Microsoft Outlook is jam-packed with useful keyboard shortcuts, but you don't need to remember them ALL. These 15 Outlook keyboard shortcuts are easy to remember and life changing (or just plain useful).

Microsoft sure does love keyboard shortcuts. (Check out our ultimate guide to Windows 10 shortcuts for soooo many more.) That's a good thing. People who don't want to use 'em don't have to. Anyone looking to elevate their Outlook game, however, should spend some time learning at least the basic keyboard shortcuts. These 15 Outlook for Windows shortcuts are a great place to start, whether you're an Outlook veteran, a new user or anywhere in between.

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• Ctrl + 1: Go to Mail view
• Ctrl + 2: Go to Calendar view
• Ctrl + 3: Go to Contacts view
• Ctrl + 4: Go to Tasks view
• Ctrl + 5: Go to Notes view
• Ctrl + Shift + M: Create a new message ("M" for "message")

• Ctrl + Shift + A: Create a new appointment ("A" for "appointment")

• Ctrl + Shift + C: Create a new contact ("C" for "contact")
• Ctrl + Shift + N: Create a new note ("N" for "note")
• Ctrl + [period key]: Move down to the next email in your inbox
• Ctrl + [comma key]: Move up to the previous message in your inbox

• Ctrl + E: Open the Search tab

  • Note: You can use this shortcut to search within different sections of Outlook. For example, you can navigate to your calendar and hit Ctrl + E: to search calendar entries, or use the shortcut while in your contacts to locate specific people.

• Ctrl + Shift + F: Open Advanced Find options (Advanced Find lets you search for text and specific phrases in messages, calendar entries, contact listing, notes, tasks and more)

• Ctrl + Shift + G: Add a flag to a message, and set future reminders as needed, using the custom flag settings box, while the message you want to flag is selected. You can then set custom start and due dates for flags, and assign alert reminders.

• Navigate to a new folder:

  1. Press Ctrl + Y.
  2. Press the Arrow Down or Arrow Up keys to move through the list of available folders.
  3. Press Enter to select the folder you want.

For more Microsoft Office shortcuts, check out:

• 13 easy-to-remember Microsoft Word keyboard shortcuts

And for more on Outlook, read:

• How to back up data in Outlook 2016 for Windows
• How to import a Microsoft Outlook backup file

Edge is all ready to go on your Windows 10 devices — here's how to get the most out of Microsoft's browser.

After two decades of Internet Explorer, it was time for a change. Microsoft's replacement on Windows 10 is Edge, a next-generation web browser built from the ground-up with new features and modern web support.

Edge was revealed to the public way back in early 2015. While it was lacking in features during its early days, it has come pretty far and is now a contender in the arena of major browsers. It comes built-in on Windows 10, Windows 10 Mobile, Xbox One, and Windows Holographic.

Why use Edge over other, more established browsers? Full Cortana integration makes browsing a snap, there is an ever-growing library of extensions, it has a useful set of tools — including caret browsing, annotations, reading view, and a reading list — to make browsing easier, and it has a relatively lightweight footprint.

This ultimate guide was designed to answer any questions you have about Microsoft Edge. Need a hand with some other aspects of Windows 10? Check out our collection of Windows 10 Help articles, or visit our forums where a community of Windows fanatics is waiting to offer advice.

See more Windows 10 Help articles

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You computer is suddenly slower than you remember. Here's how to use the Performance Monitor on Windows 10 to get to the bottom of the issue.

When your computer suddenly isn't fast as usual, or keeps freezing up, you're likely dealing with performance issues that could be caused by a number of reasons. It could be as a result of problems with the hardware, apps or drivers poorly designed, the operating system using excessive system resources, or even be a malware that infected your device.

Although Windows 10 includes a number of tools to troubleshoot performance issues, such as the "Performance" tab in Task Manager, you'll find that the Performance Monitor is the most complete tool you can use to view and analyze application and hardware data to fix system performance related problems. You can also customize what data to collect in log files, define alerts, generate reports, and replay collected performance data in many ways.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to use the Performance Monitor to analyze your computer's performance.

• How to open Performance Monitor
• How to use Performance Monitor
• How to use Data Collector Sets
• How to use Reports

How to open Performance Monitor

On Windows 10, you can use Performance Monitor to analyze data, such as processor, hard drive, memory, and network usage, but first, you must know how to open the tool. Here are three ways to open Performance Monitor:

• Open Start, do a search for Performance Monitor, and click the result.
• Use the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run command, type perfmon, and click OK to open.
• Use the Windows key + X keyboard shortcut to open the Power User menu, select Computer Management, and click on Performance.

How to use Performance Monitor

When you first open the tool, it'll open in the main page with a brief overview, as well as a system summary with real-time data about memory, network adapter, physical disk, and processor usage.

On the left, you'll find the navigation pane with access to Performance Monitor, Data Collector Sets, and Reports.

Switching to Performance Monitor, you'll see a screen with a single counter. This is typically the "Processor Time" counter, which displays the processor load in the last 100 seconds. However, the beauty of this tool is that you can add tons of other counters to monitor virtually anything on your computer.

Adding new counters

To add new counters to monitor applications and hardware performance on your computer, do the following:

1. Click the green plus button above the Performance Monitor graph.

2. Select Local computer or the name of your computer from the drop-down menu.
3. Select and expand the category of the item you want to monitor. For example, for the purpose of this guide, select the "Network Adapter" category.

4. Select the counters you want to monitor (e.g., Bytes Total/sec).

   Quick Tip: If you're trying to add multiple counters, press and hold the Ctrl key and click to select each item you want to add. Also, you can check the Show description option to get more information about the counter you're selecting.

5. If applicable, select the instances you want to monitor. For example, on Network Adapter, you can monitor one or multiple network adapters simultaneously.

6. Click the Add button.

7. Click OK to confirm and add the new counters.

Customizing Performance Monitor view

Once you have configured all the counters you want to monitor, you can also customize various aspects of the data shown in the graph.

To customize the Performance Monitor view, do the following:

1. Double-click one of the counters to open the Performance Monitor Properties window.
2. On the "Data" tab, select the counter you want to customize.
3. At the bottom, choose the color, scale, width, and style you want to use.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for each item you want to customize.

   Quick Tip: If you're trying to change the properties for multiple counters, press and hold the Ctrl key, select each item you want to customize, and change the available settings.

5. Click Apply.
6. Click OK.

In addition, you can also change the graph's style, simply click the "Change graph type" in the toolbar and select one of the available views, including Line, Histogram bar, and Report.

Performance Monitor Line view

Performance Monitor Histogram bar view

Performance Monitor Report view

Other options available in the toolbar include the ability to remove and highlight counter, and an option to freeze the display to analyze the current data on the screen.

If you look at the context menu, you'll also see the "Save Settings as" option, which comes in handy when you want to save the counters and configuration for later use. Interesting enough, once you save the settings as an HTM file, you won't be able to load the configuration with Performance Monitor.

However, you can open the file using Internet Explorer, which actually loads a fully functional instance of Performance Monitor in the web browser.

Alternatively, you can open the settings file with Notepad and copy its content. Then you can open Performance Monitor and click the Paste Counter List (Ctrl + V) button in the toolbar to load your saved settings. (This option may not work for everyone.)

Performance Monitor counters

Now that you have a basic understanding of what's Performance Monitor and how to set it up let's look at some common counters you can use to monitor your system.

Physical Disk

Includes the counters to monitor the physical performance of your computer's hard drive.

You can select counters, such as % Disk Time to monitor the time a drive is taking to complete read and write requests. If this counter stays in high numbers for a long time, it could be an indication that the hard drive is ready for replacement.

Adding other counters like Disk Bytes/sec, Disk Read Bytes/sec, Disk Read/sec, Disk Write Bytes/sec, and Disk Writes/sec can help you to figure out the read and write speeds of the hard drive.

Processor

Includes the counters to monitor the processor activity.

You can select counters, such as % Interrupt Time to monitor the time the CPU takes to complete hardware requests (interrupts). If this counter stays above 30%, it could be an indication that there is a hardware problem.

Add the % Privileged Time counter monitors the time the processor is using to execute in Kernel (Privileged) mode. A high percentage of privileged time may indicate a poorly written driver or hardware malfunction.

Network Adapter

Includes a number of counters to monitor the sent and received bytes for one or multiple network adapters.

You can select counters, such as Bytes Received/sec, Bytes Sent/sec, Bytes Total/sec to see how much bandwidth is being utilized by your wireless or Ethernet adapter. If you're always downloading files or streaming high-resolution videos and bandwidth is consistently hitting 85%, you may want to consider upgrading your data speed plan.

However, if you're not using your internet connection heavily, but you still see high network activity, it could be a sign of something not working correctly, or it could also be a malware hidden on your computer.

Memory

Includes an array of counters to monitor your PC's RAM usage.

You can select counters, such as % Committed Bytes in Use to monitor the total memory currently in use by your system. If the number is continuously greater than 80%, then you don't have enough memory on your system.

Adding the Available Mbytes, you can measure the amount of physical memory, available for running processes. If this value is less than 5% of the total RAM installed on your computer, then you may need to add more memory.

Page File

Includes counters to monitor how page files are being utilized.

If your computer is slow and the page file counters (% Usage and % Usage Peak) are constantly high. It could be an indication that you need to upgrade your computer's memory.

How to use Data Collector Sets

The Performance Monitor also includes Data Collectors Sets, which is where you can create custom sets containing performance counters and alerts based on specific criteria.

Creating a custom Data Collector Set

If you want to create custom Data Collector Set when to collect specific performance information, do the following:

1. While in Performance Monitor, expand Data Collector Sets.

2. Right-click "User Defined", select New, and click on Data Collector Set.

3. Type a descriptive name for the new set.
4. Select the Create manually (Advanced) option.

5. Click Next.

6. Select Create data logs and check the Performance counter option, but notice that you can also use other options as needed.

7. Click Next.

8. Click the Add button.
9. Pick and add the performance counters you want.

10. Click OK.

11. Configure the sample interval, which defines how often Performance Monitor will run and collect data. (Shorter intervals ensures that counters log information more frequently.)

12. Click Next.

13. You can leave the default settings or save your set in another location.

14. Click Next.

15. The set will run automatically no matter who is signed into Windows 10, but in this step, you can choose a specific user.

16. Check the Save and Close option.

17. Click Finish.

Once you completed the steps, you can right-click your Data Collector Set under "User Defined," and click Start to run it or Stop to shut it down.

