Quantcast
Channel: Help & How To
Viewing all 5861 articles
Browse latest View live

How to track your bike ride with the Microsoft Band

0
0

Microsoft Band

Riding a bike is a fun way to burn calories. I just bought a folding bicycle and have been using the Microsoft Band to track some stats like distance, speed, heart rate, and more. Curious to see what it's like to use the Microsoft Band while cycling? Watch our how-to video!

Track your ride

  1. On your Microsoft Band, press the power button.
  2. Swipe left, and tap the Bike Tile.
  3. Tap to turn Off GPS for using a stationary bike. Leave it On if biking over a distance.
  4. Press the action button to begin.

During your ride, you can see three things on the Microsoft Band. For example, you can see Calories, Heart Rate, and Duration. You can cycle through them by double pressing the action button. You can change what you want to see by using the Microsoft Health app on your phone. Don't need to see Calories during your ride? Replace it with Distance.

When you're done, press the action button on the Microsoft Band and tap End. You can see your stats on the Band like max speed, average speed, peak heart rate and average heart rate. You can see all this information plus more in the Microsoft Health app on your phone. The app displays additional data like a map of your ride, elevation, pace, and recovery time.

Microsoft Health

I really like using the Microsoft Band on my bike rides, but I wish I didn't have to double press the action button when cycling through the stats during the ride. A wrist flick would work better so that I don't have to take both of my hands off the handlebar.

Have you been using the Microsoft Band on your bike rides? How's your experience? Let us know in the comments!

Download Microsoft Health for Windows Phone (Free)

QR: Microsoft Health


How to set up Windows Hello facial recognition in Windows 10

0
0

Windows Hello

Windows Hello is a nifty new feature for Windows 10 and one aspect of it is facial recognition. This requires more than just the webcam on your PC or laptop, but a special array with Intel currently providing the hardware with its RealSense set ups.

With a RealSense camera, either built in or an external one like the Intel developer kit we have, you'll be able to set up Windows Hello to log you in to your computer without touching a button, verify your identity or even complete purchases in the Store.

It's very easy to set up, so here's how to do it.

As we've already stated, you need an Intel RealSense camera to make this work. The rest of this guide presumes that you have one and have it up and running. Without the necessary hardware you won't see the options to set up Windows Hello.

1) Open up "Settings" and click on "Accounts," then "Sign-in options."

2) You need to set up a PIN code before you're allowed to use Windows Hello. So hit the "Add" button under "PIN" to set that up. Once you've done that the options to set up Windows Hello will unlock.

Windows Hello

3) You'll now see which options are available to set up under Windows Hello, Since we're looking at facial unlock you'll see an option for "Face." Click on "Set Up."

Windows Hello

4) The next screen will give you a little background on what Windows Hello is. Click on "Get started"

5) The next step could happen incredibly quickly. Position yourself so your face is in the center of the frame that appears on screen. The camera will then do what it needs to do to register your face.

Windows Hello

6) Once you're set up you have an option that allows you to improve recognition. This is useful if you wear glasses, for example, as it'll allow you to be recorded with them on and without them on.

Windows Hello

7) Now, when you go back to Settings you'll have the option again to improve recognition, remove your face, a toggle to turn on unlocking your PC when it sees your face and an added security option that will require you to turn your head left and right for verification.

And that's all there is to it. After following these steps you'll be set up with face recognition on Windows Hello. So far we're pretty impressed with it and we can't wait until more people get to use it.

If you're interested in seeing how fast it is in action, check out the short clip below where Intel demonstrated it at Computex.

Here's how to get the Intel RealSense camera to wake from Sleep for Windows Hello

0
0

Intel F200 RealSense camera

With the latest builds of Windows 10 for PCs, users have finally been able to use the Intel / Creative F200 RealSense developer camera for Windows Hello. The $99 gizmo packs three cameras including one for 3D, infrared and RGB letting users unlock their home computers with just a glance.

Since our post went up last week many of us have ordered – and now received – our RealSense cameras. Once you download the Intel RealSense Depth Camera Manager (DCM), you can have Windows Hello up and running in just minutes. For many of us, Windows Hello is working exceptionally well with less than a second recognition times.

There is one quirk many of us have experienced, though: the RealSense camera does not power back on when a PC comes out of sleep. That leaves just the initial boot and manually locking (Win + L) as options.

Obviously this is a bug in the current drivers for the F200 camera as Windows Hello is meant to work every time regardless of the method by which the computer powers back on. I assumed that the when the computer went to sleep the power cutting off to the USB port also put the camera to sleep and indeed, this is the case. Luckily there is an easy fix.

Fix to keep RealSense Camera enabled after Sleep Mode

  1. Go to Device Manager (Type 'Device Manager' into Cortana or right click on the Windows key)
  2. Scroll down to Universal Serial Bus Controllers
  3. Pick appropriate 'Generic USB Hub'
  4. Select the Power Management tab to the right
  5. Uncheck 'Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power'
  6. Hit Ok

Now, whenever the computer goes into sleep mode, the RealSense camera will wake up too when on the login screen. The camera does not stay on as evidenced by the green power light being off during sleep. Instead, this trick just allows the camera to wake quickly up from an off state.

One issue you may have is in regards to which port your camera is on when choosing it under the Device Manager. If you want to conserve power, you will need to try one by one until you get the desired result. The lazy way would be just to enable all the USB ports to not power down when in Sleep mode.

For now, I can say that my Dell XPS 27 now turns the camera on when the display turns back on making Windows Hello an instant login choice, as it should.

I suspect Intel or Microsoft will deliver some updates soon to fix this somewhat trivial issue. However, for now, if you are a lucky owner of the F200 you can now have it work the way you need it to 100% of the time.

For more information on the Intel F200 developer camera, head to Intel's F200 site for details and ordering information. Remember, you do need a 4th generation Intel processor (or later) to use the camera and at least Windows 10 build 10240.

How to import iTunes playlists to Groove music on Windows 10

0
0

Groove Music

If you're making the upgrade to Windows 10 there's a good chance you'll find yourself using the Groove music app. It's much improved from its predecessor, Xbox Music, on Windows 8.1 and one nifty feature is bringing your stuff from iTunes with minimal fuss.

Microsoft has made it really easy to bring your playlists from iTunes into the new app.

Here's what you need to do:

1) Slide out the hamburger menu from the left of the screen

2) Click on the cog towards the bottom to open "Settings"

3) Under "Music on this PC" you'll see an option to "import iTunes playlists"

4) Click on this, then hit "Import" in the box that pops up

Groove Music

That's all you need to do. From here the Groove music app will do its thing and once complete your iTunes playlists will be available. Since creating a playlist in iTunes actually requires the music to be on your PC, Groove will have no issues locating and playing your tunes.

