Curious about your PC uptime? In this guide, we show you four ways to check just how long your computer has been running.

On Windows 10, understanding how long a device has been up and running can be useful information in a number of scenarios. For example, when troubleshooting problems, you may want to know if a reboot was recently applied, or if your computer is acting up while working on an important project, and you suspect a restart is required.

Whatever the reason, Windows 10 doesn't make it obvious to see your system uptime, but it's not impossible to find either, as you can deduce this information using Task Manager, Control Panel, Command Prompt, and PowerShell.

In this Windows 10 guide, we walk you through four simple ways to check your device uptime without involving scripts or restarting.

• How to check PC uptime using Task Manager
• How to check PC uptime using Control Panel
• How to check PC uptime using Command Prompt
• How to check PC uptime using PowerShell

How to check PC uptime using Task Manager

Perhaps the easiest way to check your device uptime is using Task Manager with these steps:

1. Open Start.

2. Search for Task Manager and click the top result to open the experience.

   Quick Tip: You can also open Task Manager using the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keyboard shortcut, or by right-clicking the taskbar and selecting Task Manager from the menu.

3. Click the More details button (if you're using the compact view).
4. Click the Performance tab.

5. Select the CPU section.

Once you complete these steps, you'll see your device uptime on the right side, at the bottom of the page.

How to check PC uptime using Control Panel

Another easy way to determine your system uptime is to check your network adapter status with these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Control Panel and click the top result to open the experience.

3. Click on Network and Internet.

4. Click on Network and Sharing Center.

5. Click the Change adapter settings option in the left pane.

6. Double-click the network adapter connected to the internet.

After completing the steps, you can deduce your computer uptime using the "Duration" information, which indicates the uptime from the network connection that resets every time the device starts. (Of course, these methods work as long as you didn't reset your network connection since the last time you booted the device.)

How to check PC uptime using Command Prompt

If you want to use Command Prompt to check your device uptime, you have at least two ways to do it.

Using WMIC

To check your computer uptime using Command Prompt, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and click the Run as administrator option.

3. Type the following command to query the device's last boot time and press Enter:

   wmic path Win32_OperatingSystem get LastBootUpTime

Once you complete these steps, you'll notice an output that can look intimidating, but it's not difficult to decode so you can understand your device uptime.

For example, the LastBootUpTime 20181219104602.500000-300 can be broken down using the info below.

• Year: 2018.
• Month: 12.
• Day: 19.
• Hour: 10.
• Minutes: 46.
• Seconds: 02.
• Milliseconds: 500000.
• GMT: -300 (5 hours ahead of GMT).

This means that the computer has been up and running since December 19, 2018, at 10:46 AM. If you want to be more specific, just subtract the last boot time with the current time to deduce the number of days, hours, and minutes the device has been in operation.

Using System Information

You can also see your system uptime with a more user-friendly format using the System Information tool with these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and click the Run as administrator option.

3. Type the following command to query the device's last boot time and press Enter:

   systeminfo | find "System Boot Time"

Using the System Information tool, you can quickly find out the last time your system rebooted in an easy-to-read format. Also, like the wmic command, you can subtract the last boot time with the current time to determine the number of days, hours, and minutes the device has been running.

How to check PC uptime using PowerShell

It's also possible to check your device uptime using PowerShell with these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and click the Run as administrator option.

3. Type the following command to query the device uptime and press Enter:

   (get-date) - (gcim Win32_OperatingSystem).LastBootUpTime

After completing these steps, you'll get the uptime information on a list format with the days, hours, and minutes.

This guide outlines several ways to check your device uptime, but it's important to note that there are many other methods to find the same information using Command Prompt and PowerShell scripts. However, these are the most straightforward methods.

In addition, while these instructions are focused on Windows 10, these methods have been around for a long time, which means they'll also work on Windows 8.1 and Windows 7.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

• Windows 10 on Windows Central – All you need to know
• Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks
• Windows 10 forums on Windows Central

Best answer: You can't go wrong with the signature Platinum Type Cover, as it matches the color scheme of the Surface Go itself and is a great way to represent the Surface brand. There are also other colors to choose from.

• The following products can be found on Microsoft:
• Platinum Type Cover ($124)
• Burgundy Type Cover ($124)
• Cobalt Blue Type Cover ($124)
• Black Type Cover ($95)

Platinum Type Cover

The Platinum Type Cover is Microsoft's "default" Type Cover for the Surface Go — default meaning it's the color that matches the device color scheme and also follows along with the rest of the Surface color aesthetic, that being "gray." It's also a signature Type Cover, meaning it uses the more premium Alcantara fabric, which feels excellent on your wrists when typing out long emails or documents.

We think the Platinum Type Cover is the best Type Cover you can buy for the Surface Go, thanks to its matching color scheme and modern aesthetic. There are other great options to choose from, however.

Burgundy Type Cover

If you don't care about your Type Cover matching the rest of your Surface Go, you might be more interested in a bolder, redder Type Cover in the form of the Burgundy Type Cover. This is also a signature Type Cover, meaning it uses Alcantara fabric for a premium feel.

Cobalt Blue Type Cover

If red isn't to your liking, perhaps the Cobalt Blue signature Type Cover will better suite your wants. This one features a slightly lighter aesthetic, and also features Alcantara for its fabric of choice.

Black Type Cover

Finally, we have the Black Type Cover. This is your basic "I don't care about colors" choice, which is also the only one in our lineup to not be classed as a signature Type Cover from Microsoft. This means it doesn't feature the Alcantara fabric found on the others, instead opting for a somewhat cheaper feeling material instead. This does knock around $25 of the price, however, so keep that in mind if you're price conscious.

Can't go wrong

Platinum Type Cover

$124 from Microsoft

Default and the best

If you want a Type Cover you can't go wrong with, and that also matches the color scheme of the Surface Go itself, get the Platinum Type Cover.

A redder aesthetic

Burgendy Type Cover

$124 from Microsoft

A darker, redder alternative.

If you want to stand out from the crowd, and love the dark red aesthetic, grab yourself a Burgendy Type Coverl.

Blue will do

Cobalt Blue Type Cover

$124 from Microsoft

Light and cheerful

Bold colors not your thing? Perhaps the lighter, Cobalt Blue Type Cover will better suit your needs.

Basic and cheaper

Black Type Cover

$95 from Microsoft

Cheaper, yet functional

If you don't care about colors and just want something that works, save a few dollars and get the Black Type Cover, featuring less premium materials but the same functional experience.

If you're into streaming you don't have to fork out for a webcam if you've got an Android smartphone in your pocket. Even mid-range phones will have a better camera than most webcams, and we're going to show you how to use it instead.

Products used in this guide

• Amazon: Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro ($600)
• Amazon: Manfrotto Smartphone tripod mount ($10)
• Amazon: AmazonBasics mini tripod ($7)
• Google Play: #LiveDroid (Free)

This process doesn't require any specific Android phone, though for the purposes of this guide a Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro running Android 8.1 Oreo was used. OBS is the streaming software used, but the basic principle is the same for XSplit and Streamlabs OBS as well.

How to use your Android phone as a webcam for streaming

1. Ensure your Android phone is connected to Wi-Fi for best results.
2. Download the #LiveDroid application from the Google Play Store.
3. Open #LiveDroid on your phone.
4. For best effects, tap run in background because it's more efficient and lets you run it with the display turned off.

5. On your PC, open up your streaming software.

6. Add new source to your scene.
7. Choose browser source.
8. Enter the URL given to you by LiveDroid as the browser source address.

You can now position the window as you would any other webcam for your stream. The basic setup process as detailed above is the same for everyone, but performance will vary depending on your hardware and the capability of your wireless network. To get the best for your situation, you'll have to do some trial-and-error testing of settings in both #LiveDroid and your streaming software.

In our testing, #LiveDroid proved to be the best application because it provided an almost indistinguishable difference in latency compared to a regular USB webcam connected to the same PC.

On the left is the smartphone; on the right is the Razer Kiyo webcam under the same lighting conditions.

Try these settings as a good place to start:

• Select camera — 0.
• Frame per second — 15,000 ~ 15,000.
• Resolution — 1280 x 960.
• Quality: 100.

How to mount your phone as a webcam

The biggest drawback to using your phone as a webcam is having to mount it in such a way that you would a regular USB webcam.

One easy and fairly affordable way of doing so is by using a smartphone holder with a tripod mount and then clipping your smartphone to any tripod with a standard mount. It doesn't have to be huge or flashy, and even a low-cost mini-tripod will do the trick.

