Microsoft Outlook 2016 for Windows has a feature that lets you easily flag important email messages and add reminders to make sure you remember to reply or respond accordingly. Here's how to apply custom reminders to Outlook messages.

If you're anything like the Windows Central writers and editors, you get a lot of email. Like, a real lot. A ton. Too much.

We can't really assist you there, but we can help make sure you don't forget to reply to important messages that require responses by a certain date or time.

You may also want to check out our quick guide to color coding Outlook messages, which makes it easy to separate required reading from junk mail:

• How to color code Outlook messages by sender (and why you should)

How to add reminders to Outlook email messages

1. Click the Home tab in the horizontal bar across the top of your Outlook screen. (It's the second tab in from the left.)

2. Click on the email to which you want to add a reminder to select it.

3. In the Tags box below the Home tab (the fifth box in from the right), click Follow Up to open the corresponding drop-down menu.

4. Scroll down toward the bottom of the menu and choose Add Reminder.

5. In the Custom box that appears, click to open the Flag to box, and then choose your desired action, which can include Follow up, Forward, Reply and No Response Necessary.

6. To add a reminder alert, make sure the box next to next to Reminder at the bottom of the box is checked.

7. In the first drop-down menu below the Reminder box, choose the date you want to receive your reminder.

8. In the second drop-down menu below the Reminder box, choose the time you want to receive your reminder.
   • The drop-down menu only provides reminder times in 30-minute increments, but you can click in the time field and type your own numbers if you want your alert to appear at another time.
9. If you want to add a custom audio tone, click the small speaker icon. Navigate to the location of the audio file on your computer, click Open and then choose OK to add the file.
10. Click OK to save your Outlook email reminder alert.
    • After you add an alert to a message, a small bell will appear next to it in your inbox.
    • After you add an alert to a message, a red flag will also appear next to it in your inbox. When you respond and want to remove the flag, simply click it and a green checkmark will appear.

For more similar Microsoft Outlook tutorials, read:

• How to recall a sent email message in Outlook
• How to use Outlook Categories to manage mountains of mail like a boss

Or check out our Microsoft Office help hub:

• Microsoft Office 101: Help, how-tos and tutorials

Are my files encrypted when I save them to the cloud?

After another round of high-profile celebrity hacks, it's becoming clear that cloud storage isn't exactly as safe as it's made out to be. It's easy to sync your files with a service such as OneDrive or Dropbox, but it's also easy to forget about those files down the road. You may have deleted some sensitive photos from your phone, but they still ended up synced in the cloud, and now they're in the hands of a hacker.

Let's take a look at how your cloud data can be potentially compromised and how you can add another layer of protection by encrypting them before they reach the cloud.

Cloud-storage encryption

There are two forms of encryption when you're dealing with cloud storage services: transit and resting. When your files travel between your PC and a cloud service, the files and folders you upload are generally encrypted with at least 128-bit secure sockets layer (SSL) technology.

When your data is resting in storage, however, there is less of a chance that it will have encryption, and if it does, the cloud service will likely hold the key. In the case of OneDrive, only those with a business subscription can take advantage of resting encryption. Dropbox, on the other hand, provides resting 256-bit encryption, but it holds the encryption keys.

Encryption of your data, while it's in transit and comfy in the cloud, works great against brute-force attacks. It would take a supercomputer years to crack the 256-bit encryption. It's much more likely that failure on the user side will involve a phishing attack or a weak password that can be guessed by an interested party. If your account can be accessed through the front door, decryption isn't necessary.

Keeper of the encryption keys

To otherwise unscramble the encrypted data, a key is needed. Each time data is encrypted, one of these keys is created and is saved somewhere. Many online backup services — which are separate from cloud-sync services— let you create the encryption key and take responsibility for keeping it safe. If you lose the key, say goodbye to your backed up data.

Cloud storage services used for syncing and sharing, such as Dropbox, do not provide users with the option to create their own encryption keys. It's up to the user to trust the service with creating and safeguarding the key. There's less of a chance that you'll end up locked out forever because you forgot that key, but there's also a chance that the service itself will be compromised, in which case the entire thing is out of your hands. Bottom line: No matter how careful you are, things can go wrong when someone else holds the keys.

Encrypt your data before it reaches the cloud

Some people refuse to use cloud storage because of security concerns. Others claim they have nothing to hide and wouldn't care if their files were released to the general public. Regardless of your opinion, it's not a bad idea to use protection on the internet. It's not getting any safer out there, and people can take advantage of the smallest bits of information.

Yes, it's just another thing you have to worry about, but encrypting your data yourself before sending it to the cloud will help protect you. You don't have be a whiz to perform this extra step. Encryption software is generally easy to use, you can create a unique encryption key that only you hold, and most options work well with popular cloud-storage services. Even if you don't want to pay, there are plenty of free encryption tools out there.

Services such as AxCrypt and Folder Lock, both of which are PCMag editors' choices, have free, basic versions of their software, and they also offer paid subscriptions that come with plenty more features, including local disk encryption to help keep things safe on your end.

There are a ton of free alternatives that can encrypt one file at a time before sending them to the cloud. 7Zip and Boxcryptor are standouts in this arena.

More resources

For more information on creating strong passwords and avoiding phishing, check out our full guide on how to ensure your cloud data remains safe. And if you're interested in full cloud backups of your PC, have a look at our choice for the best online backup service.

How to ensure your data in the cloud remains secure

See the best online backup service

One of the best things you can do for your PC monitor is to calibrate its colors properly. Datacolor's Spyder 5 is a valuable tool that helps you do just that.

If you're involved in any kind of creative work, it'd be fair to call PC color calibration a necessity. You might think your shiny new monitor looks really nice, the colors are popping and that everything is A-OK. The sad truth is that it's probably not, or at least, not if you're looking to meet a standard for color work.

Getting it calibrated is a really simple process ... if you have the right equipment.

For the purposes of this article, we're using the Datacolor Spyder 5 Pro colorimeter. It cost $139 on Amazon at the time of writing. For even more control — targeted towards professionals — there's the Spyder 5 Elite, too.