Customizing a custom Data Collector Set

The wizard will only let you configure some of the settings when creating a custom Data Collector Set. If you want your custom set to stop automatically after a period of time, or run it on schedule, you'll need to manually configure those options.

To allow a set to stop automatically after a period of time, do the following:

1. Right-click the Data Collector Set you want, and select Properties.

2. Click on the Stop Condition tab.
3. Check the Overall duration option.
4. Define the time duration (e.g., 5 minutes).

5. Configure the limits as needed.

6. Click Apply.
7. Click OK.

To schedule a set to run automatically, do the following:

1. Right-click the Data Collector Set you want, and select Properties.

2. Click on the Schedule tab.

3. Click the Add button.

4. On "Folder Action," define the schedule you want.

5. Click OK.

6. Click Apply.
7. Click OK.

Alongside the ability to create your own sets, Windows 10 bundles two custom Data Collectors Sets to analyze performance, which are located inside the System folder.

• System Diagnostics: Collects various detailed system information, and it includes the counters found in System Performance.
• System Performance: Collects valuable performance data about the processor, hard drive, memory, and network adapters on your computer.

How to use Reports

You can view and analyze the data collected with pre-defined and custom sets using the Reports option.

To view and analyze the data collected, simply go to Reports, and select the report you want to see.

If you're opening one of the System reports, you'll see data arrange in a more meaningful way allowing you to quickly identify any issues on your computer.

On the other hand, when you open a custom report, you'll only be able to see a recording of the data collected, which still useful to help analyze your custom set.

Wrapping things up

Although you can use other tools, such as Task Manager to monitor your system's performance, the Performance Monitor is a more advanced tool that allows you to monitor virtually anything on your computer. And once you understand it, Performance Monitor can be a valuable tool to analyze and fix any performance problems on Windows 10.

More Windows 10 resources

For more help articles, coverage, and answers on Windows 10, you can 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

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard contains many elusive weapons and items. These include two broken weapons that can only be fixed with hard-to-find Repair Kits. Read on for complete instructions for finding every Repair Kit and repairing the broken guns!

As a special bonus for Xbox gamers, Resident Evil 7 also happens to be an Xbox Play Anywhere title. If you buy the game digitally from the Windows Store, you get access to both the Xbox One and Windows 10 versions, with full cross-save support.

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Broken Weapons and Repair Kits

Several Resident Evil 7 weapons require a little construction or going through multi-part puzzles, including the Shotgun, the Burner, and the Grenade Launcher. A couple of weapons are even easier to miss, though: the M19 Handgun and the M21 Shotgun. The reason for their scarcity is they both start out broken, requiring Repair Kits to fix. There are only two Repair Kits in the game, so you don't want to miss them!

The M19 Handgun is a replacement for your standard Handgun. It packs a greater punch than the regular pistol, so it won't take as many shots to kill enemies. But the M19 only carries 7 bullets at a time, compared to the Handgun's 10 bullets. Still, the increased damage makes it worth the tradeoff – at least until you've beaten the game once to unlock the Albert-01R handgun for subsequent playthroughs.

As for the M21 Shotgun, it's a double-barreled shotgun. The regular M37 Shotgun is only single-barreled, so of course the M21 deals a lot more damage. But it comes with a similar carrying capacity tradeoff to the M19. The M21 can only fire two shots before reloading, as opposed to the M37 Shotgun's four shots. You'll have to make every shot count when wielding this powerful shotgun.

Repair Kit 1 and the Broken Handgun

The first Repair Kit is found in the Yard of the Main House. To access the Yard, you'll need to open the Main House back door with the three Dog Heads. You can only get the last Dog Head after the Morgue boss fight, approximately a third of the way through the game. It's better to go after the Repair Kit as soon as you can access the Yard, as enemies will start spawning there after you finish up the Old House.

To find the first Repair Kit:

1. Enter the Yard from the Main House.
2. Step off the porch.
3. Examine the side of the porch between the two sets of steps.
4. Directly in the center of the side, you should find a metal grate that can be removed. Do it!
5. Crawl under the house until you find a crate down there.
6. Break the crate and take the Repair Kit.

To find and repair the Broken Handgun:

1. From the Yard, head to the Trailer safe room in the northwest corner of the map.
2. Inside, you'll find the Broken Handgun on the bed.
3. Combine the Broken Handgun with the Repair Kit to get the M19 Handgun.

Repairing the Broken Shotgun

You'll pick up the Broken Shotgun in the Main House. Although it only takes a Scorpion Key to find it for the first time, you need the Snake Key before you can actually keep it.

To get and repair the Broken Shotgun:

1. Follow the steps in our Shotgun Guide to find the Broken Shotgun for the first time, using it to pick up the M37 Shotgun.
2. Once you have the Snake Key, return to the second floor of the Main House and use it to enter the Kids Room.
3. Inside, check one of the trophies that resembles a lamp and push the button on it to reveal the ladder to the Attic. The Attic is also where you get the Happy Birthday videotape.
4. In the Attic, check the southeast corner for the Model Shotgun and Toy Axe. The Toy Axe is used to solve a shadow plinth puzzle in the Yard.
5. Head downstairs to the Main Hall and enter the southern room where you got the M37 Shotgun.
6. Remove the Broken Shotgun from the soldier statue and replace it with the Model Shotgun.
7. You can now use the first Repair Kit to turn the Broken Shotgun into the M21 Shotgun. However, my preference is to save the Broken Shotgun for the second Repair Kit.

Repair Kit 2

The second Repair Kit is found in the Testing Area, but you need a Treasure Photo from the Main House to get it. You can't get the photo until you pick up the Snake Key from the Dissection Room, shortly after completing the Old House. You won't be able to return to the Main House after entering the Testing Area, so don't let this photo slip by.

To locate the Treasure Photo:

1. Head to the east side of the second floor of the Main House.
2. Use the Snake Key to open the Master Bedroom door.
3. From the Master Bedroom, go south into the Storage room.
4. The Treasure Photo rests on top of a stool there.

To find the second Repair Kit:

1. Very early in the Testing Area, you'll come across a room with several tripwire bombs called the Supply Room. It's the northeastern-most room on the second floor.
2. In the Northeastern corner of the Supply Room, there's a steel cage with a ladder leaning on it and a mannequin head on top.
3. If you've found the Treasure Photo, examining the mannequin head will reveal the Repair Kit. You don't have to carry the photo during this process; leave it in an item box.

Surviving the horror

Now you're well-armed and ready to take on the Baker family and their army of Molded. If you need more help, check out these articles for additional tips and strategies!

• Achievement Guide
• Collectibles Guide: Files
• Collectibles Guide: Mr. Everywhere Statues
• Resident Evil 7: Biohazard Review

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is a game that fans of horror games won't want to miss. And because it's an Xbox Play Anywhere title, Windows 10 gamers won't have to miss out either.

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If you need to save hard drive space or send data over the internet, this guide can show you how to compress file using Windows 10.

You probably heard the term "zip" many times before. It's one of the most popular file formats that allows you to compress files to save space on your hard drive or to make it easier to send them over the internet.

Typically, you would use zip for archiving files you rarely use, or to send documents and pictures via email. In addition, zip is also commonly used to compress files and make them available for download on websites or through FTP servers.

Nowadays, lots of third-party software can handle zip compression, but if you're running Windows 10, you don't need to install extra software, because the OS supports zip natively.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the easy steps to zip and unzip files and save space on your computer's hard drive or just to make it easier to send them.

• How to zip files to save hard drive space
• How to zip files to share with other people
• How to unzip files on Windows 10

How to zip files to save hard drive space

To compress files using zip and save hard drive space, do the following:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Navigate to the location with the items you want to compress.

3. Right-click on an empty space, select New, and click Compressed (zipped) Folder.

4. Type a descriptive name for the folder and press Enter.
5. Select the files and folders you want to compress.

6. Right-click your selection, and choose Cut.

7. Double-click the newly-created compressed folder.

8. Right-click it and select Paste.

You can always add more files to the zip folder by repeating steps 5, 6 and 7.

How to zip files to share with other people

If you're only trying to compress files to make it easier to send them over the internet, you can do the following:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Navigate to the location of the items you want to compress.
3. Select the files and folders you want to share.

4. Right-click your selection, select Send to, and click on Compressed (zipped) folder.

5. Type a name for the compressed folder and press Enter.

Once you complete these steps, you can, for example, attach the zipped folder to email to share files with other people. After you sent the email, you can safely delete the zipped folder, because it only contains a copy of your original files.

Alternatively, you can select the items you want to send, and from the Share tab, click the Zip button to compress.

How to unzip files on Windows 10

Windows 10 supports zip natively, which means that you can just double-click the zipped folder to access its content — and open files. However, you always want to extract all the compressed files before using them.

If you don't unzip the files, you won't be able to edit and save the new content in the same document, and if you're trying to install a piece of software, the installation process won't start.

There are at least two ways to extract files from a zipped folder:

Use the Extract All wizard

To extract all the files from a zipped folder, do the following:

1. Right-click the compressed (zipped) folder.

2. Select Extract All from the context menu.

3. By default, the compressed files will extract in the same location as the zipped folder, but you can click the Browse button to select an alternative location.

4. Check the Show extracted files when complete option.

5. Click Extract.

Using the File Explorer

To extract all or individual files from a zipped folder, do the following:

1. Double-click the compressed (zipped) folder.
2. Select the file or files you want to extract.

3. Right-click your selection and click Cut.

4. Navigate to the location you want to unzip the files to.

5. Right-click and select Paste.

Alternatively, inside the zipped folder, you can select the items you want, and on the Extract tab, select the location to extract the files. If the location isn't listed, click the More button, and then click the Choose location button to find the correct folder.

Wrapping up

Although there are tons of third-party software options designed to compress files, which can also handle additional compression file formats, you'll find that Windows 10 includes all the necessary functionalities anyone needs to zip and unzip files.

Do you use Windows 10 or another software to handle file compression? Let us know your preferences in the comments.

More Windows 10 resources

For more help 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

When apps or the Store on Windows 10 aren't working, use this guide to get the "Windows Store Apps" troubleshooter to fix any issue automatically.

On Windows 10, at one point, you may come across problems trying to use Windows Store apps. It could happen that apps won't open after upgrading to a new version of the operating system. You may encounter errors, or the Store may stop updating or prevent you from downloading new apps.