A good webcam can be expensive, and for the more serious streamer, that's still going to be a better all-around solution. But using this method you can get a very good result from the phone in your pocket, and in almost every case, your phone's camera will produce a better result. It will handle exposure and dynamic range better, and you could get much more professional-looking video.

Our top equipment picks

All you really need to use your Android phone as a webcam is the free #LiveDroid application from the Google Play Store.

Webcam for free

#LiveDroid

Free at Google Play

A free app with incredible performance.

This app performed better in our testing than apps that cost real money, and it gives you USB webcam-matching performance.

It's simple to set up, and as long as you're happy playing around with the settings until you get it right for your particular setup, you'll be extremely impressed with the results.

Additional equipment

If you need a way to mount your phone to use as a webcam, or even if you're looking for a new phone, check these out.

Best answer: Yes, if you need the latest specifications, LTE support, or more privacy you should upgrade to the latest HP Spectre x360 15.

HP: Spectre x360 13-ap0038nr ($1,600)

Featuring a new design

The late 2018 refresh of the HP Spectre x360 15 features an updated design with angled corners and different colored accents. HP calls this new design the "Gem Cut," and while it still looks like a Spectre device, the new design gives it a fresh new look and futuristic appeal that the previous models didn't have.

Previous models featured a more traditional design, with zero angular or gem cuts found. The new design is much bolder and more unique, making it stand out in the a coffee shop or alongside other laptops.

More power on the inside

In addition to a new design, the new HP Spectre x360 15 comes with updated internals to bring it up to scratch with the rest of the competition in 2018. It features 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8565U, either 8GB or 16GB RAM, a 1080p or 4K touchscreen display, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, and up to 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD storage.

This is a powerful laptop and one that should get you through most tasks with ease. It also has a Windows Hello compatible fingerprint reader, for quick logging into your device. Since it's an x360 device, its hinge can fold all the way around for tented mode and tablet mode. Previous models featured last generation processors and would still probably work fine, but for the latest and most powerful internals, you'll want to go for the Spectre x360 15.

Additional features

New to the Spectre x360 line is LTE capabilities, meaning you can now connect up to an LTE network anywhere and always stay connected.

The 2018 Spectre x360s also now include a kill switch for the webcam, which works to cut power to your camera when you need a bit of privacy – potentially a more elegant solution than privacy sliders or simply placing a piece of tape over the camera. For added privacy, you can optionally equip each Spectre x360 with HP's Sure View, which will keep those sitting next to you in public spaces from snooping your screen.

In addition, since this is the 15 model, you'll be getting a large, high resolution 15.6-inch display, great for watching or editing video content, playing games, and more.

Our pick

HP Spectre x360 15

$1,600 from HP

A fantastic upgrade for the Spectre line

If you're in need of more graphical power and upgraded I/O, along with a beautiful large display, the new HP Spectre x360 15 is an excellent upgrade, and its new design sweetens the deal.

Best answer: The best place to buy a Legion C530 desktop gaming PC is straight from Lenovo. There you'll find a healthy amount of configuration options with both NVIDIA and AMD hardware, and warranty and support are included with each purchase.

Lenovo: Legion C530 Cube ($880+)

What configurations does Lenovo offer?

Starting at about $880, you can get a Legion C530 with an 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8400 processor (CPU), 8 GB of DDR4-2666MHz RAM, a 1 TB 7,200 RPM hard-disk drive (HDD) coupled with 16 GB of Intel Optane memory, and a NVIDIA GTX 1050 Ti graphics card (GPU) with 4 GB of GDDR5 VRAM. This configuration has the power for medium gaming, though many people feel the GTX 1060 is where true gaming performance starts.

Lenovo also offers a configuration with the beefier GPU for about $1,250. Other than the GTX 1060 with 6 GB of GDDR5 VRAM, it also has inside an 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8700 CPU, 8 GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 1 TB 7,200 RPM HDD coupled with a 128 GB PCIe solid-state drive (SSD) that helps boost performance.

Coming in at the same $1,250 price is a model with an AMD Radeon RX 570 GPU with 4 GB of GDDR5 VRAM, an Intel Core i7-8700 CPU, 16 GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 1 TB 7,200 RPM HDD coupled with a 128 GB PCIe SSD. That's twice the amount of RAM for the same price, though you do lose out on the superior GTX 1060 performance.

Finally, there's a Core i5-8400 model with 8 GB of RAM, a 1 TB HDD with 16 GB of Optane memory, and an AMD Radeon RX 570 GPU, which altogether costs about $930. That extra $50 compared to the similar model with GTX 1050 Ti GPU will no doubt be worth it as long as you don't mind using AMD hardware, as the RX 570 will deliver significantly superior performance.

Should you opt for AMD or NVIDIA hardware?

Besides the slight difference in price and performance — the RX 570 beats out the GTX 1050 Ti, but the GTX 1060 beats out both — choosing between AMD and NVIDIA really comes down to personal preference and will likely depend on what type of monitor you have sitting on your desk. Many gaming monitors will advertise either G-Sync or FreeSync technologies, which are proprietary to NVIDIA and AMD respectively.

While most games offer vertical sync (V-Sync) settings of their own, the proprietary GPU technologies go beyond and offer smooth visuals without performance taking as much of a hit. With both G-Sync and FreeSync, gameplay is smoothed out to avoid tearing and lag.

If you have a FreeSync monitor, an AMD GPU undoubtedly makes more sense, while G-Sync monitors are better off connected to a NVIDIA GPU. NVIDIA also recently announced that some FreeSync monitors now also work with NVIDIA GPUs, so be sure to verify the make and model of your monitor before making a final decision.

Is the Legion C530 Cube meant for you?

The Legion C530 is a relatively compact gaming PC with a square design that offers mid-range performance without taking up a ton of room on or under your desk. It lights up, it stays cool and quiet while running, and you can get inside to tinker without the need for any tools. If you're jumping into the PC gaming world and need an affordable rig that can run most modern games smoothly at 1080p, the C530 should make a good choice. The addition of a one-year warranty, financing and leasing options, and live support direct from Lenovo only sweeten the deal.

Don't forget accessories at checkout

All Legion C530 models come with a basic keyboard and mouse that are suitable for productivity purposes, but gamers will likely want to add some of Lenovo's accessories — including gaming keyboards, mice, monitors, and extra RAM — when checking out.

Compact gaming

Lenovo Legion C530 Cube

$880+ at Lenovo

Budget 1080p gaming.

This gaming PC comes in a sturdy, compact chassis with ample airflow, and it allows for easy entry and tinkering. Baseline models are set up to deliver a smooth 1080p gaming experience with most modern titles, and all models come with a basic keyboard and mouse.

Are you getting into a dual or triple-monitor setup? Here are several tips to configure all the displays without third-party software on Windows 10.

Whether you're a content creator, programmer, data analyst, or gamer, a system with multiple monitors no only looks good, but it can significantly improve your multitasking experience when working with several applications. However, a multi-monitor setup is only practical as long as you configure it correctly.

Luckily, Windows 10 ships with several features and settings to support one, two, three, four, and even more monitors without the need to resource to third-party software for the best desktop experience.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through several tips to configure and use a multi-monitor setup whether you're connecting an external display to your laptop, or you're connecting two, three, or more monitors to your desktop or workstation.

• Before configuring a multi-monitor setup
• How to rearrange multiple displays on Windows 10
• How to adjust displays scale and layout on Windows 10
• How to select multiple displays viewing mode on Windows 10
• How to manage advanced display settings on Windows 10
• How to show taskbar across multiple displays on Windows 10
• How to change background on multiple displays on Windows 10

Before configuring a multi-monitor setup

Before diving into this guide, make sure that all the necessary cables are connected to the monitors and computer. This includes connecting power and video signal using VGA, DVI, HDMI, or DisplayPort (recommended when possible) cables.

If you're not sure, you can always find the make and model of the monitor, and search online for the manufacturer manual to get a better idea on how to connect the display.

How to rearrange multiple displays on Windows 10

Although you can connect a monitor to any of the available ports, when setting up a dual-monitor or triple-monitor setup, it's easy to plug them in the wrong order. While they will still work, you may run into issues using the mouse and running applications until you rearrange them correctly.

To rearrange monitors on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Display.

4. Under the "Select and rearrange displays" section, drag and drop each display to rearrange them according to their physical layout on your desktop.