Why calibrate your PC's color?

From Datacolor:

Most monitors come out of the box with the brightness set too high and with oversaturated colors – plus they degrade over time. Your display is the window into your digital image, you need to be able to trust it. Spyder5 calibrates your display to an industry color reference standard to ensure your colors are accurate for better print matching. Your image editing will be easier and faster, you'll spend less time in the 'print-edit-print' cycle, and you'll waste less ink and paper.

Essentially, the process makes sure your monitor is as close as humanly possible to market standards for color work. That way you can trust that what you're seeing on the display in front of you is accurate and will look great.

Getting it done

In the box, there's not a lot to look at, just the Spyder 5 Pro and a redemption code for the companion software. The colorimeter itself consists of a plastic puck with an ambient light meter, a lens cap covering the important bits and the connected USB cable.

Getting going is as simple as plugging in and downloading the software. You simply hang the colorimeter over the top of the monitor with the sensors facing the display. This particular model has an ambient light sensor to help with finer corrections, but there's also a cheaper model that only has fixed correction profiles.

The process is straightforward, and the software from Datacolor is easy to use. You get a step-by-step guide on what you need to do before you start, and the software should be able to identify your monitor automatically. If it doesn't you can select it from a drop-down list.

Calibrating with the Spyder 5 Pro.

It'll recommend settings for Gamma, color temperature and brightness — which is influenced by the room light, should you measure it — or you can choose your own custom options. Once you've clicked through and attached the colorimeter where instructed, it's time to sit back for a few and let it do its work.

In this instance, the procedure paused mid-way through for a brightness adjustment, but if that's not on your list you'll see a variety of colors flash up while readings are taken.

When you come out on the other side, the software will have generated a new calibration profile for your monitor. You can save this and set a reminder to do it again on a monthly basis, and you can also look at sample images with or without the profile applied. The results may surprise you.

In my case, the resulting profile was 100-percent sRGB compliant and 80 percent Adobe RGB. The Spyder 5 Pro doesn't work magic, and it can't make things look better than the monitor can physically handle, but it can make a big difference. In my case, on my HP Omen 32 gaming monitor, the overall appearance to the eye is warmer and less bright, with the added comfort of meeting the sRGB standard, which is good for web work.

If I used a monitor geared more towards creative work and less towards gaming, the effects could potentially be even greater.

If you're involved in any kind of creative work, professional or amateur, properly calibrating your monitor should be on your list of things to do. Devices such as the Spyder 5 aren't cheap at around $139, but the ease with which you can get your colors in line — and keep them in line — makes it a worthwhile investment.

The added bonus of the light sensor also made it much more pleasant to look at my PC monitor. I've been using the HP Omen 32 with the settings it came out of the box with, and the difference after running the Spyder 5 Pro is immediately noticeable and less straining. It's now set up perfectly — or as perfectly as it can be — for color and my working environment, which makes the Spyder 5 Pro money well spent.

See at Amazon

SteamVR vs Viveport? Which one should you choose?

As an HTC Vive user, two official stores are available when purchasing digital games online. Between Valve's SteamVR platform and the recently released Viveport, which one is best for you? Here's a breakdown of what they both offer!

Read more at VRHeads!

Is an Xbox One download grinding to a halt? Can't connect to your favorite multiplayer game? Here are some networking tips for Xbox One users.

Today's video game consoles are quickly shifting over to online-centric experiences, with digital distribution, multiplayer and content expansion packs being the norm for big budget titles. With this new-found focus, getting the best connectivity hugely enhances your Xbox One experience. Here are some in-depth tips to improve your console's networking setup.

• Reduce Xbox One data use
• Fix slow download speeds over Xbox Live
• Fix multiplayer lag over Xbox Live

Reduce Xbox One data use

With file sizes on the rise and a heavier reliance on internet access, modern consoles are prone to eating up data. If you're on a connection associated with a data limit, saving up those bytes is crucial to prevent a hefty bill. These are our top tips for reducing your Xbox One's data usage.

Check data usage in the Settings app

Before attempting to reduce your Xbox One's data usage, it's good to get a rough idea of the bandwidth your console uses at this point in time. That ensures your Xbox One's data use is worth addressing while also providing insight into your estimated savings after applying the following tips. Luckily, an in-depth breakdown of bandwidth use is tucked away within the Xbox One's Settings application.

1. Open the Settings app on your Xbox One
2. Navigate to the Network tab
3. Open Network settings
4. Select Bandwidth usage on the right-hand side of the screen

A log of your console's data use should now be displayed on screen, with hourly figures for the past 24 hours alongside usage breakdowns on a per-month basis. This should give you an idea of how much data your console currently consumes and how it relates to any data caps you may have in place.

Disable automatic updates

As convenient as they may be, automatic updates are one of the easiest ways to unknowingly exceed your data limit with an Xbox One. With some recent titles surpassing 100GB, restricting the way your Xbox One updates can save a lot of data in the long run. Although this means you'll have to manually trigger updates as you want them, it can prevent undesired updates from sneakily downloading in the background. By enabling the Xbox One's energy-saving mode using the following steps, this prevents updates from downloading automatically.

1. Open the Settings app on your Xbox One
2. Navigate to the Power mode & startup tab
3. Change the console's power mode to Energy-saving

While this will prevent unwanted downloads, your Xbox One will no longer take advantage of sleep mode. If you want this feature, we simply recommend uninstalling unused games and apps to prevent updates from being downloaded.

Install via discs whenever possible

Even with Microsoft pushing towards a digital future, physical discs are still here to stay. If you're an avid gamer who frequently buys new games, buying a retail copy can be an easy way to cut down on data use. With disc-based titles installing directly off the disc, you'll only be using bandwidth for updates over Xbox Live. You'll probably find gaming a lot cheaper, too, with physical copies more heavily discounted than their digital counterparts.