While there are a number of ways to fix problems with apps, Windows 10 includes the "Windows Store Apps" troubleshooter, which is an application that automatically scans and fixes any issues that may prevent apps you acquired in the Store from working properly.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to use the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter to fix any issue that may be blocking apps from working as expected.

How to use the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter

To quickly fix apps (or Store) on Windows 10 automatically using the troubleshooter, do the following:

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Click on System and Security.
3. Under "Security and Maintenance," click the Troubleshoot common computer problems link.

4. Click on Hardware and Sound.

5. Click on Windows Start Apps to launch the troubleshooter.

6. Click the Advanced link and make sure Apply repair automatically is selected.

7. Click Next to run the troubleshooter.

8. If the troubleshooter finds any issues, it'll be listed in the result with additional instructions you may need to follow. However, in most cases, the troubleshooter will find and apply fixes automatically.

9. Click Close.

Whatever the result, you can always click the "View detailed information" link to see a report with all the issues the troubleshooter tried to fix, including security settings, missing or corrupt files, problems with BITS (Background Intelligent Transfer Service), Windows Store cache, and more.

Once you completed the steps, the troubleshooter should be able to apply the fix to get apps working again and resolve any other issues, including those from the Windows Store.

In the case, you can't find or run the troubleshooter using Control Panel; you can quickly download the "Windows Store App" troubleshooter from the Microsoft's support website.

More Windows 10 resources

For more help 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

How do I create and add a new Outlook email signature?

Microsoft makes it relatively easy to add custom mail signatures, with hyperlinked images or company logos, in Outlook 2016 for Windows. It can take a bit of experimentation to find the fonts, colors and styles that are just right for you, but these easy-to-follow steps detail how to add and customize your own Outlook email signature.

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How to create and add an Outlook email signature

1. Click the Home tab in the horizontal navigation bar that runs along the top of the Outlook screen.

2. Click the New Email box at the top-left corner of the screen, just below the horizontal navigation bar atop the screen.

3. In the new message box that appears, click the Signature box within the Include tab. (It's the fourth tab from the left in the new message box.)
4. Click Signatures in the drop-down that appears below the *Signature** box.

5. On the Email signature tab, click New.

6. In the Type a name for this signature field, enter some text to help remember the signature you create.

7. Click OK to confirm the name.
8. On the following screen, highlight the name of the signature you created in the Select Signature to Edit box.

9. In the large, empty box below Edit signature, enter in your name, title, company name, email address, social network information or any other personal details you want to appear in your new signature.

   • Use the various font and format controls below Edit signature but above the large text field to customize and modify your signature's appearance. There are controls for font style, size, color and spacing, and you can apply different styles to different lines to make them stand out.

10. If you want to add a custom image, such as a company logo, navigate to where you want to insert the image, and with the cursor in place, hit the Insert picture icon. (It looks like a small computer display in front of a thumbnail image icon.)

11. Navigate to the image you want to insert using your computer's file browser and click Insert.

12. If you want to link the image or logo, or any of the text in your signature, to a website, such as your company's site, click on the image or text and highlight it.
13. With the image selected, click the Insert Hyperlink icon. (It looks like a globe with a small chain link in front of it.)

14. In the Address field at the bottom of the pop-up box that appears, enter the full URL of the site you want your image to link to.

15. Click OK at the bottom of the Insert Hyperlink box.

16. Next, you need to customize the New messages and Replies/forwards options.

    • If you want to apply your signature to all new messages, choose the name of the signature from the New messages drop-down menu.
    • If you also want to apply the signature to all of your replies and forwarded messages, choose the name of the signature from the Replies/forwards drop-down menu.
    • If for some reason you don't want to apply your signature to new messages, or replies and forwards, choose the (none) option from the appropriate menu.

17. When you've made all the customizations you want, click the Save button beneath the Select signature to edit field.
18. Finally, click OK again on the main Signatures and Stationary box to save all of your changes.

When you open a new email message, or forward or reply to one, your new signature will appear at the bottom of the message, where appropriate.

For more Outlook tutorials and how-tos, check out:

• 15 Microsoft Outlook keyboard shortcuts guaranteed to save time
• How to back up data in Outlook 2016 for Windows
• How to import a Microsoft Outlook backup file

A complete breakdown of T-Mobile's ONE plan and everything else you can get when you sign up for service from Big Magenta.

In the United States, there are a lot of companies that can get you and your phone online, but most people use one of the four biggest: AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon. Choosing between them can be difficult, though if you're still on the Windows-phone wagon, T-Mobile's Alcatel Idol 4S is one of your best options. Your first priority should be what service works best in the places you spend your time. It's not worth saving $10 a month if the service is bad. Once you have that sorted, you can look at what each company has to offer and the prices they charge for it.

More: Which unlimited plan should you buy?

Let's take a look at T-Mobile to see what they can give you and what it will cost.

Note: The details of this plan are current as of February 20, 2017.

T-Mobile ONE plan details

• Unlimited talk, text, and data with 200MB of roaming data
• Unlimited talk, text, and data in Canada and Mexico
• One hour of free Gogo in-flight Wi-Fi and unlimited texting on enabled flights
• Unlimited data and texting in over 140 locations at 2x speed (264kbps) (limited time offer)
• Unlimited music and HD video streaming (limited time offer, applies only in the U.S.)
• 10GB high-speed mobile hotspot use (limited time offer)

T-Mobile's definition of Unlimited Data means that after you use 28 GB in a single month, your service can be slowed down if you're in a congested area. You'll hear the word throttled used here but you need to know that it's only a temporary deprioritization of your data connection when you're in a busy area. It may not happen at all depending on how many other customers are using the same towers.

You can use any phone that's compatible with T-Mobile's network. If you bring your own phone you'll pay a $20 one-time fee for a SIM starter kit. You can also finance a phone through T-Mobile and the monthly cost will vary depending on which phone you choose. T-Mobile ONE plans also include tax and all the other assorted fees in the price. Your monthly bill will be exactly what the plan costs.

Additional lines can be added to a T-Mobile ONE plan. Every line has the same benefits outlined above and the $20 SIM starter kit fee applies to each, though they go on sale regularly and it's not unheard of to get the starter kit fees waived if you talk to a representative. Here is a pricing breakdown.

• One line of service on a T-Mobile ONE plan is $70
• Two lines of service for $100
• Three lines of service for $140
• Four lines is $160 and each additional line adds $20 to the total

T-Mobile ONE Plan add-ons

You can add a tablet to your T-Mobile ONE plan for the standard $20 monthly fee. You can add a wearable to your T-Mobile ONE plan for $5 a month. Wearable devices are limited to 512kbps data speeds.

T-Mobile also offers two Plus add-ons for people who want a few extras:

The $5 monthly T-Mobile ONE Plus add-on includes everything from the standard ONE plan plus the following:

• Unlimited in-flight data on all Gogo-enabled flights
• T-Mobile Visual Voicemail
• T-Mobile Name ID

The $25 T-Mobile ONE Plus International add-on includes everything from the ONE Plus plan and adds the following:

• Unlimited international calling to landlines in over 70 countries and mobile numbers in more than 30 countries
• Unlimited high-speed mobile hotspot

You do not have to pay for the $5 Plus add-on if you're buying the $25 Plus add-on. These prices are per line.

Secondary perks

T-Mobile also offers other special promotions on top of what you're paying for. These vary from free applications that support their services to free devices (through bill credits) after a certain amount of monthly payments. Some of these perks can change regularly, but as of February 2017, here is what T-Mobile is offering.

• $150 prepaid Visa card (per line) when you switch to a T-Mobile ONE plan from another carrier
• 11.2% cash back via Prepaid MasterCard on any phone you buy from T-Mobile after 6-8 weeks
• Get an LG G Pad X 8.0 or Samsung Galaxy Tab E for free (via 24 monthly bill credits)
• Get an ALCATEL LinkZone wireless hotspot for free (via 24 monthly bill credits)
• "Smartpicks" are full-featured smartphones you can finance for $5 per month (24 months at 0% interest)

T-Mobile also has long-standing extras, including apps for Visual Voicemail, T-Mobile content transfer, T-Mobile's DIGITS for Android and iOS, and an excellent account management application for Windows in the Microsoft Store.

Last but not least is T-Mobile Tuesdays. Each week you can get things like food or movie tickets for free and have a chance to win "top-shelf prizes and epic experiences from the coolest brands around" without buying anything. T-Mobile Tuesdays is a very popular promotion and it is available for any T-Mobile customer.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard from Capcom is a true return to form for the series, mixing horror, a first-person perspective, and an intriguing story in one amazing package.

It also features numerous types of collectibles to discover. This guide features screenshots and descriptions of every Antique Coin collectible, which help you unlock new weapons, items, and achievements!

As a special bonus for Xbox gamers, Resident Evil 7 also happens to be an Xbox Play Anywhere title. If you buy the game digitally from the Windows Store, you get access to both the Xbox One and Windows 10 versions, with full cross-save support.

See on the Windows Store

Pelicans in your Pocket

Antique Coins are a collectible with a purpose. At two points in the game (the Trailer safe room in the Yard and the Swamp safe room), they can be exchanged for three items: Steroids (3 coins), a Stabilizer (6 coins), and the 44 Magnum pistol (9 coins).

There are 18 Antique Coins on Easy or Normal difficulty. Madhouse difficulty has 33 coins of its own to collect, but this guide focuses on the Easy/Normal coins. If you collect a coin but die before saving the game or reaching a checkpoint, you'll need to get it again for it to count towards the 'Pelicans in your Pocket' Achievement. It requires all 18 coins to be collected in one playthrough.

We've divided the collectibles by the location in which they're found, so you'll always be able to tell if you've gone too far or need to backtrack.

Naturally, some of these Antique Coin locations might involve mild spoilers.

Antique Coins in the Guest House

The first area of the game, and one that we'll revisit at the end as well. As you play through, be sure to check out our comprehensive Achievement Guide, Files Guide, and Mr. Everywhere Statues Guide so you don't miss any Achievements or collectibles along the way.

Antique Coin #1

The first coin requires special action be taken during the Derelict House Footage videotape sequence before picking the coin up in the present. As soon as the videotape starts, take a few steps back and get the Lockpick from the ground. Enter the Guest House and use the Lockpick on the drawer in the kitchen.

After completing the videotape and before entering the secret passage, head back to the Kitchen as Ethan. You can now open the drawer to find the coin.