   Quick Tip: If you're not sure which monitor you're selecting, click the Identify button to figure out. If one of the monitors isn't showing up, make sure it's receiving power and connected correctly, and click the Detect button.

5. Click the Apply button.

Once you've completed the steps, Windows 10 will understand the physical layout of the screens, and you'll be able to work across each display and run apps without issues.

How to adjust displays scale and layout on Windows 10

When connecting one or multiple displays to your computer, Windows 10 does a pretty good job detecting and configuring the most optimal settings, but depending on your requirements, you may need to adjust scaling, resolution, and orientation for each monitor.

Selecting correct scale

Windows 10 includes settings to adjust the scaling, which can come in handy when setting up various monitors of different sizes and screen resolutions to make text, apps, and other items look the same size across the displays. Or if you have a 4K display, for example, adjusting the scale settings can help to make items bigger and more readable.

To select the correct scale that best suits your requirements, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Display.
4. Under the "Select and rearrange displays" section, select the monitor that you want to adjust.

5. Use the Change the size of text, apps, and other items drop-down menu to select the appropriate scale.

After completing the steps, you may need to repeat steps No. 4 and 5 to change the scaling settings on the other monitors, and then click the Sign-out option to apply the changes.

While you can adjust the scaling settings on a per-monitor basis, it's always best to use the same monitors with the same configuration. Otherwise, you may run into issues, and Windows 10 may struggle with scaling elements.

Custom scaling

If none of the options work on your setup, you can specify a custom scaling value with these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Display.
4. Under the "Select and rearrange displays" section, select the monitor that you want to adjust.

5. Under the "Scale and layout" section, click the Advanced scaling settings option.

6. Under the "Custom scaling" section, specify the scaling size between 100 and 500 percent.

7. Click the Apply button.

After completing the steps, sign out and sign back in to test the new settings. If the new scaling configuration doesn't look right, use the same steps outlined above, and try a different value.

Selecting correct resolution

Usually, after connecting a monitor, Windows 10 will adjust the recommended resolution automatically, but you can also change the resolution manually with these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Display.
4. Under the "Select and rearrange displays" section, select the monitor that you want to adjust.

5. Under the "Scale and layout" section, use the Resolution drop-down menu to select the correct pixel resolution.

Once you completed the steps, repeat steps No. 4 and 5 to change the resolution on the other monitors.

If you're looking to make text and other items bigger on the screen, you should be changing the scaling settings, not the resolution.

Selecting correct orientation

Windows 10 also allows you to rotate the screen horizontally or vertically, which is particularly useful when you have monitors with stands that rotate, and you want to use it with a different orientation.

To change the orientation on a per-monitor basis, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Display.
4. Under the "Select and rearrange displays" section, select the monitor that you want to adjust.

5. Under the "Scale and layout" section, use the Orientation drop-down menu to select the mode you want:

   • Landscape.
   • Portrait.
   • Landscape (flipped).
   • Portrait (flipped).

Alternatively, you can also use the Ctrl + Alt + arrow keyboard shortcut to switch between the orientation modes in some supported devices. For example, using the Ctrl + Alt + Right arrow keyboard shortcut rotates the screen 90 degrees, and the Ctrl + Alt + Up arrow combo restores the normal orientation.

How to select multiple displays viewing mode on Windows 10

Using the built-in settings, you can also choose the viewing mode for your displays. For example, if you're using a second monitor, you can expand the main screen to the new display, or you can mirror both monitors, which is an ideal option when showing a presentation. If you're using a laptop with an external monitor, you can even disable the built-in display, and only use the second monitor as your primary.

To change the viewing mode on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Display.
4. Under the "Select and rearrange displays" section, select the monitor that you want to adjust.

5. Under the "Multiple displays" section, use the drop-down menu to set the appropriate viewing mode, including:

   • Duplicate desktop — Shows duplicate desktop according to the description.
   • Extend — Expands the primary desktop to the display currently selected.
   • Disconnect this display— Turn off the selected monitor.

After completing the steps, you may need to repeat steps No. 4 and 5 to set the display mode on the remaining monitors. Also, note that using these settings, you can make any of the monitors as your primary display.

Switching display modes with shortcut

In addition to using the Settings app, Windows 10 also allows you to switch display modes on the fly using the Project feature, which you can access using the Windows key + P keyboard shortcut.

Once you invoke the shortcut, a flyout will open with four options, including:

• PC screen only — Only the primary display is used.
• Duplicate — Secondary displays shows duplicate desktop.
• Extend — Both displays combine to offer an extended desktop.
• Second screen only — Only the secondary displays is used.

Usually, when using a multi-monitor setup on a desktop or laptop, you want to use the "Extend" option. This allows you to use the primary monitor normally, and the secondary monitors at their native resolution creating a single large canvas.

Duplicate is a good option when using a second monitor or projector to show a presentation, while the Second screen only option is a good option when you want to close your laptop and work only with one monitor.

How to manage advanced display settings on Windows 10

Although it's not always a good idea to modify your advanced display settings, because not all monitors are created equal, sometimes, you may need to make a few adjustments to improve color accuracy and remove screen flickering.

Important: We only recommend adjusting the advanced settings if you've researched a little and have a rough idea of what to do. Typically, you should be fine with the default display settings.

Setting a custom color profile

If your monitors aren't rendering the colors accurately, you can use a custom color profile to improve color accuracy using these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Display.

4. Click the Advanced display settings option.

5. Click the option for the display that you want to set a custom color profile.

6. Click the Color Management tab.

7. Click the Color Management button.

8. Click the Devices tab.
9. Select a display from the list.
10. Check the Use my settings for this display option.

11. Click the Add button.

12. On the "Associate Color Profile" page, click the Browse button and locate the profile.

13. Double-click the .icm file to install the new profile.

14. Click the Close button.

Once you've completed the steps, you may need to repeat steps No. 9 through 13 to set a custom profile for the other monitors.

When setting up a custom color profile, you should use those created by your display manufacturer or from a trusted source. If you're not sure, you can use these steps to download the correct color profile for your monitors.

Changing the refresh rate

Usually, a refresh rate (frames per second) of 59Hz or 60Hz is more than enough for most computer tasks. However, if you're noticing screen flickering, or if you have monitors that support higher refresh rate, bumping the settings can provide a better and smoother viewing experience — especially for gamers.

If you must adjust the refresh rate in your current setup, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Display.

4. Click the Advanced display settings option.

5. Click the Display adapter properties option for the display you want to change the refresh rate.

6. Click the Monitor tab.

7. Under the "Monitor Settings" section, use the drop-down menu to set the correct refresh rate.

After completing the steps, you may need to repeat steps No. 5, 6, and 7 to change the refresh rate on the other monitors.

How to show taskbar across multiple displays on Windows 10

On a multi-monitor setup, the taskbar by default will appear only in the main display, but you can adjust the settings to show the taskbar across all the displays with these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization
3. Click on Taskbar.

4. Under the "Multiple display" section, turn on the Show taskbar on all displays toggle switch.

If you want to control in which taskbar the buttons for running apps should appear, then use the Show taskbar button on the drop-down menu and select one of the available options:

• All taskbars.
• Main taskbar and taskbar where window is open.
• Taskbar where window is open.

In addition, you can also use this guide to optimize the space on the taskbar to pin even more apps or to keep it as minimal as possible.

How to change background on multiple displays on Windows 10

Windows 10 offers a lot of settings to adjust the look and feel of the desktop, but when using multiple monitors, setting up different background images on each display is one the most important customizations you can make to personalize your experience.

To show different wallpapers on a multi-monitor setup using a slideshow, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click on Background.

4. Use the "Background" drop-down menu and select the Slideshow option.

5. Click the Browse button.
6. Select a folder with a collection of images that you like to display on the monitors.
7. Click the Choose this folder button.
8. Use the "Change picture every" drop-down menu to select the rotation frequency.
9. Turn on the Shuffle toggle switch.
10. (Optional) If you're using different size images, use the Choose a fit drop-down menu and select the Fill option.

Once you've completed the steps, the images will rotate on the desktop background depending on the rotation frequency you selected.

Customizing each monitor with a different background

If you want to set a different background image for each monitor, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click on Background.

4. Use the "Background" drop-down menu and select the Picture option.

5. Click the Browse button.
6. Browse to the location with your images, select the wallpaper, and click the Choose picture option.

7. Right-click the image and select the monitor you want the wallpaper to show.

8. Repeat steps No. 5, 6, and 7 to set a custom background for another monitor.

After completing the steps, each monitor will display a custom wallpaper.

