7/20/2016
You Only Have a Week Left to Get Windows 10 Free. Here’s Why You Should Update
The free Windows 10 upgrade offer
ends on July 29, 2016. After that, you’ll have to pay at least $119 if
you ever want to upgrade to Windows 10 on your computer. You should
seriously consider upgrading to Windows 10 before July 29, if you
haven’t already done so.
Microsoft has done a great job of tarnishing Windows 10’s name by being unnecessarily pushy with the upgrade offer, and they shouldn’t have done so. But Microsoft’s tactics aside, Windows 10 is a worthy upgrade.
So here’s a big reason to upgrade: Once you’ve upgraded to Windows 10 on your current PC, your PC will receive a “digital entitlement” that allows you to install Windows 10 for free in the future–even after July 29. If you don’t want to use Windows 10 now, you can upgrade, then downgrade back to Windows 7 or 8.1 and keep using that. If you ever decide you want to use Windows 10 in the future, you can upgrade to it for free since your computer has that digital entitlement.
If you don’t reserve your free copy before the upgrade offer ends, you’ll have to spend $119 for Windows 10 Home or $199 for Windows 10 Pro to upgrade.
Here’s What’s Different About Windows 10 for Windows 7 Users
Unlike Windows 8, Windows 10 actually feels designed for a PC with a keyboard and mouse. Windows 7 users will... [Read Article]
Windows 10 made a lot of improvements over Windows 7. Upgrading to Windows 10 doesn’t just get you the improvements and new features in Windows 10. It also gets you the improvements and new features added to Windows 8 and 8.1; the ones that were overshadowed by Windows 8’s refusal to let users boot to the desktop.
Some of the flashiest features of 8 and 10 include:
Even if you just want old-fashioned desktop programs, there’s a lot to like:
Under the hood, there are a lot of improvements:
Here’s What’s Different About Windows 10 for Windows 8 Users
Windows 10 isn’t just a big change for Windows 7 users. There have been some major changes in philosophy since... [Read Article]
If you’re still using Windows 8 or 8.1, you should definitely upgrade to Windows 10. Windows 10 is a huge improvement over Windows 8.1, restoring a desktop Start menu and allowing those new applications from the Windows Store to run in windows on your desktop instead of in full-screen mode. Awkward features like the charms bar you head to open by moving your mouse to a corner of the screen are gone.
Windows 10 still offers a special “tablet mode” designed for touch devices, but it’s optional.
Really, we shouldn’t even need to try to convince Windows 8.1 users to upgrade. You should definitely get away from Windows 8.1 while you can.
But it’s a big jump to say that Microsoft is actually “spying” on what you do on your computer. Most of these features are largely a consequence of having more internet-connected features in Windows, like live tiles that need to download information regularly, and the Cortana voice assistant that provides online searches and other information.
Yes, it’s true that you can’t fully disable all telemetry features on Windows 10. However, telemetry is just anonymized usage information. Microsoft can use it to see how many people use features like the Start menu or system tray on a daily basis, for example, so they can make Windows better.
Microsoft has done a poor job of explaining this to average users, and their privacy settings are horribly laid out. That’s certainly one of our criticisms of Windows 10. But Windows isn’t doing anything that every other tech company isn’t already doing.
And no, despite some misleading rumors going around, you won’t have to pay to continue using Windows 10 after July 29, 2016. If you have it installed, it will continue being free to use. You’ll only have to pay for Windows 10 if you want to buy a fresh license to upgrade an old computer, or to install on a new computer you build yourself. New computers you purchase come with Windows 10 licenses the manufacturer paid for.
Source: http://www.howtogeek.com/263413/you-only-have-a-week-left-to-get-windows-10-free.-heres-why-you-should-update/
Microsoft has done a great job of tarnishing Windows 10’s name by being unnecessarily pushy with the upgrade offer, and they shouldn’t have done so. But Microsoft’s tactics aside, Windows 10 is a worthy upgrade.
Upgrading Now Reserves Your Free Copy, Even if You Don’t Want to Use It Yet
Even if you don’t want to use Windows 10 yet, you may want to upgrade in the future.
So here’s a big reason to upgrade: Once you’ve upgraded to Windows 10 on your current PC, your PC will receive a “digital entitlement” that allows you to install Windows 10 for free in the future–even after July 29. If you don’t want to use Windows 10 now, you can upgrade, then downgrade back to Windows 7 or 8.1 and keep using that. If you ever decide you want to use Windows 10 in the future, you can upgrade to it for free since your computer has that digital entitlement.
If you don’t reserve your free copy before the upgrade offer ends, you’ll have to spend $119 for Windows 10 Home or $199 for Windows 10 Pro to upgrade.
Windows 10 Includes Many, Many Improvements Over Windows 7
Unlike Windows 8, Windows 10 actually feels designed for a PC with a keyboard and mouse. Windows 7 users will... [Read Article]
Windows 10 made a lot of improvements over Windows 7. Upgrading to Windows 10 doesn’t just get you the improvements and new features in Windows 10. It also gets you the improvements and new features added to Windows 8 and 8.1; the ones that were overshadowed by Windows 8’s refusal to let users boot to the desktop.
Some of the flashiest features of 8 and 10 include:
- The Windows Store and Universal Windows Platform (UWP) applications are Microsoft’s new application platform. In particular, Microsoft is now porting many Xbox games to Windows, but they’re only accessible on Windows 10 and only through the Windows Store.
- The Cortana virtual assistant offers voice searches and automatically delivers you relevant information, and it’s getting even more powerful this summer.
- Live tiles in the Start menu provide quick access to information. They can display the news, weather, your emails, and other information.
- An Xbox application allows you to record PC games and stream Xbox One games from an Xbox One console. It’s useful even if you don’t own an Xbox.
Even if you just want old-fashioned desktop programs, there’s a lot to like:
- A Task View interface allows you to quickly view all your open windows and sort them into multiple “desktops”, a feature that Mac and Linux users have been taking advantage of for years.
- The “reset your PC” feature provides a way to quickly wipe your Windows system and start fresh without actually reinstalling Windows.
- An improved Task Manager has a streamlined interface and a built-in startup manager for managing the programs that automatically launch when you boot your computer.
- An improved File Explorer includes a new file operations dialog that allows you to pause file operations and more easily manage conflicts. File Explorer also gained other useful features, like the ability to mount ISO disc image files without third-party software.