Avoid data-hungry games and apps

For the data-conscious, try to stay away from games and applications that use up a significant amount of data. Video streaming applications and intensive multiplayer games are ones to watch out for, with some using GBs of data over only a short period. Extremely bandwidth-heavy tasks such as live streaming on Beam and Twitch should be avoided.

Fix slow download speeds over Xbox Live

Almost every Xbox One owner has suffered from slower than expected download speeds over the years, with a range of factors which affect download performance. While issues can sometimes be linked to back to Microsoft, there are a few ways you can improve speeds yourself. Here are our recommendations to improve your download speeds over Xbox Live.

Check your connection

Before attempting to fix slow download speeds, we first recommend checking your connection via your Xbox One. This will give you an idea of both the speed and stability of you network, which has a huge bearing on its ability to quickly download content via the internet. Network statistics can be obtained via the console's Settings app using the steps listed below.

1. Open the Settings app on your Xbox One
2. Navigate to the Network tab
3. Open Network settings
4. Select Detailed network statistics on the right side of the screen

After your connection is checked, values for speed, packet loss, and latency should all be displayed on screen. Your download speed is crucial here because it has a bearing on the time it takes to download games and apps over Xbox Live. This value will be displayed in how many KBs or MBs are transferred per second.

Use the right hardware for the job

The hardware used to connect your Xbox One to the internet also has a huge significance on your network performance, with varying speeds depending on the type of setup.

Wired connections almost always offer the best speeds and stability, with a direct line to your console. While wireless can still provide adequate download and upload speeds, a wired connection is unmatched, especially over distance.

Depending on your router, two wireless bands are widely used nowadays: 2.4GHz and 5GHz connections. It's becoming increasingly common for modern routers to offer dual-band connectivity, which provides access to both frequencies.

While 5GHz ideally offers a higher throughput than a 2.4GHz connection, you'll lose range in the process. However, the range of 2.4GHz connections isn't always a good thing, with possible interference from other 2.4GHz networks and separate local wireless devices. While wired is the way to go if possible, 5GHz networks are a great step up from the standard 2.4GHz offering.

Close all games and apps

Due to the nature of the Xbox One's OS, resources are prioritized for games and apps that are currently active. While this ensures a smooth overall experience, downloads can see reduced speeds when left running in the background. Software that also requires significant bandwidth, such as streaming applications, may also impact this speed.

To ensure content is downloaded at the fastest possible rate, close all games and apps currently running on the console. Alternatively, if you're using the Xbox One's instant-on power mode, games can be downloaded while the console is in a sleep state.

Avoid peak times

If you're often on your Xbox when you're first back from work or school, you may be experiencing lower-than-expected download speeds during peak times. Affecting both your internet service provider and Xbox Live, downloads may simply be slower due to high demand for the service. While there isn't a huge amount you can do to resolve such issues, you can try downloading content at a quieter time of day.

Change DNS settings

Domain Name System (DNS) settings are a huge aspect of the web, translating web domains to their internet protocol (IP) addresses. DNS servers are used to perform this translation and are the gateway to establishing connections to an address.

In most cases, users will most likely use the default DNS settings offered by your internet service provider (ISP). While using these settings is perfectly viable, you may see increased speeds when switching to a third-party anycast solution. Here's how to take advantage of popular third-party DNS services such as GoogleDNS and OpenDNS, on your Xbox One console.

1. Open the Settings app on your Xbox One
2. Navigate to the Network tab
3. Open Network settings
4. Select Advanced settings
5. Select DNS Settings
6. Select Manual to manually enter a new address
7. A screen will now appear to enter an address.
   • If you're using Open DNS, enter 208.67.222.222
   • If using Google DNS, enter 8.8.8.8.
   • If using another third-party service, enter the primary address here.
8. After confirming the primary address, you'll next be prompted to enter a secondary address
   • If you're using Open DNS, enter 208.67.220.220
   • If using Google DNS, enter 8.8.4.4
   • If using another third-party service, the secondary address should go here.

If you wish to revert back to your default DNS settings at any point in time, simply switch your DNS settings back to Automatic.

Note: If you're using an IPv6-enabled connection, the above IPv4 addresses can be used for IPv6 DNS lookups.

Enable Quality of Service (QoS)

While this tip is only recommended for our more advanced readers, enabling Quality of Service (QoS) can also bring a notable bump in the speed of your Xbox One downloads. Enabled through your router, QoS manages bandwidth depending on the current traffic on the network. This allows you to prioritize certain traffic types, to ensure bandwidth is allocated to your Xbox One when required.

However, with QoS tied to your router settings, the exact method and complexities behind the feature vary from model to model. We recommend searching online for your exact router, for further information on the feature.

Fix multiplayer issues over Xbox Live

A near-instantaneous connection is often required for online multiplayer experiences, with even the slightest delay potentially making for game-breaking issues. While the complexities of modern networks can result in a wide range of problems, we've compiled some fixes for common issues.

Check your connection

Before attempting to improve multiplayer connectivity, we first recommend checking your connection via your Xbox One. This will give you an idea of various network statistics, which can be used to diagnose any potential problems with your current setup. Network statistics can be obtained via the console's Settings app using the steps listed below.

1. Open the Settings app on your Xbox One
2. Navigate to the Network tab
3. Open Network settings
4. Select Detailed network statistics on the right side of the screen

After your connection is checked, values for speed, packet loss, and latency should all be displayed on screen. These can all influence multiplayer performance, determining how efficiently data is transferred between your console and a server. Speed should be as a high as possible, with lower packet loss and latency ideal. From previous experience, we recommend over 2MBps for a passable multiplayer experience, a packet loss close to zero percent, and latency under 200 ms.

Multiplayer design is sometimes to blame

Depending on the type of game you're playing, ideal conditions sometimes aren't replicable due to the nature of a game's online infrastructure. Although most of today's titles launch with stable multiplayer functionality, approaches to networking have infamously harmed certain games from the outset. Two common approaches to online networking are often seen nowadays: peer-to-peer (P2P) networking or dedicated servers.

