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100 Articles

Welcome to The Window 10 Book

Windows remains the most popular operating system around, and Windows 10 is the latest iteration of Microsoft’s ubiquitous platform. But while it packs in more features than ever, Windows 10 boasts a sleek look that can look rather alien to those still using Windows 7 or even 8. Fortunately, with the Windows 10 Book, you can explore every aspect of the highly improved operating system, from setting up your PC or tablet for the first time, to getting to know Cortana, your personal digital assistant. Our simple, stepby-step tutorials cover all the essential Windows apps, as well as offering some more advanced tips to help you get the most out of your machine. Read on and discover how to become more productive, enjoy entertainment, organise your photos, keep everything safe…

Welcome to The Window 10 Book

Are you getting the most from Windows 10?

Whereas Windows 7 looked and felt like an evolution from the earlier iterations of the Windows operating system, such as Vista, Windows 8 was an entirely new prospect, delivering an interface more akin to mobile devices. Windows 10 brings the best of both worlds. The Start button – loved by many in Windows 7 – makes a welcome return and by clicking on it you will bring up the Start menu, which is like the Windows 8 Start screen, but compacted into one handy menu that is hidden from view when not in use. The result is that you have an expansive desktop to work from, without the whole thing being populated by app tiles – all of which now reside exclusively in the Start menu. There are still many…

Are you getting the most from Windows 10?

What makes Windows 10 different?

After Window 8’s tile-based, in-your-face style, Windows 10 is more of a back to basics approach from Microsoft, to harness the aspects that worked for both Windows 8 and Windows 7 before it, and present them all in an interface that marries the best of both worlds. As such, you now have a familiar desktop feel with a Start menu that encompasses the live tiles and other assorted features. And when you’re not using the Start menu it will be tucked away in the corner, leaving you free to carry out your business on an expansive desktop. Should you need to find anything, the ‘search’ bar next to the Start menu allows you to perform local tasks on your PC and web searches simultaneously – so you will always have…

What makes Windows 10 different?

Windows 10 apps at a glance

Microsoft Edge The default website browser supplied by Windows 10, Edge is one of the most powerful and capable apps of its type and it replaces Internet Explorer, which has been a Windows stalwart for years. Mail The default, fully featured Windows 10 Mail app arrives with a ‘power pane’ that is situated on the left side of the screen, featuring icons to see your inbox, flagged mail and more. Store Click here to open Microsoft’s own app store, ready with a host of applications ready to download to your Windows 10 PC. Many of these are freely available or can be purchased for a low price. Sport The Sport app provides news updates even when it’s not opened, by displaying information on the tile itself. You will see images…

Windows 10 apps at a glance

Why should I update to Windows 10?

“The Windows 8 taskbar returns. And it is just as useful as ever” A more accessible interface The Start menu packs in all of the apps and features, leaving the desktop free and uncluttered to carry out your work. Like in Windows 8.1, you can right-click on the tiles in your Start menu to bring up a contextual menu of options relating to them. Continuation of the taskbar The taskbar that was introduced with Windows 8.1 returns. And it is just as useful as ever in providing easy access to various services and for pinning your favourite apps, folders and documents to. You can also change its position on the screen. Built-in local and web searches If you need to find something, be it an app or some web research,…

Why should I update to Windows 10?

Get more from the Start menu

When you use a Windows 10 PC, this is the screen that you will see the most, so it is worth taking some time to get to know what facilities are available within it and what features, connected to the Start menu, you can access. It is at the Start menu that you will be able to contact and interact with the outside world. For example, you will be able to see what emails are ready for you to read, along with other notifications from social media. You can talk to your friends and see what they are doing and utilise this screen as the entry point to the internet via a browser. The great thing about the Start menu, however, is that the default design is not set in…

Get more from the Start menu

Essential Start menu tips

1: Navigate the Start menu The start menu provides the best of both worlds from Windows 7 and 8 in allowing you to access your important files and settings, while providing shortcut stepping stones to your favourite and most-used apps. Numerous apps will appear by default in your Start menu, grouped together by category such as ‘Life at a glance’ for all of your news and email apps, and ‘Play and explore’ for your music and video collections, as well as the Xbox gaming app. Scroll down the menu to see more options and features listed. 2: Rearranging your items You have complete freedom to tailor your Start menu to suit your needs. sections can be moved elsewhere by clicking and dragging the partition icons and you can even rename…

Essential Start menu tips

Your key questions answered

Are my details safe? Windows 10 is able to use your name, location and account picture, sharing this information with its apps. If any of that concerns you, however, then you can change it via the privacy options. First, either hold the Windows () key and press ‘I’, or access your Start menu and click on the ‘Settings’ option at the bottom. Now locate and click on the Privacy section. In the centre of the screen, this will bring up a list of privacy options, each with sliding toggle button that you can use to turn the option on or off. Initially, all of these buttons will be turned on. Modify these buttons to suit your requirements. Are there more tools? If you have previous experience in handling Windows, you…

Your key questions answered

Useful keyboard shortcuts

A visual, menu-based interface – such as that used by Windows 10 – is a wonderful thing: easy to use and self-explanatory. Sometimes, though, it’s not the fastest method of getting a job done. On occasion, issuing the same command from a keyboard is a lot faster. Whatever your views on the matter, it’s nice to have an alternative option, so here are a selection of the most useful keyboard shortcuts for you. Begin typing This key combination quickly accesses Windows’ built-in Search function. The text that follows after the Windows key is the subject of the search. Show all apps It’s possible to have a gamut of apps spread over several Start section screens. This command offers a bird’s-eye view of all of your apps. Charms menu A ‘Charms’…

Useful keyboard shortcuts

Browse the web with Microsoft Edge

Internet Explorer, the web browser that has been in Windows for the last 20 years has been replaced with a brand new app called Edge that offers exciting new features and a smart new interface. Edge has some fantastic features such as an optional news feed on new tabs that shows the latest stories every time you open the browser and it is a great way to keep up with the events that are happening around the world. Edge has a Reading View that strips away the clutter that is present on many web pages and this makes it easier to view the content without annoying distractions. It has a Hub which provides access to features like favourites, browsing history and downloads. If you are busy and don’t have the…

Browse the web with Microsoft Edge

Explore Edge’s best features

1: Start Edge Click the Edge icon in the Taskbar or the tile in the Start menu. Edge can show the latest news and weather when it starts and if you do not see them, click Show my news feed at the bottom of the browser window. Click the Customise link on the right to choose which news sources to show and select other startup options. Enter a website URL into the box or a word or phrase to search for. “Edge has some fantastic features such as an optional news feed on new tabs that shows the latest stories every time you open the browser” 2: Browse the web Enter a website address, search term, or click a top site tile to go there. Use the Back and Forward…

Explore Edge’s best features

Use Cortana, your personal digital assistant

Cortana is the artificial intelligence character from the Halo games and was the inspiration for the digital assistant built in to Windows 10, which also features artificial intelligence. Cortana is very smart and can understand what you say. All you have to do is to say what you want. This might be an instruction to open a program, get some information, or perform a search. Cortana uses speech recognition to understand what you say and it is very accurate. It, or she as the voice is female, nearly always gets it right and this enables Cortana to fetch the information you want or performs the requested action. For example, you do not need to search the Start menu for an application and you can simply tell Cortana to open the…