- A new Settings application includes useful features like the ability to see which programs–including desktop programs–have used the most battery life on your laptop.
- Windows 10 includes improvements to using Windows with multiple monitors, and with modern high-DPI displays.
- Power user features like Hyper-V virtual machines and Storage Spaces for pooling storage are available in the Professional edition of Windows 10.
Under the hood, there are a lot of improvements:
- Windows 10 offers improved boot speed and battery life.
- You’ll find various security improvements, from the built-in Windows Defender antivirus and Smart Screen for scanning downloads to low-level improvements to ASLR (address space layout randomization) memory management improvements and driver signing now being required.
- DirectX 12 and the Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) 2.0 are included, and new games can take advantage of these for improved performance.
If You’re Using Windows 8 or 8.1, Upgrading is a No-Brainer
Windows 10 isn’t just a big change for Windows 7 users. There have been some major changes in philosophy since... [Read Article]
If you’re still using Windows 8 or 8.1, you should definitely upgrade to Windows 10. Windows 10 is a huge improvement over Windows 8.1, restoring a desktop Start menu and allowing those new applications from the Windows Store to run in windows on your desktop instead of in full-screen mode. Awkward features like the charms bar you head to open by moving your mouse to a corner of the screen are gone.
Windows 10 still offers a special “tablet mode” designed for touch devices, but it’s optional.
Really, we shouldn’t even need to try to convince Windows 8.1 users to upgrade. You should definitely get away from Windows 8.1 while you can.
Windows 10’s “Spying” Is Way Overblown
Windows 10 does include many features that “phone home” to Microsoft’s servers, doing everything from downloading new antivirus definitions to uploading anonymized “telemetry” data about the features you use on your computer.
But it’s a big jump to say that Microsoft is actually “spying” on what you do on your computer. Most of these features are largely a consequence of having more internet-connected features in Windows, like live tiles that need to download information regularly, and the Cortana voice assistant that provides online searches and other information.
Yes, it’s true that you can’t fully disable all telemetry features on Windows 10. However, telemetry is just anonymized usage information. Microsoft can use it to see how many people use features like the Start menu or system tray on a daily basis, for example, so they can make Windows better.
Microsoft has done a poor job of explaining this to average users, and their privacy settings are horribly laid out. That’s certainly one of our criticisms of Windows 10. But Windows isn’t doing anything that every other tech company isn’t already doing.
And no, despite some misleading rumors going around, you won’t have to pay to continue using Windows 10 after July 29, 2016. If you have it installed, it will continue being free to use. You’ll only have to pay for Windows 10 if you want to buy a fresh license to upgrade an old computer, or to install on a new computer you build yourself. New computers you purchase come with Windows 10 licenses the manufacturer paid for.
Source: http://www.howtogeek.com/263413/you-only-have-a-week-left-to-get-windows-10-free.-heres-why-you-should-update/
7/11/2016
How to block the Windows 10 upgrade
I have been hearing a lot about this recently. Another reader got to the point where he was scared to boot, assuming that the installation would happen right away.
Even I was a victim. Windows told me I needed to shut down the PC for an update. When I shut down and rebooted, no update happened, but Windows continued to tell me that I needed to shut down. Some detective work clued me in that the Windows 10 upgrade had failed. I had never given permission for the upgrade on this particular computer.
[Have a tech question? Ask PCWorld Contributing Editor Lincoln Spector. Send your query to answer@pcworld.com.]
If the Get Windows 10 icon has become either an annoyance or a serious problem, you can easily remove it with Ultimate Outsider’s free and portable GWX Control Panel. You download this program as a single EXE file.
Once it’s up, you might want to look at some of the information on the top part of the program. For instance, I discovered that I had apparently “enabled” both the Get Windows 10 app and the upgrades. I had not.
Click two of the buttons near the bottom, Disable ‘Get Windows 10’ App (permanently remove icon) and Disable Operating System Upgrades in Windows Update.
That’s it—unless the upgrade has already started and you’re stuck with the problem I had. If Windows Update is trying and failing to install Windows 10, run Microsoft’sWindows Update Troubleshooter after you haverun GWX.
Launch and run the wizard. The choices are pretty obvious. In my case, I got a disheartening error that one update problem could not be fixed.
But, when I next booted, the update Shut Down button was no longer there. Since then, Windows 7 updates have happened as they should.
Source: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2998967/windows/how-to-block-the-windows-10-upgrade.html
7/02/2016
Windows 10 is spying on almost everything you do – here’s how to opt out
Windows 10 is amazing. Windows 10 is fantastic. Windows 10 is glorious. Windows 10 is faster, smoother and more user-friendly than any Windows operating system that has come before it. Windows 10 is everything Windows 8 should have been, addressing nearly all of the major problems users had with Microsoft’s previous-generation platform in one fell swoop.
But there’s something you should know: As you read this article from your newly upgraded PC, Windows 10 is also spying on nearly everything you do.
It’s your own fault if you don’t know that Windows 10 is spying on you. That’s what people always say when users fail to read through a company’s terms of service document, right?
Well, here is Microsoft’s 12,000-word service agreement. Some of it is probably in English. We’re pretty sure it says you can’t steal Windows or use Windows to send spam, and also that Microsoft retains the right to take possession of your first-born child if it so chooses. And that’s only one of several documents you’ll have to read through.
Actually, here’s one excerpt from Microsoft’s privacy statement that everyone can understand:
Finally, we will access, disclose and preserve personal data, including your content (such as the content of your emails, other private communications or files in private folders), when we have a good faith belief that doing so is necessary to: 1.comply with applicable law or respond to valid legal process, including from law enforcement or other government agencies; 2.protect our customers, for example to prevent spam or attempts to defraud users of the services, or to help prevent the loss of life or serious injury of anyone; 3.operate and maintain the security of our services, including to prevent or stop an attack on our computer systems or networks; or 4.protect the rights or property of Microsoft, including enforcing the terms governing the use of the services – however, if we receive information indicating that someone is using our services to traffic in stolen intellectual or physical property of Microsoft, we will not inspect a customer’s private content ourselves, but we may refer the matter to law enforcement.
If that sentence sent shivers down your spine, don’t worry. As invasive as it is, Microsoft does allow Windows 10 users to opt out of all of the features that might be considered invasions of privacy. Of course, users are opted in by default, which is more than a little disconcerting, but let’s focus on the solution.
