Indholdsfortegnelse for Windows 10 The Complete Manual i Windows 10 The Complete Manual

BDM’s Complete Manual Series Windows 10 PC • Laptop • Surface Everything you need to master Windows 10 Fully updated to include the best features of Windows 10, this is your complete guide to getting the best from the most popular operating system in the world, powering over 900 million devices. This complete manual for Windows 10 features hundreds of tutorials, guides and tips, making it the best way to get more from Windows 10 every time you use it. Our carefully selected guides, tips and tutorials cover everything, from using the core apps and features to keeping your PC safe and making more of Windows 10. Inside we show you everything you need to know to get started with Microsoft’s latest operating system. No matter if you are a…

Windows 10 Essentials How to Use the Start Me How to Use the Start Menu The Start menu in Windows 10 is useful for much more than just displaying a list of your apps and software. It includes Live Tiles, shortcuts to folders and settings, and you can even create folders within the menu itself. Learning how to use the Start menu is a must. Get to Grips with Start Microsoft has completely redesigned the Start menu for a new era and it seems to be improved with every update to the OS, so it takes a little getting used to at first. Here’s our tour of the new Start. 1 You open the Start menu by clicking the Windows icon in the bottom left of the desktop or by…

Windows 10 Essentials Manage Notifications in Windows 10 Manage Notifications in Windows 10 If you’ve used a modern smartphone, you should be all too familiar with Notifications and alerts. Windows 10 has embraced the use of similar notifications in a much bigger way than older versions. Here’s how to manage those useful little pop-ups and alerts. Viewing Notifications Viewing your notifications is very straightforward, as they are all grouped together within the Action Center. You can see when you have new notifications by the numbered badge that appears. 1 Some notifications pop up in a small window in the bottom right corner of the screen as they arrive, others will simply arrive in the Action Center and display a badge on the Action Center button, again at the bottom right…

Windows 10 Essentials How to Use the File Explorer How to Use the File Explorer Here we’ll take you through the improvements to the general Windows 10 file browser. Many features remain from Windows 7 and 8 (such as clicking in the far right of the taskbar to minimise everything) and apps on the taskbar work the same. What’s New in File Explorer? File Explorer is a much undervalued part of Windows. And while it hasn’t fundamentally changed for several versions of the operating system, Windows 10 introduces some interesting enhancements, which we’ll take you through here. 1 The way you browse files in Windows 10 is broadly similar to previous versions of Windows, but File Explorer has been enhanced. The main Quick Access window shows you your most frequently…

Windows 10 Essentials Exploring the New Edge Browser Exploring the New Edge Browser The new Edge Chromium browser is subtly different from its predecessor, with several new features added and a few old ones lost. It still has tabs, bookmarks and a reading mode, as well as ways to customise the start page. Let’s take a look at Edge Chromium. Browser Controls In the top left corner, where you would probably expect to find them, are the browser controls. These include the Home button, the Page refresh button and the Page forward/Page back buttons. Right-click on the active tab to see additional options, including Re-open Closed Tab. Search Fields There are two search fields in Edge, one at the top (which is also the address field when viewing a website)…

Windows 10 Essentials How to Set Up and Use the Mail App How to Set Up and Use the Mail App The Windows 10 new email client is a lot different from previous apps such as Outlook Express. It’s a relatively recent idea for you to have all your emails in one place, whether it’s your work account, a Hotmail or Outlook address or email from Gmail. Meet Your New Email Client Mail has been completely redesigned for Windows 10 and is wholly unrecognisable from the Windows 8 equivalent (that’s a good thing). But even with these improvements, it still needs a bit of tweaking before it comes into its own. Welcome As it says here, the idea behind the Mail app in Windows 10 is to gather all your…

Windows 10 Essentials Connect Your Phone to Your PC Connect Your Phone to Your PC You can connect an iOS or Android phone to both your Microsoft account and Windows 10, allowing you to view the photos on your phone from the comfort of your desktop and even view call and SMS details on your computer as they arrive on your phone. Set Up the Your Phone App We have used a Galaxy S10 here, but the setup steps for connecting a mobile device to Windows 10 are almost exactly the same for both iOS and Android devices. 1 Open the Settings and look for the “Phone” option. Click the link and then click the “Add a phone” button on the next screen. The Your Phone app then opens in a…

Windows 10 Apps and Software Guides Find Apps and Windows Downloads Find Apps and Windows Downloads There was a Windows Store inside Windows 8 but Microsoft has a new version inside Windows 10. That’s because, like the new so-called ‘Universal’ apps, the Store will work across all Microsoft devices including Windows Phones and the Xbox One. Take a Look Around The great thing about the new Windows Store is that the quality of the apps has improved, so it’s actually worth browsing. But aside from better apps, the whole experience of looking for new software has been improved in Windows 10. 1 As well as being more responsive to use, the Windows Store has improved vastly in terms of content – as well as apps and games there are now movies…