Use Cortana, your personal digital assistant

Learn how to use Cortana

1: Run any program Cortana is able to run programs that are on the Start menu and this means that you do not have to search for them. WordPad is buried deep in the Start menu and is hard to find, so click Cortana’s microphone icon and say “Open WordPad.” The Cortana panel closes and the WordPad window opens. It is quick and easy to launch programs this way. Try “Open Settings,” and more. 2: Chat to Cortana Cortana loves a bit of chit chat and playful games. Just talk to her like she was a real person. Say “Sing a song,” and Cortana will sing to you and has several songs in her repertoire. Games can be played, too. For example, say “Play the movie game.” Cortana provides clues…

Learn how to use Cortana

Keep up to date with News

The News app enables you stay up to date with the news that matters the most to you, delivered in a personalised experience that covers the topics that you determine from a range of your most trusted news sources. It’s all extremely easy to add or remove content in order to suit your interests and rearrange the various sections exactly how you see fit. You can add topics – such as articles about companies, teams or celebrities that you’re interested in – and also add stories from the news sources you like the most. Getting started is easy: just click on the ‘Interests’ option in the lefthand column and you’ll see a column to the left that lets you browse topics by ‘All Interests’, ‘Trending Topics’, ‘Entertainment’ and even more.…

Keep up to date with News

Get the news that matters to you

1: Tracking topics You can customise the News app to include the topics that matter to your. Simply click on the ‘Interests’ option in the left column and then browse through the various topics, clicking on the ‘+’ icon to add any to your Interests. You will see various categories listed to the left, including Trending Topics, Entertainment and Sport, clicking on one will display the applicable sources. 2: Navigating your topics All of your Interests (see ‘1’) will be displayed at the top of the News app interface while in the Home section. You can click on a topic to see all of the news from your chosen sources that relates to it. This means that you can get news from your chosen sources streamed into a handy digest…

Get the news that matters to you

Stay in the loop with Sport

If you’re looking for a way to keep on top of your favourite sport or team, then the Bing Sport app is for you. It provides a gateway to up-to-the-minute news, scores, results, tables and more, across all your favourite sports, teams and – if you follow US sport – even individual players. The app draws on nearly 100 major web sources to populate its content, from BBC and Sky Sports to the sport sections of your favourite newspapers, which means it’s both comprehensive and on the pulse. Most popular sports are covered, from tennis and golf to rugby and Formula 1. Football fans will be particularly pleased to see a wide range of European leagues are catered for, including all British leagues, so whether you support Manchester United or…

Stay in the loop with Sport

Personalise the Sport app

1: Pick your sport By default, Sport selects a number of popular sports and leagues it thinks you’ll be interested in, including top-flight football and rugby as well as tennis and cricket. To customise this list to your personal tastes, either select the ‘My Favourites’ option from the left-hand column and then click on the ‘+’ pane, or click on the ‘More Sports’ option and ‘star’ the sports that you wish to add. 2: Get news updates Click on the ‘Home’ option in the left-hand column and then use the ‘News’ tab to get all of the headlines relating to your chosen sports. Some stories will be reformatted to fit into the Sports app layout – use the < and > buttons to navigate between pages and stories. Right-click or…

Personalise the Sport app

Keep in touch with People

When you have a lot of different accounts, keeping track of your contacts – and their updates, notifications and tweets – can eat up a lot of time. With the People app, all this activity is brought under one roof , making it easier to see at a glance. Getting it all up and running, though, is where you need to put the effort in, as the more services are connected to People, the more useful it becomes. Start by clicking on the ‘…’ icon at the top of the Contacts column and go to Settings to bring up a list of services currently connected and synced. Click on ‘Add an account’ or ‘Get social apps’ links to show others that can be added. Enter your account details and then…

Keep in touch with People

Stay up to date with People

1: Connect with new accounts Click on the ‘…’ icon at the top of the Contacts column, then go to Settings and click on ‘Add an account’. Select the account type to add. Here we are adding an Outlook.com account to access our contacts from Microsoft Outlook. Once completed, the contacts from that service are added automatically to your existing list of contacts. Setting up is a quick and easy process. 2: Sorting out contacts Click on the ‘…’ icon in the Contacts column and then click on Settings. The contacts are sorted alphabetically by first name by default, but this can be changed to by surname here. Also, to filter out contact names from a particular service, click on ‘Filter contact list’ and untick the box next to the…

Stay up to date with People

Send messages in Mail

The Windows 10 Mail app is able to handle all your email messaging needs and it has lots of useful features to make things as easy as possible. If you haven’t already added an email account to it, you’ll be prompted to add one the first time you use it. It can handle more than one and they are set up by clicking on ‘Accounts’ in the left column and then choosing the ‘Add account’ option. It works best with Outlook.com (Hotmail or Live) accounts, but you can add Google, Yahoo! and other email accounts,_too. In Settings>Options you can choose whether to group emails by conversation; this means that when you send an email, receive a reply, reply to that and so on, they all appear together. Use the on/off…

Send messages in Mail

Create and manage email messages

1: Mail formatting features Click the ‘+’ button to create an email and then click on the ‘Options’ tab at the top to set the priority. High-priority emails are flagged in the recipient’s inbox. Type a message and afterwards, select some text and click on the ‘Format‘ tab to make the formatting bar appear. You can select fonts, sizes, bold, italic, smiley faces (emoji) and more. 2: Create new folders If you want to create new folders in which to file your emails in the Mail app then it is a slightly long-winded process. You will need to open up your Microsoft Edge web browser and go to outlook.com. Once there, click on the ‘New Folder’ option at the bottom of your folders list and name it. This folder will…

Create and manage email messages

Plan ahead with Calendar

Keeping track of all the things we need to do – such as projects for work, birthday and anniversary presents to buy, meetings and appointments – is difficult without some sort of aid. You could use a traditional diary, but the Windows 10 Calendar app is better and it enables you to store every event that is important to you, as well as reminding you when they are about to occur, giving you plenty of warning so that you can make all the necessary preparations for them. You will never miss another meeting, birthday or other event. Calendar can be used to manage your time and it shows when you are busy and free. You can’t accidentally schedule two events at the same time, with the exception of all-day ones.…

Plan ahead with Calendar

Add calendar events and appointments

1: Invite people to events You can invite people to events and see their responses, to know who can make it and who can’t. Create a new event and, on the event details screen, click on the ‘Invite someone’ field and start typing to see a list of matching contacts, then select one to invite. Add more people if necessary. An invitation is emailed and if you return and click Show Responses, you can see who has accepted. 2: Browse the calendar views Whether you choose the day, week or month view, to move to the next period swipe left or right if you have a touch screen, or click the arrow buttons at the top of the screen. Use the links in the top-right corner to switch views or…

Add calendar events and appointments

Explore the world with Maps

Whether you are taking a business trip, going on holiday or just want to explore, Maps is up to the task. Much more than a mere map, it has access to a huge amount of information. For example, you can enter a town, city or address into the search box and Maps goes straight there and shows the area. Businesses and places of interest on the map can be clicked to show information like the address and phone number, and there are buttons to get directions and even place phone calls to them through the Skype app. Use the search facility and you will find that the left-hand panel that opens has options to get driving, public transport and walking directions from one place to another. You can see whether…

Explore the world with Maps

Use the Maps app to plan your trips

1: See fantastic 3D views The Maps app is able to show amazing 3D views and is a great way to explore the world from the comfort of your home or office. Click on the ‘3D Cities’ option in the column to the left and all of the locations that support this mode will be listed. Simply click on one to then go and explore it in full 3D. You can press Crl + up arrow or Crl + down arrow to tilt the map. 2: Don’t get lost, get directions One of the most useful Maps features is directions for driving, public transport and walking. Type a place or address into the search box to open a panel on the right and click Directions at the top to enable…