Rock Paper Shotgun has broken things down into four main bullet points that will guide you through regaining control of your personal data.
First, you’ll want to open Settings and click on Privacy. There, you’ll find 13 different screens — yes, 13 — to go through, and you’ll want to disable anything that seems worrying. The blog notes that most of the important settings can be found on theGeneral tab, though other tabs are important as well. For example, you’ll definitely want to adjust what types of data each app on your system can access.
Next, users should consider dumping Cortana. Yes, the voice-driven assistant iseasily one of the best new features in Windows 10, but it also plays fast and loose with your data. As a result, many users will find that the benefits do not outweigh the risks.
For the third task, you’ll have to venture outside the confines of your PC and hit the web. Perhaps this is a good opportunity to check out Microsoft’s nifty new Edge browser. In it, click on this link and set both “Personalised ads in this browser” and “Personalised ads wherever I use my Microsoft account” to off. This will disable Microsoft’s Google-style ad tracking features.
The last tip is one that most users will likely forgo, as it is a bit excessive. Rock Paper Shotgun recommends removing your Microsoft account from Windows 10 completely and using a newly made local account instead. This way, Microsoft doesn’t grab hold of all your data to sync it across machines. To us that’s a great and useful feature, but if you want to kill it just follow the link below in our source section for complete instructions and plenty more details.
Article updated to quote a larger quote from Microsoft’s terms of service.
Source: https://bgr.com/2015/07/31/windows-10-upgrade-spying-how-to-opt-out/
Microsoft’s new Windows 10 platform has received quite a reception from bloggers and tech journalists. More importantly, it has been received with open arms by consumers eager to wipe Windows 8 from their desktops and laptops, and start fresh.
Source: https://bgr.com/2015/07/31/windows-10-upgrade-spying-how-to-opt-out/
6 free tools that stop Windows 10 from spying on everything you do
Microsoft’s new Windows 10 platform has received quite a reception from bloggers and tech journalists. More importantly, it has been received with open arms by consumers eager to wipe Windows 8 from their desktops and laptops, and start fresh.
A fresh start is exactly what Windows 10 has given Microsoft, but it’s not all good news. While the new software is certainly a huge step in the right direction, some serious privacy concerns have been raised following the revelation that Windows 10 may be spying on almost everything you do.
Microsoft has indeed played fast and loose with users’ privacy in Windows 10. By default, the new operating system is configured to track usage, and even to monitor your files and folders in some cases. Just look at how scary Microsoft’s privacy statement is.
Features like this aren’t always a bad thing, but opting people in by default is hardly a user-friendly policy.
In an earlier post, we told you about a few things you can do to opt out of many of Microsoft’s tracking features in Windows 10. Since this is such a widely publicized issue, however, there are already plenty of tools you can use to help simplify the process of taking your privacy back in Windows 10. And in a recent post, gHackssupplied a nice quick comparison of six different options.
Below you’ll find six different apps covered, along with brief descriptions. Click on the name of any app to download it.
Destroy Windows 10 Spying
This is a fairly basic program that allows users to enable a wide range of privacy settings in one simple interface, rather than having to dig around through Windows 10’s settings.
Disable Win Tracking
This app is similar in intent to Destroy Windows 10 Spying, but with only four options, its focus is far more narrow.
DoNotSpy 10
We have covered DoNotSpy10 before here on BGR, and it’s one of the most comprehensive options out there for taking control of your privacy in Windows 10. There’s a caveat, though: It’s freeware, but it installs Open Candy software on your PC, which will display ads automatically in other apps.
Windows 10 Privacy and S**t
This is just a simple batch file — check gHacks for details on how it works.
Windows 10 Privacy Fixer
This app offers one tidy screen that lets you import your current privacy settings and then disable whichever features you want.
W10 Privacy
Last, and unfortunately also least, is W10 Privacy. This app is one of the best options out there in terms of covering as many privacy settings as possible… but it’s only available in German for the time being.
Source: https://bgr.com/2015/08/14/windows-10-spying-prevention-privacy-tools/
6/03/2016
Make Windows 10 Look Like Windows 7
Rolling back or downgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 7
is probably the best way out there if you are not happy with Windows
10. That said, there are users who like most of the features offered in
the newest version of Windows but want to make Windows 10 look and feel
like Windows 7.
Following are the ways to make your Windows 10 look and feel like Windows 7.
NOTE: We recommend you create a manual system restore point before making changes to default settings and installing recommended third-party tools so that you can restore your Windows 10 back to today’s date if and when you need.
Install the free Classic Shell to get Windows 7 like Start menu
While Microsoft has added back the Start menu with Windows 10, the Start menu is not the same as the one in Windows 7. If one or more features of original Start menu is not working or if you are missing the Windows 7’s Start menu in Windows 10, install Classic Shell for Windows 10 program right away.
In addition to Windows 7-like Start menu, the Classic Shell brings a couple of other classic features to Windows 10. If you’re installing Classic Shell just for the sake of Start menu, be sure to uncheck other features like Classic Explorer during the installation.
Enable Aero glass transparency
Microsoft dropped the Aero glass transparency with Windows 8. In spite of requests from millions of PC users, Microsoft didn’t enable the Aero glass transparency for window borders in Windows 10. While it’s possible to make the Start menu transparent out of the box, there is no option to turn on Aero glass transparency for window borders without the help of third-party tools.
Those of you serious about getting back Aero glass transparency should check out Aero Glass program. The program brings Windows 7-like Aero glass transparency back to Windows 10 with ease. On top that, it automatically installs and applies Windows 7-like Aero glass compatible theme.
Disable the lock screen
The lock screen was introduced first with Windows 8. The lock screen shows some useful information like network status, battery charge level, date and time, number of new emails and notifications and can be configured to display detailed information from an app.
The only problem with the lock screen is that it adds another level to the boot to desktop process. In short, you need to perform an addition click to see the login screen where you enter your account password. Go through our how to remove the lock screen in Windows 10/8 guide for detailed instructions.
Remove the search/Cortana box from the taskbar
With default settings, Windows 10 displays a large search box on the left-side of the taskbar. While the search box makes it easy for beginners to quickly initiate a search, you can place the search icon instead of the box to save the space on the taskbar and make the taskbar more like Windows 7. Did you know that you can initiate a search without using the search box or search icon?