Antique Coins in the Main House

Survive the boss battle in the Guest House Attic and Ethan will end up in the Main House, a major area that he'll be revisiting throughout the game.

Antique Coin #2

After Jack starts chasing you for the first time, quickly find the Hatch Key at the east side of the hallway. Take the hatch in the Pantry to the underground passage. The Antique Coin sits on top of a riding lawnmower.

Antique Coin #3

After the Garage boss battle, take the Ox Statuette and use it to enter the Main Hall. Inside, walk along the wall and you'll discover the coin inside of a drawer in the northeastern corner.

Antique Coin #4

On the second floor, enter the Recreation Room from the southern entrance. Straight ahead, you'll find the coin on a small shell beside a basket (right beside Mr. Everywhere #4).

Antique Coin #5

On the second floor, head west from the Recreation Room to the Bathroom. Check the toilet bowl for a shiny, totally germ-free coin.

Antique Coin #6

From the Drawing Room (where you found Mr. Everywhere # 5), take the western door to the unnamed room just before the Monitoring Room. You'll find the coin in an ashtray on the table.

Antique Coin #7

In the Basement Processing Area, head west past the Incinerator Room door. Pry open the corrugated room divider. Immediately left from that divider, you'll find a wooden pallet leaning against the wall and the coin in a nearby hole in the wall. Get the Processing Area Map from the nearby shelf while you're there.

Antique Coins in the Yard

After defeating the Morgue boss, you can use the three Dog's Heads to open the back door of the Main House and enter the Yard.

Antique Coin #8

Right when you enter the Yard from the back door of the Main House, step off the porch and turn right. You'll find the coin in a planter besides the steps. Be sure to grab the first Repair Kit while you're out here, too.

Antique Coin #9

Inside the Trailer safe room, it's sitting right next to the birdcage on the table that costs nine coins to open. How convenient!

Antique Coins in the Old House

After accepting the phone call in the Trailer, head northeast through the Yard to the Old House. You can build the Burner Flamethrower in this area, as well as take the first step towards acquiring the Grenade Launcher.

Antique Coin #10

Take the passage from the Dining Room to the Cellar (where we found Mr. Everywhere #9). You'll find the coin sitting on a cart just before the door to the Cellar.

Antique Coin #11

Once you have the Crank, head to the boardwalk area where you got the Burner Nozzle. Roast the insect nest, and then use the Crank to raise the northern bridge. You'll find the coin inside the outhouse on top of the toilet – just right of the chest that contains the Crow Key.

Antique Coin #12

On the second floor, in the room with the scale attached to a door, check the chest of drawers in the corner for the coin.

Antique Coins in the Testing Area

Once you get the Blue and Yellow Key Cards from the Main House, go back to the Yard and use the keys on the western door to enter the Testing Area. Note that you can't return to the Main House or Old House once you're inside.

Antique Coin #13

In the first floor western corner room that contains four tripwire bombs, first disarm the bombs. Then check the drawer in the table for a coin. You'll also find the third Steroids and an exploding crate in the nearby locker.

Antique Coin #14

After defeating the Fat Molded boss, take the elevator to the second floor. Immediately outside of the room with the burnt corpse (the Rest Area, where we found File #22), the coin awaits on a wall shelf.

Antique Coins in the Wrecked Ship

After leaving the Testing Area and defeating the Boat House boss, you'll make a decision that affects which ending you'll receive. Next comes the Wrecked Ship area. The first portion of the ship has two highly missable Antique Coins – you won't be able to return after progressing further into the area.

Antique Coin #15

The Wrecked Ship portion of the game starts on floor S3. As soon as you reach S1, prepare to look for this coin. From the Office, drop down into the hatch after the flashback occurs. In the crawlspace, turn right at the first fork. The coin lies at the end of the path.

Antique Coin #16

After the crawlspace, you'll emerge on floor S2. Climb the ladder there that leads to the first floor. Immediately following the ladder climb, you'll jump into a pool of water. The coin is hidden beside a plant in the northwestern corner of the water.

Antique Coin #17

This coin is found inside the locked toolbox on the third floor, just past the elevator shaft. To get it, you'll first have to retrieve the Lockpick on the second floor.

After you've solved the painting puzzle in the Lounge on the second floor, head out of the Dining Room and straight into the northeastern room with the ladder. Climb the ladder, and take the Lockpick from the orange box. Shoot the Mr. Everywhere statue (#17), and then make your way back to the locked box in the Control Room of the third floor.

Antique Coin #18

Near the end of the Wrecked Ship, you'll battle a Fat Molded in the No. 1 Engine Room on floor S2. The hallway immediately after that room has a box on the wall that must be opened with Corrosives. You'll find the coin inside.

That's the last Antique Coin on Easy and Normal playthroughs! If you're hunting down all the collectibles, you still have five Files and three Mr. Everywhere statues left to go before the end of the game.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is a game that fans of horror games won't want to miss. And because it's an Xbox Play Anywhere title, Windows 10 gamers won't have to miss out either.

For more help, check out our Achievement Guide, Files Guide, and Mr. Everywhere Statues Guide. You also don't want to miss our full review!

See on the Windows Store

Windows 10 still features the OS's traditional desktop icons, and it's relatively easy to bring them back. Here's how.

If you've been using Windows for a long time, you probably remember that until Windows 7, the desktop included a few default icons for quick access to Computer, user-account folders, network, Recycle Bin, and Control Panel. On Windows 10, you only see an icon for the Recycle Bin.

Although the traditional shortcuts are not part of the desktop anymore, they are still part of the OS. If you feel a little nostalgic, or you just find them useful, you can still bring those old icons back to your Windows 10 desktop.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the easy steps to quickly bring back the desktop icons on your computer.

How to restore the old Windows desktop icons

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

4. Click the Desktop icons settings link.

5. Check each icon you want to see on the desktop, including Computer (This PC), User's Files, Network, Recycle Bin, and Control Panel.

6. Click Apply.
7. Click OK.

You can also customize the desktop icons from the same settings page. Use the instructions above, but on step 5 you can select any of the icons and then click the Change icon button to select a new icon style.

Quick Tip: If you prefer to call the desktop icon "Computer," like in Windows 7, instead of "This PC", you can quickly right-click the icon and choose the Rename option. Once you change the name, you'll see the new name through the OS, including in File Explorer.

Once you complete these steps, the icons should appear on the desktop and you'll have quicker access to common locations.

If you don't see any icons on your desktop, it's probably because you previously configured Windows 10 to hide them. You can quickly make them visible again by right-clicking an empty space on the desktop, selecting View and clicking the Show desktop icons option.

More Windows 10 resources

For more help 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 apps have come a long way on Android.

Microsoft essentially shunned Android and iOS for several years, but with Satya Nadella taking the helm in 2014 and adopting a mobile-first stance, the company has turned its attention to bringing its apps and services to rival platforms. From heavy-hitters like Office to side projects developed by employees in their free time under the Microsoft Garage label, Microsoft has a lot to offer on Android.

Microsoft Office

Microsoft made the Android and iOS versions of Office free in 2014, opening up the floodgates for its adoption on these platforms.

Standalone apps for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint debuted in 2015, allowing users to quickly edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentations on the go. Basic editing functionality is available for all users, but if you want advanced features — inserting section breaks, viewing file history, customizing headers and footers in Word — you're going to have to subscribe to Office 365. If you're just looking to create, edit, or save documents, then the free option should be more than adequate.

Word, Excel, and PowerPoint sync over OneDrive, allowing you to quickly view files stored on the cloud. The apps work even if you don't have the cloud storage service set up, but you'll be limited to working with files locally stored on your device. If you're not a OneDrive user, you can also sync your files through Dropbox or Box.

• Download Word from the Play Store
• Download Excel from the Play Store
• Download PowerPoint from the Play Store

OneNote

OneNote has picked up several new features lately, turning it into one of the best note-taking apps currently available. One of the biggest additions in recent times is cross-platform availability, making it a viable contender to the likes of Evernote, even more so now that the latter service has gravitated to a paid structure.

By contrast, OneNote is completely free, and lets you easily type, draw, or hand-draw notes. The service lets you scan handwritten notes, and has a powerful search feature that lets you find what you're looking for. You can organize your notes with labels, save web clippings, take voice notes, add photos and videos, and so much more.

OneNote also offers the ability to password protect your notes, version history for your files, Android Wear support, and a widget that lets you quickly jot down a note. The best feature is that you can access your notes even when you're offline, which isn't possible unless you're on a paid plan on Evernote.

Download OneNote from the Play Store

OneDrive

OneDrive is a feature-rich cloud storage service that rivals Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, and others. OneDrive integrates with OneNote and Office apps to provide a seamless experience on Android. The app has automatic photo and video backup, and you can link it to your camera roll to automatically sync photos to your OneDrive account.

OneDrive lets you download files for offline use, share photo albums and collaborate on documents, and receive updates when someone makes changes to shared documents. The free tier comes with 5GB of storage, but if you're subscribed to Office 365, you'll get 1TB of cloud storage. If you're not on Office 365, you can buy 100GB of storage for $1.99 a month or 200GB for $3.99.

Download OneDrive from the Play Store

Skype

Skype revamped its UI in 2015, offering a cleaner layout that gives you easy access to calls, chats, and contacts. Calls between Skype users are free, and the service also offers group video calls for up to 25 people. Skype retooled chats by rolling out emoticons and Mojis, which are essentially short clips from popular movies and TV shows. You'll also be able to send photos, videos, and share your location from the IM interface.

Skype also offers the ability to call international numbers and landlines, with the service boasting some of the most affordable rates in this space. To incentivize adoption in emerging markets, Skype is letting customers from India call mobile numbers in the U.S. and Canada for absolutely free.

Download Skype on the Play Store

Outlook

The Outlook app is one of the best email clients available on Android. Microsoft paid over $200 million for Acompli, a mobile email service with built-in calendar and file sharing, back in 2014, and has rebranded the service to Outlook. Since then, it has added several features, including the core functionality of Sunrise Calendar, another of Microsoft's acquisitions.

Outlook lets you manage email from Gmail, Outlook.com, Microsoft Exchange, Yahoo, and others, providing a unified mailbox. You can archive or delete mails with a swipe left gesture, or peruse your mails at a later time using the schedule function.

The app hooks into the built-in calendar to add details from your emails automatically, and it offers a Focused Inbox that lets you prioritize important emails. You can also attach files easily from OneDrive, Dropbox, and Google Drive. As with all Microsoft services on Android, Outlook is free. If you're in need of a better email client, then you should definitely give Outlook a try.