Use the Maps app to plan your trips

Explore the Windows Store

Windows 8 introduced a new type of software – apps – that borrowed ideas from tablets and phones. This has grown with Windows 10. Microsoft bundles a few Start screen apps, but there are thousands more available in the Windows Store, including some fantastic ones. Start the Store app and you can browse charts that show the most popular apps and see what other people think about them in their reviews. The ratings and reviews are a great guide when selecting apps and a thousand or more five-star ratings usually means an app is well worth installing. Apps in the store can be viewed in several different ways, such as by category. You just select the category you are interested in and it shows the highest rated, the top free…

Explore the Windows Store

Browse and search the Windows Store

1: Install any missing apps If you use multiple PCs, there may be apps on one that aren’t on others, or you may have installed apps and then removed them but want to put them back. The store remembers your purchases and free downloads so you can reinstall them. Click on your account icon followed by ‘My Library’ and then click on the download arrow that is present next to any apps not installed on your current PC. 2: Search for apps in the store The search box in the top-right corner is a useful facility for finding apps if you know what you are looking for. Enter a word or phrase, such as ‘photo editing’ and you’ll see lots of apps. The search results can be sorted by relevance,…

Browse and search the Windows Store

Unlock the mysteries of the Xbox app on Windows 10

The Xbox app is designed to work as a front end to Microsoft’s Xbox Live gaming network, which is now fully integrated within the core operating system. There is no denying that the app will be more of a benefit to those who own an Xbox console, specifically an Xbox One. This is because you can use the app to stream content from the latter to your Windows 10 PC; including games or entertainment apps. Likewise if you have an Xbox One Digital TV tuner you can even stream the TV programs from your console to the Xbox app as well. Fear not, if you don’t have the latter console there are still some useful features for PC gamers, such as the ability to take screenshots or capture gameplay footage…

Unlock the mysteries of the Xbox app on Windows 10

Enhance your gaming experience

1: Stream games from Xbox One Both your Xbox One and Windows 10 PC/Tablet need to be on the same network to begin with i.e. wirelessly or wired into your router (the box from your ISP in other words). You will also need to plug in the Xbox One controller to your PC/Tablet via a USB lead. Once this is done you can then head to the Xbox app and select the Connect Menu. This will automatically detect your console so you can add and play games via the Stream option. 2: Adjust the stream quality This tip carries over from the Stream option, but basically when you are playing games if you hover your mouse in the top right corner you can adjust the stream quality to improve performance;…

Enhance your gaming experience

Use Films and TV for media playing in Windows 10

VHS is a distant memory and DVD is all but dead. The future of television and movies is digital and you can stream the latest TV shows and films over the internet using the Films & TV app in Windows 10. There is no waiting with streaming content and it starts straight away, but you can also download and save programmes and movies for viewing offline too. The Films & TV app makes use of the Windows Store app and the store is where you browse all the latest exciting movies, television programmes and series. You can then purchase your favourites and you can catch up with TV and movies you missed or watch the best ones again. Some of the items in the store can be purchased and some…

Use Films and TV for media playing in Windows 10

Watch movies and TV shows

1: Open Films & TV Go to the Start menu and click the tile for Films & TV to open the app. Select a category on the left, such as Films or TV to see what you own. In the lower part of the window are some suggested items from the Windows Store. Click one of these to view it, click Show all to see all highlighted items, or click Shop for more to open the Windows Store app for even more content. 2: Browse the store Your second task is to find movies and TV shows to watch. There are hundreds in the Films & TV section and clicking a movie opens a screen like this. Click the Watch trailer link under the title because it is free to…

Watch movies and TV shows

Play your music with Groove

Groove is the new music app from Microsoft, and it is available on Windows 10 and mobile phones. Whether you are sitting at your home computer or out and about travelling, you can listen to your favourite music. There are two ways to use Groove: there is a streaming service that provides access to millions of tracks and thousands of albums for a monthly fee, and there is the option of playing your own music. Music can be purchased and downloaded to the computer or it can be transferred from CDs and stored on the disk drive. Groove can then be used as your music player. It scans the disk drive for music and adds all the tracks and albums it finds to your music library. You can browse the…

Play your music with Groove

Listen to music on your PC

1: Add music folders Groove needs to know where you keep the music on the PC’s disk drive. Click the gear icon in the bottom-left corner then, in the Settings, click ‘Choose where we look for music’. The music folder in your account folder is the obvious place to store music, but it can also be stored in OneDrive’s Music folder. Use the plus button to add them and click Done. The tracks and albums are then added. 2: View your albums Select Albums in the left panel and if music tracks are organised into folders on the disk drive, Groove displays them as albums. It even goes on the internet and downloads album artwork for many popular artists. Give it a few minutes after adding your music to get…

Listen to music on your PC

Take photos with the Camera

If you’re interested in shooting video blogs, chatting with friends over Skype, or simply taking a hands-free shot of yourself, then the Camera app provides all of these options and more. With its straightforward and easy-to-use interface, you can chat, shoot and snap with the Camera app as soon as you connect a camera to your device. Photos and video can be sent to various sharing apps or opened up to examine and edit in other apps and software. The Camera app is built to be compatible with cameras that provide a streaming function, so not all cameras (such as DSLRs) will be compatible when connected. Of course, if you have a camera built into your computer then you’ll have no trouble getting it connected up straight away. When connecting…

Take photos with the Camera

Windows 10’s easy camera access

1: Record video and take photos The Camera app can record HD video from your internal or external webcam or camera. All you have to do is run the app and hit the video camera icon. While recording video, a counter will appear to show you the duration of your recording. As soon as you finish recording you can view your clip in the app’s camera roll window. This also applies to taking photos in the app using the camera icon. 2: Timer tools The Camera app comes with an important tool for capturing timed images. The timer option allows you to set up a delay of two, five or ten seconds. Perfect for setting up your shot. Click on the ‘…‘ icon in the top-right corner to access this…

Windows 10’s easy camera access

Store and edit snaps in Photos

The Windows 10 Photos app provides you with an automated tool for viewing your images. If you’ve got a large collection of photographs already stored on your computer, the app will automatically connect with and display them, allowing you to view and browse through them at will using a digital gallery interface. The Photos app is all about removing the frustration of navigating through hundreds of images via folders. In the Photos app you’ll be able to move and delete images or folders. You can also use the app to crop, resize and edit your photos. The edit tool provides you with a series of quick image-altering effects that can be used to enhance images. You can then save a copy of your edited image or replace the original one.…

Store and edit snaps in Photos

All your images in one tidy gallery

1: Import photos from devices When you connect a camera, smartphone or any kind of storage device that contains images to your Windows 10 PC, you’ll be asked what you want to do with the device’s stored images. Clicking on this prompt and selecting ‘Import photos and videos’ will begin a scan which will then present you with the device’s images. You can then select the images you want to import into the Photos app. 2: Automated gallery setup Organise and view all of your computer-stored photos in one app. The Photos app in Windows 10 will automatically locate any image folders on your computer and place them in the app’s Collection view. Albums in the Photos app are created to mimic your photos folder structure. You can click on…

All your images in one tidy gallery

Monitor markets with Money

Money is one of the best financial news and tools apps on Windows 10. It is brilliantly designed, and has a great range of features and a simple and clean design that is easy to use, yet it’s packed with useful information. The home screen, for example, shows the latest news stories in the financial world, the state of the stock market and whether it is up or down, currency exchange rates, commodities and more. Delve into the app and go beyond the home screen overview, and there is a lot of detailed information. You can explore different market sectors, such as saving and investing, travel and transport, and so on. View the latest share prices and see which stocks are up or down, those that are being traded…