Dedicated servers are becoming increasingly popular, with a central server hosted solely to accommodate multiplayer matches. Often hosted in a central location with low latency unrivaled by other solutions, this setup can reduce any form of noticeable lag within the capabilities of the host. Provided dedicated servers are hosted across the globe, lag is less common with this type of technology.

P2P networking relies solely on player networks to host multiplayer matches, using one of the player's consoles as a central server. Although this is a considerably cheaper option to develop, using a home connection to host multiplayer matches can result in undesirable latency and interruptions not seen with dedicated servers.

While dozens of hosting factors can cause multiplayer issues, users can expect better performance with dedicated servers. If you're experiencing issues with some multiplayer games, the cause may simply be linked the game's design. Make sure to search online to see if other users are experiencing issues and whether certain titles can be improved on a per-case basis.

Aiming for Open NAT

Network Address Translation (NAT) allows multiple devices to map internal IP addresses to external addresses, for use when connected to the internet. This technology plays a huge role in connectivity with multiplayer games, deciding how incoming traffic is handled.

When connected to Xbox Live, you may have seen terms thrown around which indicate the leniency of NAT types. This somewhat represents your compatibility with other players, with stricter NAT types often experiencing issues with multiplayer connectivity. A good way of showing how NAT influences connectivity is through a handy grid courtesy of Xbox Support. This shows compatibility between NAT types and why aiming for Open NAT makes for the best overall experience.

On a surface level, users with Open NAT will usually see the best experience on Xbox Live. While getting your NAT open is ultimately the end goal for the best connectivity, this has proven to be difficult for many users. There are a few workarounds which can improve your NAT. Here are some of the most effective options you might want to consider.

Note: Do not use a combination of Universal Plug and Play (UPnP), port forwarding and DMZ when configuring your Xbox One's connectivity. Make sure these are all disabled before moving between steps.

• Universal Plug and Play: UPnP is a set of protocols which automatically handles port mappings in an attempt to improve communication in an effective manner. Although UPnP is automatically enabled on most modern routers, enabling this for the first time can drastically improve general connectivity. Again, the steps for checking can vary hugely between routers, so we recommend searching around online for your exact model.

• Port Forwarding: Port Forwarding shares its similarities with UPnP. However, it requires manual rules to forward specific ports. Opening and forwarding specific ports on a per-service or per-game basis ensures the best connectivity with certain titles. For more information on port forwarding with your router, search online for specific information for your router.

• Perimeter network: A perimeter network (or "demilitarized zone") can be set up to remove internet restrictions on a device, essentially telling your router to send unsolicited traffic to your console. While this is almost certain to improve your NAT, it should be used as a last resort when troubleshooting. This is fine to use on a Xbox One console due to the restricted nature of the OS, but it should never be attempted with a standard PC.

Still need Xbox One help?

Experiencing other issues with your Xbox One? Need help with that new multiplayer game? Take a look at our Xbox Help page for more tips and tricks.

How do I get good at PVP combat in Elite: Dangerous?

There is a galaxy full of stuff to do in Elite: Dangerous, including trading, mining, exploring, and fighting. When it comes to combat, you can choose to go up against computer opponents (PVE), or you can go up against other human pilots in what is know as player-vs-player (PVP) combat.

To help you survive longer in this ultimate form of space battle, here are eight tips and tricks you can employ immediately.

Read more at VR Heads!

If you're still running Windows Vista, you can (and probably should) upgrade to Windows 10. Here's how to do it.

Microsoft is retiring Windows Vista on April 11, which means that if you're using a computer with the decade-old version of the OS, the time has come to upgrade. However, this is not to say that Windows Vista will stop working after its life support cycle ends. After April 11, 2017, your device will no longer receive any more maintenance, including security and performance updates, and Microsoft won't provide any kind of support.

If you want to avoid your computer quickly becoming vulnerable to viruses and other security risks, you should start planning to upgrade. Unfortunately, Microsoft doesn't provide a direct path to upgrade to Windows 10, but you can still make the jump and leave behind Windows Vista for good. However, it's a process that requires that you do a full backup of your data and perform a clean installation of Windows 10. We've got you covered with all the steps.

In this guide, we walk you through the steps to upgrade Windows Vista to Windows 10 using a clean installation.

• Before you begin
• How to create a full backup on Windows Vista
• How to upgrade Windows Vista to Windows 10

Before you begin

If you're still using Windows Vista, it's likely that your computer has low hardware specifications, considering today's standards. Before going through the upgrade process, you have to make sure your device meets the minimum hardware requirements to install Windows 10.

These are the official minimum system requirements to run Windows 10:

• Processor: 1GHz or faster processor or SoC.
• Memory: 1GB for 32-bit OS or 2GB for 64-bit OS.
• Storage: 16GB for 32-bit OS 20GB for 64-bit OS.
• Graphics card: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver.
• Display: 800 x 600.

Once you know that your device can handle the new OS, you'll need to purchase a genuine copy of Windows 10. You can get a copy of Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro at the Microsoft Store.

Additionally, you'll need a USB flash drive with 8GB of storage to create a bootable media.

How to create a full backup on Windows Vista

Upgrading Windows Vista to Windows 10 requires a clean installation, which means that everything on your computer will be erased. As such, it's a good idea to make a full backup of your data and the entire computer.

To make a backup of your personal files, you can simply connect a removable storage and copy the files over. Once you complete backing up your files, make sure you have the installation files and product keys to reinstall any applications you're currently using.

You can also connect an external hard drive with enough free space and use the Windows Vista backup utility to create and restore a system image, which is a form of backup that includes a copy of everything on your computer. If you want to use this tool, do the following:

1. Open Control Panel.

2. Under "System and Maintenance," click the Back up your computer link.

3. Click the Back up computer button.

4. If prompted for permission, click the Continue button.

5. Select the hard drive you want to use to make the backup, and click Next.

6. Click the Start backup button to begin the process.

7. Click Close.

Once the full backup is complete, disconnect the removable storage, and you can proceed with the upgrade process. In case you need to restore the previous version, remember that you'll need a bootable media with the Windows Vista files to use the recovery option.