Download Outlook from the Play Store

Groove

Groove is what used to be known as Xbox Music and has come a long way since then. One of the leading benefits is platform ubiquity, with Android supported in addition to iOS and Microsoft's Windows platforms covering mobile, web, PC and the Xbox console.

It's not always been easy to recommend, but since rebranding to Groove Microsoft has put a lot of work into the service. Android has finally caught up to Windows, and the latest features such as Your Groove are now here.

The catalog is vast, too, backed up by a digital store for you to own the music as well as stream it. The Android app is also really nicely done, with recent makeovers injecting some style and sophistication. The only thing Groove really lacks is a family plan, but there's always hope we'll get one some day.

Download Groove from the Play Store

Microsoft Authenticator

If you regularly sign into a Microsoft account, the company's own two-factor authenticator comes in handy. Instead of the usual six-digit code to log you in, Microsoft Authenticator lets you authorize the sign in attempt with a simple tap, making the process much more convenient.

In addition to adding your Microsoft account, you can also add details for other services that are secured by two-factor authentication, including Google and Facebook. Haven't secured your accounts yet? Here's why you should set up two-factor authentication right away.

Download Microsoft Authenticator from the Play Store

Office Lens

Office Lens is essentially a portable scanner that lets you easily scan whiteboards, documents, and receipts. I used Scanbot for several years, but Office Lens' integration with Office apps gives it a distinct advnatage over other utilities in this space.

You can scan and upload your documents to OneNote, Word, or OneDrive, and Office Lens offers the ability to convert your images to Word documents, PDFs, and even PowerPoint files. The app uses optical character recognition to convert images into text, making them searchable.

Download Office Lens from the Play Store

Arrow Launcher

Arrow Launcher offers an interesting take on launcher. Instead of letting you add apps to the home screen, the launcher automatically picks out your most-used apps, and arranges them based on your usage patterns. The launcher has a vertical app drawer, a dedicated home screen for widgets, as well as a lot of customization options, including support for custom icon packs and live wallpapers.

You can easily access your recent calls, messages, and documents, and the launcher has Wunderlist integration, allowing you to set up reminders quickly. The launcher also has notification badges that show the unread count for your emails and messages.

Download Arrow Launcher from the Play Store

Xbox

If you have an Xbox One, the Xbox app offers a ton of utility. The app acts as a virtual controller for the Xbox One, allowing you to control your console with your phone. You can also scroll through your activity feed, view achievements, messages, buy games from the store, and much more.

Download Xbox app from the Play Store

Your turn

What Microsoft apps do you use on your Android phone or tablet? Let us know in the comments below.

Your family can have their Kodi their way. It's as easy as setting up some new Kodi profiles.

Your kids want to watch something on your Kodi system, but you're not so keen on filling up your add-ons list with child-friendly channels. That's fine, because just as you can with popular services like Netflix, you can create profiles for your kids to keep their stuff separate.

The process for creating Kodi profiles is not immediately obvious, because it's not exactly user-facing. But it's also not very difficult, as long as you know where to look.

For this guide we're using Kodi 17 with the stock skin. If you're on a different build, things might be slightly different.

1. Select the settings cog on your home screen.

2. Click on the box labelled profile settings.

3. Select add profile.

4. Give your profile a name and hit OK.

Each profiles set up on your Kodi system can now have its own individual settings and add-ons. You can set up the new profiles to transfer everything from the main profile, just select "yes" instead of "no" when you're given this option after creating a new one.

To switch between profiles you need to log off the current one. To do so, hit the power icon and select log off. You're then taken to a screen that presents all of your profiles, and it's as easy as selecting the one you want and going in to enjoy your content.

Kodi is already a terrific media center, but little touches like this one make it your media center.

Download Kodi 17 from the Windows Store

A complete breakdown of the AT&T Unlimited plan so you know exactly what you get if you switch.

In the United States, there are a lot of companies that can get you and your phone online, though it's becoming harder and harder to buy quality Windows phone from them. Most people use one of the four biggest carriers: AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon. Choosing between them can be difficult. Your first priority should be what service works best in the places you spend your time. It's not worth saving $10 a month if the service is bad. Once you have that sorted, you can look at what each company has to offer and the prices they charge for it.

More: Which unlimited plan should you buy?

Let's take a look at the AT&T Unlimited plan to see what they can give you and what it will cost.

Note: The details of this plan are current as of February 20, 2017.

AT&T Unlimited plan details

• Unlimited talk, text, and data
• Unlimited talk and text to Canada and Mexico
• Advanced messaging between compatible phones on the AT&T network
• Unlimited talk, text, and data in Canada and Mexico with free Roam North America Feature (if more than 50% of use is outside the U.S. the plan can be terminated)
• Unlimited music and video streaming with optional Stream Saver for less data use

AT&T's definition of Unlimited Data means that after you use 22 GB in a single month, your service can be slowed down if you're in a congested area. You'll hear the word throttled used here but you need to know that it's only a temporary deprioritization of your data connection when you're in a busy area. It may not happen at all depending on how many other customers are using the same towers.

Advanced Messaging features are only between two capable phones using the AT&T network in standard domestic coverage areas. A limit of 10MB is applied for any attachments. Standard text messaging has a 1MB limit for attachments.

Users who activate the free Roam North America feature need to use their phone in the domestic coverage area (U.S, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin islands) the majority of the time. If 50% or more of your use in a billing period is outside of domestic coverage, your service can be terminated.

AT&T makes it clear up-front about what devices are eligible and exactly how you can use the service. Clarity is great and we appreciate it.

You can use any phone that's compatible with AT&T's network. If you bring your own phone you'll pay a $25 one-time activation fee which is added to your first bill. You can also finance a phone through AT&T and the monthly cost will vary depending on which phone you choose. The AT&T Unlimited plan does not include tax and all the other assorted fees in the price.

This plan does not include mobile hotspots (except connected cars), Wireless Home Phone, Wireless Home Phone and Internet, laptops, Timex devices, and ZTE Spro 2 projectors. Users with any of those devices should contact an AT&T representative.

Additional lines can be added to an AT&T Unlimited plan. Every line has the same benefits outlined above and the $25 dollar fee applies to each. Here is a pricing breakdown.

• One line of service on an AT&T Unlimited plan is $100
• Two lines of service for $140
• Three lines of service for $180
• Four lines is $180 (The 4th device is free via a $40 bill credit on or after the second month)

AT&T Unlimited Plan add-ons

You can add a tablet or connected car to your AT&T Unlimited plan for the standard $40 monthly fee or through the AT&T 1GB Tablet plan. This plan offers 1GB of data for your tablet for $10 per month, with overages at $15 per GB. You can add a wearable (Timex wearables are not eligible) to your plan for $10 a month. You can also add a feature phone or messaging phone to your account for $25 per month.

Secondary perks

AT&T offers a plethora of services and apps to use them. Services include AT&T Drive Mode, AT&T Tablet messaging, AT&T Locker and more. You'll find these apps and plenty more at the Microsoft Store.

Last but not least, AT&T also offers services tailored to business owners. Business Messenger, Global IP Client and more make it easier to merge your physical office with your virtual office. You'll find the apps in your app store and you can get more information by calling 800.331.0500 or visiting an AT&T store.

How do I get rid of built-in Windows 10 apps that I don't use?

Anyone who has opened the Start menu on a fresh copy of Windows 10 knows how many apps Microsoft baked right into the OS. While these apps — things such as Weather, News, and 3D Builder — don't take up a lot of hard drive space and can basically live quietly on your system when not in use, you might want to get rid of them.

That's no problem, as long as you're comfortable using PowerShell. Using a few simple commands, listed below, you can remove and restore any of the built-in apps in Windows 10. Ready to clean up that Start menu? Here's everything you need to know.

• A word on compatibility
• How to remove built-in apps on Windows 10
• List of commands for each app
• How to restore built-in apps on Windows 10

A word on compatibility

Before you remove any of Windows 10's built-in apps, know that Cortana relies on some of them to help you out. If you remove an app and notice that she is acting weird, follow our directions to restore the built-in apps at the end of this tutorial.

Also note that some integral apps such as Edge, Cortana and Contact Support cannot be removed.

How to remove built-in apps on Windows 10

Before starting these steps, make sure you close any running apps on your PC. Failing to do so can cause problems when you're uninstalling built-in apps.

1. Right-click the Start button.
2. Click Search.

3. Type PowerShell into the search field.

4. Right-click Windows PowerShell.
5. Click Run as administrator.
6. Type a command into PowerShell. In this case, I will remove Movies & TV by typing Get-AppxPackage *zunevideo* | Remove-AppxPackage

7. Hit Enter on your keyboard. A notification will pop up below your command letting you know that the program is being uninstalled.

That's all there is to it. You can search for the app, but it should no longer appear. The above command removes the Movies & TV app, and there are plenty more apps you can uninstall, as well.

A note on 3D Builder: If you've attempted to uninstall 3D Builder in the past, you might have noticed that it mysteriously came back. This is due to a "3D Print with 3D Builder" option being left behind in certain file images — if you click that option, 3D Builder automatically installs. To get rid of it for good, check out our guide to completely removing 3D Builder from Windows 10.

List of commands to remove Windows 10 apps

Here is a full list of built-in apps you can remove and the corresponding commands to type or copy and paste into PowerShell.

How to restore built-in apps on Windows 10

Did you accidentally remove an app you now want to use? No worries — you can use PowerShell to restore any built-in apps that you wiped from your PC. Again, ensure you don't have any programs running before starting the following steps.

1. Right-click the Start button.
2. Click Search.

3. Type PowerShell into the search field.

4. Right-click Windows PowerShell.
5. Click Run as administrator.
6. Type Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers| Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

7. Hit Enter on your keyboard. Any built-in apps you removed will now be restored. Depending on how many apps you removed, this process might take awhile.

You should now be able to once again find all the built-in apps in Windows 10.

Have you removed any Windows 10 built-in apps? Which ones? Let un know in the comments. And if you need more help or answers when it comes to Windows 10, check out our forums or visit our collection of help and tips articles.

How do you assign custom colors and font styles to specific contacts or senders in Outlook? Easy! At least if you follow these simple steps.

Your Outlook inbox can quickly turn into an unmanageable mountain of seemingly ceaseless messages. The further behind you fall and the more mail that piles up, the more likely you are to miss a crucial correspondence.