Monitor markets with Money

View financial news and use calculators

1: View personal finance stories Across the top is a menu that provides access to the news sections in Money, but there is more. Select Personal Finance and click the Showing menu. Select the type of news stories you want to see, like Homes & Property, Credit & Loans, Future & Family, and so on. The top news stories related to the selected topic are displayed. Click one to read it and then click the back button to return to this page. 2: View share prices Click the Markets icon on the left, and companies on the London Stock Exchange are displayed. There are hundreds, so the app lets you narrow the focus and display three groups. Click the menu button. Select the most actively traded shares, biggest gainers or…

View financial news and use calculators

Make the most of Skype in Windows 10

It may feel like a very strange notion to make and receive phone calls from your computer, but the fact is that it will make all of the sense in the world once you realise what Skype can do and how easy it is to use. It will use your internet connection to make and receive audio and video calls and the quality of these calls will in theory be better than you get from a normal telephone line. The video call facility is particularly useful when speaking to relatives abroad and can make all of the difference when trying to keep in contact with loved ones who live some distance away or even in another country. We will highlight the most useful features that Skype offers and also show…

Make the most of Skype in Windows 10

Essential Skype features and tips

1: Answer calls automatically If you are likely to be at your computer for some time, you can set Skype to answer incoming calls automatically. To do this, click Tools at the top followed by Options. Now look for the Calls option in the left-hand column and then click ‘Show advanced options’ where you will see an obvious box to tick. You may not need this feature often, but it will come in handy on occasion and save you time. 2: Deal with video settings If you find that the general quality of your videos is not as good as you would like, try going to Tools, Options and then click ‘Video settings’ followed by ‘Webcam settings’. It may be the case that your computer’s camera is unfortunately not offering…

Essential Skype features and tips

Back up files with OneDrive

Microsoft’s OneDrive is the company’s rebranding of its previous SkyDrive service. OneDrive provides Microsoft account holders with 15GB of free cloud-based storage for their digital possessions. The OneDrive cloud is a remote storage space that you can upload files to via the internet. You can use this space to back up all of your most important files, including text documents, music and photos. Once you’ve got everything uploaded to the cloud, you can then access these files from any computer or OneDrive-compatible device such as a tablet or smartphone. Whether you own a Windows, Android or Apple device, you will be able to download the appropriate OneDrive app to access all of your files, all of the time. The Windows 10 native OneDrive app presents your files in a tidy…

Back up files with OneDrive

Store your files in the cloud

1: All your files safe and sound Find and open your spreadsheets, text documents, presentations and other files straight out of OneDrive. OneDrive connects itself with all of your Windows apps and software so you can browse for files in OneDrive, then right-click on them to open them up in the appropriate app, as well as duplicating, removing and reorganising them. You can also share files from OneDrive via any sharing app. 2: Access your files anywhere Visit OneDrive.live.com from any computer and you can access, organise and upload your files. As soon as files have been uploaded to your OneDrive account you’ll be able to access them from wherever you log into OneDrive. Files can be shared from OneDrive.live.com as long as you’re connected to the internet. 3: Build…

Store your files in the cloud

Set up your Windows 10 desktop

Windows 10 introduces new ways to control your PC. Windows 8 was created with touch screens in mind and for those without a touch screen, the interface proved difficult to use. Fortunately, Windows 10 addresses these problems by adding features that allow its desktop mode to become a more prominent replacement for the tiled interface. One of the key features is the ‘boot to desktop’ option, which you’ll be shown how to activate here. We’ll also reveal several ways in which you can make use of features that either enhance the Windows 10 desktop or that have been carried over from previous versions. In addition to improving Windows 10’s usability, there are ways to quickly access ‘Modern UI’ features. Specifically, we’ll look at making the lockscreen background image the same…

Set up your Windows 10 desktop

Search with the Quick Access menu

1: Launch the Search box Rather than use the Search field, press +X or hover the cursor in the bottom-left corner of the screen and right-click. That will launch the Quick Access menu; now click on Search. 2: Narrow your search Once the Search sidebar appears, a drop-down list lets you only search within specific types of content, such as settings, files or Bing web results for pages and videos. 3: Browse results Most search results will be listed in the Search sidebar, such as apps, settings and files. If you were searching the web for pages or videos, those results will be shown in the app.…

Search with the Quick Access menu

Customise your Windows PC with themes

A new installation of Windows 10 starts out with a prescribed look and feel – but it by no means has to stay that way. By right-clicking on the Windows 10 desktop and selecting Personalise, you gain access to many options in Windows 10 to change the appearance of the desktop mode. The background image can be changed and can even be set as a slideshow of multiple images. The colour of windows and the screen saver can also be changed, along with the sounds theme in use. Fortunately, ‘None’ is a valid option for system sounds. Windows 10 also comes with a set of ready-made themes of co-ordinated wallpapers, colour schemes and screen savers. However, if none of the pre-installed themes is to your taste, a single click can…

Customise your Windows PC with themes

Tweak the taskbar’s appearance and style

1: Unlock the taskbar The taskbar needs to be unlocked to be moved. Right-click on it, being careful to avoid application buttons and uncheck the ‘Lock the taskbar’ option. Repeat to relock the taskbar to prevent accidental changes. 2: Move the taskbar Once the taskbar is unlocked, it can be moved to any side of the screen, vertical or horizontal. A vertical taskbar helps to maximise the vertical space on your screen. Right-click and choose ‘Properties’ to set the position. 3: Hide the taskbar To have the taskbar disappear until needed, right-click on it and select Properties. In the Taskbar tab, check the Auto-hide option. The taskbar will now disappear until you move the pointer close to its side of the screen. 4: Shrink taskbar buttons To make the taskbar…

Tweak the taskbar’s appearance and style

Set desktop wallpaper

1: Set from the desktop Right-click on the desktop, click Personalise, then Background. Use the menu to select a source. 2: A simple background Repeat step 1, but select Solid Colour from the drop-down menu. A solid colour can help with readability of icons. 3: Use as background A faster alternative when browsing images in File Explorer is to just right-click and select ‘Set as Desktop Background’. 4: Sync Start background Right-click the taskbar and click Properties. In the Navigation tab, check ‘Show my desktop background on Start’.…

Set desktop wallpaper

Boot to the Windows desktop instead of the Start screen

Before Windows 10 came along and provided the happy medium between the desktop system of Windows 7 and the tile-based system of Windows 8, Windows 8 users were stuck with the mandatory use of the tiled interface, which favoured devices with touch screens over traditional input methods. This was a problem for the majority of users who were using PCs that had no touch screen. Furthermore, there weren’t many new models of PCs actually being produced with a touch screen. Meanwhile, those using Windows 8 with a non-touch PC were having to use their mice or trackpads to emulate touch-gestures in order to interact properly with the new interface. Tiles behaved like smartphone widgets that give useful information; however, they may not be appropriate for some users. Those who use…

Boot to the Windows desktop instead of the Start screen

Switch between open programs

1: App cycling The traditional Alt+Tab key combo for switching between apps still exists in Windows 10. When holding down the Alt key, repeatedly pressing the Tab key allows you to switch between all active programs. 2: Alt+Tab click The mouse pointer can be used with Alt+Tab, too. Press Alt+Tab to bring up the application switcher, then release Tab but continue to hold Alt, and use your pointer to select the desired application. 3: The taskbar The taskbar is the main way that you can see which apps are running and you can click any of their taskbar buttons. Furthermore, rightclicking a taskbar button allows the app to minimise, maximise or close. 4: Taskbar peek Hover the pointer over a taskbar button to see a thumbnail of the related window.…