Windows 10 Apps and Software Guides Navigating with the Maps App Navigating with the Maps App Boasting excellent mapping, great aerial photography, up-to-the-minute traffic and the ability to calculate directions by public transport, road or foot, the Maps app is one of the very best ways to navigate. New additions make the Maps app even more useful. Moving Around in Maps There are few controls in the Maps app but they allow you to do a lot of things very easily. Let’s take a look at how you move around in the app. 1 The easiest way to move the map around is to left-click and drag it and use the mouse wheel or trackpad slider to zoom in and out. This allows you to move the map around to focus…

Windows 10 Apps and Software Guides Using the Cloud Clipboard Using the Cloud Clipboard Copying and pasting is something we all do. However, what do you do if you need to copy the same few things again and again and how do you copy content across your devices? The new Cloud Clipboard solves both of those problems in a single, simple interface. A New Way to Copy + Paste The Cloud Clipboard gives you a new way to cut and paste. Simply press the Windows key + V at any time and you’ll see the Cloud Clipboard panel appear in the bottom corner of the screen. 1 Before you can use all the features of the Cloud Clipboard in Windows 10, you will need to enable them in the settings. Go…

Manage Libraries in Windows 10/How to Use AutoPlay How to Use AutoPlay AutoPlay is the function in Windows that determines what automatically happens when you plug in a USB drive or click on an email link, i.e. should a file format automatically play in an associated app. It’s an important thing to know how to set up correctly but it’s not something that you can find easily. Set Up AutoPlay You can configure the programs you want to have priority using the AutoPlay options in both the Settings app and Control Panel. Here’s how to set up and use the AutoPlay feature in the Windows 10 operating system. 1 In Settings click on Devices, then select AutoPlay from the bottom of the list. You can then choose the options you want…

Windows 10 Apps and Software Guides Explore the Windows 10 Calendar App Explore the Windows 10 Calendar App The Windows 10 Calendar app is a fully integrated planning tool that can be linked up to your email accounts and easily synced to your other Windows 10 devices. Adding new events can be done manually, or you can simply use it to view national and public holidays, all of which are automatically added based on your location. Add New Event There are two main ways to add a new event to your calendar. You can either click on the date in the main window or, if the date you want is not in view, you can click the New Event button here. You can then add an event name, location, and…

Windows 10 Apps and Software Guides Changing File Associations and Protocols Changing File Associations and Protocols Windows 10 comes with its own default set of associations that open specific file types. A file association controls which apps or programs are set to open which types of files. If you’re not happy with the default associations and want to choose your own, it’s easy to do. Default Programs and Protocols The ability to change the default apps and programs that Windows 10 uses goes a long way to helping you take full control of your PC and the system software. 1 Click on the search bar on the left of the taskbar and type “default programs”. You can also navigate to this settings tool by opening the All Apps list, scrolling down…

Windows 10 Apps and Software Guides Setting Up Dual Monitors Setting Up Dual Monitors With a second monitor and the required connectors on your PC, setting up Windows 10 to display over two screens is easy. Having a second monitor can really help to increase productivity, and allow you to stay more organised when you’re at your computer. Setting Up a Dual Display Matching up the resolution and size of your two chosen monitors will give the best results but even mismatched monitors can work really well in dual format. 1 You will obviously need to ensure that your PC has the requisite connections for two monitors (two HDMI, VGA or DVI ports, or a combination of these). Check the back of your PC tower or the side of your laptop…

Windows 10 Apps and Software Guides How to Update Windows 10 How to Update Windows 10 Keeping your Windows 10 computer up to date is important for two main reasons. First, major updates, such as the Anniversary update, will add major new features that you shouldn’t miss out on. Second, all updates are there for a reason, usually to fix problems, close security holes and add improvements. Checking for Updates If you think that your PC needs to be updated, you don’t need to wait for the automatic update process to kick in. You can quite easily check for updates yourself. 1 You can find the Windows 10 update information in the main settings app. Tap the Windows key or click the start menu button and then select the Settings icon…

Sharing to Nearby Devices Using the Focus Assist Tool Using the Focus Assist Tool Focus Assist allows you to create distraction-free periods by blocking alerts, notifications and other sounds. Turn on Focus Assist to stop distractions like social media or alternatively set it to turn on automatically at certain times during the day. Blocking Notifications Choose which notifications you want to see and hear. The remainder of your alerts will go into the Action Center so you can see them at a more convenient time. 1 You can easily activate Focus Assist using the quick actions panel in the Action Center. The default setting is Off. Click the Quick action button once to allow priority notifications only, click it a second time to allow alarms only. Click the button a third…

Windows 10 Security, Maintenance & Performance Encrypting Your Windows 10 Laptop Encrypting Your Windows 10 Laptop Windows 10 Pro comes with Microsoft’s BitLocker program to encrypt the file system; however, Windows 10 Home versions do not have this feature. Thankfully, there are many encryption programs available for download; we’re using DiskCryptor in this tutorial. Windows 10, Under Lock and Key We’re going to encrypt a 2GB USB flash in this example, purely for ease of use and to demonstrate how you can encrypt your entire laptop hard drive(s). 1 Encryption doesn’t affect the core data, other than making it impossible to read without the decryption key. Still, it’s always worth making sure you have a backup of all your data prior to any system related changes. If you store your work…