Microsoft graciously makes it relatively simple in Outlook 2016 for Windows to add color and font customizations to message senders, to make sure you never miss an email from your boss or manager, for example.

See on Microsoft Store

How to customize incoming Outlook messages with color and font

1. Click the View option from the tabs that run horizontally along the top of your Outlook screen. (It's the fifth tab from the left.)

2. Click View Settings at the top of the View tab. (It's the second option from the left and looks like two gears.)

3. A box labeled Advanced View Settings: Compact appears. Click to select the Conditional Formatting option.

4. A new box appears, and it shows a list of existing default mail rules, including one for unread messages that automatically bolds unread mail and another for expired mail that marks those messages with strikethrough text. (You can disable the default rules, or any others you may have created, by removing the check marks from the corresponding boxes.)

5. To create a new Outlook mail rule, click the Add button.
6. For this tutorial, we'll create a new rule to change the font style and color of messages from one specific sender, your boss. (You can also change the actual font and the text size.) In the Name: field, type some descriptive text that will help you remember the purpose of this specific rule.
7. Click Font.

8. Click Color and choose you shade of choice.

9. Click Font style, and then pick the style you want.
10. Click OK.

11. You then return to the Conditional Formatting box, where you should next click Condition.

12. In the **From … ** field type your boss's email address or her name exactly as it appears on messages you receive from the Boss Woman. (It can be a good idea to use the email address instead of the name here, to make sure you enter the right text.)

    • You can further customize this rule using the Search for word(s): and In: fields. For example, if you only want to change the color and font style of message that include the word "deadline" in the subject line, you could enter "deadline" in the Search for word(s): field and "subject field only" in the In: box.
    • Checking the *Where I am box and choosing one of the following options: the only person on the To line, on the To line with other people or on the CC line with other people lets you set more granular filters for your rules.
    • You can also use the *More Choices** and Advanced tabs in the Filter box to further customize Outlook mail rules.
13. When you've set all the filter options you want, click OK to confirm them.
14. Once again, click OK on the Conditional Formatting box.
15. Finally, return to your inbox by clicking OK one more time on the Advanced View Settings: Compact box.

From now on, when you receive messages from your boss, and if they meet the various conditions you sent for color-coded messages, those correspondences will stand out in your busy inbox.

You can set as many rules as you want, with varying levels of complexity, and they just might save you from a missed deadline — and spare you a potential tongue-lashing or two.

For more Outlook tips and tutorials, check out:

• How to create a custom Outlook email signature
• 15 Microsoft Outlook keyboard shortcuts guaranteed to save time
• How to back up data in Outlook 2016 for Windows

How do I make a copy of my hard drive on an external drive?

Creating a complete backup of your hard drive by cloning it is never a bad idea. Hardware can fail, and it's a pain losing your data. There are also times where you'd like to swap out a hard drive — whether in a laptop or a desktop — for something faster, but you want your PC to be the same as it was before the swap. In either of these cases, Macrium Reflect is a solid program that easily clones a drive. Why Macrium? It's the first one we used, it works, and we didn't find any reason to switch to another.

There are two ways to go about a hard drive swap. You can purchase a hard drive enclosure and hook your PC up to the new internal drive for a direct clone before replacing it — this method will take the least time. If you don't want to go in for a hard drive enclosure, you can clone the original drive to an external drive, do the physical swap, boot Windows from the external drive, and clone back onto the new internal drive.

If you need a new external hard drive for this process, have a look at our roundup of the best external drives money can buy. If you're in the market for a new internal drive but unsure of where to start, check out our SSD buyer's guide.

See our external hard drive buyer's guide

See our solid-state drive buyer's guide

Download Macrium Reflect

Although there are plenty of options when it comes to cloning-and-backup software, Macrium Reflect has a free version that works great for any casual users who need to make a copy of their hard drives. The first step is to get Macrium Reflect installed on your PC.

1. Launch your web browser from the Start menu, desktop or taskbar.

2. Navigate to the Macrium Reflect website.

3. Click Download.

4. Click Home use.

5. Click Save.

6. Click Run.

7. Click Download when you are satisfied with the options listed in the window. I went with the default settings.

8. Click Yes, your download will begin.

9. Click Next when the download is finished.

10. Click Next.

11. Click I accept the terms…

12. Click Next.

13. Click Next.

14. Click No or type your information if you want to register Macrium Reflect.

15. Click Next.

16. Click Next.

17. Click Install.

18. Click Finish.

Other cloning software

Although Macrium Reflect is our choice for a cloning tool, there are other options. Some are paid, some are free, but they all do pretty much the same thing.

AOMEI Backupper: Like Macrium Reflect, there is a fully-functional, free version of AOMEI that lets you create system images, back up hard drives, and clone drives. Its UI is super simple to use, and you can even set an automatic file sync that will keep your backup up to date.

See at AOMEI

Clonezilla: This free, open-source cloning tool has been around for a long time, and with good reason. It supports a ton of file systems and it plain works. Just don't expect a fancy user interface.

See at Clonezilla

Acronis True Image: There are a few buying options to choose from when it comes to Acronis — there is also a 30-day free trial— including subscription options that come with 50GB or 1TB of cloud storage. For just the cloning and backup software, you'll spend about $40.

See at Acronis

How to clone your hard drive

Before you begin with Macrium Reflect, ensure the drive you're going to clone to is connected to your PC. It's also good practice to clean up any files on your system, especially if you're moving to a smaller drive — you can't have more data than the new drive can hold.

1. Launch Macrium Reflect from your Start menu, desktop or taskbar.

2. Click the disk you want to clone. In this case, I'm choosing my C: drive because it is the drive I'm swapping out. A blue rectangle will appear when the disk is selected.

3. Click Clone this disk…

4. Click Select a disk to clone to…

5. Click the destination disk to which you want to write a clone — this can be an external hard drive or an internal drive connected by an enclosure. Remember, this process will erase any data stored on the destination drive.

6. Click and drag the partitions from the disk you want to clone. Ensure they are in the same order on the external destination drive as they are on the original drive.

   You may now need to change partition sizes so that they fit a smaller or larger hard drive. In my case, I'm cloning to a drive the same size as the old one, so I don't need to change anything. If you're moving to a smaller or larger drive, follow these instructions to resize partitions before proceeding with steps seven to ten.

7. Click Next when all partitions have been dragged over to the destination drive.

8. Click Next to see a summary of what you're about to clone. This is a good time to ensure the drive letters are all correct.

9. Click Finish.

10. Click OK.

Cloning to a smaller or a larger hard drive

Dealing with partitions when moving to a hard drive of a different size requires a couple of extra steps. If you're moving to a smaller hard drive, you want to ensure your data fits. The first thing you want to do is clean up your original drive so that it has less data than the new drive can hold. If you're moving to a larger hard drive, you want to expand the primary partition so that it takes up the entirety of the new disk.

Here are the changes you need to make in Macrium Reflect when dealing with hard drives of different size. Insert the following steps in between step 6 and step 7 in the preceding instructions.

1. Click the C: partition.

2. Click Cloned Partition Properties.

3. Type a new number that isn't smaller than the amount of data you currently have on the partition. Change this value so that the partition grows or shrinks depending on whether you're moving to a smaller or larger drive.

4. Click OK.

You can now continue with steps seven to ten in the preceding section.

How to restore your clone on a new hard drive

If you cloned your original drive to an internal drive using an enclosure, you can simply install the new drive in your PC and turn it on.

If you instead cloned to an external hard drive, you'll have to go through a couple of extra steps to get Windows working again on the new drive once you have it installed. Make sure your PC is turned off before going through these steps.

1. Plug the external drive into the PC that has a new hard drive installed.
2. Turn on the PC.
3. Enter the BIOS. Note that if your PC employs Secure Boot, you will have to turn it off in the BIOS before you can boot from an external hard drive.
4. Access your PC's boot menu.
5. Choose to boot from the external USB drive.

Windows 10 will load as if you hadn't replaced the drive, so Macrium Reflect is still installed. Launch it and follow the same steps to clone your external drive to the new internal drive.

The external Seagate drive (which is running Windows right now) is my source, and the internal drive is my destination.

After completing the clone for a second time, you can restart the PC, remove the USB drive, and let Windows load normally.

Have you used Macrium Reflect or another cloning tool when you swapped out a desktop or laptop hard drive? Tell us about your experience in the comments.

A complete breakdown of Sprint's Unlimited Freedom plan and everything else you can get when you sign up for service.

In the United States, there are a lot of companies that can get you and your phone online, but most people use one of the four biggest: AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon. Choosing between them can be difficult. Your first priority should be what service works best in the places you spend your time. It's not worth saving $10 a month if the service is bad. Once you have that sorted, you can look at what each company has to offer and the prices they charge for it.

More: Which unlimited plan should you buy?

Sprint definitely doesn't make it easy to use Windows phones on its network, but if you already jumped ship to Android or iOS, the carrier is worth a look. Here's what Sprint can give you and what it will cost.

Note: The details of this plan are current as of February 20, 2017.

Sprint Unlimited Freedom plan details

• Unlimited talk, text, and data (with certain restrictions)
• Unlimited data for streaming video up to 1080p
• Unlimited data for gaming up to 8Mbps
• Unlimited data for streaming music up to 1.5Mbps
• 10GB high-speed mobile hotspot with VPN and P2P support
• Add a tablet with unlimited data for $25 per month

Note: These features apply only to new accounts.

Sprint's definition of Unlimited Data means that after you use 23 GB in a single month, your service can be slowed down if you're in a congested area. You'll hear the word throttled used here but you need to know that it's only a temporary deprioritization of your data connection when you're in a busy area. It may not happen at all depending on how many other customers are using the same towers.

Buying a phone and getting exactly the data plan and extras you want is far easier on Sprint than every other company we've tried.

Sprint's Unlimited Freedom plan applies only to new customers who are also buying (outright purchases or financing) or leasing phones from Sprint at the time of purchase, and credit approval is required. There is an activation fee of up to $30 per line and the Unlimited Freedom Plan requires eBilling. Current customers can call 1-866-275-1411 with questions about changing their plan.

Sprint offers a 14-day satisfaction guarantee and devices purchased on installments are subject to a $350 early termination fee.

Additional lines can be added to a Sprint Unlimited Freedom plan. Every line has the same benefits outlined above and requires an equipment purchase. Here is a pricing breakdown.