Wrapping things up

Alongside the instructions outlined above, here are a few additional tips to keep in mind when setting up a computer with multiple monitors:

• Unless it's a laptop, you shouldn't try to adjust the brightness or color using software. Instead, you should use the controls built onto the monitor.
• If the second monitor isn't getting detected, check its connections and use the Detect button in the Settings app. If you're still having issues, you can use this guide to troubleshoot and fix common problems.
• When using one or multiple monitors, you may come across a black screen, which usually is a video driver related problem. If you're not sure how to fix this issue, you can follow these steps to resolve the problem.

Do you have another tip to configure a multi-monitor setup with Windows 10? Tell us in the comments.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

• Windows 10 on Windows Central – All you need to know
• Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks
• Windows 10 forums on Windows Central

A major feature of Acer's Nitro 5 gaming laptop is how easy it is to replace or add RAM thanks to an easy-access panel on the bottom. Just about all models come with a single 8GB stick of SODIMM RAM, keeping a second slot free to add more after purchase. If you're interested in adding a bit of performance boost, the entire process of upgrading RAM should only take a few minutes.

Hardware to get the job done

• Amazon: Crucial SODIMM DDR4 ($32+)
• Amazon: Rosewill anti-static wristband ($6)
• Amazon: ORIA PC toolkit ($34)
• Best Buy: Acer Nitro 5 ($670+)

How to upgrade the RAM in your Acer Nitro 5

The Crucial DDR4 SODIMM RAM we're using here is available in 4GB all the way up to a 32GB kit with two 16GB sticks. We had an extra 4 GB stick lying around to use for this guide, which costs about $32 at Amazon. For about $20 more, you can get an 8GB stick for a total of 16GB of RAM. It's really up to you, but keep in mind you're not limited to adding just 4GB. As long as you don't exceed 32GB total RAM (which is where the Nitro 5 maxes out and would frankly be overkill compared to the rest of the hardware), you should be in the clear.

It's never a bad idea to back up your PC before doing any sort of upgrades. It might add a few minutes on to the total time of the upgrade, but you'll be more than thankful in the unlikely event that something goes wrong.

Before beginning, be sure that you're not working in an environment full of static. If at all concerned, consider investing in an anti-static wristband. Also, ensure that your Nitro 5 is powered off.

Once you're set up in a spot devoid of static and with tools at hand, we can begin the process.

1. Locate the small, vented access panel on the bottom of your Acer Nitro 5.

2. Unscrew the single fastener with a Philips-head screwdriver.

3. Pry up the panel with a finger or pry tool. You should now see a single stick of RAM with a free slot above it.

4. Line up the notch in the new stick of RAM with the ridge in the RAM slot in the laptop. Due to the SODIMM design, it will only slide in one way.

5. Push in the stick of RAM at a 45-degree angle until the pins disappear (or nearly disappear).

6. Press down on the stick of RAM so that it clicks into place. The small metal holders on either side should hold the stick in place when it's inserted properly.

7. Press the access panel back into place, being sure that all small teeth are properly inserted. You should hear a few clicks before it's seated properly.

8. Screw in the fastener using a Philips-head screwdriver.

You can now power on your Nitro 5 and verify that the RAM you've installed is recognized by the system.

1. Right-click the Start button.

2. Click System.

You should now be able to see the total amount of installed RAM in the Device specifications section. As long as it matches the total amount you have installed, your upgrade was a success.

Eight and four makes 12 GB total RAM. Installation was a success.

Our top hardware picks

Though it's not the only option for your Acer Nitro 5, the Crucial SODIMM RAM we used for this guide is reliable, relatively cheap, and is definitely compatible with your laptop. It matches the DDR4-2400 RAM that comes standard with the Nitro 5, and it's available in 4GB sticks all the way up to a 32GB kit with two 16GB sticks.

Compatible SODIMM RAM

Crucial DDR4

$32+ at Amazon

Reliable and affordable

This Crucial RAM won't break the bank, is definitely compatible with your Acer Nitro 5, and is available in a bunch of different sizes to let you install the exact amount of RAM you want.

One of the best features of the Acer Nitro 5 how easy it is to upgrade RAM and storage, allowing you to keep it relevant for longer.

Budget gaming laptop

Acer Nitro 5

$670+ at Best Buy

A laptop that's easy to upgrade

If you're a casual PC gamer who wants to stay mobile, the Acer Nitro 5 is a cheap way to get your hands on 1080p performance. Optional AMD hardware is a bonus for anyone who'd rather steer clear of Intel and NVIDIA.

Additional Equipment

To make the upgrade process easier and less risky, consider investing in some of these affordable PC tools.

Is a new driver update is causing problems on Windows 10? In this guide, we show you how to quickly roll back to a previous version.

Although Windows 10 users receive driver updates frequently to improve performance and stability, address bugs, and introduce new features, sometimes updates roll out with compatibility issues and unknown problems that can negatively affect your experience.

You may come across a driver issue after updating the graphics adapter to the latest NVIDIA release. Or after installing the newest driver for your network or sound adapter, or any other piece of hardware. Thankfully, you can use the "Roll Back Driver" feature to revert the changes and run your computer with a previous version of a device driver, using Device Manager.

In this Windows 10 guide, we walk you through the steps to quickly remove and restore a previous version of a driver on your device.

How to quickly reinstall an older driver on Windows 10

To roll back a device driver to a previous version on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Device Manager and click the top result to open the experience.
3. Expand the category with the device that you want to roll back.

4. Right-click the device, and select the Properties option.

5. Click the Driver tab.

6. Click the Roll Back Driver button.

7. Select a reason why you're rolling back (you can select any option).

8. Click the Yes button to confirm.
9. Restart your computer.

Once you complete these steps, Windows 10 will uninstall the device, and the previous driver will be restored.

If the Roll Back Driver button isn't available, Windows 10 doesn't have any previous driver to roll back to. If this is the case, you'll need to uninstall the device, download an older version of the driver from your manufacturer's support website, and use their instructions to install the controller. (You can always use this guide to properly install a device driver on Windows 10.)

Although this guide is focused on Windows 10, the ability to roll back drivers has been around for a long time, which means that you can also use these steps on Windows 8.1 and Windows 7.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

• Windows 10 on Windows Central – All you need to know
• Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks
• Windows 10 forums on Windows Central

Best answer: The best place to buy the Galaxy Book2 is through the carrier that you plan to use it on. The device is unlocked, but the carrier is optimized so you'll get the best data speeds on the network that you buy it through.

• AT&T: Galaxy Book2 ($999)
• Verizon: Galaxy Book2 ($999)
• Sprint: Galaxy Book2 ($999)

Why buy a Galaxy Book2?

The Samsung Galaxy Book2 is an impressive device with excellent battery life and brilliant design choices. It's one of the first PC running Windows 10 on ARM that's powered by the Snapdragon 850. With that processor comes a noticeable performance bump over the first generation of Windows 10 on ARM devices while maintaining excellent battery life (up to 20 hours on a single charge). It also has LTE support meaning that you can switch seamlessly between Wi-Fi and LTE data connections. It's a great device for people commuting or on the go who need a device to last all day without losing internet connection.

The Galaxy Book2 is a thin and light 2-in-1 that comes with a kickstand that can be adjusted to almost any angle, a comfortable detachable keyboard, and a Galaxy S Pen in the box. It's very similar in design to the Surface Pro 6, which in the 2-in-1 convertible space is great company to be in. It has a gorgeous Super AMOLED display, precision trackpad, and a fingerprint reader on the back that supports Windows Hello.

In our full review of the device, we gave the Galaxy Book2 a 4.5 out of 5 thanks to its battery life, design, and included accessories.

Why should you buy a Galaxy Book2 from a carrier?

While the Galaxy Book2 is carrier unlocked, it is carrier optimized. That means that you'll get the best data connection speeds when you use a SIM card from the carrier that you purchase the device from. In our review, the Galaxy Book2, which was a review unit from Verizon, got 55 Mbps download and 17 Mbps upload speeds. When an AT&T SIM was placed in the same device it got 47 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload speeds.

As a result of being optimized for specific carriers, it's best to purchase the Galaxy Book2 from the carrier you plan to use it on. If you just want the Galaxy Book2 for Wi-Fi use, you can purchase it from anywhere as all models sold are the same aside from carrier optimization. Furthermore, the Galaxy Book2 doesn't have any variations when it comes to storage size or chipset. You can purchase the device directly from either Microsoft or Samsung for $999.