Windows 10 Security, Maintenance & Performance Manage Your Privacy in Windows 10 Manage Your Privacy in Windows 10 Being in control of security on your computer is important but almost as important is being able to control your privacy settings. Microsoft recently launched a web-based privacy dashboard tool and this has now become available to everyone in the Creators update. The Privacy Dashboard The privacy dashboard is web-based rather than in the settings and it allows you to manage multiple devices from a single interface, as long as you are logged in to a single account. 1 Open your browser and navigate to www.account.microsoft.com/privacy. If prompted, use your Microsoft account details to log in. You will be logged in to the privacy overview page that lets you quickly see what privacy…

Windows 10 Security, Maintenance & Performance Windows Defender - is it Good Enough? Windows Defender - is it Good Enough? Windows Defender now offers: virus and malware protection and scanning (including ways to protect against ransomware), account protection, firewall and network protection tools, app scanning and parental controls along with device performance and health checks, but is it good enough to replace your current premium antivirus and security software, or should it simply be used as a backup to dedicated software such as Norton Security and McAfee Antivirus? Virus & Threat Protection This is where to check and scan for viruses and other threats to your Windows 10 security. Here you will find tools for preventing viruses and other malware from ever taking hold of your computer, as well as…

Windows 10 Security, Maintenance & Performance Blocking PUPs with Windows Defender Blocking PUPs with Windows Defender PUPs, Potentially Unwanted Programs, are bits of software that can sometimes be stealthily installed when you install other free software, usually by making it a default installation option with the choice to opt-out. You can block these unwanted programs automatically using Windows Defender. Enable PUP blocking PUPs can include toolbars, browser extensions, adware and other unwanted software. In almost all cases, this software should be called DUPs (Definitely Unwanted Programs). 1 You can enable PUP protection with System Centre Config Manager, PowerShell or Microsoft Intune. For this guide, we’ll be using the PowerShell, as this is available within Windows 10 without installing any additional software; as long as you follow the instructions carefully, it isn’t…

Windows 10 Security, Maintenance & Performance Improving the Windows 10 Firewall Improving the Windows 10 Firewall The built-in Windows 10 firewall is a surprisingly good security application. While it may not be as efficient as something offered by one of the third-party security suites, it’s certainly more than adequate for the average user and should be seen as the first line of defence against harmful attacks. Getting to Know Your Firewall Generally, there’s little need to ever configure the Windows 10 firewall. However, getting to know how it works and improving it is part of being more security-conscious. Here’s some tips on how to manage it better. 1 You can open the main Windows 10 firewall console window by clicking on the Windows Start button and entering firewall into the search…

Windows 10 Security, Maintenance & Performance How a VPN Can Improve Windows Security How a VPN Can Improve Windows Security We’ve emphasised the enhanced privacy that a VPN offers when you’re connected to its services, and the heightened levels of anonymity, but what security benefits does a VPN bring to a Windows 10 computer with an antivirus program already installed? Security Beyond Anonymity It’s a good question: how can a VPN improve Windows security? While the privacy side is well catered for, there are some good security enhancements and features a VPN brings to the table. Hide Browsing Activity This doesn’t happen often, but an ISP can become compromised and details of user activities leaked or stolen. Using a VPN can hide your browsing activity from trackers and even your…

Windows 10 Security, Maintenance & Performance Windows 10 Registry Tweaks Windows 10 Registry Tweaks The Windows Registry can be a scary place if you don’t understand how things work. There are often simpler ways to action some of the changes shown below but understanding the inner workings of your Windows 10 PC is key to understanding how to accomplish more with your screen time. WHAT IS THE REGISTRY? The Windows Registry is a hierarchical database that stores low-level settings for the Microsoft Windows operating system and for applications that opt to use the Registry. The kernel, device drivers, services, Security Accounts Manager (SAM) and user interface can all use the Registry. The Registry also allows access to counters for profiling system performance. Prior to the Windows Registry. INI files stored…

Protecting Yourself INDEX Protecting Yourself Being able to recognise a scam or virus is one thing but you need to know how to protect yourself against possible attacks. We look at the top Internet security packages, from Bitdefender, Kaspersky and McAfee, as well as what encryption is and how to make it work for you. Using a Virtual Private Network is an excellent way to improve your Windows security, we’ll look at how a VPN works, what the best VPNs are and how to install and use one on your PC.…

The Complete Windows 10 Manual Microsoft Windows in Numbers Microsoft Windows in Numbers Microsoft and the Windows OS have been around for a long time and have had the chance to build up some frankly impressive statistics. Let’s take a look at a few of those Windows and Microsoft numbers, to give you an idea just how popular and widespread the operating system is in 2020. 32% THE APPROXIMATE PERCENTAGE OF WINDOWS STORE DOWNLOADS THAT ARE GAMES SIXTY-FIVE THE AGE MICROSOFT’S FOUNDER BILL GATES WILL HIT IN 2020 (WONDER IF HE’LL CLAIM HIS STATE PENSION?) 1909 THE CURRENT STABLE VERSION OF WINDOWS 10 (AT TIME OF WRITING) 900 million THE APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF DEVICES CURRENTLY RUNNING WINDOWS 10 18 billion CORTANA, MICROSOFT’S VIRTUAL ASSISTANT, HAS BEEN ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS…