Right-click on taskbar, select Cortana, and then click either Hidden or Show Cortana icon.
Disable Windows Explorer ribbon
If you want to make the Windows Explorer or known as File Explorer in Windows 10 look like the one in Windows 7, you need to disable the ribbon. There are couple of ways out there to enable the Windows 7-style toolbar in Windows 10’s File Explorer but we recommend you use a free tool called Old New Explorer.
Disable Quick Access
With default settings, File Explorer opens to Quick Access in Windows 10. While Quick Access can be useful at times, you might want to turn off the Quick Access and open File Explorer to This PC to make the Windows Explorer behave more like Windows 7’s Explorer.
Disable Action Center
Action Center is one of the new features introduced with Windows 10. The feature allows you quickly view recent notifications and messages and also allows you quickly access various system settings.
Here is how to turn off the Action Center in Windows 10:
Step 1: Open Registry Editor and navigate to the following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft \Windows\Explorer
Step 2: On the right side, create a new DWORD (32-bit) value and name it as DisableNotificationCenter.
Step 3: Double-click on the DisableNotificationCenter value and set its value data to 1 to disable the Action Center.
Install desktop gadgets
Desktop gadgets are very popular among Windows 7 users. If you want to get the original desktop gadgets offered in Windows 7 in Windows 10 as well, please refer to our download desktop gadgets for Windows 10 guide for instructions to download and install original Windows 7 desktop gadgets in Windows 10.
Install Windows 7 games
The classic games have been dropped from Windows 10. While modern version of Microsoft Solitaire is offered, the classic games were more fun to play. Luckily, it’s possible get all these classic games in Windows 10 in a jiffy. Please refer to the instructions in our how to get classic Windows 7 games in Windows 10 for the detailed directions.
Get Windows 7 like folders
While Microsoft has retained most of the Windows 7 icons in Windows 10, some icons have been updated. The new folder icon in Windows 10 is pretty good but if you like the folder icons of Windows 7, go through our get Windows 7 folder icons in Windows 10 guide.
Uninstall and remove Edge browser
Microsoft Edge, the new web browser from Microsoft is shaping up well. The Edge browser will get extensions support with the anniversary update which is expected in the month of July or August. That said, if you’re not happy with it, you can get rid of the same by following our how to uninstall and remove Edge browser in Windows 10 guide.
Get rid of default modern apps
As you might have noticed by now, there are dozens of built-in apps in Windows 10. While apps such as Mail, Weather and Groove Music are useful, you might want to uninstall other apps that are not so useful. Please refer to our how to uninstall default apps in Windows 10 or how to use CCleaner to uninstall built-in apps for detailed instructions.
Use a local account to sign in
If you’re using a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows 10, you can consider using a local user account to sign in, just like in Windows 7. While signing in with a Microsoft account has its own benefits, most users prefer local user account for privacy reasons.
Enable the classic Personalization window
In Windows 10, when you right-click on desktop and click Personalize you get the personalization section of Settings app instead of the classic Personalization window. If you want to restore the old feature, please read the instructions in our how to enable the classic Personalization window in Windows 10 guide.
Set Windows 7 wallpaper as your desktop background
Last but not least, don’t forget to download and set the original Windows 7 wallpaper as your Windows 10 desktop background. Perform a quick search on the web to download the Windows 7 wallpaper in required resolution.
Enjoy your new Windows 10!
15 ways to make Windows 10 look and feel like Windows 7
Following are the ways to make your Windows 10 look and feel like Windows 7.
NOTE: We recommend you create a manual system restore point before making changes to default settings and installing recommended third-party tools so that you can restore your Windows 10 back to today’s date if and when you need.
Install the free Classic Shell to get Windows 7 like Start menu
While Microsoft has added back the Start menu with Windows 10, the Start menu is not the same as the one in Windows 7. If one or more features of original Start menu is not working or if you are missing the Windows 7’s Start menu in Windows 10, install Classic Shell for Windows 10 program right away.
In addition to Windows 7-like Start menu, the Classic Shell brings a couple of other classic features to Windows 10. If you’re installing Classic Shell just for the sake of Start menu, be sure to uncheck other features like Classic Explorer during the installation.
Enable Aero glass transparency
Microsoft dropped the Aero glass transparency with Windows 8. In spite of requests from millions of PC users, Microsoft didn’t enable the Aero glass transparency for window borders in Windows 10. While it’s possible to make the Start menu transparent out of the box, there is no option to turn on Aero glass transparency for window borders without the help of third-party tools.
Those of you serious about getting back Aero glass transparency should check out Aero Glass program. The program brings Windows 7-like Aero glass transparency back to Windows 10 with ease. On top that, it automatically installs and applies Windows 7-like Aero glass compatible theme.
Disable the lock screen
The lock screen was introduced first with Windows 8. The lock screen shows some useful information like network status, battery charge level, date and time, number of new emails and notifications and can be configured to display detailed information from an app.
The only problem with the lock screen is that it adds another level to the boot to desktop process. In short, you need to perform an addition click to see the login screen where you enter your account password. Go through our how to remove the lock screen in Windows 10/8 guide for detailed instructions.
Remove the search/Cortana box from the taskbar
With default settings, Windows 10 displays a large search box on the left-side of the taskbar. While the search box makes it easy for beginners to quickly initiate a search, you can place the search icon instead of the box to save the space on the taskbar and make the taskbar more like Windows 7. Did you know that you can initiate a search without using the search box or search icon?
Right-click on taskbar, select Cortana, and then click either Hidden or Show Cortana icon.
Disable Windows Explorer ribbon
If you want to make the Windows Explorer or known as File Explorer in Windows 10 look like the one in Windows 7, you need to disable the ribbon. There are couple of ways out there to enable the Windows 7-style toolbar in Windows 10’s File Explorer but we recommend you use a free tool called Old New Explorer.
Disable Quick Access
With default settings, File Explorer opens to Quick Access in Windows 10. While Quick Access can be useful at times, you might want to turn off the Quick Access and open File Explorer to This PC to make the Windows Explorer behave more like Windows 7’s Explorer.
Disable Action Center
Action Center is one of the new features introduced with Windows 10. The feature allows you quickly view recent notifications and messages and also allows you quickly access various system settings.