Choice of carriers

Samsung Galaxy Book2

$999 at AT&T$999 at Verizon$999 at Sprint

Long-lasting and always connected

The Galaxy Book2 has a gorgeous display, attractive design, and comes with a keyboard and S Pen. Thanks to its Snapdragon 850 processor it gets excellent battery life and has the ability to connect to LTE for data.

Here are two easy ways to create a bootable USB media to install Windows 10 on devices using UEFI.

When you're planning to install a fresh copy of Windows 10 from USB, one of the requirements involves creating media to boot your computer into the setup wizard. However, if you have newer hardware, it's likely that you're using Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI), instead of the legacy Basic Input/Output System (BIOS). If this is the case, you also have to ensure that the bootable media supports the firmware type before you can proceed with the installation.

Fortunately, if your device features a UEFI firmware, you have multiple ways to create a USB bootable media to install Windows 10. You can use the Media Creation Tool, which is an easy-to-use utility made by Microsoft that downloads and copies the installation files onto a removable drive with support UEFI and BIOS. Or you can use Rufus, which is a freely available third-party tool that allows you to quickly create a media with support for UEFI firmware.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to create a bootable USB flash drive with support for UEFI using the Media Creation Tool and Rufus.

• How to create a Windows 10 UEFI boot media using Media Creation Tool
• How to create a Windows 10 UEFI boot media using Rufus

How to create a Windows 10 UEFI boot media using Media Creation Tool

If you're planning to upgrade or install a fresh copy of Windows 10 on a system using UEFI, you can use the Media Creation Tool to create a compatible bootable media. Just insert a USB flash drive with at least 4GB of storage to your computer, and then use these steps:

1. Open the official Download Windows 10 page.

2. Under "Create Windows 10 installation media," click the Download tool now button.

3. Click the Save button.
4. Click the Open folder button.
5. Double-click the MediaCreationToolxxxx.exe file to launch the utility.
6. Click the Accept button to agree to the Microsoft terms.
7. Select the Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC option.

8. Click the Next button.

9. Select the correct language, architecture, and edition of Windows 10 if the default selection doesn't reflect the desired options.

   Quick Tip: Under "Architecture," you can select the Both option to create a bootable media that will work for devices using 64-bit and 32-bit processors. Also, if you're unable to change these settings, make sure to clear the Use the recommended options for this PC option.

10. Click the Next button.

11. Select the USB flash drive option. (If you don't see the drive, click the Refresh drive list option.)

12. Click the Next button.

13. Select the removable drive from the list.

14. Click the Next button.

Once you've completed these steps, the wizard will download the Windows 10 installation files, and it'll create the bootable media with support for UEFI as well as legacy BIOS.

How to create a Windows 10 UEFI boot media using Rufus

Alternatively, if the Media Creation Tool isn't working, you can download the Windows 10 ISO file from a different source and then use the Rufus tool to create an installation media with UEFI support.

To create a Windows 10 install media with support for UEFI, connect a USB flash drive with at least 4GB of space, and then use these steps:

1. Open the official Rufus page.

2. Under "Download," click the latest release of the tool.

3. Click the Save button.
4. Click the Open folder button.
5. Double-click the Rufus-x.x.exe file to launch the tool.
6. Under "Device," select the USB flash drive with at least 4GB of space.

7. Under "Boot selection," click the Select button on the right.

8. Navigate to the Windows 10 ISO file.
9. Select the .ISO image.
10. Click the Open button.
11. Use the "Image option" drop-down to select the Standard Windows installation option.
12. Use the "Partition scheme and target system type" drop-down to select the GPT option.
13. Use the "Target system" drop-down to select the UEFI (non CSM) option.
14. Under the "Show Advanced drive properties" section, leave the default settings.
15. Under the "Volume label" field, enter a descriptive name for the drive. For Example, "win10_install_usb."
16. Under the "File system" and "Cluster size" section, leave the default settings.
17. Click the Show advanced format options button, and make sure that "Quick format" and "Create extended label and icon files" options are selected.
18. Click the Start button.
19. Click the OK button to confirm that the USB flash drive will be wiped out.

After completing the steps, the Rufus tool will create a bootable media, which you can then use to install Windows 10 on devices using UEFI.

Wrapping things up

Once the USB bootable with support for UEFI has been created, you can start your device with the installation media to perform an upgrade or clean installation of Windows 10.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

• Windows 10 on Windows Central – All you need to know
• Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks
• Windows 10 forums on Windows Central

Acer's Nitro 5 is a budget gaming laptop that's designed to allow for easy in-house upgrades to keep it relevant longer and to boost performance. An easy-access panel on the bottom gives you quick entry into the 2.5-inch storage drive bay, which can hold either a SATA hard-disk drive (HDD) or solid-state drive (SSD). Whether you're interested in adding a larger drive or upgrading the existing 2.5-inch HDD to a faster SSD, we've laid out the entire process right here.

Hardware and software to get the job done

• Amazon: Samsung 860 EVO SSD (no enclosure) ($58+)
• Amazon: Samsung 860 EVO SSD and enclosure ($67+)
• Macrium: Macrium Reflect 7 (Free+)
• Amazon: Rosewill anti-static wristband ($6)
• Amazon: ORIA PC toolkit ($34)
• Best Buy: Acer Nitro 5 ($670+)

How to upgrade the 2.5-inch HDD in your Acer Nitro 5

Note: Before beginning any upgrades on a PC, it's a good idea to back up your data in the unlikely event something should go wrong. You'll also want to ensure you're not working in a static-filled environment, as it can cause damage to a PC's internal hardware. Consider investing in an anti-static wristband to avoid unnecessary damage.

The Nitro 5 has room for a 2.5-inch storage drive (HDD or SSD) and an M.2 SSD, and is available with three common storage configurations. The most common has a lone 1 TB 2.5-inch SATA HDD, which is what we're working with in this guide. There's also a configuration with a 256 GB M.2 SSD that leaves the 2.5-inch bay empty, and finally, there's a configuration with a 1 TB 2.5-inch HDD and a 128 GB M.2 SSD.

Those who wish to upgrade a Nitro 5 that came with only a 1 TB 2.5-inch HDD have a couple of options. After the upgrade, you can reinstall Windows 10 on the new SSD with an ISO and start completely from scratch, or you can first clone the original drive (which contains Windows 10) over to the new 2.5-inch drive using an external enclosure. The enclosure only adds a few dollars onto the price of our top 2.5-inch SSD pick, Samsung's 860 EVO. As far as cloning software goes, we've had success using Macrium Reflect and have even written a guide on the process, though you can technically use any cloning software you're comfortable with. Samsung even makes its own migration software to use with its drives.

If you have a Nitro 5 with only a 256 GB M.2 SSD, adding a 2.5-inch drive for extra storage will be much easier and will not require any drive cloning since Windows 10 comes installed on the M.2 SSD. Those with a 1 TB 2.5-inch HDD and 128 GB M.2 SSD combo will likewise be able to skip cloning (though you'll still want to backup any data stored on the 2.5-inch HDD that you're swapping out) since Windows 10 comes installed on the M.2 SSD.

Once you've backed up your data, completed any necessary drive cloning, and have powered off your Nitro 5, you can proceed with the following steps.

1. Locate the larger access panel on the bottom of your Acer Nitro 5.

2. Unscrew the single fastener with a Philips-head screwdriver.

3. Pry up the access panel with a finger or pry tool. Once removed, you should see a metallic foil.

4. Unscrew the four black fasteners with a Philips-head screwdriver. They are located on mounting brackets along the outside of the drive bay.

5. Lift the HDD out of the bay.

6. Detach the SATA cable from the 2.5-inch drive. It should come apart relatively easily.

7. Unscrew the four silver fasteners on the side drive mount with a Philips-head screwdriver.

8. Remove the old 2.5-inch HDD from the mount. If you have a Nitro 5 model that came only with an M.2 SSD, skip this step.

9. Place the new 2.5-inch SSD into the mount.

10. Screw in the four silver fasteners along the sides of the mount. If the screw holes don't line up, the SSD isn't sitting in the mount properly.

11. Re-attach the SATA cable to the new 2.5-inch SSD.

12. Set the SSD and mount into the bay.

13. Screw in the four black fasteners that hold the mounting brackets in place along the outside of the bay.

14. Press the access panel back into place, making sure all plastic teeth are properly inserted. You should hear a few clicks before it's seated properly.