• One line of service is $50
• Two lines of service is $90
• Three lines of service is $90
• Four lines of service is $90

Sprint Unlimited Freedom plan add-ons

Sprint's Unlimited Freedom plan is a no-frills option at a low price. There are few extras and add-ons available if you want international options or a few extra features.

• Free Sprint Open World Winter Promo: Free calls, texts and high-speed data from Canada, Mexico and 25 other countries in Latin America until March 31, 2017
• Mexico-Canada Plus: Unlimited calls and texts from the U.S. to Mexico and Canada, unlimited messaging to 180 countries and discounted international calling rates from the U.S. for $5 per month
• Upgrade your phone every 12 months with a $5 monthly charge

Sprint also offers trials and discounts on some premium services for new customers. Spotify Premium has a 30-day trial available, as does Lookout and Sprint Family Locator. After the trial period, normal monthly rates apply.

Sprint also will offer "unlimited access to exclusive artist content not available anywhere else" now that the company has bought one-third of Tidal, though exact details on this aren't yet available.

Are you getting a blue screen on your PC? Here's how to troubleshoot and fix the problem on Windows 10.

Windows 10 is one of the most advanced and secure OSes, but as with any piece of software, sometimes you'll come across problems, in particular, blue screen errors.

A "blue screen" (or "stop error") is what's commonly known as the Blue Screen of Death (BSOB), and it could appear while upgrading to a new version of the OS, when starting your computer, or just "out of the blue" when using Windows 10.

The biggest issue with a blue screen is that it's literally a screen with a blue background and a sad face with not enough information to tell you the problem.

You'll usually (not always) see a message that reads: "Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. We're just collecting some error info, and then we'll restart for you." And a general error code (HAL_INITIALIZATION_FAID, PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGE_AREA, CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED or BAD_SYSTEM_CONFIG_INFO, for example) that can give you a clue of the issue. But most of the time it's not enough to fix the problem.

Fortunately, you can often narrow down the blue screen to a problem with an update for Windows or a bad driver, incompatible software, or hardware you recently configured.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through a number of troubleshooting steps to fix a blue screen error and get you up and running as soon as possible.

• How to troubleshoot blue screen during an upgrade
• How to troubleshoot blue screen during boot with desktop access
• How to troubleshoot blue screen during boot without desktop access

How to troubleshoot blue screen during an upgrade

A lot of times you'll run into a BSOD as you try to upgrade to a new version of Windows 10. Typically, the reason could be a result of a third-party application, such as antivirus and security software, or incompatible hardware.

When you get the blue screen error, your system will automatically roll back any changes and restore the previous version of the OS.

You can troubleshoot this problem while trying to upgrade by doing the following.

Uninstall applications

An incompatible piece of software, such as an old program or third-party antivirus, is likely the root of the problem.

To resolve this issue, try uninstalling any unnecessary apps or a pieces of software you installed recently, using these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Apps & features.

4. Select the app and click the Uninstall button.

5. Follow the on-screen directions to complete the uninstall process.

Repeat the steps to remove every piece of software that may be causing the problem.

Once you successfully upgraded to the latest version of Windows 10, you can reinstall the apps and they should work as expected.

Disconnect non-essential hardware

It could also be a hardware related problem. When trying to make an installation of Windows 10 remember to always unplug non-essential peripherals, including secondary monitors, printers, phones, external hard drives and other USB devices (you only need your mouse, keyboard and main monitor).

You can always reconnect the hardware after the installation. If you continue to have the same problem, you may need to install newer drivers, or it could also be an indication of incompatible hardware.

Re-downloading upgrade files

It's possible that you're getting a blue screen because of damaged setup files, in which case you'll need to re-download the installation files.

If you're trying to upgrade using Windows Update, you can do this by using the Disk Cleanup tool to delete previously downloaded installation files. When you do this, Windows Update will re-download the files again to upgrade the OS.

To use the Disk Cleanup tool, do the following:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Disk Cleanup and click the result.
3. Select drive "Windows (C:)" and click OK.

4. Click the Clean up system files button.

5. Select drive "Windows (C:)" and click OK.

6. Check the Temporary Windows installation files option.

7. Click OK to delete the files.

Once you complete the steps, you can try to upgrade one more time using Windows Update.

If you're trying to upgrade using USB-bootable media, you may want to use the Media Creation tool to recreate your bootable media to jump to the latest version of Windows 10.

Doing a clean installation

Alternatively, you can prevent blue screen errors during an upgrade if you choose to delete everything and start fresh with a clean copy of the OS, instead of doing an in-place upgrade with USB-bootable media.

Important: This is a friendly reminder that performing a clean install of Windows 10 will delete everything on your system. It's recommended that you do a full backup before proceeding.

Before you begin, if you're upgrading from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, you'll need a product key to activate Windows 10. If you're upgrading to a new version of Windows 10, you can skip entering the product key as the OS will reactivate automatically after the upgrade.

Also, your PC's BIOS must be configured to boot from a USB flash drive. This can be different depending on your device, so make sure to check your computer manufacturer's support website for instructions.

To do a clean install of Windows 10, do the following:

1. Start your computer with the USB-bootable installation media.
2. Click Next.

3. Click Install now.

4. Click the I don't have a product key link to skip this step.
5. Check the I accept the license term option and click Next.

6. Select the OS you want to install.

7. Choose the Custom: Install Windows only (advanced) option.

8. Select and delete the primary partition with the Windows 10 installation. (It is usually labeled: Drive 0 Partition 2).

9. Click Next.
10. Follow the on-screen directions to complete the install process.

Once you complete the installation of Windows 10, you'll need to reinstall all your applications and restore your files from backup.

How to troubleshoot blue screen during boot with desktop access

When you experience a BSOD and you can access the desktop, the problem can be an outdated driver or missing update. Or it can also be an issue with a recently installed application, Windows update, or device driver.

How to install updates and drivers

You can make sure your installation of Windows 10 and drivers are up to date by following these steps.

Installing latest Windows 10 updates

Although the OS installs updates automatically, it's possible that an update may still be missing on your computer.

To check for updates on Windows 10, do the following:

1. Open Start.
2. Click on Update & security.

3. Click on Windows Update.

4. Click the Check for updates now button.

If you notice that there is an update available, but you can't download it. you can try to install the cumulative update manually using this guide.

Installing latest device driver updates

In the case that you're getting a stop error because of an outdated device driver, you can do the following:

1. Use the Windows key + X keyboard shortcut to open the Power User menu.
2. Click on Device Manager.
3. Expand the device causing the problem.

4. Right-click the device and select Update Driver Software.

5. Click the Search automatically for updated driver software option.

It takes time for device-driver updates to appear through Windows Update. This means that if you couldn't find any new updates using Device Manager, you may have to check your device manufacturer's support website to download and install newer drivers.

How to uninstall updates, drivers and applications

A blue screen error may also appear as a result of an incompatible or buggy update for Windows 10 or driver. If you can start your computer and get to the desktop, you can fix the problem by doing the following.

Uninstall Windows 10 updates

A BSOD error is more likely to occur after installing a new cumulative update for Windows 10 due to bugs or incompatibility problems.

If you're still able to get to the desktop, you can try to uninstall any recently installed update using the following steps:

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Click the Uninstall a program link.

3. Click the View installed updates link from the left pane.

4. Right-click the most recent update.

5. Select Uninstall to remove the update.

Once you complete the task, if you no longer see a stop error you can temporarily block the update from automatically installing using this guide.

Uninstall device drivers

If the stop error occurs after installing a driver, you can uninstall it using the following steps:

1. Use the Windows key + X keyboard shortcut to open the Power User menu.
2. Click on Device Manager.
3. Expand the device causing the problem.

4. Right-click the device and select Uninstall.

5. Click OK to confirm.

Alternatively, sometimes it's possible to roll back to the previous version of the driver to see if the older version fixes the issue. You can use the same steps mentioned above, but on step No. 4 select Properties, and on the Driver tab, click the Roll Back Driver button, if available.

Once you complete the task, if you no longer see a stop error you can temporarily block Windows 10 from automatically installing the driver using this guide.

Uninstall software

It could also happen that you recently installed an application that isn't compatible with the current version of Windows 10, and every time you try to open the app, a BSOD will appear.

To resolve this problem, check your software company's support website to see if there is a new update available or upgrade you can download and install on your computer.

If there isn't any new update, you'll need to uninstall the application in question using the following steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Apps & features.

4. Select the app and click the Uninstall button.

5. Follow the on-screen directions to complete the uninstall process.

Disconnect non-essential hardware

Sometimes, you'll see a blue screen after connecting new hardware to your computer. When this happens the problem could be that the device isn't compatible, is broken, or the OS is trying to install the wrong driver.

If it's an old device that you're trying to connect, it's probably not compatible with Windows 10. You can check your hardware manufacturer's support website to find out whether or not it's compatible. If it's not, you may need to find a newer model or suitable replacement.

It could also happen that your peripheral went bad, in which case you'll need to get a new one that is in working condition.

In the case the OS is trying to install the wrong driver, you'll need to download the latest device driver from your manufacturer's support website. Use the steps mentioned above to uninstall the current driver and install the one you manually downloaded.

How to troubleshoot blue screen during boot without desktop access

Other times, a BSOD will appear on Windows 10 after installing a new update or device driver, and you won't be able to get to the desktop to fix the problem.

Quick Tip: If you can't boot to your desktop, and you recently connected new hardware, such as an external hard drive, secondary monitor, or printer, try to disconnect any unnecessary hardware to see if that fixes the problem.

When this happens, you can use System Restore or Safe mode to troubleshoot and resolve the problem.

Fixing blue screen using Restore Point

If you can't access the desktop, let your computer fail to start at least three times to trigger the automatic repair environment, and then do the following:

1. On the "Choose an option" screen select Troubleshoot.

2. Click on Advanced options.

3. Click on System Restore.

4. After your computer reboots, select your account and sign-in.

5. Click Next.

6. Usually, system restore points are automatically created when you install a new update, driver or app. You can also create a system restore point manually. Select the restore point created before the blue screen appeared.

7. Click Next.
8. Click Finish to apply the restore point.

Once you complete these steps, the system restore will remove updates and drivers configured after the restore point was created, which can help to fix the stop error.

Fixing blue screen using Safe mode

Alternatively, you can uninstall an update or device driver using Safe mode when you can't access the desktop.