Switch between open programs

Take screenshots of your desktop

1: On keyboard By pressing +PrtSc key, the screen will dim and a screenshot will be saved into the Screenshots folder in your Pictures folder; eg C:\Users\Name\Pictures\Screenshots. 2: App windows To capture an individual window, press Alt+PrtSc. An image is saved to the clipboard. Open Paint. Click the Paste icon followed by the Crop icon. Finally, save the image. 3: Share charm By pressing +H, you will find the option to share a screenshot. This automatically saves a screenshot into the app you choose, such as Mail, or the various social networks.…

Take screenshots of your desktop

Why would I need an on-screen keyboard? Windows 10 provides an on-screen keyboard. This is useful for laptops with touch screens and detachable keyboards or even desktop PCs, where the mouse can be used to interact with the on-screen keyboard if needed. How is the keyboard accessed from the desktop? On the desktop, the on-screen keyboard is accessed via an app. Enter ‘onscreen keyboard’ into your search field and the desktop app will appear at top of the results. Select it from the menu to bring up the onscreen keyboard. How do I use the touch keyboard with a mouse? If you intend to use this desktop app frequently then it is a good idea to pin it to the taskbar for easy access when you need it. To do…

Add desktop shortcuts to your important files

1: Right-click to add When browsing files in Windows File Explorer, whether they’re documents or applications, right-click on the desired file, go to Send To and click ‘Desktop (create shortcut)’. A shortcut to the file is created on the desktop. 2: Drag and drop documents When browsing personal files, such as documents or photos, a shortcut can be made on the desktop via drag and drop. Hold the Alt key and drag a file to the desktop. Rather than moving the file, this creates a shortcut. 3: Create on the desktop View the desktop (Press +D) and right-click. Navigate to the New submenu and select Shortcut. Next, you will see a new window in which you need to set the location of the file that you want to create a…

Add desktop shortcuts to your important files

Open multiple apps side by side

1: Drag and snap The easiest way to place two app windows aide by side was introduced in Windows 7 and has been retained in Windows 8. Simply drag a window to one side of the screen, and another to the opposite side. 2: Snap with keyboard Windows can also be set to occupy half of the screen by using the  key, with either the Left or Right cursor key. To tile two windows together, select one and press +Left, then select another and press +Right. 3: Desktop and Modern snap Follow either step 1 or 2, then launch a Modern UI and snap it next to the desktop. You may need to use the Modern UI task switcher to reselect the desktop, then drag the Modern UI app…

Open multiple apps side by side

Make a new toolbar

1: Getting started If you use a particular app or folder frequently then it is a good idea to have it reside in your taskbar for easy access. 2: Go to Properties To add a new item, right-click on the taskbar at the bottom of the screen and then click on the ‘Toolbar’ option. 3: Add items You can pick items to add from the list or pick the ‘New toolbar’ option to navigate to the things you wish to add. 4: Arrange items You can drag the edges of the taskbar item to change how much is revealed and click the arrow to see the contents.…

Make a new toolbar

Organise and search with File Explorer

While Windows 10 provides the best of both Windows 8’s tilebased operating system and the more traditional desktop system of yore, getting around it and managing your files can still take some getting used to. In this guide we will look at the various ways in which files can be managed in the desktop mode of Windows_10. We’ll cover basic file management techniques such as creating folders, searching for files and opening files. Beyond the basics of file browsing, you will learn how to customise File Explorer’s abilities to suit your needs. Windows 10 also features the Ribbon UI that was introduced in Microsoft Office; we’ll show how to use it in File Explorer. We will also look at making files easier to find with the Library system, which will…

Organise and search with File Explorer

Change how file lists are displayed

1: Show hidden files Open a File Explorer window by pressing the +E keyboard shortcut. Click the View tab on the ribbon bar. In the fourth section from the left, tick the ‘Hidden’ files box. 2: Show file extensions Again, open a File Explorer window by pressing the +E shortcut. Click the View tab on the ribbon bar. In the fourth section from the left, tick the ‘File name extensions’ box. 3: Detailed view Click the View tab in an Explorer window. In the second section, click the Details view mode. Beside the Sort icon, click Add Columns and select the required number.…

Change how file lists are displayed

Create custom Quick Access Toolbars

1: Add new toolbars On the desktop taskbar, right-click and select the Toolbars option. From the submenu, select the final option, ‘New toolbar…’. Next, select a folder from your hard drive that the toolbar should display. 2: Stretch to fit To ensure the new toolbar is visible, right-click on the taskbar and make sure ‘Lock the taskbar’ is not checked. A dotted grip mark appears beside the new toolbar. Drag this to a width that fits your needs. 3: Recreate the Start menu To create a toolbar that reflects the old Windows Start menu, make one where the desktop app shortcuts are stored. Repeat step 1 and create a toolbar for: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs. 4: Your own quick launcher The Quick Launch toolbar is not included in Windows 10. To make…

Create custom Quick Access Toolbars

Navigate Microsoft’s new menu system

The so-called ‘Ribbon UI’ (user interface) was introduced with Microsoft Office 2007. It still enjoys something of a ‘love it or loathe it’ reputation among Office users. Regardless, Microsoft has implemented it in the Windows 10 desktop File Explorer. The Ribbon has two main zones: there are the tabs which relate to old-style menu titles, and then there are the individual options beneath each tab. Rather than the lists found nested in the old-style menus, the options beneath each tab are much bigger and have large icons. This makes the File Explorer easy to navigate, and usable for both mouse pointers and touch screens. The File Explorer has five tabs: File, Home, Share, View and Manage. The Home and View tabs are the ones you’ll need to be most familiar…

Navigate Microsoft’s new menu system

View, search and create in Explorer

1: Set view mode In File Explorer, click the View tab. Here, several view modes display icons (ie image thumbnails). The List view simply shows all files listed alphabetically, while the Details view shows a list of files with all their details. 2: Use the navigation bar The navigation bar on the left of the File Explorer window provides shortcuts to locations on your hard drive. ‘Favourites’ are personal bookmarks. Simply click a location to open it in the main area of the window. 3: The location bar File Explorer works in a similar way to a web browser, in that it displays your current location in a text field – which you can also type into to manually set a location. To access the location bar, either click it…

View, search and create in Explorer

Tweak Send To menu

1: Add a folder Press +R and enter ‘shell:sendto’. Copy the target folder to the clipboard. In the Send To folder, paste a shortcut. 2: Add an application (1) Search for the desired app. Right-click and select ‘Open file location’. In Explorer, copy the shortcut to clipboard. 3: Add an application (2) Press +R and enter ‘shell:sendto’. In the next Explorer window, right-click to paste the shortcut from the previous step. 4: Review options From anywhere, right-click a file and open the Send To menu. App shortcuts will open files; folder shortcuts will copy files.…

Tweak Send To menu

Create and edit virtual file libraries

File libraries provide a way for Windows users to organise related files without having to change their real location on the hard drive. By default, Windows has libraries for Documents, Music, Podcasts, and Videos. Each of these libraries, by default, list files in the corresponding default folders (for example, ‘My Documents’). However, other folders can be added to these libraries, so that the files contained within will also be listed as part of the library. For example, a folder on a cloud storage service, such as Dropbox, that contains documents you’re collaborating on, could be added to the Documents library. Similarly, you can create custom libraries for any reason. For example, if you’re working on a project with files that are spread across your drive, you could list them all…