How to upgrade Windows Vista to Windows 10

While there is not a direct path to upgrade a decade-old OS, it's possible to upgrade Windows Vista to Windows 7, and then to Windows 10. But that's not an ideal approach, as you'll be wasting time and additional licenses.

The best way to upgrade Windows Vista to Windows 10 is to start fresh with a clean installation, which you can do with the following steps:

1. Download the Windows 10 ISO from the Microsoft support site. Note that if you're using an older version of Internet Explorer, you'll probably need to use Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox to load the download page.

2. Under "Select edition," choose Windows 10 and click Confirm.

3. Select your product language from the drop-down menu and click Confirm.

4. Click the 64-bit Download or 32-bit Download button depending on your hardware.

   • Quick Tip: Use the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run command, type the msinfo32 command and press Enter. If your system type is x64-based PC and the amount of RAM is higher than 4GB, you can install the 64-bit version of Windows 10. Otherwise, select the 32-bit version.
5. In order to burn the ISO file to a USB flash drive, download and install Rufus, which is a free and easy to use utility to create bootable media.
6. Launch Rufus.
7. Under "Devices," select the USB flash drive you want to use.
8. Under "Format Options," click the disk drive icon next to "Create a bootable disk using ISO image" option.

9. Select the Windows 10 ISO file you want to use, and click Open.

10. Click the Start button to continue.
11. Click the OK button to confirm that all the data on the flash drive will be erased and to start the process.

12. Restart your computer with the newly created bootable media.

    • If your device isn't booting from the USB flash drive, you'll need to change your system's BIOS settings to make sure it can boot from USB. Usually, you power up your computer and hit one of the functions or ESC keys to access the BIOS, but make sure to check your manufacturer's support website for more information.

13. Click Next on the first screen of the Windows Setup wizard.

14. Click the Install Now button.

15. Enter the product key for your copy of Windows 10.

16. Click Next.

17. Select the edition of Windows 10 you want to install (if applicable). This selection must match the edition for which you bought the product key.
18. Click Next.
19. Accept the licensing agreement.

20. Click Next.

21. Click on the Custom: Install Windows only (Advanced) option to start a clean installation of Windows 10.

22. Select any partition on the hard drive (usually "Drive 0") and make sure to click the Delete button to remove the partitions.

23. Select the hard drive (Drive 0 Unallocated Space).

24. Click Next to begin the installation process.

Once you complete these steps, the setup will take over and finish installing Windows 10 on your Windows Vista machine. After the installation, simply follow the on-screen directions to complete the out-of-box-experience (OOBE) with the settings you want.

During the OOBE, you'll be asked to set up an account with a Microsoft account. As such, you should make sure to have this information handy. Alternatively, you could use a local account, but you'll miss out on many advanced features, including the ability to sync settings between devices.

After you finish configuring Windows 10, you'll be presented with the new experience, and the only thing left to do is to restore your files from backup, and reinstall any app you were using on Windows Vista.

It's also recommended to go to Settings> Update & security> Windows Update, and click the Check for updates button to make sure your device has the latest security and performance updates.

Additionally, you may want to use Device Manager to double-check that all your hardware and peripherals are correctly installed on your machine. If something didn't install correctly, make sure to use your manufacturer's support website to download and install the latest drivers.

If you can't find a driver compatible with Windows 10, sometimes drivers designed for the previous version of the OS will still work. But only try this as a last resort.

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 an image of my PC's hard drive?

Creating backups of your data is a great idea for pretty much everyone. It makes life way easier in the event of a drive failure, and thanks to intuitive software, the whole ordeal is quite painless.

One way to back up your drive is to create an image, which is basically a compressed snapshot of your entire drive, OS and all. Images can be stored on external drives in the event of a failure and can be used to completely restore a PC when things go wrong. For more information about imaging, check out our comparison between drive imaging and drive cloning:

Hard drive imaging vs. cloning: What's the difference? .

Before you begin, you should prepare a place to save your drive images, because images can't be saved on the same drive you're imaging. You can use a secondary internal drive, a network location, or an external drive connected via USB.

See our external hard drive buyer's guide

Imaging software options

We've been using Macrium Reflect for a while and so far haven't found a reason to switch, but there are also plenty of other imaging options out there, including one built right into Windows 10.

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

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 imaging software, you'll spend about $40.

See at Acronis

Download Macrium Reflect

Macrium Reflect has a free version that works great for casual users who want to make a single, full image of their hard drives. If you want to create scheduled images, whether incremental or differential, you'll have to upgrade to a paid plan.

The first step is to install Macrium Reflect 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, and 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.

How to image your hard drive

Now that Macrium Reflect is installed, you can get busy imaging your drive. If you're saving the image to an external hard drive, ensure it's plugged into your PC before you begin. Note that you cannot save the image to the same drive that is being imaged.

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

2. Click the drive you want to image. (In this case, I chose the drive that holds C: because it holds all the information required to restore my PC in the case of a failure. You can also image any other drives on your PC.)

3. Click Image this disk….

4. Click the browse button next to the Folder field. (It looks like three dots in a row.)

5. Choose a location to save the image.

6. Click OK.

7. Click Next.

8. Click the drop-down arrow beneath Select a Template for your Backup Plan.

9. Choose a schedule. (You can skip this step if you just want to create an image once or plan on scheduling things yourself. You'll have to upgrade to a paid plan if you want to set scheduled image backups.)

10. Click Next when you're satisfied with the scheduled backup options.

11. Click Finish.

12. Click OK.

The imaging process will now start. Depending on the size and type of the drive being imaged, this process can take awhile, but it is almost always faster than cloning a drive.

Restoring your PC from an image

In the event that some of your data is corrupted or your PC becomes infected with malware, you can restore from the drive image. If your PC still boots properly, you can simply use the Macrium app to make this happen. Make sure the storage location holding your images is connected before beginning these steps.

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

2. Click the Restore tab near the top-left corner of the window. Macrium will list images it finds in the main frame of the window.