For more Windows 10 tips be sure to drop by our dedicated help page!

How to import your entire iTunes library to the Groove music app on Windows 10

0
0

Groove music and iTunes

Microsoft made it really easy to import all your iTunes playlists to the Groove music app on Windows 10, but what about the rest of your library? While there's no 'one-click' solution, it's still very straight forward to get all of your iTunes music into Groove.

You just have to know where to look.

It only takes a few steps. Here's what you need to do.

1) Open up the Groove music app on your Windows 10 machine. Click on the cog icon to open "Settings."

2) Under "Music on this PC" click on the option for "Choose where we look for music."

3) You'll see all the currently watched locations in the box that pops up. You need to click on the "+" button.

4) Navigate to This PC > Music > iTunes > iTunes Media > and highlight the "Music" folder.

5) With that folder highlighted click the "Add this folder to music" button.

Groove Music

With that all your offline iTunes music will now appear in your library in Groove. If you don't see it at first make sure you haven't filtered out to only see music from your Groove Pass subscription. To check this, under Albums look for the "Filter" label and ensure it says "All." If not, click on it and select this option. You'll now see everything available to you in Groove, both streaming and local music.

This option also allows you to keep using the iTunes Store to buy music on your PC if you wish and not have to worry about importing it to play in Groove. As more music is added to your iTunes music folder, Groove will keep importing it.

For more Windows 10 tips be sure to visit our dedicated help page

How to manage Microsoft and user accounts in Windows 10

0
0

Like its predecessor, Microsoft's Windows 10 is an operating system highly powered by the cloud. Now more than ever, if you don't have an internet connection (unless you're doing something specific), there is not a lot of work you can get done.

In Windows 8, along with local accounts, Microsoft also introduced the ability for users to create profiles using a Microsoft Account. For those who still need some clarification, if you own an Outlook, Hotmail, Live, or MSN email address, you already have a Microsoft Account.

Unlike a local account, which everyone have been using for a very long time, with a Microsoft Account you can sync your settings across desktops, laptops, and phones. Settings include the current theme you're using, web browser settings, passwords, language preferences, and general Windows settings.

If you're reinstalling Windows 10 or you are getting a new computer, signing in with your Microsoft Account lets you sync many settings in as snap. However, Microsoft recently said that Windows Store apps and Start menu layouts won't roam between devices. If you're also using OneDrive, all of your files will be immediately available. Finally, if you're planning to run Windows apps from the Store, a Microsoft Account is a requirement.

On the other hand, a local account, which is very much alive in Windows 10, will only get you access to the desktop. You can install and use traditional Win32 desktop applications, such as Chrome, Adobe Photoshop, and other apps that didn't originate from the Store, and settings will stay safely stored on one computer.

Your account

Now that you know the basics between a Microsoft Account and a local account let's talk about problems. If you see that you can't use certain apps, or you can't access the Store, or download new builds of Windows 10 as a Windows Insider the first thing you want to do is to check that you are correctly signed in with a Microsoft Account. To do this, open the Settings app, click Accounts, and navigate to Your account.

If you read Local Account under your username, you guessed it! You're using a local account, in this case to switch, click the Sign in with a Microsoft account instead link. On the "Make it yours" dialog box, enter your credentials, and click Sign in. You may also be prompted to re-enter your password, and then simply click Next.

You're also likely to get prompted to create a PIN, which Microsoft says is safer than long passwords, but you can skip this step for now.

Additional options available in your account profile are: the ability to change your photo by using an image you already have on your computer or you can also use your webcam to take a new picture profile. You can also add other accounts you use in this section too.

Sign-in options

Like in Windows 8, another aspect you can configure in Windows 10 is the authentication method. From the Sign-in options settings page, you can change your current password, set up a PIN password and Windows Hello, and you can also set a picture password.

Changing your current password is straightforward, under Password, click Change, a dialog box will open where you'll need to enter your old and the new password.

Setting a PIN is a similar procedure. Under PIN, click Add, and a dialog box will pop up. You'll need to re-enter your current password, and then enter your numeric PIN twice, and finally click OK.

Remember that the PIN feature works locally. You can't remote into your computer and use a PIN to sign-in. This restriction is one of the reasons a PIN is more secure than a traditional password. If someone were to steal your PIN, the person would have to have physical access to the machine.

In Windows 10, Microsoft is introducing a new security feature called Windows Hello, which uses either facial recognition or fingerprint reader to sign users into their accounts without the use of a password. However, the key feature is the facial recognition capability. Using new infrared and 3D cameras, Windows Hello can recognize your face and get you into Windows 10 in a split second.

Because traditional webcams don't support Windows Hello, you'll need a computer that features one of Intel's new RealSense 3D cameras. At launch, only a few machines will come with the facial recognition camera. However, if you're not upgrading your computer this year, you can buy the RealSense developer camera for $99 from Intel.

If you want to know more about how you can setup Windows Hello on Windows 10, make sure to read Richard's guide here.

Finally, you can also create a picture password. You'll need to setup a picture where you will have to create a pattern that you can use as a password.

To set up a picture password, click Add, reenter your main password, from the left pane click Choose picture. Once you select an image, click Use this picture, draw three gestures on the image including circles, straight lines, and taps, or a combination of the three. Then, simply click Finish to complete.

From the "Sign-in options", under Require sign-in, you can always change whether to require a password after you've been away from your computer.

Work access

The Work access section is enterprise and education related functionality that allows your Windows 10 computer gain access shared resources, such as network, apps, and email from your work or school. Typically, your network administrator will provide with the information you need to connect.

Family & other users

Here is where the fun begins. Family & other users is the place to go in Settings to add, remove, and manage new accounts to your computer.

Under the Your family section, you can allow other people you trust to use your computer with their accounts, settings, and apps.

You can add two types of accounts: "Adult" and "Child", and both types of accounts offer different features.

Adult: The Adult account is what you'll be using most of the time if you don't have kids running around the house. This account has two different types; you can set an Adult account as an "Administrator" or "Standard user"– just like you were able in Windows 8 and Windows 7.

When you create a new account, by default it will be created as a Standard user. This setting will give the user the freedom to do almost anything on the computer similar to an administrator account. The big difference that they can't change security settings, install software without permission, or anything that would affect other users. (This is the recommended user account type to let other people use your computer.)

The administrator account type is self-explanatory, it's the account that allows you to take control of the computer fully.

Child: Microsoft is also including the Child account type, which you can use to keep kids safe online when using your computer. When you create a new account for your kids, they will be able to personalize their desktop, run applications, and surf the internet. Also, you can configure activity reporting, web browsing permissions, apps and games restrictions, and screen time.

And of course, like a Standard user type, the Child account can't modify security settings or install software without permission.