Create and edit virtual file libraries

Compress files into zipped folders

1: New archive Right-clicking in the white space of an Explorer window, go to the New submenu and select ‘Compressed (zipped) Folder’. This creates the file ‘New Compressed (zipped) Folder.zip’. 2: Send to ZIP Alternatively, select a file or folder (or multiple), right-click and go to Send To. A ZIP file will be created in the same directory, named after the last selected file or folder. 3: Add to ZIP If a ZIP file has already been created, files and folders can be added simply by dragging and dropping them to the ZIP icon or its own window, as if the ZIP file were a folder.…

Compress files into zipped folders

Organise network files with libraries

1: New library Before adding network locations, a new library must be created. Open an Explorer window (+E) and type ‘Libraries’ in the address bar. Then right-click and use the New submenu to create a new library. 2: Remote add Use the File Explorer window to browse the network and find a folder you wish you add to your library. Right-click on the folder. Then, use the ‘Include in library’ submenu to choose the desired library. 3: Links – part 1 A ‘directory junction’ is a sophisticated shortcut between locations. Go to Start, type ‘cmd’, right-click and select ‘Run as administrator’. In the terminal, type ‘mklink /d “[target location]” [\\SERVER\FOLDER\PATH]’. 4: Links – part 2 In File Explorer, navigate to the directory junction created in the previous step. Right-click on…

Organise network files with libraries

Manage users and accounts

Whether it’s for other members of the family, or a shared computer at work, adding extra user accounts to your Windows 10 PC is a good idea from a security and control point of view. It also means that when adding accounts for children you can control web permissions and prevent access to unsuitable websites. It used to be the case that being the main user of your Windows PC was simply that: you were a user account. However, Windows now prefers you to use Microsoft accounts to sign in and so already have a valid email address for it. If you don’t, you can create a Microsoft account and get a new email address. This email address and account are then used to access the Windows store. You can…

Manage users and accounts

Switch between accounts

1: Sign out of account While you can switch accounts without signing out, if you do so, any background activities (like Mail) will continue to run and slow the PC down. Click on the account name and sign out. 2: Select new account Signing out closes everything down and goes to the initial Windows 10 screen. Click anywhere and all available accounts will be displayed. Click on the account to use. 3: Log-in to account Enter your password and hit Return to go to your new account. To log out or switch to any other account, repeat the process by firstly clicking on the name of the account holder.…

Switch between accounts

Create a new account

1: Go to Settings Activate the Start menu and then select the Settings option. Once you are at the main settings page, select the ‘Accounts’ pane and all of the settings relating to your account will be displayed. 2: Create an account Now you can sign in without a Microsoft account, but to get the full benefit of Windows 10, it’s better to have one. So, while in the ‘Your Account’ settings, scroll down and click ‘Add a Microsoft account’. 3: Add info Now enter the email/phone number of the Microsoft account and the password. If you don’t have an account, click on the ‘Create one’ link and then enter all of the required details. 4: Sign-up completed With your account created you can then go on to toggle other…

Create a new account

Add features and new users to your PC

Go into your Settings via the Start menu, to bring up a screen packed with categories. It provides quick access to a number of features related to your account and Windows 10 installation. You can do things like remove some of the Start screen apps to save hard drive space, by clicking on ‘Apps & features’. To remove desktop applications, click on ‘Sort by size’ to see a list of them and click on one and choose ‘Uninstall’. From the Accounts link you can modify your own account details or add new accounts, while also find options for personalising your account. These include adding a photo for the lock screen and account name, and using a photo password. Virtually any aspect of your PC and the operating system can be…

Add features and new users to your PC

Create a child’s account in Windows 10

1: Manage your accounts When creating a child’s account, it can use a Microsoft account email address or you can set it up without any email access. Go to Settings> Accounts>Family & other users. Now, click on the ‘Add a family member’ option. 2: Add an account Now, click ‘Add a child’; don’t enter anything for email here. Instead click on the ‘The person I want to add doesn’t have an email address’ option and then start entering the details of the person you are adding. 3: Finish adding account After adding the required details, the new child account will be added as a Local account. They will require your help to use the Windows Store, and Family Safety monitoring will be automatically turned on. 4: Setting child limits To…

Create a child’s account in Windows 10

Log in with a picture

1: Go to Settings To log into your account with a photo, bring up the Start menu and go to Settings>Accounts>Sign-in options. 2: Select the option Click on ‘Sign-in options’. Then, under ‘Picture password’, click on Add. Enter your account password when prompted. 3: Choose a photo Click on ‘Choose picture’ and select one from your library. Drag and position it how you want, then click on ‘Use this picture’. 4: Trace the shape Make three shapes in turn with the mouse, over specific areas that you’ll remember. Repeat and click Finish to apply.…

Log in with a picture

Improve your settings using the Control Panel

Fortunately, the huge number of Windows settings are all housed together in a facility called Control Panel. Settings and options are grouped by topic and can be browsed just like with a web browser. Control Panel settings can either be grouped by categories or listed alphabetically. The categories are: system, security, networking, hardware, users, localisation and appearance, plus disability aids. Control Panel also has a search box where you can enter the setting you’re looking for; results will be presented in real-time as you type. To change anything in Windows, the Control Panel is the place to be – with the exception of Modern UI settings accessed via the Settings options. However, if you are using your PC in a desktop-centric way, Control Panel does exactly what its name suggests.…

Improve your settings using the Control Panel

Launch Control Panel from the desktop

1: Add desktop icon Right-click some empty space on the desktop; select Personalise. Now select Themes followed by ‘Desktop icon settings’ and then tick the Control Panel box. 2: With the Start menu Alternatively, access te Start menu and then type ‘Control Panel’ into the search field to locate it on your PC. It should appear as the top hit so simply select it. 3: Pin to taskbar After completing the previous step, if you then right-click on the Control Panel search result you will be able to pin it to your Start screen or Taskbar for easy access in the future.…

Launch Control Panel from the desktop

Find device events

1: Open Device Manager Open the Control Panel and then click on the Device Manager option. Alternatively, just search for ‘Device Manager’ in Control Panel’s search box and click the corresponding link in the results. 2: Device properties In Device Manager you’ll see a hierarchical list of all devices. Click to drop down the corresponding section for your device (eg Network Adapters). Right-click on the device to be investigated and select Properties. 3: View device events In the device properties dialog, click the Events tab. This will display system events related to the device in question. Note the events listed, as they may need to be passed to a technical support professional. 4: View all events On the Events page of the device properties dialog, click ‘View all events’ to…

Find device events

Manage your PC’s power consumption

There are many ways to control power usage in Windows. Individual components can be powered down, such as the screen or hard drives, and the entire system can also be put into sleep mode. These events can usually be set to occur after a prescribed period of inactivity. Clearly, desktop PCs, as used in the home or office, do not have to worry about running out of battery. However, controlling when a PC deactivates its screen or spins down its hard drives can make a significant difference to electricity bills. Conversely, when running an important application, you may want to disable the inactivity time limits to ensure you don’t lose any work when your computer goes to sleep. Power conservation is even more important to laptop and tablet users. Most…