Here is how to turn off the Action Center in Windows 10:
Step 1: Open Registry Editor and navigate to the following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft \Windows\Explorer
Step 2: On the right side, create a new DWORD (32-bit) value and name it as DisableNotificationCenter.
Step 3: Double-click on the DisableNotificationCenter value and set its value data to 1 to disable the Action Center.
Install desktop gadgets
Desktop gadgets are very popular among Windows 7 users. If you want to get the original desktop gadgets offered in Windows 7 in Windows 10 as well, please refer to our download desktop gadgets for Windows 10 guide for instructions to download and install original Windows 7 desktop gadgets in Windows 10.
Install Windows 7 games
The classic games have been dropped from Windows 10. While modern version of Microsoft Solitaire is offered, the classic games were more fun to play. Luckily, it’s possible get all these classic games in Windows 10 in a jiffy. Please refer to the instructions in our how to get classic Windows 7 games in Windows 10 for the detailed directions.
Get Windows 7 like folders
While Microsoft has retained most of the Windows 7 icons in Windows 10, some icons have been updated. The new folder icon in Windows 10 is pretty good but if you like the folder icons of Windows 7, go through our get Windows 7 folder icons in Windows 10 guide.
Uninstall and remove Edge browser
Microsoft Edge, the new web browser from Microsoft is shaping up well. The Edge browser will get extensions support with the anniversary update which is expected in the month of July or August. That said, if you’re not happy with it, you can get rid of the same by following our how to uninstall and remove Edge browser in Windows 10 guide.
Get rid of default modern apps
As you might have noticed by now, there are dozens of built-in apps in Windows 10. While apps such as Mail, Weather and Groove Music are useful, you might want to uninstall other apps that are not so useful. Please refer to our how to uninstall default apps in Windows 10 or how to use CCleaner to uninstall built-in apps for detailed instructions.
Use a local account to sign in
If you’re using a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows 10, you can consider using a local user account to sign in, just like in Windows 7. While signing in with a Microsoft account has its own benefits, most users prefer local user account for privacy reasons.
Enable the classic Personalization window
In Windows 10, when you right-click on desktop and click Personalize you get the personalization section of Settings app instead of the classic Personalization window. If you want to restore the old feature, please read the instructions in our how to enable the classic Personalization window in Windows 10 guide.
Set Windows 7 wallpaper as your desktop background
Last but not least, don’t forget to download and set the original Windows 7 wallpaper as your Windows 10 desktop background. Perform a quick search on the web to download the Windows 7 wallpaper in required resolution.
Enjoy your new Windows 10!
5/13/2016
12 Neglected Windows 10 Apps & Why You Must Try Them
These brilliant (but neglected) Windows 10 apps can transform the way you work.
Windows 10 comes with many useful default apps that are easy to overlook – either because you’re unaware of their existence, or because you use a third-party program for the same tasks.
Here a list of 12 default apps that will make your PC even more useful. All of them can be accessed by opening the Start Menu and (pre-Anniversary Update) clicking All apps in the bottom left. Alternatively, search for them from the search bar/using Cortana.
Like most of the Windows 10 apps in this article, it contains neat sections on the left and useful tabs at the top. These cover all of Windows 10’s new features, including the Start Menu, Microsoft Edge, Entertainment, Office, and “Saving and syncing content”.
If you’ve recently upgraded to Windows 10, then don’t worry. There are many ways you can easily get to grips with it. Also check these default Windows 10 settings immediately after upgrading.
That said, I find myself using World Clock very often. It lets you add pins to a world map to see what’s the time there. It’s great if (like me) you have family, friends, and colleagues spread across the globe.
To tailor the app to your interests, click the Interests icon (star with three lines) at the top left and untick the topics you’re not interested in. Next, click each category on the left and select the topics you want to read about.
Going forward, you’ll find the app tailoring the news to your needs. After using it for a few days, I noticed that I wasn’t even using the news apps on my phone anymore.
By default, the calendar adds all the US holidays to it. To change this to your region, scroll down, click More calendars at the bottom left, then tick the calendar for your country. To add an event to your calendar, click a date you want, then type your event details. Click the More details link to add info for recurring events and to invite other people.
You can also track the stocks, funds, or indexes of any major publicly-listed company in the world over the last year. The News section within the app has global financial news stories. It also has a Personal Finance section that contains news stories local to you.
To enable this, click Map Views on the right, set the Traffic slider to On, then tick Incidents and Cameras. These features are only limited to the United States and major European cities, but new ones are added regularly.
The app is receiving new features when the free Windows 10 Anniversary Update hits your PC in July this year. If you want to try out these new features today, you’ll need to sign up to become a part of the Windows 10 Insider Program.
By default, the app has sections on the left for 12 sports, including the English Premier League, FA Cup, Cricket, Formula 1, Tennis, and so on.
To customize the app, click Interests on the left, the pen icon at the top, then close the tiles of the sports you don’t want to follow. To add other sports, click the + icon at the bottom and type the name of a league (such as NBA) or sport you want to follow. Similarly, you can also add your favorite sports teams to track their progress.
We’ve done a series of OneNote articles, including how to check which note-taking app is right for you, ways to take better notes in OneNote, and even how to migrate from Evernote to OneNote.
The app is even more useful if you own a Windows Phone because it lets you create your own personal cloud within OneDrive for all your music. You can then play this using the Groove app on your phone.
Its real horsepower is unleashed when you purchase a Groove Music Pass. This costs $10 per month, but comes with a free 30-day trial. Like Spotify, it lets you instantly stream and listen to the latest tracks. It’s also platform agnostic, so you can use it on your Android, iOS, and Windows Phones by installing the app and logging into your account.
While it’s not as feature-packed as a paid-for program (such as Photoshop), you can do tons of things with it that are not very obvious from the first glance. For example, did you know that you could add selective focus effects, and even remove red eye with one click?
One of its most useful features is the option to find the weather for another city, then place this as a live tile on your Start Menu.
To do that, select Places (star with three lines) on the left, click the + button, then find the place whose weather you want. Now click to see the weather in this place, then click the small pin icon at the top right. Finally, click Yes to confirm you want to add it to your Start Menu.
If your feedback resonates with other users, you can be rest assured that Microsoft will do something about it. You can also send feedback for each app individually by clicking the small smiley icon on the left of the respective app.
Windows 10 comes with many useful default apps that are easy to overlook – either because you’re unaware of their existence, or because you use a third-party program for the same tasks.