3. Click Verify Image when you've found an image you'd like to restore from.

4. Click Verify.

5. Click Restore Image when the verification process is complete.

6. Click Next after ensuring the destination disk is the drive you want to restore. The partitions and drives should appear similar.

7. Click Finish. If you're restoring a secondary drive, the process will begin. If you're restoring the drive that contains your OS, Macrium will prompt you to start a Windows PE environment.

8. Click Run from Windows PE. You'll be prompted to restart your PC, which you can do when ready. Upon the restart, the Macrium Reflect System Recovery should boot automatically and your image will be restored.

If your PC is in a state where you can boot but are immediately taken to a blue screen, there should be an option that lets you restore your PC from an image backup. Make sure the location where the image is saved is attached, choose to restore from an image, and follow the instructions to get your PC running again.

Performing hard drive swaps

If you're thinking about swapping out a hard drive in your PC, you should consider drive cloning. Yes, you can use a drive image to set Windows up on a brand new hard drive, but it involves a secondary recovery method that's usually saved on a separate flash drive. For an easier time, you can clone everything straight to a new drive before putting it into your device.

See how to clone a drive using Macrium Reflect

Don't have cable TV? That doesn't mean you can't watch live TV on your Xbox One. Here's what you need to know.

OneGuide is one of the core features of the Xbox One, and it integrates cable TV with the console in a single seamless interface. But what if you don't have cable TV? The good news is you're not frozen out, and you can very easily — in certain areas at least — integrate over-the-air (OTA) TV channels into your Xbox One experience.

Here's how.

To get OTA TV channels onto the Xbox One you need a tuner that runs between the aerial and the console. They aren't expensive, but depending on where you live they will look a little different. In Europe, for example, there was (until recently) an official Xbox-branded tuner, while in North America it's produced by Hauppauge. (That same version is also now available in Europe.)

It's an interface with an aerial input on one side and a USB cable on the other to connect to the console. Upon plugging it in, the console will automatically recognize it and send you into the set-up process.

For more information on how to get up and running, check out our full review of the Xbox One TV Tuner.

Xbox One TV Tuner review

As for pricing, it'll cost you $60 in the U.S., while the same exact model costs £40 in the UK. The official Xbox-branded tuner seems to have been phased out in favor of this one, but should you be able to find one it'll cost you a lot less than the Hauppauge.

Channel availability will depend on different factors, such as location and the quality of your aerial. If you're in the U.S. and curious about what's actually going to be available in your area, AntennaWeb is a terrific resource.

Without paying for cable, though, the TV tuner is a fairly inexpensive way to pass TV through your Xbox One, keeping it at the heart of your home entertainment setup.

See at Microsoft

Is Windows Spotlight broken or stuck on the same image? If so, this guide details the steps to fix the issue.

Windows Spotlight is a feature included with Windows 10 that uses Bing to automatically download and set new background images on the Lock screen, to keep your experience fresh every time you sign in.

The only caveat with Windows Spotlight is that sometimes it will stop working, or you'll notice that it gets stuck on the same image. Unfortunately, Windows 10 doesn't include an option to reset this feature. However, it's possible to fix the Windows Spotlight settings with this simple workaround.

In this Windows 10 guide, we show you the steps to fix Windows Spotlight on your computer and keep getting fresh images from Bing on your Lock screen.

How to reset Windows Spotlight

If the Windows Spotlight feature is stuck on the same image, or it's not working at all, you can use the following steps to fix the issue:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click on Lock screen.

4. Under "Background," make sure Windows Spotlight is NOT selected and change the option to Picture or Slideshow.

5. Use the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run command.

6. Type the following path and click OK.

   %USERPROFILE%/AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\Assets

7. Select all the files (Ctrl + A) and hit the Delete key to clear all old images (if applicable).

8. Use the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run command again.

9. Type the following path to where the Windows Spotlight settings are stored and click OK.

   %USERPROFILE%/AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\Settings

10. Right-click settings.dat and roaming.lock individually, then click Rename and name them settings.dat.bak and roaming.lock.bak.

11. Restart your computer.
12. Open Settings.
13. Click on Personalization.
14. Click on Lock screen.

15. Under "Background," make sure to enable Windows Spotlight.

Once you complete these steps, you can lock your PC (Windows key + L), and the Lock screen should show new Bing images.

If everything worked as expected, remember to go back to the Settings folders where Windows Spotlight stores the settings and delete the settings.dat.bak and roaming.lock.bak files.

Alternative method to fix Windows Spotlight

If the steps mentioned above didn't fix Windows Spotlight, you can try to reset the settings using the following steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click on Lock screen.

4. Under "Background," make sure to enable Windows Spotlight. (If you don't enable the feature, you're likely to get an error while running the PowerShell command.)

5. Open Start.
6. Search for Windows PowerShell, right-click the result, and select Run as administrator.

7. Enter the following command and press Enter to reset the Windows Spotlight:

   Get-AppxPackage -allusers *ContentDeliveryManager* | foreach {Add-AppxPackage "$($_.InstallLocation)\appxmanifest.xml" -DisableDevelopmentMode -register }

8. Restart your computer.

After completing these steps, you should be able to lock your PC (Windows key + L), and the Lock screen should show new Bing images.

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

Don't be an April fool! Back up your data — and then back it up again.

In an effort to save innocent data everywhere, an initiative known as World Backup Day was started. The mission is simple: raise awareness of data loss, and have people worldwide back up their files and folders on March 31.

What would you do if you lost everything? Don't get caught out. Backup your data on #WorldBackupDay, March 31st... https://t.co/25ABVlyVSC

— World Backup Day (@WorldBackupDay) March 24, 2015

Data loss, when experienced first-hand, can be frustrating, devastating or even heartbreaking, depending on what you lost. Those vacation photos? Forgotten. Your novel five years in the making? Better start writing that prologue again. Important files from work? Start planning how you'll break it to the boss.

To avoid painful scenarios, all you have to do is back up your data. Yes, it's one more thing to do in an already busy day, but it's an invaluable step that can save you time in the future.