Manage your PC’s power consumption

Set programs to run at certain times

1: Open Task Scheduler In Control Panel, click on the ‘Administrative Tools’ section and click on the ‘Task Scheduler’ option. Alternatively, use the search box to look for ‘Schedule’. Either method opens the Task Scheduler app. 2: Create basic tasks Look to the right side of the Task Scheduler window and click on Create Basic Task. Enter a name for the task and click Next. On the Trigger page, select a time period, click Next, then set the corresponding time and date. 3: Set which program On the Action page, set the radio button to ‘Start a program’, then click Next. On the ‘Start a Program’ page, click Browse and navigate to the desired program file (.exe). Hint: Try ‘Program Files’ or ‘Program Files (x86)’ folders. 4: Create advanced tasks…

Set programs to run at certain times

Choose default apps

1: Getting started Open the Control Panel and enter ‘file type’ into the search box. Click ‘Make a file type always open in a specific program’. 2: Find file type In the next window, scroll through the available file extensions. Select the desired one and click ‘Change program’. 3: Select app A list appears, showing apps that Windows knows can open the selected file type. Choose the desired program. 4: Other PC apps To find an alternative option, click More Options, then ‘Look for other apps on this PC’ and browse for the .exe file.…

Choose default apps

Protect your PC with restore points

System restore points are not new to Windows and fortunately they are still present in Windows 10. System restore points are how Windows saves versions of a PC’s system settings – in other words, it saves system configuration states. System restore points are saved periodically (eg weekly, depending on settings) and are also automatically created prior to any major system changes, such as the addition or removal of a device driver or operating system update. A PC can be restored to an earlier state without losing personal files or applications. When restoring a system state, it is possible to browse through all the dates that have restore points; and thus take your machine back through time to a good known state. This is useful as sometimes applications or drivers can…

Protect your PC with restore points

Turn Windows features on and off

1: Get started Open Control Panel and click ‘Programs and Features’. Click the ‘Turn Windows features on or off’ link. This will open a window showing a list of all features. 2: Selections Scroll through the list of features and groups. Features with a ‘+’ are groups and their tick enables the full group, but click on the ‘+’ to selectively enable specific components. 3: Be careful! Do not enable extra features without knowing what they are for. For instance, enabling Telnet or IIS services could leave your system vulnerable to remote code execution.…

Turn Windows features on and off

Explore Ease of Access options

1: Magnifier Go to Control Panel>Ease of Access Center>Start Magnifier to create a magnified view, controlled by your mouse. Move the pointer over the magnifying glass icon to access the zoom level and view mode. 2: High contrast In Ease of Access, click ‘Set up high contrast’. Enable the ‘LEFT SHIFT + LEFT ALT + PrtSc’ keyboard shortcut. Next, click the ‘Choose a high contrast theme’ link, which opens desktop personalisation options. 3: Sans screen In Ease of Access, click ‘Use the computer without a display’. Enable options for Narrator (reads texts aloud) and Audio Description, which describes video content. Also review ‘Text to Speech’ settings. 4: Easy mouse In Ease of Access, click ‘Make the mouse easier to use’. There, select options to make the pointer easier to see…

Explore Ease of Access options

Track your PC’s performance with Action Center

Most of your time with Windows_10 will be smooth sailing. There may come a time, however, when a little maintenance is required in order to keep things in check. Perhaps your anti-virus needs updating, maybe you need to troubleshoot a particular problem. Whenever such an incident occurs, the Windows Action Center is there to provide the notifications and help you address them immediately. You can also keep a track of your computer’s efficiency by going to your Control Panel and clicking on the ‘Security and Maintenance’ option. Here you will be able to get the complete rundown of how your computer is running and any issues relating to the security or general well being. You can then take the necessary measures to rectify any issues that crop up – and…

Track your PC’s performance with Action Center

Run maintenance checks

1: Opening the settings Start off by accessing your Control Panel and locate the ‘Security and Maintenance’ settings. Click on this and then you will see the main screen displaying various options. 2: Open Maintenance Move the mouse over the Maintenance tab and click the arrow on the right side. This opens the rest of the Maintenance options. Scroll to the Automatic Maintenance section. 3: Start Maintenance Click on Start Maintenance. Windows 10 will run through tasks such as defragmenting the hard drive. Performance may be impacted during this time. Stop the process if need be.…

Run maintenance checks

Sort Windows 10 alerts and problems

1: Action Center alert If there is a system issue on your Windows 10 PC, the Action Center will notify you about it. An alert will appear in the bottom right of the display. Using your mouse, highlight the entry and select it. 2: Fixing the problem The Action Center will open a new window specific to the problem in hand. From here you can highlight and select the required option. Action Center will then take the necessary steps to fix the current issue. 3: Viewing all notifications Rather than viewing one problem at a time, you can choose to list all the current issues in one place. Open the ‘Security and Maintenance’ Control Panel to view all the current problems. Then work through them. 4: Adjusting Action Center settings…

Sort Windows 10 alerts and problems

Understand the layout of Action Center

Action Center has been present since XP, although its name has changed over the years. It was first introduced as a way of helping customers ensure that they were taking steps to protect their systems. Back then it was known as the Security Center and the focus was mainly on anti-virus and firewall capabilities along with notifications on Windows updates. This trend continued in Vista with Windows Defender. When Windows 7 was released, the tool was expanded to encompass both security and maintenance aspects. It was at this point that it was renamed to Action Center. In Windows 10 the Action Center has been further updated to monitor a variety of new items. These include Windows Activation, Smartscreen and File History. Though it’s name has changed over the years, Action…

Understand the layout of Action Center

Manage security with Action Center

1: The Security tab For taking stock of your security setup, you’ll need to refer to the Security section of the Security and Maintenance Control Panel. Click on the down arrow next to the title header to display every entry. 2: Security settings The Security section will now open up to list all the available security features and their current status. If you use a third-party program such as an anti-virus, it should also be listed among the entries along with how it’s behaving. 3: Changing settings Any urgent issues are pushed to the top of the list for your attention. You can use the adjacent Change Settings option to quickly access the required options. Once you’ve set things up as required, click OK to return to the main screen.…

Manage security with Action Center

Confirm user account

1: Why verify? If you’ve recently upgraded to Windows 10, you may need to verify your identity. This will help sync your setup. 2: Start the process Open the Security and Maintenance Control Panel and go to Security. Select the ‘Verify your identity on this PC’ option. 3: Verifying via email Microsoft can use your email address as a means of verification. Confirm your email address and a code will be emailed to you. 4: Account settings Enter this code and your account will be verified. You’re then taken to your account screen to make any adjustments.…

Confirm user account

Manage applications & processes in Task Manager

Task Manager is a long-running Windows feature that has been present since the release of Windows ’95. The latest iteration of Task Manager within Windows 10 features the most comprehensive set of tools yet, so it’s even more useful. Fortunately, the extra functionality doesn’t mean that it’s more complicated. In fact, Task Manager is more user-friendly than it has ever been. In the past Task Manager has been seen as more of a go-to tool for quick fixes (largely for frozen programs). Now it can be used to monitor information such as data usage or for handling programs that start when Windows 8 is booted up. Now that Windows 10 also utilises apps, the Task Manager also reflects this by having a dedicated section for apps and how they operate…

Manage applications & processes in Task Manager

Access Task Manager

1: Ctrl, Alt, Delete Windows 10 includes several quick ways to access the Task Manager. The most commonly known method is by pressing the Ctrl+Alt keys together and then tapping Delete. 2: The Start button Windows 10 features a Start menu in the bottom-left corner. You can right-click on this and then select Task Manager from the resulting menu. 3: Compact View If this is the first time that you’ve used Task Manager it will open in Compact View mode. Click the ‘More details’ option to open up the window for a more complete overview.…