Windows 10 Essentials How to Use the Start Menu How to Use the Action Centre There have always been pop-up messages in Windows but now there is a centralised way in which these are viewed and interacted with. Called the Action Center, it is designed to work more like the notifications panel on a smartphone or tablet. Exploring the Action Center The new Action Center is a key interface element in Windows 10, providing you with access to Quick actions buttons as well as the notifications and alerts. 1 You can open the Action Center by clicking the speech bubble icon on the far-right of the taskbar or by pressing the Windows Key + A on your keyboard. If you hover the mouse pointer over the Action Center button, it…

Windows 10 Essentials How to Use Snap Assist How to Use Snap Assist Snap Assist enables you to ‘snap’ windows to the sides of the screen. With displays getting bigger, the logic is that we can have more windows on our screens. Being able to split the screen into different sections for different windows is useful and Snap Assist in Windows 10 is designed to help. Snapping Windows It is very easy to have several windows open after just a few minutes of working on your PC and it is equally easy to lose track of them. Snapping windows helps prevent that. 1 To snap any open window or app to the side of the screen, left-click on the title bar at the top of it and drag it over…

Windows 10 Essentials Create and Manage Desktop Folders Create and Manage Desktop Folders Despite all of the changes to the Windows OS, folders have remained as one of the core tools for organising your files. Much more than just boxes to keep your photos or music files in, folders can really help to improve how you use Windows 10 on a day-to-day basis. Creating New Folders It may sound too simple if you are a long time Windows user but here’s a look at how to create new folders on the desktop and within other folders. 1 On the desktop, right-click and select New folder from the action menu that appears. The familiar yellow folder icon will then appear at that position on the desktop (wherever you clicked), with the…

Windows 10 Essentials Browsing with Edge Chromium Browsing with Edge Chromium The latest version of Edge, Edge Chromium, is a significant change and offers a much better browsing experience. Based on the Google Chrome browser, Edge is focused on modern web standards, privacy and security and boasts several new features. Get Started with Edge Chromium Edge Chromium feels much less clunky than the previous version and already feels more like the most popular browsers available, such as Chrome or Firefox. 1 If you haven’t already updated to Edge Chromium, you can download it from www.microsoft.com/edge. Once downloaded, click on the download to install it. The new version automatically overwrites the old version of Edge, completely replacing it on your computer. 2 During setup, you have the option to import browser data such…

Windows 10 Essentials Using Windows 10 Search Tools Using Windows 10 Search Tools Search and Cortana are no longer combined into one tool in Windows 10. Search now has some additional tools and settings which help you find things both on and off your computer. Added extras to search include recent activities and most used app links. 1 Click in the search field at the left of the taskbar and the new search panel will pop up on screen. You can now simply start typing your search term and watch as the results are listed in the panel. The results will be split into sections such as Documents, Apps, Photos and Web. 2 If the app, setting, photo or document you are looking for is highlighted at the top of the search…

Windows 10 Essentials Connecting Your PC to the Internet Connecting Your PC to the Internet Setting up your Internet connection is an important step in Windows 10. Joining and managing networks is easier than ever. One of the new features is Wi-Fi Sense that enables you to securely share network connection details with your contacts. Manage Your Network Settings We’ll show you how to master your Wi-Fi settings and explain what you need to do if you have a problem connecting to the Internet in Windows 10. Your Settings Network and Internet is one of the key sections within the new Windows 10 Settings app. It features a plethora of settings for the different ways to connect to the Internet. While the Wi-Fi screen is fairly straightforward, there are different…

Windows 10 Apps and Software Guides Ten Essential Windows 10 Apps Ten Essential Windows 10 Apps The Windows Store is crammed full of useful apps for your computer, from well-known names like Spotify to little-known but useful apps like Pin More. Here, we will take a look at some of the best, most useful, or just unique apps available to download right now. Netflix Netflix is the world’s leading subscription service for watching TV episodes and movies. Netflix membership gives you access to unlimited TV programmes and films for one low monthly price. - With the Netflix app, you can instantly watch as many TV episodes and films as you want, as often as you want, any time you want. Pinterest Looking for creative ideas? Whether you’re planning your next…

Windows 10 Apps and Software Guides Importing Photos in Windows 10 Importing Photos in Windows 10 Importing photos from a digital camera or phone on to your PC may seem like a simple task to some but if you have never done it before you can encounter problems and have no idea how to fix them. Let’s take a look at importing photos from phone, tablet or camera. Importing to a Folder Importing your photos or images directly to a folder on the desktop, or elsewhere, is the traditional method. It tends to be quicker but offers fewer importing options. 1 The first thing you need to do to import photos directly from a phone or camera is to connect the relevant cable to your PC. In almost all cases, this…

Windows 10 Apps and Software Guides Screenshots with Snip & Sketch Screenshots with Snip & Sketch The new Snip & Sketch tool, which will eventually completely replace the old Windows snipping tool, includes a few extra features that help you to easily capture and annotate screenshots on your computer, and then save them or share them with others. Taking Screenshots with Snip & Sketch There are many reasons why you might need to capture an image of your screen, but whatever the reason, the new snipping tool allows you to do exactly that, and much more. 1 There are a couple of different ways to open the Snip & Sketch tool but there’s no dedicated keyboard shortcut at this time. You can open the app by clicking on it in the…

