UPDATED 12/11/2023: On Windows 10 , you can make the Taskbar fully transparent, but you will need a third-party app, and in this guide, I’ll teach how. You get a lot of options to customize the Taskbar. You can control which items appear in the notification area , disable app badges , and enable semi-transparent material . However, you can’t make the Taskbar fully transparent or use blur to make it look like frosted glass....
On Windows 11 (or Windows 10), you can use the “net use” command to quickly map a network drive to access files on a shared folder located on a server or another computer in the network. The only caveat is that you usually have to specify a driver letter to make the drive available in File Explorer. However, if the letter is already in use, the drive will not connect....
On Windows 10, devices receive two feature updates each year, which usually introduce new features, changes, and improvements to enhance the overall experience and security. The only caveat is that these updates (such as version 1903, May 2019 Update ) are mandatory and they install automatically, and because during the early days upgrades may still have issues, they can negatively affect the user experience. Although it may not always be the case, when a new release of Windows 10 becomes available, it may still contain bugs, new or existing features may not work correctly, and drivers may break as a result of compatibility problems with the new version, which is why it’s a good idea to defer an upgrade until you are sure that most problems are resolved....
Microsoft set its goal of having one billion devices running Windows 10 within three years, and one of the company’s plan to reach that goal is to make the operating system a free upgrade for Windows 8.x and Windows 7 customers. The problem is that the software giant is using questionable tactics to lure customers to upgrade to Windows 10 . Tactics that haven’t been well received for many customers wanting to stay in their current version....
On Windows 10 , if you accidentally deleted a file, data got corrupted, or erased a hard drive by mistake, you can use the Windows File Recovery tool to help you recover those files without the need to send the drive to a data recovery company or costly recovery tools. Windows File Recovery is a free command line tool that is capable of recovering a lot of file formats from the system’s hard drive, external USB storage, or SD cards that have been permanently deleted, and you can’t recover from the Recycle Bin....
To reset the firewall settings on Windows 11, open Windows Security > Firewall & network protection , then click “Restore firewall to default” and confirm. You can also reset the firewall using Command Prompt ( netsh advfirewall reset ) or PowerShell with the (New-Object -ComObject HNetCfg.FwPolicy2).RestoreLocalFirewallDefaults() command. On Windows 11 , if you’re using Microsoft Defender Firewall , there may come a time when you need to reset its settings to the default configuration, whether to troubleshoot and fix connectivity problems, resolve misconfigured rules, or clean up accumulated entries....
To run an old app in compatibility mode on Windows 11, open Start search for the app, right-click, and select “Open file location,” right-click the executable and choose “ Properties,” and in the “Compatibility” tab, check “Run this program in compatibility mode” and select the mode (Windows 95, 98, XP, Vista, 7, or 8). On Windows 11 , you can run old applications designed for the previous version of the operating system using compatibility mode, and in this guide, you will learn how....
On Windows 10, when you use Microsoft Edge , Google Chrome, or another PDF tool to fill out a form, the changes will save, but anyone with access to the document can make modifications. If you want to prevent anyone from making changes, you need to fill out the PDF form, and instead of saving it, you have to print it out as a PDF document. In this guide , you’ll learn the steps to protect a PDF form from accidental editing by printing it as a PDF document as if it was printed on a piece of paper....
On Plex, everyone in the family can have their own account with their preferences and media libraries, which is something known as “managed users.” The only caveat is that every time anyone launches the app, users have to go through the sign in experience when they’re the only ones streaming videos in that particular device. However, it’s possible to sign in managed users automatically, you just need to know the proper instructions, because the option isn’t available in the managed users settings....
On Windows 11 , when you restart the computer or sign in, the system can automatically re-launch the apps running during your last session to help you pick up where you left off quickly. Although it might be a convenient feature, not everyone wants their apps restarted upon signing in. It can slow down the startup process and waste system resources. Also, only some Microsoft Store apps support this functionality....