Here a list of 12 default apps that will make your PC even more useful. All of them can be accessed by opening the Start Menu and (pre-Anniversary Update) clicking All apps in the bottom left. Alternatively, search for them from the search bar/using Cortana.
1. Get Started
Window 10 is simple enough for most people to figure out on their own. However, it’s good to know this (self-explanatory) app is just a few clicks away, if you hit a dead end, or come across a problem you need an immediate solution to.Like most of the Windows 10 apps in this article, it contains neat sections on the left and useful tabs at the top. These cover all of Windows 10’s new features, including the Start Menu, Microsoft Edge, Entertainment, Office, and “Saving and syncing content”.
If you’ve recently upgraded to Windows 10, then don’t worry. There are many ways you can easily get to grips with it. Also check these default Windows 10 settings immediately after upgrading.
2. Alarms & Clock
This simple app has four features – Alarm, World Clock, Timer, and Stopwatch – three of which you’ll barely use because your smartphone or wristwatch is a better alternative.That said, I find myself using World Clock very often. It lets you add pins to a world map to see what’s the time there. It’s great if (like me) you have family, friends, and colleagues spread across the globe.
3. News
The News app can seem overwhelming at first because it throws all sorts of random content at you. This is divided into many different sections, including US, Top Stories, World, Technology, Entertainment, and Sport.To tailor the app to your interests, click the Interests icon (star with three lines) at the top left and untick the topics you’re not interested in. Next, click each category on the left and select the topics you want to read about.
Going forward, you’ll find the app tailoring the news to your needs. After using it for a few days, I noticed that I wasn’t even using the news apps on my phone anymore.
4. Calendar & Mail
If you’ve logged into the Mail app using your Microsoft account, the Calendar app automatically imports all your important info, including events and birthdays.By default, the calendar adds all the US holidays to it. To change this to your region, scroll down, click More calendars at the bottom left, then tick the calendar for your country. To add an event to your calendar, click a date you want, then type your event details. Click the More details link to add info for recurring events and to invite other people.
5. Money
This useful app will save you precious time, if you often check the stock market, overseas currency rates, and calculate your mortgage. It has a handy currency calculator from where you can compare your local currency with 18 countries from a single screen.You can also track the stocks, funds, or indexes of any major publicly-listed company in the world over the last year. The News section within the app has global financial news stories. It also has a Personal Finance section that contains news stories local to you.
6. Maps
Google Maps is normally our default go-to navigation and mapping service, but the feature we love about Windows 10’s Maps app is that you can turn on traffic alerts and see cameras along your route – Google Maps doesn’t have the latter feature, yet.To enable this, click Map Views on the right, set the Traffic slider to On, then tick Incidents and Cameras. These features are only limited to the United States and major European cities, but new ones are added regularly.
The app is receiving new features when the free Windows 10 Anniversary Update hits your PC in July this year. If you want to try out these new features today, you’ll need to sign up to become a part of the Windows 10 Insider Program.
7. Sports
You’re probably wondering why there’s a separate Sports app when Sport is a prominent section within the News app. The latter provides general sports news, whereas this app lets you add the sports and teams that you want to follow.By default, the app has sections on the left for 12 sports, including the English Premier League, FA Cup, Cricket, Formula 1, Tennis, and so on.
To customize the app, click Interests on the left, the pen icon at the top, then close the tiles of the sports you don’t want to follow. To add other sports, click the + icon at the bottom and type the name of a league (such as NBA) or sport you want to follow. Similarly, you can also add your favorite sports teams to track their progress.
8. OneNote
Microsoft wants everyone to use OneNote and for good reason. It has a ton of useful features and any changes you make within this app are automatically synced to the OneNote account across all your devices.We’ve done a series of OneNote articles, including how to check which note-taking app is right for you, ways to take better notes in OneNote, and even how to migrate from Evernote to OneNote.
9. Groove Music
Yes, we know you miss Windows Media Player and probably installed VLC Media Player without even considering Groove Music, but the app has several brilliant (albeit hidden) features. It can catalog music from your PC, as well as music that you’ve downloaded from iTunes or Google Play Music. Click the musical note icon on the left, then click Show us where to look for music, and point it to the source on your PC.The app is even more useful if you own a Windows Phone because it lets you create your own personal cloud within OneDrive for all your music. You can then play this using the Groove app on your phone.
Its real horsepower is unleashed when you purchase a Groove Music Pass. This costs $10 per month, but comes with a free 30-day trial. Like Spotify, it lets you instantly stream and listen to the latest tracks. It’s also platform agnostic, so you can use it on your Android, iOS, and Windows Phones by installing the app and logging into your account.
10. Photos
It may be one of the first default apps that you replace for your preferred alternative, but before you do that, check out all the hidden things this nifty app can do.While it’s not as feature-packed as a paid-for program (such as Photoshop), you can do tons of things with it that are not very obvious from the first glance. For example, did you know that you could add selective focus effects, and even remove red eye with one click?
11. Weather
The Weather app is choc-a-block with interesting features, most of which you probably won’t need. These include the phases of the moon, exact times for sunrise and sunset, how many times it rained on that day in the past 30 years, levels of precipitation, humidity, UV, and wind. Click the Details button on the right to see a breakdown of the weather every hour.One of its most useful features is the option to find the weather for another city, then place this as a live tile on your Start Menu.
To do that, select Places (star with three lines) on the left, click the + button, then find the place whose weather you want. Now click to see the weather in this place, then click the small pin icon at the top right. Finally, click Yes to confirm you want to add it to your Start Menu.
12. Windows Feedback
The great thing about Windows 10 is that it’s constantly evolving and Microsoft is relying on user feedback to determine what will shape future versions. We already have a glimpse of what to expect when the Anniversary Update comes to all PCs this summer. But the innovation doesn’t stop there and that’s where this app comes into its own.If your feedback resonates with other users, you can be rest assured that Microsoft will do something about it. You can also send feedback for each app individually by clicking the small smiley icon on the left of the respective app.
What’s Your Favorite?
I didn’t know how useful these apps were until I started using them. Some of them (such as News, Photos, Money, and Sport) are ones I now use daily, while others (such as Alarms & Clock and Weather) I check often. You need to give them time (a few days, at least) to prove their worth. You’ll never know which one of them becomes indispensable.