Windows 10 Apps and Software Guides Exploring Skype in Windows 10 Exploring Skype in Windows 10 Skype is a great way of keeping in contact with friends and family in faraway places, without running up huge phone bills. It allows you to phone, video chat and instant message, all from within the same easy-to-use interface. It can even be installed on a mobile device so you never miss a Skype call whilst away from your PC. Skype has seen a recent update, bringing the style more in line with other Windows 10 apps. Let’s take a look at the Skype interface. Skype Controls Most of the Skype controls are now arranged along the left-hand edge. From top to bottom: Recent conversations, Contacts, Bots, Help, Settings and Account info. The default…

Windows 10 Apps and Software Guides Listening to Music with the Spotify App Listening to Music with the Spotify App Recently, Microsoft announced that Groove music would be completely replaced by Spotify in Windows 10. Spotify is an extremely good music playback and discovery app, so this is definitely a good move. Let’s take a look at using Spotify in Windows 10. Exploring the Spotify App The free version of Spotify offers a great selection of features and access to loads of music. However, if you want an ad-free experience, you will need to buy a premium account. 1 You can download and install the Spotify app from the Windows store for free. It is also free to use, although some of the features will need a premium (paid) account. Once…

Windows 10 Apps and Software Guides OneDrive Files On-Dema OneDrive Files On-Demand With Files On-Demand, you can access all your files in the cloud without having to download them and use storage space on your device. All your files, even online-only files, can be seen in File Explorer and work just like every other file on your device. Using Files On-Demand Files On-Demand allows you to access your storage in a much easier and more efficient way, treating cloud-based files as if they are on your PC. 1 First, make sure you are signed in to OneDrive on your computer. Right-click the white OneDrive cloud icon in the notification area, at the far right of the taskbar. If you don’t see the OneDrive icon on the taskbar, click the ‘Show hidden…

Windows 10 Apps and Software Guides Windows 10 Update Cache With regular Windows 10 updates required, issues with applying them can sometimes occur. While some users can run through the update process without a hitch, others may have some problems. Clearing the update cache allows your PC to begin the process again from scratch. Clearing Windows Update Cache It’s often necessary to clear the update cache – all the files that Windows has downloaded in order to apply the update – and start re-downloading afresh. 1 Begin by clicking on the Windows Start button and typing ‘services’. Click on the Services (Desktop App) link in the search results. This will launch the Services Management Console. Scroll down until you come to Windows Update. This is the service that controls the entire…

Windows 10 Apps and Software Guides What to Keep Updated in Windows 10 What to Keep Updated in Windows 10 Discussing updates is one thing but how do you go about making sure that you have the latest updates and that all the necessary components are being updated correctly? Thanks to the improved update process of Windows 10, this is surprisingly easy. Keeping Up To Date Whilst it’s easy to update Windows 10, there are elements that can be missed. We’ve already mentioned that it’s not only Windows that needs updating but also software and drivers. 1 The first port of call is undoubtedly Windows Update. Click on the Windows Start button followed by Settings, the cog icon just above the power icon on the strip to the side. This will…

Windows 10 Apps and Software Guides Windows 10 Power User Tips Windows 10 Power User Tips Windows 10 can be very simple to use, which is great for many people. However, if you want to get more from Windows 10, it gives you the option to dig a little deeper and explore the more powerful ways it can be used. Here are some power user tips that allow you to do exactly that. Use Shake Gestures Windows 10 has a handy shake gesture that allows you to clear your screen clutter in no time. If you have a lot of windows open and you want to focus on one in particular, just grab the title bar of that window with your mouse pointer, then shake back and forth to minimize…

Windows 10 Security, Maintenance & Performance What is Encryption? What is Encryption? To better understand encryption, it’s worth taking a moment to learn about its origins, how it has developed over the years and how it applies to our modern communications. The word encryption comes from the ancient Greek word Kryptos, which means hidden or secret. Interestingly, the practise of hiding messages from others can be traced back to early Egyptian scribes who inserted non-standard hieroglyphs within other communications in order to hide the message from casual viewers. According to historians, the Spartans used strips of leather engraved with messages. When the strips were read, they were meaningless, but when wrapped around a staff of a certain diameter, the characters would be decipherable. Of course, the modern forms of encryption…

Windows 10 Security, Maintenance & Performance Protect Devices on Public Wi-Fi Protect Devices on Public Wi-Fi There are few places where you can’t now find a wireless connection for your laptop. And while this is great for those of us that want to stay connected day and night, accessing Wi-Fi in a public place does bring with it some dangers not found on your home network. What Makes Public Wi-Fi Unsafe? The very same features that make publicly accessible Wi-Fi hotspots desirable for you and us, such as the lack of authentication needed to connect, also makes them desirable for hackers. Let us start by saying that not all public Wi-Fi is equally unsafe. A coffee shop that has a new Wi-Fi password chalked up on the board every day…