Perhaps where managing multiple users accounts in Windows gets more interesting is when using your Microsoft Account dashboard online.

Signing into account.microsoft.com/family, you'll be able to see and manage all the accounts configured on your computers, tablets, and phones. While you can only add or remove Adult accounts through the dashboard, you can control many features on a Child account.

For example, you can set activity reports, which will include online searches, visited websites, recently used apps and games, and the amount of time a person has spent on the computer.

Web browsing filtering is a great feature to keep kids safe online. From your dashboard, you can block inappropriate websites, and you can even create a list of allowed or blocked sites. This setting is extremely useful for parents who want more control on which websites they want their kids to browse. However, the best feature is that web filtering not only works with Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer but also with any other web browser including Chrome and Firefox. So the web content filtering is configured at the operating system level and not at the browser level, which is great for savvy kids that might want to find a way around the filter.

If the kid attempts to access a website that isn't allowed, a custom web page will appear, letting them know they aren't allow to access. There is 'Ask for permission' button to request access from an adult account.

Apps & games offers the ability to block inappropriate apps and games kids can run on a computer, and settings will apply for Windows 10, Windows 10 Mobile, and even Windows Phone 8.x. Also, you can limit apps and games kids can access from the Windows Store by setting the appropriate age rating.

Screen time allows you to set limits to the time a kid can be using your computer. You can set schedule for every day of the week, you can also control when they can sign in and for how long. If they didn't do their homework, you could even block access for the entire day or week.

Keep in mind that every account has its own Microsoft Account dashboard. While a Child account can only see which other members of the family have access to the computer, any Adult account can control a Child and other Adult accounts.

Adding multiple accounts to Windows 10

Although, many families will opt for one computer per family member, there still a lot of people who share their computers. As such, if you need additional accounts in Windows 10, here's one way you can do this:

1- Open the Settings app, go to Accounts, and navigate to the Family & other users.

2- Click the Add a family member, then a dialog box will popup, choose the type of account you want to create, enter their email address, click Next, Confirm, and finally Close.

Note: If the person you're trying to add doesn't have a Microsoft email address (e.g., Outlook), you could create a new account by clicking "The person I want to add doesn't have an email address". You'll notice that the invite to join the "family" will never arrive in the new inbox. It will be better if you simply create a new Microsoft Account online and then try to create a new account.

3- Now the new account has been added to your computer, but before the new user can sign-in, they have to check their inbox to accept the invite. Once the accepted the invite, the "Pending" tag will drop from the account, and the user will be able to sign-in.

At any time, you can select a user, and click Change account type. You can also temporarily hit the Block button to restrict a user from using your computer.

If you want to manage further or remove accounts, you can click the Manage family settings online under the user accounts on Settings in your web browser and access your Microsoft Account dashboard.

Interestingly enough, if your account gets removed from the computer, you'll get an email that reads "You've been removed from your family". Just know that Microsoft is only referring to the family account.

For those who still on a local account type, the only issue is that you can't add multiple accounts to your computer if you're not using a Microsoft Account. This limitation should not be a big deal, but it's something you need to keep in mind.

Other users is another type of account meant for people that aren't part of the family and they only are going to use your computer temporarily. Essentially, creating a new user account through "Other users" will create an account with the Standard user benefits. It won't be added to your Microsoft Account dashboard. Also, the new user doesn't need confirm an email invite to sign-in, and to remove an account, you simply need to select the user and click Remove.

There is also a Set up assigned access section that allows to restrict an account only to run one Windows Store app. This feature is very useful to lock down your system to a single application. For example, if you're having a party with a lot of people, you could create a temporary account to only access Groove. Anyone at the party can play around with the app and mix songs, but with the security that no one will be accessing other apps, documents, or posting Facebook status on your behalf.

Sync your settings

Finally, if you use a Microsoft Account, you can also sync your PC settings across devices. From this section, you can enable or disable sync entirely, or you can choose individual sync settings. Settings that can roam between devices include: theme, web browsing settings, passwords, language preferences, ease of access, and various other Window settings.

Wrapping things up

Managing users on Windows 10 remains very similar to what we have seen in Windows 8 (and from Windows 7 in some aspects), but Microsoft has rearranged and simplified how multiple accounts work in Windows 10. Additionally, the company has been including various improvements in the Microsoft Account dashboard, which is a feature underutilized by many users. This usage might change in the future, as Windows 10 becomes more cloud dependent.

Do you share your computer with family and friends? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

How to change Microsoft Edge's default search engine in Windows 10

0
0

Surface 3 Google

The default search engine on Microsoft Edge that comes with Windows 10 is Bing. Whenever you type a search term in the address bar, it automatically does a query on Bing. Want to use a different search engine instead? We'll show you how. Watch our quick how-to video.

In this example, we'll change the default search engine to Google.

  1. Go to the google.com.
  2. Tap the three dots on the top right corner and select > Settings> View advanced settings.
  3. In the list under Search in the address bar with, choose Add new.
  4. Select Google and then Addas default.

That's it! Now, whenever you type a search term in the address bar, the results will come from Google instead of Bing. You can add other search engines as well, but Microsoft says only search providers that support the OpenSearch standard will appear in the list.

Are you keeping Bing as your default search engine, or will you be changing it to something else? Let us know in the comments!

How to use Web Notes on Microsoft Edge for Windows 10

0
0

Web Notes

My favorite feature on the new Microsoft Edge browser for Windows 10 is the ability to scribble, highlight, and add notes to web pages. Microsoft calls this feature Web Notes. It's really simple, but you can watch our quick how-to video to see how it works.

  1. Tap or click Make a web note at the top right corner to start adding to the page you're on.
  2. The Web Note menu shows up on top, replacing the address bar
  3. Use the pen, highlighter, and caption box to add notes to the page. Use the eraser if you've made any mistakes.
  4. Tap the arrow button when you want to scroll up or down the page.
  5. That's it!

You can save the note to Microsoft OneNote, your favorites, or your reading list. You can also use the Share button to share your marked up note via email, Twitter or other apps.

By default, it saves or shares the whole page. You might not want to do this on very long pages. Use the crop button to select the section you want.

Was this guide helpful? There are plenty more at our Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks page!


How to upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 10

0
0

The Windows 10 release is fast approaching, and it's time to start thinking about the upgrade. Have a Windows 7 machine and thinking about upgrading to Windows 10? Even though this could be a relatively easy task for many users, it may not be as easy for everyone else. There are few things you want to keep in mind. As such today, we're going to go through the basics to try to minimize any friction that may appear upgrading to Windows 10 from Windows 7.