15. Screw in the fastener.

You are now free to boot up your Acer Nitro 5 and check to see if the storage upgrade worked. If you run into problems — more likely if you cloned drives than if you simply added a 2.5-inch drive to complement an M.2 SSD — you can always put the old drive back into the Nitro 5 and begin the process again.

Our top hardware and software picks

Our pick for an upgrade is Samsung's 860 EVO 2.5-inch SATA SSD, which adds better performance and can add more space depending on the size you buy.

Fast SATA SSD

Samsung 860 EVO

$58+ at Amazon

Up to 4 TB of speedy storage

Get read speeds up to 550 MB/s and write speed up to 520 MB/s for superior performance, and take advantage of a 5-year warranty. Don't forget to add an external enclosure for a few dollars more if you plan on cloning your old drive.

One of the Nitro 5's best features is how easy it is to upgrade the storage, allowing you to store more games and enjoy better performance.

Budget gaming laptop

Acer Nitro 5

$670+ at Best Buy

A laptop that's easy to upgrade

If you're a casual PC gamer who wants to stay mobile, the Acer Nitro 5 is a cheap way to get your hands on 1080p performance. Optional AMD hardware is a bonus for anyone who'd rather steer clear of Intel and NVIDIA.

Additional Equipment

To make the upgrade process easier and less risky, consider investing in some of these affordable PC tools, and don't forget about Macrium Reflect for those who want to clone drives.

If you're having issues with an external device, you can use these steps to disable it, instead of disconnecting it from a Windows 10 PC.

In Windows 10, there are numerous reasons to disable a device. For example, if the integrated Bluetooth adapter isn't working as expected, and you're replacing it with an external adapter; you're experiencing issues with a particular piece of hardware, and disabling and re-enabling may fix the problem; or you don't use the hardware or peripheral, and you're unable to physically disconnect it from your computer — just to name a few.

Whatever the reason it may be, you can use Device Manager to quickly disable or enable any device (such as Bluetooth and network adapters, keyboard, printers, and webcams) installed or connected to your computer.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to disable (and enable) devices on your desktop or laptop.

• How to disable devices using Device Manager
• How to enable devices using Device Manager

How to disable devices using Device Manager

To disable a device using Device Manager on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Device Manager and click the top result to open the experience.
3. Expand the category with the device that you want to disable.

4. Right-click the device, and select the Disable device option.

   Quick Tip: Alternatively, you can click the Properties option, then on Driver tap, you'll also find an option to disable the selected hardware.

5. Click the Yes button to confirm.

Once you've completed the steps, the device you disabled will no longer be available for use.

How to enable devices using Device Manager

If you want to enable a peripheral or another piece of hardware, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Device Manager and click the top result to open the experience.
3. Expand the category with the device that you want to enable.

4. Right-click the device, and select the Enable device option.

   Quick Tip: Alternatively, you can click the Properties option, then on Driver tap, you'll also find an option to re-enable the device.

5. Click the Yes button to confirm.

After completing the steps, the device will be available for use. However, if you have another piece of hardware that may cause a conflict, then it's recommended to disable (or disconnect) the other device before enabling the new hardware.

While we're focusing this guide on Windows 10, the ability to use Device Manager to disable hardware connected to your computer has been around for a long time, which means that you can use these steps on Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and older versions.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

• Windows 10 on Windows Central – All you need to know
• Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks
• Windows 10 forums on Windows Central

There a lot of great things about Windows Mixed Reality, but the batteries in the controllers aren't one of them. Thanks to the wonder of 3D printing, and the ingenuity of one Thingiverse user named Nagorak, we now have a solution in the form of a rechargeable battery and a 3D printed backplate. This guide will take you through the steps you need to get there.

Products used in this guide

• Amazon: Fake AA battery ($9)
• Ebay: Micro-USB Rechargeable AA size battery 14500UR75 ($11)
• Amazon: 10ft Micro-USB cables - 2 Pack ($11)

A word of caution

Before we go any further, we have to note that this involves using your controllers in a way that they weren't originally intended, so there is a chance of damage. From what I've seen, there are no reports of anything going wrong, but you're still messing with electrics, so be warned! Of course, we take no responsibility if you damage your controller — it's all on you.

Step by Step

1. Go to the Thingiverse web page.
2. Click on the Thing files tab.
3. Click on the WMR_Rechargeable_Flat_Bottom_-_Left and WMR_Rechargeable_Flat_Bottom_-_Right to download them

4. Print both files standing up on their bottoms. They are flattened to allow this and shouldn't need supports.

5. Place the Micro-USB Rechargeable AA size battery into the correct side of the controller. On the right-hand controller, it should go on the right side, on the left controller it should go on the left. Both charging ports should be at the bottom of the controllers.
6. Place the fake AA battery into the empty slot to complete the connection.

7. Install the printed backs by angling them into the clips at the top and clicking them down into place. You should see the Micro-USB port through the 3D printed back.

8. Plug the Micro-USB cables into your USB adapter or PC.

9. Plug the other end of the Micro-USB cables into the controllers and check to see if the LED's light up. If they do, then it all worked!!

10. If you need to re-sync your Controllers at any time use the curved end of a paperclip and push it through the opening at the bottom of the 3D printed controller case. This will push the button buried deep inside the handle.

And there we have it. Nagarok tells us the battery lasts around 8.5 hours, which is less than you would get from the AA batteries you would normally use, but as long as you keep them charged this won't be an issue. I wouldn't recommned trying to play with the controllers plugged in, however, that sounds like it would be a disaster.

Our top equipment picks

These are the mandatory or core equipment selections. Optional or ancillary equipment will follow.

Limitless Power!

Micro-USB Rechargeable AA size battery 14500UR75

$11 at Ebay

A simple AA sized Micro-USB chargeable battery

This battery is recommended by the creator of this mod, Nagorak. It doesn't come with a Micro-USB lead so you need to own one or purchase it separately

This rechargeable battery matches the power output and is shaped to fit in the Windows Mixed Controller correctly. Make sure you get the model numbered 14500UR75, as an incorrect purchase could wreck your controller.

Absolutely no Power!

Blank AA hot battery

$9 at Amazon

Needed only to complete the connection

This battery is just to fill in a blank space. The creator of the mod said that you could use one of these, a screw, or some tinfoil, but I think we can all agree that these are the safest route.

Additional Equipment

These are not required as you may have them already but if you don't these extras will help you with the mod.

At long last, the world's largest streaming platform is letting its members change their usernames. Here's how to change your name on Twitch.

This is probably the most requested feature ever on Twitch, and frankly, it took way too long to turn up. Getting a new username used to mean getting a whole new account, which for some would be disastrous.

But today, you're now able to switch usernames. If you're not happy with being hawtgamer5647 any longer and want something a little better, here's how to change your Twitch username.

1. Login to Twitch.
2. Go to Your account settings.

3. Next to username, you'll see an Edit button, which looks like a pen. Click this.

4. Enter your new username.

5. If that username is available you'll see a green check mark.
6. Click Update.
7. Enter your Twitch password to verify, and you're good to go.

Your username and channel URL will update immediately. Your followers and subscribers won't change as they would if you had to create a new account; they'll just see your new name instead.

You can't change your name whenever you feel like it, though. Once you've changed your username, you can't do it again for another 60 days. But finally, Twitch delivered. Go forth and change thy name!

Updated Jan. 14, 2019: New year new you! We've checked this guide to make sure it's all present and correct for the new year of gaming!.

If you type in more than one language, or you're not using the correct proofing settings, this guide can help you set the correct languages in Office apps.

Apps you use in Office (such as Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote) include a proofing feature to edit spelling errors and check grammar to ensure that you can create email and documents as clearly and as effectively as possible. However, if you're not using the correct language for proofing, you won't be able to benefit from this feature.

Luckily, if you type in more than one language, or you're not using the correct proofing settings, in Office 365, Office 2019, Office 2016, and Office online, you can quickly set the appropriate languages to edit spelling and check grammar mistakes.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to set the proofing language in the suite of Office desktop and web apps.

• How to set proofing language in Office
• How to set proofing language in OneNote

How to set proofing language in Office

Setting the language or languages that Office will use to proof your content is easy, but the steps will be slightly different if you're using the desktop or web apps.

Setting proofing language in Office apps

To set the proofing languages for your Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote), use these steps:

1. Open an Office app. (For example, Microsoft Word.)

2. Create a blank document.

   (Quick Tip: You can save the extra steps to create a blank document using this tip to skip the start screen in Office.)