4/23/2016
How to stop the Cortana browser from running
The Cortana browser is a both a blessing and annoying. If you do not want it running constantly in the background and using up memory and resources, because you prefer another web browser. Below is a post how to stop it.
First disable it, then uninstall the Cortana app.
Disable it in the search settings:
First disable it, then uninstall the Cortana app.
Disable it in the search settings:
1> Click the search icon/box in the bottom left
2> click the gear on the left bar
3> Click off next to Cortana/Web Searches
submitted by SleepinYeti
- Open Task Manager and have it show More details. Right click on Cortana and select Open file location.
- Now find the Cortana folder, right click it, and select Rename. I would recommend just adding ".bak" to the end of the folder name so you can find it easily if you want to restore it back to it's original status. If you attempt to rename, it will tell you that the folder is in use.
- This is when you want to go back to Task Manager, right click on Cortana, and select End task.
- Right after the task ends, switch back to the Folder In Use
window and click Try Again. The folder should be renamed and the Cortana
task will not start again.
Source: https://superuser.com/questions/949569/can-i-completely-disable-cortana-on-windows-10
https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/3fo738/how_to_completely_remove_cortana_background/
4/18/2016
5 Free Tools to Fix Any Problem in Windows 10
Windows 10 is Microsoft’s latest and greatest operating systems (OS),
but it’s far from flawless. Since its launch in July 2015, several
people have encountered issues – both after upgrading from Windows 7 or
8.1, and after buying a new PC.
If you’ve upgraded to Windows 10, read about the common upgrade issues and how to fix them.
Thankfully, many free programs exist that will fix the most common problems on your PC. Our top five address major Windows 10 issues in the simplest ways possible.
These tools will fix your faulty or broken drivers, restore PC components that aren’t working, easily enable or disable hidden settings, resurrect features you loved from earlier Windows versions, and lock down your privacy settings.
Before installing them, check two important things…
To do this, head to Start > Settings > Update & security > Windows Update. Here, click the Advanced options link at the bottom. On Windows 10, updates always download automatically, but to install, often a restart is required.
If you rarely reboot your computer, make sure the dropdown menu at the top is set to Automatic. Also tick Give me updates for other Microsoft products when I update Windows. Finally, go back, click Check for updates, and restart if needed.
Apart from running Windows Update, install suitable antivirus protection. There’s Windows Defender, but Microsoft’s aged security tool is far from the best method of securing Windows 10. Here are five free security programs we think offer the best all-round security for Windows PCs.
On to the five best programs to fix any major problem that you’ve encountered in Windows 10.
Thankfully, several free tools can update your drivers in a few clicks. The best among them is Driver Booster, which claims to fix and update 200,000 Windows drivers.
Remember to read and untick any unwanted boxes during installation because its parent company (IObit) tries to covertly add bloatware. A tool called Unchecky can help with that, too.
The program is divided into two tabs – Outdated and UpToDate. Select the former and click Update Now at the top to update all your outdated drivers in one go.
The program automatically updates these drivers for you, saving you loads of time and effort. You can follow its update progress at the top. You can also schedule the program to check and inform you about any outdated drivers that you can then update.
Driver Booster creates an automatic restore point before updating your drivers and it has options to automatically shut down or reboot your PC after it’s done – useful if you’re updating many drivers or in the cases where some new drivers may need a reboot to work.
The program is divided into six neat sections, each representing problems with a specific component (File Explorer, System Tools, etc.). Each section contains at least 10 fixes (see the full list here). Some of the fixes may require a reboot, but you’ll be informed of this when you click the Fix button.
The Welcome section lets you create a restore point (which we recommend doing) and fix any corrupted files on your computer. The one-click fixes in the File Explorer category let you add your Recycle Bin icon to the Desktop (if you don’t see it). From here, you can also expose your PC’s hidden files and folders. Similarly, the System Tools section lets you fix problems with the Task Manager, Registry Editor, and Device Manager.
If you can’t locate the fixes you want, click the Windows 10 section where you’ll see common fixes relating to your Start Menu, Wi-Fi connection problems, Windows Update, and even Office programs. The Additional Fixes section lets you address problems that take place after upgrading your to Windows 10 – such as Office files not opening and problems accessing Windows Media Player.
The Troubleshooter section works a little differently. Instead of providing one-click solutions, it has easy-to-understand options that’ll open the relevant device Troubleshooter tool on your PC. You would otherwise have to manually search and open them. The Windows troubleshooters can easily fix problems with regard to your printer, speakers, Internet connection, and Windows Update.
Unlike FixWin 10, which actually addresses Windows 10 issues and lets you fix them, this program lets you quickly enable, disable, hide, or remove certain features from Windows.
You can make each change listed in this program using the Windows 10 Settings app, the Registry Editor, or the Group Policy Editor. However, Ultimate Windows Tweaker puts all the options within neat sections that list relevant issues which you can then address quickly.
Click the Create Restore Point button at the bottom left before you start, tick the changes you want to make, then click Apply at the bottom. The Additional section lets you bring back Windows 7’s Windows Photo Viewer with one click.
There are over 200 Windows 10 tweaks that are available at the click of a button. Making wholesale changes to your OS has never been easier.
Windows 10 is the better OS, but if you can’t live without certain Windows 7 features, the Missed Features Installer comes to the rescue.
The program itself is a package containing several reputed (and safe) third-party programs that resurrect features from earlier Windows version to Windows 10. For example, you can use it to add a Windows 7-like Start Menu, bring back Desktops gadgets, Windows Movie Maker, and the Windows Experience Index Tool.
Its installation ISO file is over 1 GB. In earlier Windows versions, you would need to burn this to a DVD before running the ISO file. However, Windows 10 lets you simulate a virtual environment, so you can run these files directly. Open the ISO file and run the setup file within. We’ve explained how to use the program to resurrect lost features to Windows 10.
The program is divided into nine sections (including Security, Privacy, and Windows Update), each offering various options. The same settings are available in Windows 10, but it’s not always clear what they do. Using O&O Shut Up, however, you’ll find that each setting comes with a detailed explanation of what it does. If you just want to apply all the recommended settings of the program, click the Actions dropdown menu and select that option.
You should address all options marked with red exclamation marks because these denote settings that are switched off, but need to be switched on. For example, the program informed us that Windows Defender was disabled.
Source: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-free-tools-fix-problem-windows-10/
If you’ve upgraded to Windows 10, read about the common upgrade issues and how to fix them.