Now that Microsoft has ended the support for Windows XP, Windows 7 has jumped in the list as the most popular operating system in use today. However, the software maker hopes that Windows 10 will make a huge difference, not only because the next version packs a bunch of new features, such as a new Start menu, Cortana, universal apps, the new Microsoft Edge web browser, and much more, but because it'll be a free upgrade. The company is expecting a faster adoption of Windows 10.

So, yes, as you probably already know, Windows 10 will be free for the first year after it's released on July 29. It will be free for those users running a genuine copy of Windows 7 and Windows 8. However, before you jump into the upgrade, there are some things you need to know.

For example, you'll be getting the operating system free of charge, but only if you're running Windows 7 with Service Pack 1.

You can check if you have Service Pack 1 by opening the Run command with the Windows + R keyboard shortcut, typing winver, and below the operating system name, it should read "Version 6.1 (Build 7601: Service Pack 1)".

If you don't have it, you will have to install the update via Windows Update, or by visiting this Microsoft support page. You can manually download the update. Make sure to download "windows6.1-KB976932-X64.exe" if you're running a 64-bit version or "windows6.1-KB976932-X86.exe" if you're running a 32-bit version of Windows 7.

Once you have the latest updates installed and made sure Windows Update is enabled, the "Get Windows 10" app should soon appear in the notification area with a Windows icon. At this point, if you don't see the app, your computer is probably not compatible with Windows 10. It's also possible that Windows Update isn't configured correctly.

In case you don't want to deal with Windows Update, you can download the update KB3035583, which will install the "Get Windows 10" app in your system. (You also want to make sure you have installed KB2952664)

After you install the app, click the Windows icon in the lower-right corner of the screen, and then click the Reserve your free upgrade button. Enter an email address to get a confirmation when the operating system is ready to install, click the Send confirmation, and you're good to go.

On July 29, Microsoft will begin rolling out its new operating system starting with machines that are part of the Windows Insider Program. The company will continue rolling out Windows 10 gradually to everyone else who reserved the copy using the "Get Windows 10" app and those who bought a new PC. Later on, everyone else will get the upgrade as well.

So, this means that as we have previously reported, Windows 10 won't be available for everyone at once on July 29. Making a reservation before it releases will ensure your PC will get the new operating system as soon as possible.

If you were able to make a reservation, it means that your computer or tablet is compatible with Windows 10, but it doesn't mean you won't encounter any issues at the time of the upgrade. You also have to make sure your apps, all your hardware, peripherals, and drivers are compatible as well.

Luckily, the Get Windows 10 app also includes a PC checkup tool that will list any problems with your computer, and various other information you need to know before the upgrade. To check your PC compatibility, open the Get Windows 10 app, click the hamburger button, and from the menu click Check your PC.

Once Windows 10 is available for your computer, you will get notified. Even though the installation should be straightforward, you should make a backup of all your personal files to an external storage and make a full backup of your system using the built-in System Image Backup tool. (You can use my previous guide to perform this task, but note that even though the guide was written for on Windows 10 and 8.1, the same instructions will work on Windows 7.)

Next, you want to disable or uninstall your antivirus and other security software, and you want to disconnect any peripherals other than your keyboard, mouse, and monitor. You may also want to uninstall any applications that you don't use or apps that have been listed by the "Get Windows 10" as problematic. Sometimes antivirus, peripherals, and certain software could be the cause of an unsuccessful installation.

You also want to make sure you have at least 10GB or more of free storage space available to perform the upgrade. Windows 10 requires at least 16GB of space to install the 32-bit or 20GB to install the 64-bit version.

Once Windows 10 is available to you (time that will vary from PC to PC), a notification on your desktop will appear. Just accept the Important Legal Stuff, and then the Windows setup wizard Your upgrade is ready to install will pop up. You can schedule a time to upgrade, or you can click Start the upgrade now to begin the process.

Now, sit, relax, and wait for the setup will take care of the rest. The upgrade process to go from Windows 7 to Windows 10 could take some time, so make sure to plan ahead and free up at least an hour of time for the upgrade process. (You may also want to do this on a weekend.)

After the installation process completes, you'll be presented with the out-of-the-box experience. Choose the settings you feel more comfortable using, and let the setup finish the process.

That's all! Now, you should be all upgraded to Windows 10. Enjoy!

Here are some additional information

  • Yes, your files and programs will be kept after the upgrade
  • You won't be prompted to enter a product key during the upgrade of Windows 7 or Windows 8 to Windows 10
  • Make sure to re-enable or re-install your antivirus software and other software you need
  • Make sure to go to the Settings app, Update & security, and check for new Windows and driver updates
  • Open the Windows Device Manager and make sure all the drivers are working correctly. If you don't see a yellow exclamation mark or anything on red, you should be fine.
  • If you're upgrading Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Home, or Windows 7 Home Premium, you'll be upgraded to Windows 10 Home. If you're upgrading Windows 7 Professional or Windows 7 Ultimate, you'll be upgraded to Windows 10 Pro
  • Windows 10 Home won't be able to opt out from automatic updates
  • Windows 10 Pro will be able to choose how to receive new Windows Updates
  • You'll need to switch to a Microsoft Account if you want to take advantage of installing Windows Store apps, Cortana, and various other features -- here is how

Wrapping things up

The upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 should be a very simple process. With the new operating system, Microsoft is working to deliver the upgrade with the best experience possible by rolling out the new bits in stages. It starts with savvy users and works its way down to make sure every upgrade is successful.

While this guide focuses on Windows 7 users, the upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 10 is almost identical, with the difference that you'll need to be updated to Windows 8.1 Update first before upgrading.

Windows 10 will launch on July 29, but it will take some time to reach everyone.

Are you upgrading to Windows 10 on July 29 or will you be waiting for a later date? Tell us what you'll be doing in the comments below.

How to use Snap Assist in Windows 10

0
0

Surface 3 Windows 10 Snap

Snapping in Windows 10 is a great way to use your screen real estate more efficiently. To snap a window, all you need to do is drag the title bar to the edge of the screen. Snap has been available in previous versions of Windows, but some improvements have been added. Watch our how-to video to see it action on a Surface 3 running Windows 10.

  • Drag the title bar to the top edge of the screen to maximize a window.
  • Drag the title bar to the left or right edge of the screen to snap the application to the right or left.
  • You can also snap apps to any of the four corners by dragging the title bar to those corners.

If you have any other open windows after snapping one window, you will see Snap Assist. This new feature on Windows 10 displays the other apps as thumbnails in the available space. Tap or click one of the thumbnails to snap it in that space.

Snap in Windows 10

While snapping is more obvious by using the touchscreen, mouse, or trackpad, it can also be done with keyboard shortcuts. Press and hold the Windows key and press any of the arrow keys to snap windows into place.