Windows 10 Security, Maintenance & Performance Device Performance & Health Device Performance & Health Device performance & health in Windows Security helps you keep your devices refreshed and up to date with the latest version of Windows 10. In Device performance & health, you’ll have the following features available: Health report Tells you if there are any issues impacting the device health, such as: storage capacity, devices, battery, or ability to update to the most recent version of Windows. It also provides recommendations to help resolve these issues. Windows Update Tells you whether you’re up to date with your version of Windows and if you aren’t, alerts you with details about specific issues that could be causing your device to not install updates. Storage capacity Checks if your device has…

Blocking PUPs with Windows Defender/Using Windows 10 Dynamic Lock Using Windows 10 Dynamic Lock Using Windows 10 Dynamic Lock One of the earlier Windows 10 updates introduced Dynamic Lock. This allows you to have more control over the security of your Windows device, with even less effort. It is designed to detect a trusted device nearby and then lock or unlock the computer as it either moves away or comes close. Setting Up Dynamic Lock Dynamic Lock works by sensing the proximity of a paired device, such as the smartphone you have in your pocket. In this example, the first thing we need to do is pair with our phone. Pairing with other Bluetooth devices will be almost exactly the same as shown here. 1 Dynamic Lock will only work if…

Windows 10 Security, Maintenance & Performance How to Remove Malware from Windows 10 How to Remove Malware from Windows 10 Previously we have looked at ways to prevent being scammed or indeed getting malware on your system but what if you’re unlucky enough to already have some form of digital infection? Thankfully there’s a way to remove malware and viruses from your computer. Malware Busters For this tutorial let’s use a preconfigured rescue disk from Bitdefender. You need to transfer or burn the disk contents to a CD or a USB stick and boot into the safe environment through one of those mediums. 1 Make sure you have a blank CD or a USB stick that’s at least 1GB in size. The Bitdefender Rescue Disk is downloaded as an ISO, which…

Modern Day Security INDEX Modern Day Security The start of the digital age brought with it many advances in the way we work and interact with each other. It’s estimated there’s 1.2 Zettabytes (1.3 trillion gigabytes) of data available to someone with access to the Internet and whilst most of it may be irrelevant, what’s important to you is somewhere within that mass of raw information. Sadly, the cold hard light of day reveals that with the growth of this voluminous data comes the nefarious acts of those who wish to cause mayhem, panic, theft and other such negative elements. Therefore, as a user you need to make sure that you’re protected against the ever increasing digital world of threats, viruses and everything else the Internet has to offer. This chapter…

Windows 10 Essentials Discover the Start Menu, Taskbar and Action Center Discover the Start Menu, Taskbar and Action Center The Start menu, taskbar and Action Center are likely to be three of the most used areas of the Windows 10 interface for most people. There have been several additions and improvements to these tools in the recent updates, making them even easier to use, so let’s take a look at what you can do with these essential Windows tools. All Apps List As you use Windows 10 and the various apps and software, a list of your most used tools will appear here. This is constantly updated as your use of the OS evolves. At the top of the All Apps list is a Recently Added section, showing newly installed…

Windows 10 Essentials How to Quickly Switch Between Tasks How to Quickly Switch Between Tasks The taskbar not only gives you quick access to several key Windows 10 tools like Search and Cortana, it can be further customised with pinned apps, system tools and settings. Making full use of the taskbar can really improve how Windows 10 works for you. Mastering the Windows 10 Taskbar There are a lot more features and functions of the taskbar than may first meet the eye. Let’s take a look at how you can discover and master them. Start Menu Button Clicking this, as you will no doubt know by now, opens the Start menu. This is where you find all of the apps and software on your computer listed, along with Live Tiles…

Windows 10 Essentials View and Manage Your Activities with Timeline View and Manage Your Activities with Timeline One of the most useful additions to the Windows 10 OS in the Spring Creators update is Timeline. This handy feature allows you to easily get back to anything you were working on previously, without having to have dozens of windows left open all over your computer. You will only see the Timeline features when you click the Task View button if you have the latest update installed. New Desktop Just as with the old version of Task View, there is a button to add extra virtual desktops. Virtual desktops are essentially extra workspaces, so for example you can have one space with your email and chat windows open, and another where you’re…

Windows 10 Essentials Personalise and Customise the Desktop Personalise and Customise the Desktop One of the most welcome features of Windows 10 is the return to the familiar desktop environment and there are many ways to customise it to suit your needs and tastes; including icon size, background image and colour scheme. Change the Desktop Background The Desktop personalisation procedure hasn’t changed much since Windows 7, so if you’ve used that OS before this will feel very familiar. 1 You can get started with personalising the Windows 10 Desktop in exactly the same way as you did with Windows 7. For anyone completely new to Windows, that means right-clicking anywhere on the Desktop screen and selecting Personalise from the action menu that appears. 2 The Background settings will be displayed…

Windows 10 Essentials How to Use Windows Mail How to Use Windows Mail Long gone are the days of Microsoft Outlook Express being included with new releases of the OS, replaced instead by the Microsoft Mail app. This app first appeared in Windows 8, was vastly improved in 8.1 and has now been improved yet again for Windows 10. New Mail Button If you are not replying to an email, but rather starting a new email, you can do so in a couple of different ways. You can either click the New Mail button at the top of the Mail Menu or you can use the Ctrl-N. Both methods open a new email in the main window, with a blank recipient field. Mail Menu The left-hand menu, which can be…