Windows Central takes data loss and backup procedures very seriously, and we created quite a few guides on creating proper backups in a wide range of scenarios.

General backup information

• Six easy and effective ways to back up your PC
• How to use Windows 10 File History to back up data
• How to back up your photos on Windows 10
• How to back up data in Outlook 2016 for Windows
• Best external hard drives

Hard drive imaging and cloning

• Hard drive imaging vs. cloning: What's the difference?
• How to make an image backup with Windows 10
• How to create an image of your hard drive using Macrium Reflect
• How to clone your hard drive using Macrium Reflect

Using a NAS for backups

• Why you should buy a NAS
• Everything you need to know to build your own NAS
• Three hard drives that pair perfectly with any NAS
• Best NAS for your home

Using cloud services

• How to make sure data you store in the cloud stays secure
• How to encrypt data before storing it in the cloud (and why you should)
• How to sync Windows 10 files with OneDrive
• Best Online Backup Service

Are you celebrating World Backup Day?

Have you been looking forward to World Backup Day to finally take the steps needed to safeguard your data, or are you already on top of things? (Did you even know there was a World Backup Day before you read this post?) Be sure to let us know in the comments.

It's Baseball season once again, so make sure you always know what your team's schedule looks like.

April means one thing for sports fans, and that's the return of the MLB for another season of stellar Baseball action. With so many games per year, though, it's tough to keep track on exactly when, where and who against your favorite team is playing.

Fortunately there's a really simple way to achieve just that with your Outlook calendar. Here's how to add your favorite team's schedule.

For the sake of this guide we're completing this on Outlook.com, but a similar process applies to Outlook Calendar on Windows 10 or the Outlook mobile app for other platforms.

1. Open up your Outlook calendar.

2. Click on add calendar.

3. Select the interesting calendar option.

4. Under sports, you'll find an option for baseball.
5. Select MLB.

6. Choose your favorite team.

Now, when you go back to your calendar you'll find that the complete regular season fixture list has been populated for you from Bing Calendars. Now, whichever device you're on, your Outlook calendar will keep you up to date with when your team is playing next.

Here's what's new for the HTC Vive for the month of April 2017!

With a whole year having passed since the HTC Vive's initial release, we're now seeing a hefty library of titles available for the headset. While this month doesn't have any hugely anticipated games, there are a few notable experiences which undeniably stand out from the crowd. Here's an in-depth breakdown of all the HTC Vive games releasing over the month of April 2017.

Read more at VRHeads

The Windows 10 Creators Update is available in April, and here we show you how to get it.

Microsoft is gearing up to roll out the Windows 10 Creators Update to everyone starting on April 11th. This is the third major release the company is making available with new features and a slew of improvements to make your computer more secure and productive.

This new version is packed with new changes, such as new Paint 3D app and support for mixed reality with Windows Holographic. Microsoft Edge will introduce support for e-books and a new tab management system. On gaming, you'll get Beam integration for in-game broadcast, and a new Game Mode to improve gaming performance. Windows Defender Security Center will become your new dashboard to control malware protection, system performance, and security. You'll see a slew of visual and under-the-hood tweaks, and a lot more.

The roll out of Windows 10 (version 1703) is planned to go progressively, which means that not everyone will get updated the same day. It'll take a few days (even months) for all devices to get access to the new version.

Ultimately, it'll depend on a number of variables like the type of device you're using, location, how you've obtained Windows 10, and Microsoft update servers load during the rollout. Initially, only devices (e.g., desktop PCs, laptops, tablets) known to be fully compatible will get the update first. Then when the update passes additional tests, it'll become available to other devices.

The update will download and install automatically, but if you can't wait there are a few ways to force the Creators Update on your device (even before anyone else).

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the different ways to download and install the Creators Update on your PC, laptop, or tablet even before it becomes generally available.

• How to get the Creators Update using Windows Update
• How to get the Creators Update using the Update Assistant
• How to get the Creators Update using the Media Creation Tool
• How to get the Creators Update using the Windows Insider Program

How to get the Creators Update using Windows Update

The easiest way to get the Creators Update on your device is using Windows Update. Once it becomes available in April, you can force the update using these steps:

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

3. Click the Check for updates button.

After you've completed the steps, if your device is known to work with the new update, it'll begin downloading. Then just click the Restart Now button to complete the installation.

The upgrade process is just like a regular update, but with a new twist. This time around, you'll get a new screen to customize your privacy settings, which will help you to control and understand the data Microsoft collects with Windows 10 before proceeding with the installation.

How to get the Creators Update using the Update Assistant

Microsoft also offers the "Windows 10 Update Assistant," which is a tool designed specifically to manually update a supported device to the latest version of the OS.

This tool is meant to deploy feature updates on PCs, laptops, and tablets, which for any reason didn't get the latest update through Windows Update. However, you can use the Update Assistant to make the jump to the new version of Windows 10 starting April 5th.

To install the Creators Update using the assistant, do the following:

1. Download the Media Creation Tool from the Microsoft support website.
2. Double-click the Windows10Upgrade.exe file to start the process.

3. Click the Update Now button.

4. If you device passes the system check, click the Next button to begin the upgrade.

5. Once the update is ready, click the Restart Now button to apply it.

After you've completed the steps, the Creators Update will install as it was a regular update keep your files, apps, and settings intact. The installation take about 20 minutes, depending on your hardware and internet speeds. However, you'll need to go through the out-of-box-experience (OOBE) to configure your privacy settings and a few other options.

How to get the Creators Update using the Media Creation Tool

You can also opt to use the Media Creation Tool to perform an in-place upgrade or to start from scratch with a clean installation of Windows 10 with the Creators Update.

However, in order to test the reliability of the update servers, Microsoft usually only makes available new feature updates through Windows Update during the initial rollout. This means that it could take a few days before you can use other upgrade methods.

When the Windows 10 Creators Update is available through the Media Creation Tool, you can use the following steps to install the update:

1. Download the Media Creation Tool from the Microsoft support website.
2. Double-click the MediaCreationTool.exe file to start the process.