If you can't access the desktop, let your computer fail to start at least three times to trigger the automatic repair environment, and then do the following:

1. Select Troubleshoot on the Choose an option screen.

2. Click on Advanced options.

3. Click on Start Settings.

4. Click the Restart button.

5. After your computer reboots, press F4 or the 4 key to select Enable Safe Mode.

Once you're in safe mode, depending on what's causing the problem, you can use the following steps to uninstall an update or device driver.

Uninstall Windows 10 updates

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Click the Uninstall a program link.

3. Click the View installed updates link from the left pane.

4. Right-click the most recent update.

5. Select Uninstall to remove the update.

Uninstall device drivers

1. Use the Windows key + X keyboard shortcut to open the Power User menu.
2. Click on Device Manager.
3. Expand the device causing the problem.

4. Right-click the device and select Uninstall.

5. Click OK to confirm.

If you no longer see a stop error after rebooting your PC, you can temporarily block Windows 10 from automatically installing the driver or update using this guide.

Wrapping things up

Getting a BSOD error on Windows 10 can be a frustrating experience, but as you can see in this guide, there is plenty you can do to troubleshoot and fix the problem.

If you're still unable to resolve the issue, you can also make a note of any error message and contact your manufacturer for help. Sometimes, they may not have an update to fix the issue, but they may be able to offer a workaround.

And it's not just the blue screen on Windows 10 that signals a problem. You may also come across a black screen, an issue that can be caused by a graphics driver, a connection problem with your display, or during the installation of the OS (or updates). Likewise, you may also experience a flickering screen, which usually is caused by an application or video driver problem.

More Windows 10 resources

For more help 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

Should you use a proxy or a VPN?

When it comes to internet privacy and security, two terms are commonly tossed around: VPN and proxy. If you're wondering what exactly these words mean, or which one you need, if any, you aren't alone. While these services both provide something similar, it's important to know the differences and similarities so you can decide which one is best for you.

What is a VPN?

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is best described as an encrypted virtual tunnel that shuttles your internet activity between a host server and your PC or phone. Anything you do on the internet, from checking your bank statements to gaming online, won't be seen by anyone but the VPN host server, thanks to the strong encryption. Keep in mind that if your VPN keeps logs, your activity could potentially be scooped up by interested parties (a.k.a. the government).

You can use a VPN to get around geo-restrictions because your IP address will be different, but a VPN does so much more when it comes to privacy. Public Wi-Fi, like the kind you find at hotels and airports, isn't always secure — people can snoop what you're doing if your data isn't encrypted. But it becomes secure when you're using a VPN.

Many companies use VPNs in order for employees to access their own local intranet or corporate network when out of the office. A VPN can be used on any device that has the client installed, so it doesn't matter where you are trying to access from.

For the casual user, though, you'll probably be purchasing a VPN service and connecting to their server in order to browse the internet privately and securely. Set up is generally straightforward, making it a suitable option for many people. Before you rush out and download a VPN client, though, there are some downsides you should be aware of.

What are the downsides of a VPN?

The first and probably biggest downside of a VPN is the price. For example, our top pick for a VPN, ExpressVPN, is about $100 for a yearly subscription and about $13 for a monthly subscription.

See at ExpressVPN

Compare this price with the plethora of free proxies out there — many unsafe, but we'll cover that in the proxy section— and you see where someone might be tempted to just temporarily configure a free proxy to watch a YouTube video that is blocked in their country.

Another downside of a VPN is that it can be a bit slow if a ton of people use the same host server. This is especially true when going with a discount VPN option. But the same problem holds true for proxies.

What is a proxy server?

A proxy server is best described as an intermediary for your PC and the internet at large. When you connect to a proxy server, your activity will appear as if it's coming from the proxy's IP address rather than your own. For this reason, a proxy is great at getting around geo-restrictions. This is similar to a VPN, but that's about where the similarities stop.

Instead of the traffic between your PC and the host server being hidden behind an encrypted tunnel, it remains mostly open to any interested parties. This means that anyone with the right tools can have a look at your internet traffic, just as if you weren't using a proxy at all. There are also some instances of Java and Flash causing the proxy to fail when you try to load their elements in a web browser, effectively letting a website see your real IP.

Many free proxy servers are less than reputable, which makes them not recommended for anything more than briefly accessing geo-restricted, non-sensitive content. Because free proxies generally cost something to operate, you will no doubt see ads, and your information that is collected by the proxy service might be sold to a bidder. There is a great tool from haschek solutions that lets you test the legitimacy of any proxy server, whether free or paid.

See the haschek solutions proxy checker

There are two different protocols that proxy servers use to connect with the internet: HTTP and SOCKS.

HTTP proxies

HTTP proxies have been around for a long time, and they're the easiest and fastest to use. This is the type of proxy you will use if you want to browse the internet, as it can only be used to access websites.

When using an HTTP proxy server, your traffic remains completely unencrypted unless you connect using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) — this is the "s" at the end of "https" in your browser's address bar. Remember, even when connecting to a site that uses HTTPS, you aren't getting the same protection a good VPN can offer.

SOCKS proxies

Socket Secure (SOCKS) proxies are more geared toward internet traffic above and beyond HTTP traffic from your browser. They're popularly used for torrent services (not that we condone them) or for connecting to FTP and web servers.

Because SOCKS proxies have to handle much more data (think Blu-ray rips), they're generally slower than HTTP proxies that only handle browser-based traffic. Much like HTTP proxies, they don't offer any encryption unless you're using SSL.

Is a VPN or a proxy better?

Before working with either of these tools, remember that in this age of eroding privacy, nothing is completely safe.

That being said, in almost all cases a VPN beats a proxy for privacy and security. You get solid encryption on all internet traffic coming from your PC, you can still get around geo-restrictions, and, unless your VPN provider sells you out, your internet traffic should be pretty much completely private. A proxy should, in most cases, only be used for casual, non-sensitive actions if you're truly worried about your privacy and security online.

Wondering which VPN service you should try out? Have a look at our choice for the best VPN available.

See the best VPN on 2017

Check out our Digital Offers for great deals on VPN services

How do I create and send Outlook out-of-office messages? Simple, at least if you use Office 365 Business or Microsoft Exchange.

Microsoft Outlook has an out-of-office messages feature that lets you automatically send replies with relevant information when you're on vacation or don't have access to your mail. There are several ways to customize and set Outlook out-of-office replies, based on message senders and date ranges.

Note: This tutorial is for Outlook 2016 for Windows users with either Office 365 Business or Exchange accounts. Outlook's out-of-office messages feature is only available in Office 365 Business and Exchange. However, if you use Outlook with Office 365 Home, Outlook.com, Hotmail or Gmail, you can find an out-of-office "hack", that's a bit of hassle but gets the job done, on Microsoft's Office support site.

See on Microsoft Store

How to send out of office automatic replies in Outlook

1. Click the File tab at the top-left corner of the Outlook display.

2. Click the box to Automatic Replies box to the immediate left of the Automatic Replies (Out of Office) text.

3. In the Automatic Replies box that appears, click the circle to the left of the Send automatic replies option.

4. If you want to set start and end times for when your out-of-office messages will begin and end, set the appropriate dates and times accordingly in the Start time and End time drop-down menus.

5. Next, you can create your custom out-of-office reply. In the Inside My Organization box, type your custom message.

   • You can use the Font, Font size and Font style options above the text field to customize the appearance of your automatic reply.
   • You can use the List and Indent position options above the text field to create numbered or bulleted lists, and change the position of text in your automatic reply

6. If you only want to send out-of-office messages to people within your company click OK to confirm your changes.

7. If you also want to send out-of-office automatic replies for every message you receive while you're away (including newsletters, spam and everything else) click the Outside My Organization box.

8. Cut and paste your message from the Inside My Organization box to the Outside My Organization box, or create a different messages using the instructions in step No. 5.
   • If you only want to send messages to senders from outside of your organization, leave the Insider My Organization box blank.
   • If you want to send out-of-office automatic replies for every message you receive from people outside your company while you're away (including newsletters, spam and everything else) make sure circle next to Anyone outside of my organization is filled in.
   • If you only want to send auto replies to people who aren't from your company but are listed in your Outlook contacts, click to fill in the circle next to My Contacts only.
9. Click OK to confirm your changes and enable Outlook automatic replies.

If you simply can't miss a message from your boss — even when you're in tropical paradise and really shouldn't be working — and you prearranged to use an email subject line "code word" (such as "IMPORTANT") so the boss can reach you if absolutely necessary, you can create custom Outlook out-of-office message rules to make sure crucial messages get sent to you via a personal mail account, for example.

How to create a custom rule for Outlook automatic replies

1. Once you've created and save an automatic reply, return to the Automatic Replies box using steps No. 1 and No. 2 above.

2. Click the Rules box in the bottom left corner.

3. Click the Add rule box.

4. A new box labeled Edit rule appears, and you should click the From box at the top.

5. In the drop-down menu beneath Address book choose Contacts.

6. Select your boss's name (or whoever is important enough to hear from while you're on vacation) from the list.

7. Click From at the bottom of the box to add your boss's contact to the From field.

8. Back on the Edit rule page, in the Subject line field, type your "code word," in this case: IMPORTANT.

9. Check the box next to Forward.
   • Click To to add a forwarding address from your contacts. (Refer back to steps No. 4 and No. 5.)
   • Or type the email address you want to forward the message to in the field to the right of both Forward and To.
10. At the top of the Edit rule box, click OK to confirm you new out-of-office message rule.
11. In the Automatic Reply Rules box, click OK.
12. And in the mail Automatic Reply Rules box, click OK a final time to confirm all changes.

If you want to modify any of your Outlook out of office rules, follow steps No. 1 and No. 2 above but in step No. 3, choose Edit rule instead of Add rule, and then make your changes accordingly

How to turn off Outlook out of office automatic replies

1. If you didn't set an end date, or you want to disable your auto replies early, clicking the File tab at the top-left corner of the Outlook display. (If you out-of-office messages are enabled, you'll see a yellow box around the Automatic Replies option on the following screen.)

2. Click the Turn off box beneath the Automatic Replies (Out of Office) option.

That's just about everything you need to know to master Outlook 2016 for Windows' out-of-office automatic replies. Hopefully you never have to worry about work mail when you're on vacation, but if you do you're now prepared.

For more Outlook and Office 365 help and how-to articles, read:

• How to color code Outlook messages by sender (and why you should)
• How to create a custom Outlook email signature
• 15 Microsoft Outlook keyboard shortcuts guaranteed to save time
• How to back up data in Outlook 2016 for Windows