Using Windows 10 Search Tools/Doing More with Cortana Doing More with Cortana Cortana is your personal digital assistant in Windows. The more you use Cortana, the better your experience will be. So if you haven’t used it much yet, or are feeling slightly underwhelmed, this guide will show you just how powerful a tool it can be. The Cortana Notebook The Notebook in Cortana is your way of making the feature more helpful when using it every day with your PC and Windows 10. The Notebook contains the Organiser and Cortana Skills. 1 You can view your Notebook by clicking in the search field in the taskbar, and then clicking the Notebook icon in the left sidebar. You will see your name, plus the email address associated with your Microsoft account,…

Windows 10 Apps and Software Guides Explore the Windows Store Explore the Windows Store Windows 10 comes with great built-in apps including Skype and OneDrive, but that’s just the beginning. The Windows 10 Store has loads more to help you stay in touch and get things done, plus more games and entertainment than ever before, many of them free! Expanding your PC’s versatility will depend on being able to navigate the app store. Category Tabs Just as with other online app stores, the Windows Store features several different download categories. These include Apps, Games, Music and Films. Each category has its own Home screen, which displays: Most Popular, Top Free and Trending sections. Featured Apps The Featured Apps slider will display those apps or games that are trending or have…

Windows 10 Apps and Software Guides Explore the Powerful Maps App Explore the Powerful Maps App Just like Google, Microsoft provides its own Maps app. This incredibly useful tool not only shows you a 2D map of anywhere in the world but also lets you see a satellite view, traffic information and even view major cities in 3D. You can even draw or write on top of maps. Directions You can use the Map app to plan routes: in a car, by public transport and even on foot. Select your chosen transportation method using the icons at the top of the Directions pane. You can either leave the A field as My Location or type a new one. In the B field, type your destination. The route will appear on…

Windows 10 Apps and Software Guides Working with Photos and Images Working with Photos and Images The Photos app was first introduced in Windows 8 but it wasn’t the best experience when compared to most third party apps. In Windows 10 it has been improved, with better ways to browse photos and a lot more editing options to make the most of your images. Managing Your Images The Photos app has seen some useful improvements over the last few years and is actually very powerful now. It doesn’t offer the flexibility of an app like Photoshop Elements, but it does a lot of simple edits very well. 1 Photos shows all of your images in a scrolling timeline of images, like we’re now used to seeing on many smartphones or tablets.…

Windows 10 Apps and Software Guides Manage Libraries in Windows 10 Libraries in Windows are used as a central place for bringing together related files. They differ from file folders in that they contain links to a collection of folders, locally or across a shared network, rather than the actual files. The default libraries are Documents, Music, Pictures and Videos. Find and Manage Libraries Libraries are very useful tools for finding and organising files, even if they have been slightly sidelined in Windows 10. Let’s take a look at using your libraries effectively. Displaying the Libraries By default, Windows 10 doesn’t show the libraries in the sidebar of the File Explorer (or any other folder) as it used to in older versions. To reveal the library folders, open File Explorer…

Windows 10 Apps and Software Guides The New Windows 10 Game Bar The New Windows 10 Game Bar Windows 10 hasn’t seen many new features recently but one area that did have a update was the Game Bar tool. Even if you have never played a single game on your Windows PC, the Game Bar can still be useful, and can be accessed by a quick shortcut and customised to your needs. Using the Game Bar No longer solely about gaming tools, the Windows 10 Game Bar now includes handy quick panels for volume control, resource usage, playing music and a lot more Open the Game Bar You open the Game Bar in the same way as previously, by pressing Windows Key + G, or by opening the Start menu…

Windows 10 Apps and Software Guides Move or Install Apps to a Different Drive Move or Install Apps to a Different Drive Windows 10 makes it easy to control where your software is installed. There is now no reason to worry about moving all your apps to another internal drive, or even to a removable USB flash drive. With just a few clicks of your mouse, you can move apps to whichever storage area suits you best. Change Where Apps are Installed Not every user realises that apps can be installed on the hard drive of their choice, not just the one preselected by the Windows 10 OS. Knowing this is useful for general Windows 10 maintenance. 1 By default, apps you install will be saved to the main partition of…

Windows 10 Apps and Software Guides Installing a Printer in Windows 10 Installing a Printer in Windows 10 When you connect a printer to your PC or add a new one to your home network, you can usually start printing straight away. Windows 10 supports most printers, so you probably won’t have to install special software. Here’s how to install printers in Windows 10. Install a Local Printer A local printer simply means one that is physically connected to your laptop or desktop computer via a USB data cable, rather than being connected wirelessly. 1 In most cases, all you have to do to set up a printer is to connect it to your PC and let the plug and play software do its work. Plug the USB cable from your…

Windows 10 Update Cache/Installing New Fonts Installing New Fonts Windows 10 now includes a new, easier way to install and manage system fonts. This is part of Microsoft’s ongoing process of moving all the system options and features to the main Settings interface, rather than having them split between Settings and the Control panel. Install and Manage Fonts To install and manage your fonts through the Settings, you will need to have the April/Spring update installed and up to date. In older versions of Windows 10, you will need to dig deeper. 1 You can now find the fonts controls in Settings > Personalisation > Fonts. Here you will see a scrollable list of your current fonts, each with a visual example of how they look. This is a much more…