3. Click on File.

4. Click on Options.

5. Click on Language.

6. Under the Choose Editing Languages section, use the drop-down menu to select a new language for Office to use to check spelling and grammar.

7. Click the Add button.

   (Quick Tip: If you work with multiple languages, repeat steps No. 6 and 7 to enable proofing support for more languages.)

8. Select the newly added language and click the Set as Default button. (This is optional.)
9. Click the OK button.
10. Click the OK button again.

Once you complete these steps, restart the Office application for the changes to take effect.

While configuring some of the features in Office requires that you apply the settings to each app individually, you only need to set the proofing settings in one of the apps, and then the changes will apply automatically to all the other apps (such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote (legacy)).

Setting proofing language in Office online

To set the proofing languages for the online version of Office, use these steps:

1. Open the Microsoft Word app on your web browser.

   (Important: When using the version of Office online, you can only manage the spelling language settings in Microsoft Word.)

2. Click the Review tab.

3. Click the Spelling & Grammar (arrow) button and select the Set Proofing Language option.

4. Select the new language that you want to use for proofing.

5. Click the OK button.

After you complete the steps, Word online will be able to check your spelling using the languages that you specified.

How to set proofing language in OneNote

Although OneNote is part of the suite of Office apps, changing the proofing settings is a little different whether you use the app for Windows 10 or the online version of OneNote. (Important: If you're still using OneNote 2016, use the above steps to change the settings.)

Setting proofing language in OneNote app

To set the language to check spelling in the modern version of OneNote, use these steps:

1. Open the OneNote app for Windows 10.
2. Select a misspelled word.

3. Right-click the selection and click the Set Language option.

4. Click the See all option.

5. On the right side, select the language that you want to use.

Once you've completed these steps, OneNote will detect the language as you type and proof the text depending on languages that you specified.

Adding a new language on Windows 10

OneNote depends on the languages installed on your device to check spelling. If your device doesn't have the required language installed, use these steps to install it:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Time & Language.
3. Click on Language.

4. Under the "Preferred languages" section, click the Add a language button.

5. Select a new language.

6. Click the Next button.

7. Select the additional features and settings that you want to use.

8. Click the Install button.

After completing the steps, OneNote will be able to proof content with the language settings you specified earlier.

Setting proofing language in OneNote online

To change the language for proofing using the online version of OneNote, use these steps:

1. Open OneNote on your web browser.
2. Click the Home Tab.

3. Click the ABC (arrow) button and select the Set Proofing Language option.

4. Select the new language that you want to use for spelling.

5. Click the OK button.

Once you completed the steps, the online version of OneNote will be able to check your spelling using the languages you specified.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

• Windows 10 on Windows Central – All you need to know
• Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks
• Windows 10 forums on Windows Central

Best answer: The best place to buy a Legion C730 pre-built gaming PC is from Lenovo. Take advantage of financing options, warranty and technical support, and choose from a couple of configurations with different GPU and storage options.

Lenovo: Legion C730 Cube ($1,300+)

What configurations does Lenovo offer?

Lenovo offers two different Legion C730 configurations that cater to NVIDIA and AMD fans. For about $1,300, you can grab a rig with 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8700 processor (CPU) with a boost clock speed up to 4.6 GHz, 16GB of DDR4-2666MHz RAM, a 1TB hard disk drive (HDD) coupled with a 128GB PCIe solid-state drive (SSD), and an AMD Radeon RX 570 graphics card (GPU) with 4 GB of GDDR5 VRAM. Compared to, say, an NVIDIA GTX 1050 Ti, the RX 570 is going to deliver substantially better gaming performance, but it doesn't quite match an NVIDIA GTX 1060, available in the other Legion C730 configuration.

Alongside the GTX 1060 GPU with 6GB of GDDR5 VRAM, the second configuration — which costs about $1,520 — has the same 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8700 CPU with a 4.6 GHz boost speed, 16 GB of DDR4-2666MHz RAM, and a 1TB HDD. Instead of being coupled with a 128GB SSD, you get a 256GB PCIe SSD for a bit of extra space. That extra $200 (often cut down with instant savings deals and e-coupons from Lenovo) should be worth it if you plan on getting the best performance possible from your pre-built rig, as the GTX 1060 beats out the RX 570 GPU.

Which GPU should you choose?

Considering how closely matched the PCs are save for the GPU — same case, same CPU, same RAM, and nearly identical storage other than the larger SSD — it might be tough to decide if you should save a couple hundred dollars and opt for the AMD RX 570 or spend the extra money and get the NVIDIA GTX 1060.

The RX 570 is powerful enough to deliver smooth 1080p gaming from most popular games without having to turn graphics way down. If you'd like to play CS:GO, Fortnite, Overwatch, and other esports titles, you shouldn't have a problem with AMD's GPU. The monitor you're using will likely have a bearing on your choice as well. If it's set up to handle AMD FreeSync — proprietary adaptive sync technology that reduces judder and screen tearing without causing a huge blow to performance — you'll no doubt get more mileage from the AMD RX 570 GPU.

The Legion C730 maxes out at an NVIDIA GTX 1060 GPU with 6GB of GDDR5 VRAM, making it the go-to option for those who want the best performance possible. You can expect higher framerates and an overall smoother experience, even getting into AAA titles — like Battlefield V — that put a heavy load on the GPU. Like AMD's FreeSync monitor technology, NVIDIA has its own proprietary tech called G-Sync that cuts down on screen tearing and stuttering without a big blow to performance. If your monitor is set up for G-Sync, the GTX 1060 will likely make more sense. Don't forget you're also getting a 256 GB PCIe SSD in the deal, which doubles your speedy storage on top of the 1TB HDD.

What about financing and warranty?

Pre-built gaming PCs, even those with a budget moniker attached, cost a sizeable chunk of money. Dropping more than $1,000 at a time isn't exactly feasible for everyone, but Lenovo has a couple of financing options through Klarna and Zibby that make it much easier for you to start gaming without having to spend a lump sum.

As for the warranty, all Legion C730 configurations come standard with a one-year depot warranty that covers phone support, free parts, and labor but does not cover drops, spills, or electrical surge damage. Two-year and three-year onsite warranties are available for $40 and $64 more respectively, which grants you a visit from a technician if an issue can't be solved over the phone.

Finally, Lenovo's PremiumCare can be had for up to three years (about $80 more than the basic warranty), which provides tech support for any software or hardware issues. Onsite support is included, and each year your PC will be checked over to ensure it's running properly.

Grab some accessories at checkout

All Legion C730 Cube models come with a basic keyboard and mouse, but they're cut out for a life of productivity rather than gaming. Be sure to check out the accessories that Lenovo has to offer during the checkout process, as a gaming keyboard and gaming mouse will go a long way to complementing your new rig.

Pre-built PC

Lenovo Legion C730

$1,300+ at Lenovo

Square case with gaming performance

Get up to an 8th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA GTX 1060 or AMD RX 570 GPU for great mid-range gaming performance. Lenovo offers a couple of configurations, as well as warranty, financing, and tech support.

In this guide, we explain how you can use IFTTT to control Nanoleaf and other types of smart lights, using Cortana or Alexa voice commands, either via a PC or a connected smart speaker like the Harman Kardon Invoke or Amazon Echo.

Products used in this guide

• Amazon: Harman Kardon Invoke ($64)
• Amazon: Nanoleaf Light Panels ($210)
• Amazon: Amazon Echo (From $50)

How to connect your Nanoleaf panels to Cortana or Alexa through IFTTT

1. First, make an account on IFTTT. (This service allows you to set up custom interactions between a wide array of services.)
2. Sign in to your Microsoft account and your Nanoleaf account.
3. Go back to IFTTT, and select My Applets at the top.

4. Click on New Applet. (It should open a new "If This Then That" template as seen below.)

5. Click This to set up the trigger.

6. Search for Cortana of Amazon Echo speakers. (Simply select the "This" trigger you want to use.)

7. Next, you must choose a trigger, so select Say a specific phrase.

8. IFTTT will ask you to type phrases to use when talking to Cortana or Alexa to activate your light panels, as well as Cortana's response.

9. When you're happy, click Create Trigger.
10. Select That to set up the action on the template screen.

11. Search for Nanoleaf.

12. Next, you have an array of options. For this guide, I'm selecting Change Nanoleaf Light Panels or Canvas color, to have Cortana start a specific Nanoleaf Light Panel color configuration.