Thankfully, many free programs exist that will fix the most common problems on your PC. Our top five address major Windows 10 issues in the simplest ways possible.
These tools will fix your faulty or broken drivers, restore PC components that aren’t working, easily enable or disable hidden settings, resurrect features you loved from earlier Windows versions, and lock down your privacy settings.
Before installing them, check two important things…
Ensure Your PC Is Updated and Secure
Microsoft regularly addresses many of Windows 10 flaws with system updates, so you should first ensure your PC is updated and set to update automatically.To do this, head to Start > Settings > Update & security > Windows Update. Here, click the Advanced options link at the bottom. On Windows 10, updates always download automatically, but to install, often a restart is required.
If you rarely reboot your computer, make sure the dropdown menu at the top is set to Automatic. Also tick Give me updates for other Microsoft products when I update Windows. Finally, go back, click Check for updates, and restart if needed.
Apart from running Windows Update, install suitable antivirus protection. There’s Windows Defender, but Microsoft’s aged security tool is far from the best method of securing Windows 10. Here are five free security programs we think offer the best all-round security for Windows PCs.
On to the five best programs to fix any major problem that you’ve encountered in Windows 10.
1. Driver Booster
If your Windows 10 PC encounters hardware problems (for example, with a speaker or printer), a faulty driver could be the culprit. We previously showed you how to take control of driver updates in Windows 10.Thankfully, several free tools can update your drivers in a few clicks. The best among them is Driver Booster, which claims to fix and update 200,000 Windows drivers.
Remember to read and untick any unwanted boxes during installation because its parent company (IObit) tries to covertly add bloatware. A tool called Unchecky can help with that, too.
The program is divided into two tabs – Outdated and UpToDate. Select the former and click Update Now at the top to update all your outdated drivers in one go.
The program automatically updates these drivers for you, saving you loads of time and effort. You can follow its update progress at the top. You can also schedule the program to check and inform you about any outdated drivers that you can then update.
Driver Booster creates an automatic restore point before updating your drivers and it has options to automatically shut down or reboot your PC after it’s done – useful if you’re updating many drivers or in the cases where some new drivers may need a reboot to work.
2. FixWin 10
FixWin 10 is a great free program to fix issues within Windows 10 and it’s portable, meaning it doesn’t require installation.The program is divided into six neat sections, each representing problems with a specific component (File Explorer, System Tools, etc.). Each section contains at least 10 fixes (see the full list here). Some of the fixes may require a reboot, but you’ll be informed of this when you click the Fix button.
The Welcome section lets you create a restore point (which we recommend doing) and fix any corrupted files on your computer. The one-click fixes in the File Explorer category let you add your Recycle Bin icon to the Desktop (if you don’t see it). From here, you can also expose your PC’s hidden files and folders. Similarly, the System Tools section lets you fix problems with the Task Manager, Registry Editor, and Device Manager.
If you can’t locate the fixes you want, click the Windows 10 section where you’ll see common fixes relating to your Start Menu, Wi-Fi connection problems, Windows Update, and even Office programs. The Additional Fixes section lets you address problems that take place after upgrading your to Windows 10 – such as Office files not opening and problems accessing Windows Media Player.
The Troubleshooter section works a little differently. Instead of providing one-click solutions, it has easy-to-understand options that’ll open the relevant device Troubleshooter tool on your PC. You would otherwise have to manually search and open them. The Windows troubleshooters can easily fix problems with regard to your printer, speakers, Internet connection, and Windows Update.
3. Ultimate Windows Tweaker 4
Ultimate Windows Tweaker is made by the same parent company as FixWin10 (The Windows Club). This is immediately evident because both programs share the same easy-to-use interface.Unlike FixWin 10, which actually addresses Windows 10 issues and lets you fix them, this program lets you quickly enable, disable, hide, or remove certain features from Windows.
You can make each change listed in this program using the Windows 10 Settings app, the Registry Editor, or the Group Policy Editor. However, Ultimate Windows Tweaker puts all the options within neat sections that list relevant issues which you can then address quickly.
Click the Create Restore Point button at the bottom left before you start, tick the changes you want to make, then click Apply at the bottom. The Additional section lets you bring back Windows 7’s Windows Photo Viewer with one click.
There are over 200 Windows 10 tweaks that are available at the click of a button. Making wholesale changes to your OS has never been easier.
4. Missed Featured Installer 10
Windows 10 is not a bad OS. In fact, it was one of the best releases of 2015, fixing many of the flaws that alienated Windows 8.1 users. But people love Windows 7, which remains the most popular Windows version by far!Windows 10 is the better OS, but if you can’t live without certain Windows 7 features, the Missed Features Installer comes to the rescue.
The program itself is a package containing several reputed (and safe) third-party programs that resurrect features from earlier Windows version to Windows 10. For example, you can use it to add a Windows 7-like Start Menu, bring back Desktops gadgets, Windows Movie Maker, and the Windows Experience Index Tool.
Its installation ISO file is over 1 GB. In earlier Windows versions, you would need to burn this to a DVD before running the ISO file. However, Windows 10 lets you simulate a virtual environment, so you can run these files directly. Open the ISO file and run the setup file within. We’ve explained how to use the program to resurrect lost features to Windows 10.
5. O&O Shut Up 10
We’ve spoken at length about Windows 10’s Privacy issues and Microsoft has received a lot of flak for it. Windows 10 contains many privacy settings you can customize. However, as with the programs above, you can benefit from tools that make this job easier and one of the best among them is O&O ShutUp 10.The program is divided into nine sections (including Security, Privacy, and Windows Update), each offering various options. The same settings are available in Windows 10, but it’s not always clear what they do. Using O&O Shut Up, however, you’ll find that each setting comes with a detailed explanation of what it does. If you just want to apply all the recommended settings of the program, click the Actions dropdown menu and select that option.
You should address all options marked with red exclamation marks because these denote settings that are switched off, but need to be switched on. For example, the program informed us that Windows Defender was disabled.
What Windows 10 Programs Do You Use to Fix Problems?
While we think that these are the best programs to fix any problem in Windows 10, there are tons of other programs and apps (both free and paid-for) that address its many issues. At the end of the day, much of it comes down to the problems you’ve encountered and the tools you’re comfortable using to address them.Source: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-free-tools-fix-problem-windows-10/