Windows 10 Apps and Software Guides Sharing to Nearby Devices Sharing to Nearby Devices Nearby Sharing lets you share your videos, photos, documents and websites with people and devices close by, over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Useful if, for example, you’re in a meeting with colleagues and need to quickly send them a report you’re looking at on your screen. Nearby Sharing Share your files quickly with Nearby Sharing: your computer automatically picks the fastest way to share your file or webpage, either over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. 1 To enable Nearby Sharing, open Settings and click on System. Now click on Shared experiences and turn on the Nearby Sharing toggle switch. If you have not yet applied the Windows 10 Spring/April update, you will need to do so before you can view…

Extra Power User Extra Power User Tips Here are a few more tips to make using your Windows 10 PC easier, quicker, safer and less frustrating, including a few tips about the latest update. Add Emoji From Your Keyboard Express yourself however and wherever you want. Press Windows logo key + period (.) to open an emoji panel. Use kaomojis to create faces with text, and symbols—like punctuation and currency—to make a statement. Automatically Backup OneDrive Folders Keep your Documents, Pictures, and Desktop folders automatically backed up with OneDrive, so they’re protected even if you lose your PC. On the right side of the taskbar, select OneDrive > More > Settings. On the AutoSave tab, select Update folders and specify which folders you’d automatically like to sync. Pause System Updates…

Windows 10 Security, Maintenance & Performance Secure Your Home Network Secure Your Home Network We’ve mentioned previously that an attack doesn’t always come from the other side of the globe but can indeed be a little too close to home at times. Home network hacking is possible with the simplest of tools; easily found on the Internet. Network Protection Without being too paranoid, it’s remarkably easy to get into a neighbour’s home network. If you live in a block of flats or you use powerline adapters, you may need to consider these ten steps for better network protection. 1 The most common entry point to gain access to your network is via the router. The router from your ISP may well be offering the latest forms of encryption but it doesn’t…

Protect Devices on Public Wi-Fi/Best Antivirus Software Best Antivirus Software Best Antivirus Software While the built-in Windows Defender is a great antivirus and security tool, it’s nowhere near as capable as one of the many third-party security suites. The likes of Bitdefender, McAfee and Symantec have years of security specialism behind their products. Better Protection A third-party security suite offers much more than virus scanning. With one of these, you’re covered against most, if not all, digital threats. Here are four security suites worth considering if you’re serious about your digital protection. Bitdefender Bitdefender Total Security 2020 is the latest security suite from one the world’s leading security specialists. This version offers unrivalled levels of protection and performance for Windows, macOS and Android platforms. There’s even an advanced ransomware protection…

Device Performance & Health/Online Safety Tips Online Safety Tips Keeping yourself safe online is about more than setting and forgetting Windows Defender. Here are some simple and easy-to-follow online safety tips, which will help you keep your information and your computer safe from the more common online security threats. Do Your Homework Before Buying Online While the majority of online retailers are perfectly reputable, there are a few that are less than honest. If you’re not sure you can check out the company’s reputation on shopper comparison sites such as Pricerunner or Kelkoo or simply type the name into Google along with terms such as “fraud”, “rip off” or “complaint”. See what others have been saying about them and if they have a lot of negative feedback then take your…

Windows 10 Security, Maintenance & Performance Create a Windows 10 System Image Create a Windows 10 System Image Backing up your files is perfectly fine, but in the event of having to wipe your hard drive and start again, getting everything back in order can be time-consuming. However, creating a system image means you can almost instantly restore the entire system. System Imaging A system image is essentially a snapshot of your entire system. This can then be quickly restored and conveniently saves you from having to reinstall Windows 10, all your programs and your data. 1 To begin, click on the Windows Start button and navigate to Settings > Update & Security > Backup. From within the Backup console window, where you were in the previous tutorial, click on the…

Windows 10 Security, Maintenance & Performance What is a VPN? What is a VPN? Your system may be secure to any online threats, but it doesn’t always mean your privacy is assured, especially when using an unfamiliar network (e.g. public Wi-Fi). This is where a VPN comes in, as it offers the user a heightened level of anonymity when online and therefore another level of security and protection. Virtual Private Network Using a VPN can help hide your online presence. Whilst this may seem like an ideal way to get to illegal content, it’s actually designed to help fight for your basic right to Internet and digital privacy. Essentially, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a server or group of servers in a remote location that you can connect to…

Modern Day Security Phishing, Vishing & Smishing Phishing, Vishing Smishing It’s tempting to think we’ve made up the words Phishing, Vishing and Smishing but in actual fact they’re all forms of social engineering scams. Whilst we’ve covered social engineering already, it’s worth looking at these three modern day threats individually. Social engineering, the act of getting information from a person based on their human instinct to react, help or be entrapped into some form of false promise, isn’t as modern as the name suggests. Although the term ‘social engineering’ is in fact relatively new, the process of obtaining sensitive information from a victim has been around for a very long time. The digital age, of course, has increased the attacks and how they’re delivered. No longer is a victim beguiled by post,…