Access Task Manager

Control which programs open at boot

1: The Start-up tab If you find Windows 10 is taking a long time to start up, you can disable programs that normally load during boot-up. This may help shorten your boot time. Open the Task Manager and select the Start-up tab. 2: Organising your entries You’ll now have a list of programs that start when your computer boots up. By using the column headings, you can reorder the entries by name, publisher and status. In this example we’ve ordered by startup impact. 3: Disabling a program Task Manager makes it easy to disable a program from starting up. All you need to do is click on the desired program and then Disable. The Task Manager will update that entry to show that it is now disabled. 4: Exit and…

Control which programs open at boot

Understand what Task Manager can do for you

Task Manager has been around for a while, but in its latest incarnation it really is a tool to be reckoned with. It features the familiar monitoring tools for system processes, performance and services. These can provide insight into the performance of things such as your hard drive, memory and network connection. It now also contains tabs that can provide details on your regularly used Metro-style apps. Such details include how much data an app is using, how much CPU time it is taking up and more. There is also a section that lists the users logged in on a particular system and the processing power being used by each account. The Processes section lists the services that are currently running. These are broken up into apps, background processes and…

Understand what Task Manager can do for you

Monitor Windows system performance

1: Revised Performance tab In Windows 10 the Performance tab has undergone a notable upgrade. There are now more system aspects to check, all with graphs that constantly update. It’s a useful tool for checking on how your system is performing. 2: Graph refresh settings By default the performance graphs will update at a normal rate. If you wish, you can alter the speed of this refresh rate. This is done by clicking View>Update Speed. You can also use the Refresh Now option to update the graph. 3: System information Each category in the Performance Tab has its own section of specific information at the bottom of the display. In this example the Memory section tells us how much memory is free, how many slots are used and more. 4:…

Monitor Windows system performance

Explore the Details tab

1: Performance vs. Details While the Performance tab contains lots of information, the Details tab is more in line with previous Task Manager iterations. 2: Add/remove columns If you right-click on the column headers, you can use the Select Columns options to decide which topics appear in the table. 3: Further options You can right-click on an entry and access a menu featuring options for closing a task or a process tree (ie linked processes). 4: Search and locate As per the Performance tab, you can search online for a process, or go straight to the file location for a process.…

Explore the Details tab

Delve deeper into Cortana, your personal assistant

Windows 10’s digital personal assistant, Cortana, is a timesaving tool that can perform tedious tasks for you, such as creating calendar appointments. Instead of going to the Start menu, clicking the Calendar app, finding the right view and day, and clicking to create an appointment, simply tell Cortana to create one on a particular day and time. It can set alarms so you don’t miss anything important, let you view alarms that have been set, and also cancel alarms. Appointments and reminders are similar and it is very easy to ask Cortana to set a reminder so you do not forget to do something. You can view reminders, see your schedule and even move appointments. Cortana can display maps, convert currencies, take notes and much more.…

Delve deeper into Cortana, your personal assistant

Set and manage alarms

1: Set an alarm Click the microphone button in the Cortana box and say “Set an alarm for…” and add the time. You can say 5 PM, for example, or even something like “for 30 minutes.” 2: Set repeating alarms You might want an alarm to alert you every day. To do this, say something like “Set an alarm every day for…” and add the time the alarm is to occur. 3: Check your alarms Have you lost track of the alarms you have set? Ask Cortana to show them to you. Say “Show my alarms” to see a list of one-off and repeating alarms.…

Set and manage alarms

Top tips for Cortana

1: Convert any units Cortana can convert distances, weights, currencies and more. Click the microphone in the Cortana box and say “Convert 20 pounds to dollars,” or “Convert 35 miles into kilometres,” and other conversions. 2: Use Cortana’s calculator Cortana has a built-in calculator. Just state the calculation to see the result, such as “What is 27 multiplied by 36?” Use the mouse or ask Cortana to perform another calculation. 3: Identify music Cortana is able to identify any music playing nearby, and you don’t even have to ask. Siply click on the musical notes icon in the top-right corner and Cortana will listen and then identify songs. 4: Create and store notes When you need to remember information, say “Take a note…” followed by whatever you want, such as…

Top tips for Cortana

Familiarise yourself with Cortana’s features

Cortana is a program that is designed to understand natural speech, so you do not need to speak in a special way. Just say what you would like Cortana to do in your normal voice. An example of this is the ability to say things like “Remind me tomorrow.” Cortana understands words like today and tomorrow, and even more complex phrases like “the day after tomorrow.” You don’t even need to say the exact date, because Cortana can work it out and create the reminder on the correct day. You can provide all of the information that Cortana needs in order to perform a task, such as creating a reminder or an appointment, or you are able to just give partial information. When you do this, she will actually ask…

Familiarise yourself with Cortana’s features

Create reminders and appointments

1: Create reminders You might want to create a reminder that repeats every day, week or month. Just say something like “Remind me every day to…” followed by the subject, and Cortana creates a recurring reminder. 2: View your reminders After creating several reminders, you might want to see them, either to check them or to remind yourself of what reminders you have! Say “Show my reminders” and click Time, Place or Person. 3: Show complete reminders Click the first of the three icons at the bottom of the Cortana panel and tick the reminders or tasks that you have completed. Simply click the Complete icon if you want to remove them from the list. 4: Create an appointment Appointments are created like reminders. Say “Create a dentist appointment this…

Create reminders and appointments

Get Cortana to listen

1: Go to Settings Click in the Cortana box in the taskbar to open the panel, then click on the Settings icon near the bottom of the column. 2: Hey Cortana! Turn on Hey Cortana to enable Cortana to listen all the time. It saves clicking the microphone icon. 3: Teach it your voice Cortana works better if you teach it the sound of your voice. Click the ‘Learn my voice’ button that appears. 4: Speak the phrases Cortana learns fast and six sentences are displayed on the screen one after the other. Just speak them.…

Get Cortana to listen

Improve your security

There are many types of malware that can affect the computer and most of it is on the internet. If you never used the internet then security would not be an issue, but it is pretty much essential these days because so much of what we do on computers makes use of websites and online services. The good news is that Windows 10 is more secure than previous versions of the operating system. In the tips and tutorials here we will take a look at many of the security features that are built in to it. These include Windows Defender for protecting from viruses and spyware, Windows Firewall to protect from hackers, and many settings in the Settings app and Control Panel. As soon as you can, you should review…

Improve your security

Turn on protection

1: Open Settings Go to the Start menu and click Settings. The last item in the list is Update & security. Click it to access important settings that affect safety and security. 2: Use Windows Update Security flaws are exploited by malware and hackers, so make sure Windows has all the latest security patches by selecting Windows Update and then click Check for updates. 3: Enable protection If you do not use third-party security software, make sure that Windows is protected by turning on real-time and cloud-based protection for Windows Defender.…

Turn on protection

Four top security tips

1: Recover from problems If you have a serious security problem and the computer is infected with malware, go to Settings>Update & security>Recovery>Reset this PC. Click Get started. Use it only as a last resort though. 2: Clear the exclusions Go to Settings>Update & security>Windows Defender. Click Add an exclusion. Normally there should be none and exceptions are suspicious. Select the exclusions, if there are any, and click Remove. 3: Wake to a password When the computer is idle or a laptop’s lid is closed, it can enter sleep mode. Go to Settings>Accounts>Sign-in options>Require sign-in then click ‘When PC wakes up from sleep’. This is more secure. 4: Use standard accounts A standard account is more secure than an administrator account. Go to Settings>Accounts>Family & other users. If other people…

Four top security tips

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