing Windows 7 Boot Problems
Your Windows 7 Setup disc can help you repair many types of boot problems.
Why Did Deleting a Desktop Icon Delete the Program?
The Windows desktop was intended to hold shortcuts to files located elsewhere, but it's not limited to that.
What’s the Difference Between Hibernate and Sleep?
Hibernate and sleep are two optimizations to the boot/reboot process that can speed things up.
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.
Why is Windows 10 Telling Me “There Is a Problem with Your Microsoft Account”?
So-called "problems" with your Microsoft account may refer to Windows, or to other applications on your system.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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 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 ... Read more