If Windows 11 22H2 is causing problems due to unknown bugs or compatibility issues, it’s possible to uninstall it to roll back to version 21H2 or an older release. However, the process will differ depending on the release you are running. In the case that the device was previously running version 21H2 , 21H1, or 20H2, you could uninstall the update quickly using the Windows Update settings. On the other hand, if you performed an in-place upgrade, you will have to use the built-in recovery settings....
Windows 10 version 1909, November 2019 Update, is available starting November 12, 2019 (presumably), and even though the best method to upgrade is to wait until you get the notification to download it through Windows Update, you can upgrade manually when it becomes available — in this video tutorial, you’ll learn the steps on how to do this. To upgrade to the November 2019 Update skipping the queue, you can use the Microsoft Media Creation Tool to perform an in-place upgrade, which is virtually the same as using Windows Update or Update Assistant, and during the process your files, apps, and settings will not be affected....
FlyOOBE lets you bulk-remove preinstalled Windows 11 apps and components. Ideal for improving performance, privacy, and reducing bloat. Use caution when uninstalling system components to avoid instability. On Windows 11 , you can use the FlyOOBE tool to debloat your Windows 11 installation , and in this guide, I’ll show you how to complete this process. FlyOOBE (formerly Flyby11) is a popular third-party utility primarily designed to help you install or upgrade to Windows 11 on hardware that does not officially meet the minimum system requirements....
On Windows 11 (and 10), you can use TeraCopy to transfer files instead of using the system’s copy handler, and in this tutorial, I’ll teach you how. TeraCopy is an alternative solution to the default copy handler available on Windows. Unlike the default copy handler, TeraCopy offers an interactive interface that allows you to stay in control whether you’re copying or moving files from one location to another in the same or remote computer....
The chances of you needing to run Windows 95 on an Android Wear smartwatch are pretty low, to none. But it doesn’t matter, it feels good to know you can… Or at least that’s what this 16-year-old thinks. Although, the Samsung Gear Live features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, 512NB of RAM, 4GB of storage, and a 1.6-inch, 320 x 320 pixel display. It’s enough hardware to install a virtualized version of Windows 95, even though the processor is an ARM-based chip and the twenty-year-old operating system was designed to run on x86-based chips....
A second Windows 8.1 build has leaked in different popular file sharing sites, and with it we now know a few more things are coming in the next upgrade of Microsoft’s operating system. To begin with Windows Blue build 9369 is the latest pre-beta version of Windows leaked online, it includes several tweaks, is a little more stable, but there are not a whole lot of changes. Installation Footprint Microsoft said in the past that Windows 8....
The Microsoft’s browser development team has confirmed that extensions indeed are coming to Project Spartan web browser. The successor of Internet Explorer will be bundled with all the versions of Windows 10, including PCs, tablets, and phones. Up until now extensions similar to Google Chrome for Spartan was a rumor , but the browser development team noted on Twitter “we’re working on a plan for extensions for a future update to Project Spartan....
Microsoft adds a new Easter egg in the setup of Windows 11. The Easter egg is an option to play the SkiFree while setting up your new device. The game seems to appear when during update downloads or restoring from backup. Windows 11 has a new Easter egg in the form of a game. It’s been discovered that in certain laptops, the initial Out-of-box Experience (OOBE) of the operating system will allow you to play a modern version of the classic SkiFree skiing game....
On October 26th, Microsoft finally opened its new store in New York City. The new Microsoft Store is located at 677 Fifth Avenue, between 53rd and 54th Streets. This is the 113th store the company opens and it’s the largest store the company has opened. I had the chance to take a tour of the new Microsoft Store and took a bunch of pictures that you can check in this article....
A clean install wipes everything, giving a fresh Windows 11 setup (25H2, 24H2, or 26H2). Best for resolving slowdowns, crashes, boot issues, removing preinstalled OEM bloatware, and setting up a new PC. Supports multiple methods, including USB, ISO, Reset this PC (local and cloud), WinRE, and Media Creation Tool. Using this process, files, apps, and settings are erased, so backup is essential. The devices re-activate automatically if they were previously activated using Windows 11 or Windows 10....