Snapping in Windows 10 is a great feature to know. It can help increase your productivity or use your screen space more efficiently. If you think this guide is helpful, we have more like this in our Windows 10 help, tips and tricks page.

How to get your Google Play Music library into Groove on Windows 10

0
0

Google Play Music

If you're using Windows 10 and want to have all of your music in one place, the Groove music app is a good place to be. We've covered how to get your music out of iTunes and into Groove, but what about if you're using Google Play Music?

Google has no desktop player for its music service but you can still get your music out of there and import it to Groove with relative ease. Whether it's music you uploaded to the cloud or bought from Google's store, we'll show you how to get it onto your Windows 10 PC and into your Groove library.

The first thing you need is the Google Music Manager application. If you uploaded your own music to Google's cloud before then you'll already have it. If you do need it though, grab it from the download link below.

Google Play Music Manager

With this installed you're going to need to actually download your library from Google. Depending on its size and your connection, you can probably go off and have a hot beverage or two while you're waiting. To download your library follow these steps:

  • Open Google Play Music Manager
  • Select the option to download your library
  • Select the location to download to. iTunes and your Music folder are the two stock options, for anywhere else select the third option.

Once you've downloaded your files the steps are just the same as importing any music files to Groove from your PC. All you need to do is tell the app where to find the music.

  • Open up Groove music on your PC.
  • Click on the cog icon to open "Settings."
  • Under "Music on this PC" click on "Choose where we look for music."
  • Click the "+" button and navigate to the folder you downloaded your library to.

With that all the music you have in Google's cloud will now be available offline, on your PC in the Groove music app.

If you want to go one step further and have your Google cloud music available to all your devices, but through Groove/Xbox Music, then just add it to your OneDrive account. We've got a step-by-step on what you need to do at the link below.

For more Windows 10 tips be sure to visit our dedicated help page

How to stream Xbox One games to Windows 10

0
0

Xbox One Stream to Windows 10

Want to play your Xbox One games outside of the living room? It's possible thanks to Windows 10 as long as you're in the same network as your Xbox One. It's really simple. Watch our quick how-to video to see how it works on our Surface Pro 3 running Windows 10.

  1. Enable game streaming on your Xbox One. Go to Settings> Preferences and check Allow game streaming to other devices.
  2. Launch the Xbox app on your Windows 10 PC and tap or click Connect on the left pane.
  3. Select your console from the list and tap or click Connect.
  4. Attach your Xbox One controller to your Windows 10 machine via a USB cable.
  5. Tap or click Stream.

That's it! We still prefer to play on bigger screens but it's nice to know that we have the option to play our Xbox games in the backyard without taking our console away from the living room.

While you're streaming, there's a toolbar on top with a few options. You can click the Xbox logo to go home, turn on or off the microphone, and stop the stream.

The hamburger button shows an overlay with network bandwidth statics that can be very useful to troubleshoot your stream. Perhaps the most interesting setting is found in the last button, which lets you to change the bandwidth speed of the stream.

Do you think Xbox One streaming is an awesome feature on Windows 10? Will you be using it frequently? Let us know in the comments! Need more Windows 10 guides like this one? Check out our Windows 10 help, tips and tricks page.

This article was originally published in June, 2015. It has been updated in July, 2015 with video.

Quick tip: Stop your OneDrive files appearing in the Photos app on Windows 10

0
0

Photos app

If you're firing up the Windows 10 Photos app for the first time you may be surprised to see any snaps you have stored in OneDrive showing up on your PC. For some folks this is great news, as it keeps all your photos in one place all of the time.

For other's it's an annoyance. So, if you want to make it go away and just have your local photos you don't have far to look.

  1. Open up "Settings" by clicking on the cog icon
  2. Scroll down until you see "Sources"
  3. Ensure that "Show my photos and videos from OneDrive" is turned off.

That's all there is to it. Now you'll only see locally stored photographs in your Photos app from folders you designate.

For more Windows 10 tips be sure to drop by our dedicated help page here

How to prepare your PC for the Windows 10 upgrade

0
0

On July 29, Microsoft's goal of having Windows 10 running on a billion devices in the next three years begins.

It's been a long ride, but at the end of July, millions of users around the world will finally get their hands on Windows 10. In this new release, Microsoft is going back to the drawing board to make Windows better. The company is doing this by bringing back many of the familiarities of Windows 7 with a mix of Windows 8.1 functionality, brand new features, such as Cortana, Settings, and universal Windows apps, and changing the way people upgrade to the next operating system. So far things are looking very good.

Below you will find everything you need to know to prepare your computer to upgrade to Windows 10. From making sure all your system's components are compatible with the new operating system, to preparing a recovery plan, to making the necessary changes to prevent possible hiccups during the process.

Making sure Windows 10 is compatible with your PC

One of the efforts to put Windows 10 on a billion devices is by making the operating system free for the first year after the release, for everyone running a genuine version of Windows 7 Service Pack 1 and Windows 8.1 Update. Recently an important update (KB3035583) has rolled out adding the "Get Windows 10" app on qualifying PCs to allow users to reserve their free copy of Windows 10.

However, the app offers more than just a way to reserve a copy of the operating system; it also includes a tool to check your PC to see if it's compatible with Windows 10. While almost every computer running Windows 7 or Windows 8 will be compatible, the app is very handy to detect if certain applications or hardware currently installed on your computer will work after the upgrade.

If you already see the Start button icon in the notification area (bottom-right corner), click it to launch the "Get Windows 10" app. From the top-left, click the hamburger button, and then from the menu, click Check your PC. If everything is good, you'll see a green message saying "This PC meets the system requirements", and you can now safely click the Reserve button to complete the reservation.

If there is an issue, you will see it listed under Devices and Apps. For more information about the what the report covers, check this support page from Microsoft.

While most hardware and software should work without a problem, typical compatibility issues could include wireless and Bluetooth adapters, outdated drivers, and very old applications.

If you find something that isn't compatible, it doesn't necessarily mean that you cannot install Windows 10. But, you should halt the reservation, go to your PC manufacturer's support website and see if there are any updates or drivers available for that particular product.

Even though Windows can detect and install most device drivers, it's a good idea to always update to the latest and just to have them handy in case you need to reinstall any of them after the upgrade. (Trust me, you don't want a network adapter problem after the upgrade and without a network connection to find a solution.)

Here is a list of the most common PC manufacturer websites support to download drivers and software:

In the case you're dealing with an old application, see if there is an update available or decide if it's time to upgrade. If the app ends up being not compatible, but you want to use Windows 10, you can also opt to create a virtual machine running Windows 7 (keep in mind that a license may be required) to run the app. To do this, you can use free tools such as VirtualBox or Microsoft's Hyper-V (available on Windows 10 Pro).