13. Select the Nanoleaf panels you want to use and connect to your account. As well as any other information required of IFTTT.

    (Note: If you don't see your Nanoleaf panels inside IFTTT, you may need to enable the "Cloud Sync" setting via the Nanoleaf Android or iOS app.)

14. Hit Next.

15. On the next screen, select Finish to complete the creation of your applet.

16. Wait five to ten minutes for IFTTT to sync up with your services, then give it a try.

Our top equipment picks

Cortana voice controls

Harman Kardon Invoke

$64 at Amazon

The best (and well, only) Cortana speaker.

We recommend the Harman Kardon Invoke for controlling smart devices via IFTTT and Cortana. While Cortana's ecosystem is nowhere near as rich as Amazon's at a native level, IFTTT can do the heavy lifting if you don't fancy an Amazon-connected device listening in your home.

Light it up

Nanoleaf Light Panels

$210 at Amazon

Nanoleaf makes home-automation fun (and colorful).

The Nanoleaf Light Panels starter kit is a great way to begin your home automation journey. Complete with nine panels, the starter kit can bring literally millions of color tones to your office or living space, and you can fully integrate it with Cortana or Amazon Echo.

Additional Equipment

Prepared for the Anthem Demos? These are the dates and times you need to know.

Electronic Arts is preparing to launch pre-release demos for Anthem, its upcoming shared-world role-playing game, headed to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. While the all-new franchise isn't set to launch until February 22, 2019, two planned preview sessions are your chance for early access.

The Anthem demo splits into two separate periods, from a limited-access "VIP Demo" to a wider "Open Demo." The former is limited to those who preorder Anthem, subscribe to EA Access on Xbox One, or use Origin Access on PC. Alternatively, the Open Demo is accessible for all.

Related: How to play Anthem early demos

However, both Anthem demos are tied to tight three-day schedules. We've wrapped up all the times and dates you need to know, via EA.

Anthem VIP Demo dates and times

Anthem's VIP Demo commences on January 25, before concluding on January 27.

• Start – January 25 (11:01 AM EST / 8:01 AM PST / 4:01 PM UTC)
• End – January 27 (10 PM EST / 7 PM PST / 3 AM UTC)

Anthem Open Demo dates and times

The Open Demo is scheduled for February 1, before wrapping up on February 3.

• Start – February 1 (11:01 AM EST / 8:01 AM PST / 4:01 PM UTC)
• End – February 3 (10 PM EST / 7 PM PST / 3 AM UTC)

Be sure to check back for any potential tweaks to demo times or scheduled downtime.

See at Amazon

Formatting is an essential task before starting to use a new drive, and in this guide, we'll show you how to do it on Windows 10.

On Windows 10, whenever you get a new hard drive, it's important to format it before you start dumping files. The reason is that you want to ensure that the drive is working correctly, completely clean, and free of malware or malicious code that may harm your installation and personal files.

And it's not just a good practice for new drives, but for used hard drives too (especially those previously connected to a different OS), as using the proper formatting, you can avoid issues and compatibility problems.

Basically, when you format a hard drive, you're deleting all the data residing on the storage, and you start clean with a compatible file system (including NTFS, FAT32, or exFAT), which in this case Windows 10 understands to read and write data.

There are many methods available to format a hard drive, but using Disk Management could be considered one of the best options for most users.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to correctly format a traditional hard drive or Solid-State Drive (SSD), whether it already has a partition or it was never initialized.

• How to format existing partition using Disk Management
• How to create and format new partition using Disk Management

How to format existing partition using Disk Management

If you have a hard drive already configured with a partition, you can just format the existing partition to erase its content and start fresh with a clean drive.

To format a partition using Disk Management, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Disk Management and click the top result to open the experience.

3. Right-click the new hard drive and select the Format option.

4. In the "Value label" field, type a descriptive name for the drive.
5. Use the "File system" drop-down menu, and select NTFS (recommended for Windows 10).
6. Use the "Allocation unit size" drop-down menu, and select the Default option.

7. Check the Perform a quick format option.

   Quick Tip: While performing a quick format wipes the drive faster, it doesn't check if the drive is damaged. On the other hand, when clearing the option, a full format will be performed, which not only wipes the drive clean, but it'll also check for bad sectors. It's an option that could take several hours, but it's a good practice to make sure the hard drive is in working conditions.

8. Unless necessary, clear the Enable file and folder compression option.
9. Click the OK button.
10. Click the OK button again in the warning message.

Once you've completed the steps, the system will format the selected partition on the drive, and then you can start using it to store files.

How to create and format new partition using Disk Management

If you happen to have a hard drive that was never formatted, you'll need to initialize and create a new partition before you can format it.

Typically, you'll know when a hard drive doesn't have a partition, because it'll not appear in File Explorer, and on Disk Management, it'll appear as unallocated space.

To properly set up a blank hard drive, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Disk Management and click the top result to open the experience.

3. Right-click the hard drive marked as "Unknown" and "Not Initialized," and select Initialize Disk.

4. Check the disk to initialize.

5. Select the partition style:

   • Master Boot Record (MBR) for hard drives smaller than 2TB in size.
   • GUID Partition Table (GPT) for hard drives larger than 2TB in size.

6. Click the OK button.

7. Right-click the Unallocated space, and select the New Simply Value option.

8. Click the Next button.

9. Under the "Simple volume size in MB" section, leave the default size if you're planning to use the entire hard drive to store files. Otherwise, specify the amount of space in megabytes that you want to allocate for the partition.

10. Click the Next button.

11. Use the "Assign the following drive letter" drop-down menu to select a letter for the new hard drive.

12. Click the Next button.
13. Use the "File system" drop-down menu, and select NTFS (recommended for Windows 10).
14. Use the "Allocation unit size" drop-down menu, and select the Default option.
15. In the "Value label" field, type a descriptive name for the drive.

16. Check the Perform a quick format option.

    Quick Tip: If you prefer a full format, clear the quick format option. Just keep in mind that depending on the size of the drive, it can take hours to finish.

17. Unless necessary, clear the Enable file and folder compression option.
18. Click the Next button.
19. Click the Finish button.

After completing the steps, the new hard drive will be initialized, partitioned, and properly formatted.

If you're having trouble using Disk Management to format a hard drive, because of data corruption or other severe issues, you can use the DiskPart command-line tool to fix the problem.

While we're focusing this guide on Windows 10, the steps outlined above will also work on Windows 8.1 and Windows 7.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

• Windows 10 on Windows Central – All you need to know
• Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks
• Windows 10 forums on Windows Central

Microsoft has seen continued success with its game subscription service, Xbox Game Pass, serving a rotating library of games for a flat monthly fee. However, even with over 100 titles, Xbox Game Pass isn't for everyone. Whether you picked up the trial or plan to cancel your paid subscription, it's easy to back out.

Products used in this guide

• Microsoft: Xbox Game Pass ($10/mo)

How to disable auto-renew for Xbox Game Pass

Before canceling Xbox Game Pass, remember you'll lose access to all games via the service. Unless games have been purchased permanently, you'll need to renew your subscription to play them again.

These are the steps to cancel Xbox Game Pass from the web. While an option to cancel via the console was previously available, this has since been removed.

1. Navigate to account.microsoft.com/services.
2. Sign into your Microsoft account.

3. Navigate to the Xbox Game Pass subsection of the page.

4. Click Manage.
5. Choose Cancel.
6. Select Confirm cancellation.

Upon cancelation, your subscription will run until the current paid period concludes. If you choose to purchase an Xbox Game Pass subscription again, search for "Xbox Game Pass" on the Microsoft Store and complete the on-screen steps. With Xbox One automatic cloud saves, your game save data will also be recovered when re-joining the program.

How to save on Xbox Game Pass

If you choose to stay with Xbox Game Pass, there are storefronts to save on your subscription. Many third-parties offer regular discounts on redeemable codes, serving cuts on monthly and yearly subscriptions.

Save on games

Xbox Game Pass

$4 – $66 at CDKeys

Secure hefty savings on Xbox Game Pass.

CDKeys is a destination for cheap gaming codes, including Xbox Game Pass. Among its best deals is 44 percent off 12-month codes, priced at just $66.

Quick and easy

Xbox Game Pass

$10/mo at Microsoft

Straight from Xbox HQ.

Xbox Game Pass via the Microsoft Store is still simple and convenient. With the option of auto-renewal, paired with odd deals, you'll always have a full library in reach.