You can always find more detailed information about Windows 10 compatibility for a particular application or hardware at the Windows Compatibility Center, but remember that the database is currently small, so results are limited.

There could be the case where you'll see the notification that you won't be able to restore factory settings. If you get this message, it means that the manufacturer has set up your PC to run from a compressed Windows image and included an option to restore factory settings. After the upgrade, you will not be able to restore to the original factory settings, but there will be other recovery options.

If you don't see the "Get Windows 10" app, chances are that one of following cases is true:

  • Your PC doesn't have installed update KB3035583
  • Your PC is having an issue with update KB3035583. Try uninstalling and reinstalling the update again.
  • Your PC is not running Windows 7 Service Pack 1 or Windows 8.1 Update
  • Your PC is not compatible with Windows 10
  • Your PC is not running a genuine version of Windows

Note: Microsoft will offer Windows 10 as a free upgrade, which means that you'll have to install the new version on top of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 in order to have a fully activated installation, but the company will also allow users to upgrade doing a clean install of the operating system. However, users will be forced to do the upgrade via Windows Update first, then being allowed to perform a clean install of Windows 10.

Now that you know your PC is ready, it's time to make sure you don't lose any settings, files, and you have a bulletproof recovery option.

The next step is to make a full backup of your system

I cannot stress this enough, but before even considering pressing the upgrade button, you have to understand that software could always fail and if something bad happens, you could lose many important files. To prevent such a nightmare, you need a recovery plan, but luckily, both Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 come with a System image backup tool.

The System image backup can be found in the Control Panel and it's a tool that will help you to create a bit-by-bit copy of your entire system's hard drive, including operating system, settings, programs, and files.

You can check out our previous guide on how to create a full backup. The instructions applies for Windows 7, Windows 8.x, and Windows 10.

Once you have the backup created, you can move to the next step.

Knowing your Windows product key

Another step I personally like to do before modifying an installation of Windows is to make sure I have the product key of my current install. The product key could come in handy if for some reason the installation gets corrupted and I have to start from scratch by installing the previous version of Windows again. Or sometimes it could even happen that the setup process could ask you for the product key during the upgrade, even though it shouldn't. Also, you'll need the product key if you are planning to perform a clean installation of Windows 10.

Now, chances are that you probably have the product key on the original box that came with a copy of the operating system, or it's printed out on a label attached to your computer, or you have this information sent to you via email after you purchased Windows. However, if you don't have this information, you'll have to resort to specific tools that can allow you to pull the product key from the current installation.

One of the tools that can help you with this task is KeyFinder. This is a tool that you can download for free to recover Windows and Office product keys. This product also offers a paid version to recover keys from thousands of other software products, but the free version is all you need.

Once you open the app, you can easily save all the information on a text file for later use. If you're using OneDrive, you can save it there and this file will then be accessible from your phone or a secondary computer.

Keep in mind the minimum requirements to install Windows 10

While most machines running Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 are likely to run Windows 10 flawlessly, Microsoft has a minimum spec requirement to install the new operating system:

  • Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processor or SoC
  • RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) for 32-bit or 2 GB for 64-bit
  • Hard disk space: 16 GB for 32-bit OS 20 GB for 64-bit OS
  • Graphics Card: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver
  • Display: 1024x600

Disabling unnecessary security software during the upgrade

While your computer should never be without security protection, sometimes antivirus, spyware, and other security software may be the common causes for an unsuccessful installation of an operating system. During the installation process try to disable any antivirus, firewall, and other security software you may have installed in your computer. Even better, many times it is recommended to uninstall this type of software and then reinstall again after the upgrade.

For example, to disable Microsoft's free antivirus, open Control Panel, click Windows Defender, then navigate to the Settings tab, uncheck the Turn on real-time protection (recommended), and click Save changes.

And to disable Windows Firewall, open Control Panel, click Windows Firewall, from the left pane click Turn Windows Firewall on or off, and turn off the firewall on "Private network settings" and "Public network settings".

In other cases, some programs that start in the background also be the cause of an unsuccessful installation. To prevent this, disable and/or uninstall any application that starts at boot during the upgrade process. In addition, before beginning with the installation process, close all running applications as this could also issues during the installation.

Making space for the upgrade

Although your computer is likely to have enough space to perform the upgrade, you're required to have at least 5GB free. If you don't have enough disk space available, you can make more space by moving files, such as Documents, Videos, Pictures, and Music, to an alternate location.

You can also uninstall programs that you don't need or rarely use. In addition, you can run the Windows Disk Cleanup tool to delete unnecessary files like Temporary Internet Files, Debug Dump Files, Recycle Bin, Temporary Files, System error memory dump files, old updates, and pretty much any else in the list.

The cleanup task is straightforward:

1- Open File Explorer and navigate to This PC

2- Right-click the Windows drive (typically the C:/ drive), and click on Properties

3- Then click the Disk Cleanup button and after you're shown the results, click the Clean up system files button

4- From the list check all files you want to delete, click OK, and Delete Files

If that isn't enough to free up disk space, the Windows 10 installation process allows you to connect an external drive that the setup can use for temporary storage, but again it has to have at least 5GB of free space. Then, after the upgrade process completes, you can disconnect the drive.

Disconnect unnecessary peripherals

Another factor that can prevent a successful installation are peripherals connected to the computer. These devices could interrupt the installation because Windows 10 is trying to install them, but they are either not compatible or the latest drivers are not available at the time of installation.

Before beginning with the upgrade process, disconnect all the peripherals that are not necessary, you'll probably be OK by having connected only a mouse, keyboard, and monitor.

Windows 10, Windows Insiders, and Windows 10 Preview

There has been some miscommunication between Microsoft and Windows Insiders, but now the information is clear how the upgrade process will work with insiders, so you can be prepare.

If you installed any of the Windows 10 Previews on a computer running Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 as an upgrade, you'll be able to upgrade to the final release of Windows 10 and the operating system will stay fully activated.

If you've performed a clean installation of Windows 10 Preview, you'll have to roll back to your previous version, before upgrading to the final version of Windows 10 and have the operating system fully activated.

If you have performed a clean installation using Windows 10 Preview and you don't have an eligible version of Windows to upgrade for free, you can upgrade to Windows 10 RTM, but it will be just another pre-release build. It will be activated with a pre-release product key and it will expire after a certain amount of time, so as long you signed in with your Microsoft Account, you can continue to get new builds. Basically, while you can use Windows 10 for free, the Windows Insider program is not a path to obtain a product key of the operating system.

For those still wondering, you can find out which version of Windows 10 you will get when you upgrade for free here.

Wrapping things up

While the upgrade process should be as easy as pressing a single upgrade button, you can see that there are a number of steps you have to make sure you follow to prepare your PC for a new operating system and minimize any issues.

Windows 10 is set to launch on July 29, 2015, and those who reserve a free copy will begin receiving the bits via Windows Update, so make sure to also check that Windows Update is enabled in Control Panel.

Finally, remember that you'll also need a Microsoft Account if you want to take full advantage of the new operating system and be able to install apps from the Windows Store.

How are you preparing for Windows 10? If you have extra tips, let us know in the comments below.

Happy Windows 10 upgrade!

How to set the default web browser in Windows 10

0
0

Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge is your new, default web browser for Windows 10, but that doesn't mean you have to use it. Web browsing is a personal experience and many of us are already attached to and invested in a particular browser.

So, while Edge may be the default out of the box, it's pretty simple to change it up for something else.

Here's how you do it.

  1. Open "Settings"
  2. Click or tap on "System"
  3. In the pane on the left look for "Default apps" towards the bottom. Click on it.
  4. Scroll down to the bottom of the list where you'll find an option for the web browser.
  5. Click on whatever the current default is.
  6. From the resulting dropdown box pick your new preference.

And that's all there is to it. If you ever want to go back to Edge just follow the same steps and choose it from the list. Now, whenever you click a web link your browser of choice will open.

For more Windows 10 tips be sure to visit our dedicated help page here


How to make a full backup of a Windows 10 or Windows 8.1 PC

0
0

There is no such as thing as too many backups. If you can make a backup of the backup, do it. Luckily, Windows makes it super easy to make an exact copy of your entire computer using the System Image Backup utility.

Never used it before? We'll explain what it does and how to use it.

What is image backup?

The image backup feature in Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 includes a bit-by-bit copy of the entire system. This backup contains the full installation of the operating system, settings, desktop programs, Windows apps, and all your personal files.

The major benefit of this feature is that it offers a complete restore solution in case of a critical software error or hardware failure.

The downside is that you cannot choose to restore individual files. It's meant to restore everything, bit-by-bit to the same (or replacement) hard drive. (Though, you can easily access the backup files and extract documents, photos, music, and other files, if you need to.)

In addition, if you don't backup regularly and a system failure occurs, you could lose valuable documents, settings and software because you can only restore the data since the last backup.

For these and various other reasons, Microsoft introduced two new reset features in Windows 8 -- and they are still available in Windows 10. Use these features in combination with File History to keep an up to date copy of all of your documents offered a more robust backup solution.

Despite some drawbacks, it's a solid backup solution.

I use the System Image Backup to make a base backup of my PC, which includes the installation of Windows, all the latest updates, special configurations, and programs. For file backup, I use File History and OneDrive. Performing a backup this way will avoid duplicate files and an always up to date copy of all my documents.

If everything is working correctly on my computer, I use the backup feature in Windows for all those situations where I have modified something on my system that could ruin the installation. For example, testing an upgrade version to Windows 10 Technical Preview. In these cases, I plug an external USB drive, fire up the utility, and I'm good to go in less than 20 minutes. Then if something goes wrong after messing around with the operating system, I can easily rollback to the previous state.

The following instructions are to perform an image backup in Windows 10, but these steps work perfectly in Windows 8.1 as well.

How to perform an image backup in Windows 8.1 or 10

1- Right-click the Start button and launch Control Panel.

2- Click File History.

3- While in File History, click the System Image Backup link in the bottom-left corner of the screen.

4- Connect an external USB hard drive with enough free space.

5- In the backup wizard, you'll be prompted to choose from one of the three options to save the backup. For this example, we are going select the hard drive you just connected. However, keep in mind that you can backup to DVD blanks and a network share, but these options will slow down the backup process.

6- Click Next.

7- Confirm and begin the process by clicking Start backup.

The backup could take anywhere from 10 minutes to 2 hours, it all depends on the amount of data to be backed up.

And yes, during the backup process, you can use your computer as you would normally do.

After the System Image Backup utility completes the task, remember to keep the hard drive in a safe place.

Although, a lot of tech savvy users are aware of how to perform a full backup in Windows, you'll be surprised how many people fail to know the basics. Often times I get asked questions such as: "I upgraded my system and now Windows won't boot, how can I rollback?". Or "My hard drive is ruined, is there any way to recover my data?", and most of the times a simple backup could have saved them a lot of troubles.

How often do you do a full backup of your computer? What software do you use? Let us know your backup experience in the comments below!

Update: To restore your computer from backup, connect the drive with the system image backup and reboot your computer with the Windows installation media. During the Windows Setup, click Next, then click the Repair your computer link in the bottom-left corner of the screen. Click on Troubleshoot, click Advanced options, and select System Image Recovery. Now select the target operating system you want to recover, click Next and Finish.

Windows 10 upgrade not showing up yet? Here's how to manually trigger an update

0
0

Windows 10

Microsoft has opened the floodgates for Windows 10, making the upgrade available in 190 countries around the globe. If you've already reserved the upgrade on Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1 and are yet to see the update, there's an easy fix that allows you to manually initiate the download process.

Before you begin, ensure Windows Update can download and install updates automatically. Not sure how to do that? Here's how:

Turn automatic updating on or off

  1. Open Windows Update by swiping in from the right edge of the screen (or, if you're using a mouse, pointing to the lower-right corner of the screen and moving the mouse pointer up), tapping or clicking Settings, tapping or clicking Change PC settings, and then tapping or clicking Update and recovery.
  2. Tap or click Choose how updates get installed.
  3. Under Important updates, choose the option that you want.
  4. Under Recommended updates, select the Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates check box.
  5. Under Microsoft Update, select the Give me updates for other Microsoft products when I update Windows check box, and then tap or click Apply.

Once automatic updates are enabled, launch Command Prompt in Administrator mode and enter the following command: wuauclt.exe/updatenow. That should trigger the Windows 10 download.

How to start a command prompt as an administrator

  1. Click Start, click All Programs, and then click Accessories.
  2. Right-click Command prompt, and then click Run as administrator.
  3. If the User Account Control dialog box appears, confirm that the action it displays is what you want, and then click Continue.

If you're having any issues, be sure to hit up Windows Central's forums. This discussion is dedicated to force updating.

While you're waiting for Windows 10 to download, check out our review!

While Windows 10 is downloading, check out our Editor in Chief's monumental 10,000-word review of the operating system:

Windows 10 review

Thanks Chung for the tip!

Can't reserve your free copy of Windows 10 due to the missing update icon on the taskbar? Try this

0
0

Many users around the world today are updating to Microsoft's Windows 10. Indeed, this video shows the installation rate and just how fast it is going.

Still, some users are having issues. We already posted how to force start the update if you have Windows 10 reserved but what about if you are still one of those who cannot reserve? The file was released back in April as KB3035583, but it is not working for everyone.

Turns out, the problem can be very complex. A Microsoft moderator already answered the question on their support forums, and we see many people in _our _forums looking for the same threads.

So here is what Microsoft is recommending if you have done all the OS updates for 7 or 8.1 and you still do not get the 'Reserve Windows 10' icon.

Fix to bring back Windows 10 Reservation System

If you don't see the Get Windows 10 app (the small Windows icon in your system tray), it might be because:

  • Your device isn't up-to-date with at least Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.1 Update
  • Windows Update is turned off or is not set to received updates automatically
  • You've blocked or uninstalled the necessary Windows Update functionality.
  • Your device is not running genuine Windows
  • Your device is running Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 8/8.1 Enterprise, or Windows RT/RT 8.1, which are excluded from this reservation offer.
  • Your device is managed as part of a school or business network. (Check with your IT administrator.)
  • PCs that we determine cannot run Windows 10 will not see the Get Windows 10 app before July 29th. After July 29th, we'll enable the icon in the system tray. This is to help ensure that you can easily check your PC's compatibility if you choose.

Running Windows Update and installing any available updates will fix the first 3 issues.

If you don't think any of these conditions apply to you, and you're still not seeing the icon, you can also try running the solution below, which will verify your device meets all the prerequisites and then turn on the Get Windows 10 app:

  1. Open Notepad
  2. Copy the following text and paste it into Notepad:
  3. REG QUERY "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\UpgradeExperienceIndicators" /v UpgEx | findstr UpgEx if "%errorlevel%" == "0" GOTO RunGWX reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Appraiser" /v UtcOnetimeSend /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f schtasks /run /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser" :CompatCheckRunning schtasks /query /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser" schtasks /query /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser" | findstr Ready if NOT "%errorlevel%" == "0" ping localhost >nul &goto :CompatCheckRunning :RunGWX schtasks /run /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Setup\gwx\refreshgwxconfig"

  4. Click File, and then Save As

  5. In the File name box, change the file name to ReserveWin10.cmd
  6. Then click the drop-down next to Save as type, and select All files (*.*)
  7. Select the folder you would like to save the file to. For this example, let's choose to save the file to the C:/Temp folder. Then click Save.
  8. Open an elevated command prompt. (From the Start screen or Start menu, type Command Prompt in the search box, and then in the list of results, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.)
  9. Finally, run the file from the location you saved to in Step 6. In this example, you would type the following in the Command Prompt window and hit Enter: C:/Temp/ReserveWin10.cmd

The Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser can take 10 – 30 minutes to run, during which the script will continuously provide status reports that it is running. Please be patient.

If the script is failing in an infinite loop, then you do not have the necessary prerequisite Windows Updates. Besides requiring Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.1 Update, you must also have installed:

For Windows 7 SP1:

  • KB3035583
  • KB2952664

For Windows 8.1 Update:

  • KB3035583
  • KB2976978

You can manually check if you have these updates within your elevated command prompt by typing the command:

dism /online /get-packages | findstr 3035583

(Replace the KB number with whichever update you are looking for.) If you have the update installed, this command will show the package identity. For example, Windows 8.1 users should see this:

**C:>dism /online /get-packages | findstr 3035583

Package Identity : Package_for_KB3035583~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.3.1.29**

Going beyond this method and if you are still having problems, there is an elaborate script file that you can run created by the community. That is another lengthy process, although it is fully explained over in Microsoft's support forums, including everything the script is actually doing.

Script Method

Instructions to run the tool:

  1. Go to https://www.dropbox.com/s/0u0au9xgy6ss18p/win10fix_full.zip?dl=0 and download the file.
  2. Copy the win10fix_full.bat file to anywhere else like the Desktop.
  3. Right click the file and click Run as administrator.
  4. Follow the screen instruction until to come to the main menu screen.
  5. On main menu screen do step 1 first and check if you go the updates installed and then press any key it will take you back to main menu.
  6. Now do step 2 which only takes like 1 second and should have the icon in the taskbar.

Please note this tool is not officially from Microsoft is not sanctioned by them but it has been reviewed by me, is not malicious and certainly makes it easier to get the process done.

Needless to say, that is a lot to take in. You can go to Microsoft's support forums to read more about that batch script in case you are concerned. You alternatively can use our forums where users are also discussing today's update and this issue.

ISO Time

An alternative method is to use the official Windows 10 ISO files although you will want to have your Windows 7 or 8 Product Key handy. Those were released late last night as we reported and you can find them here.

Finally, once you do get back the Windows 10 Reservation tool, you can read our handy guide on how to use it!

How to prepare your PC for the Windows 10 upgrade

While you're waiting for Windows 10 to download, check out our review!

While Windows 10 is downloading, check out our my monumental 10,000-word review of the operating system:

Windows 10 review

Source: Microsoft Support Forums

How to remove the Live Tiles section in Windows 10 Start

0
0

Windows 10 Start

We think the Live Tiles section in Start is an awesome feature for Windows 10, but it can be completely removed. It might not be obvious for some users, so we made a quick how-to video. See it in action on a Surface Pro 3 running Windows 10.

  1. First, you'll need to unpin every tile in Start. Right-click each tile and select Unpin from Start.
  2. Once all the tiles are gone, use a mouse or trackpad to drag the right edge of Start all the way to the left.

That's it! We tried resizing Start using the touchscreen, but it doesn't work. You'll need a mouse or trackpad.

If you change your mind and decide to have Live Tiles again, drag the right edge of Start towards the right. You can pin apps by dragging them to the empty area or by right-clicking and selecting Pin to Start.

Microsoft does not make this option easy. There is no toggle to turn the Tile section on or off. Will you be removing the Live Tiles area from Windows 10? Sound off below!

Need more Windows 10 guides like this one? Check out our Windows 10 help, tips and tricks page.

How to disable Cortana from the task bar in Windows 10

0
0

Cortana in Windows 10

One of the prominent new features in the task bar in Windows 10 is the Cortana search box to the right of the Start button. It's a really great tool to have close at hand, but, it does also use up quite a bit of real estate. So, it's understandable you might want to make it go away – especially if you can't use Cortana right now.

Fortunately, that's really simple.

The search box will be enabled by default when you fire up Windows 10 for the first time. To make it go away, follow these steps:

  1. Right click on the task bar.
  2. Select the "Search" option.
  3. You'll now see three new options for what to do. To make it go away altogether hit "Disabled."
  4. If you still want to keep it but want more space on the task bar, select "Show search icon" and the box will be replaced by a little magnifying glass icon.
  5. To make it all come back again follow the same steps but hit the option to enable the search box.

For more Windows 10 tips be sure to visit our dedicated help page here

Originally published January 2015, updated July 2015

Viewing all 5861 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images