3. Click Accept to agree to the terms.

4. Select the Upgrade this PC now option.

5. Click Next.

6. Make sure the Keep personal files and apps option is selected. This should be the default option, but if it's not, click the Change what to keep to modify the settings. Otherwise, your files, apps, and settings will be erased.

7. Click Install to begin the update process.

When you click the Install button, the Windows 10 setup will take over and install the Creators Update on your PC, laptop, or tablet while keeping your apps, settings, and personal files.

The time to complete the installation shouldn't take longer than 30 minutes, but it'll depend on your hardware configuration, internet speeds, and other factors.

Quick Tip: If you're looking to upgrade your device using the Windows 10 Creators Update ISO files without using the Media Creation Tool, you can download the latest ISO files available through the Slow ring when the update rolls out.

How to get the Creators Update using the Windows Insider Program

Alternatively, you can get the Windows 10 Creators Update before anyone else by joining the Windows Insider Program.

Microsoft created the program to give users early access to previews of upcoming releases of Windows 10, but you can also use it to get the Creators Update early.

The program is divided into three rings: Fast, Slow, and Release Preview. Enrolling into the Fast or Slow ring, your device will get early access to upcoming versions of the OS, but you'll come across errors, bugs, and features may not work as expected, which can negatively affect your user experience.

On the other hand, the Release Preview is a new ring meant to test upcoming updates a little before they're ready to everyone. Typically, you would use this ring to get early access to quality, driver, and Windows Store apps updates for the current release of Windows 10. However, because every update (even feature updates) has to pass through all the rings, you can enroll your device to the Release Preview with minimum risks to get early access to the Creators Update.

If you're not an Insider, before proceeding, you have to sign-up at insider.windows.com with your Microsoft account.

To get the Windows 10 Creators Update early using the Insider program, do the following:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & security.
3. Click on Windows Insider Program.

4. Click the Get started button.

5. Restart your computer to apply the new changes.
6. Go back to the Windows Insider Program settings page.

7. Under "Choose your Insider level" select the Release Preview option.

After you've completed the steps, you'll start receiving updates before they become available to the general public. This includes quality updates as well as the Windows 10 Creators Update, when it becomes available in the Release Preview.

Once you enroll your device in one of the Windows Insider Program rings, it usually can take up to 24 hours before your device can download the new update.

In the case, your computer is enrolled in the program, and it's running Windows 10 build 150xx.xxx (you can check your current version by going to Settings > System > About), then you're already running the Windows 10 Creators Update.

The Release Preview ring is the safest way to get early access to the Creators Update using this program. However, if you don't want to wait until the update becomes available through that ring, you can follow the same steps to enroll, but on step No. 7, choose the Fast or Slow ring.

If after installing the Creators Update, you want to opt out of the program, you can do the following:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & security.
3. Click on Windows Insider Program.
4. Click the Stop Insider Preview builds button.

5. Select the Keep giving me builds until the next Windows release option (or the option that best suits your needs).

6. Click the Confirm button.

7. Click the Restart Now button.

Alternatively, you can select the Roll me back to the last Windows release, but if you do this before the Creators Update releases, you'll need to go back to the Windows 10 Anniversary Update.

Wrapping things up

There is no doubt that the Creators Update is a significant release, but while there are many ways to get the new features, it's recommended to wait until it becomes available to you automatically through Windows Update.

Microsoft usually releases feature updates slowly in case something isn't working correctly during the rollout. If something goes wrong, they can quickly pull out the update minimizing the number of affected users.

Although it's safe to upgrade to Windows 10 version 1703, it's always recommended that you create a full backup of your device before proceeding to have a way to rollback if something goes wrong during the installation.

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 set up a VPN on my phone?

Privacy on the internet is being eroded every day, and many people are turning to solutions that help mask their activity online. Virtual Private Networks (VPN) are becoming ever more popular thanks to their ease-of-use and relatively low cost. For more information on what a VPN can do for you, check out our guide to VPNs and how they compare to proxy servers.

What's the difference between a proxy server and a VPN?

If you're in the market for a VPN and are not sure where to start, we also have a roundup of the best VPN services available now.

See the Best VPN Services for 2017

So you've purchased a VPN, and now you want to use it on your phone. Here's everything you need to know about configuring a VPN on Windows 10 Mobile.

• Information needed before you begin
• How to add and connect to a VPN on Windows 10 Mobile
• How to disconnect and remove a VPN on Windows 10 Mobile

Information needed before you begin

Before heading into your phone's settings to set everything up, you need to gather some information from your VPN provider. Popular VPN services, like KeepSolid, provide all this information in the app you download on your phone. If your VPN of choice doesn't have an app, this information can generally be found in your account settings on their website.

In the case of KeepSolid's VPN Unlimited, which is the VPN we are configuring here, this is the information presented to you in their app:

• Server name or IP address
• Whether you're using L2TP or PPTP to connect (if you can, always go with the safer L2TP)
• Username
• Password
• Preshared key (this can change to a certificate or other key depending on your VPN service)

How to add and connect to a VPN on Windows 10 Mobile

With the required information now in hand, you can head into your phone's settings to configure the VPN.

1. Swipe down from the top of your screen.
2. Tap All Settings.
3. Tap Network & wireless.

4. Tap VPN.

5. Tap Add a VPN connection.
6. Tap the dropdown arrow below VPN provider.

7. Tap Windows (built-in).

8. Tap the Connection name field.
9. Type a name. This is solely for you to identify the VPN so you can use any name you prefer.

10. Tap the Server name or address field.

11. Type the server name.
12. Tap the dropdown arrow beneath VPN type.

13. Tap the VPN type. This will change depending on the VPN service you subscribe to. In this case, we choose L2TP/IPsec with pre-shared key.

14. Tap the Pre-shared key field.
15. Type the pre-shared key.

16. Tap the username field.

17. Type your username.
18. Tap the password field.

19. Type your password.

20. Tap Save. Your VPN provider should now show up in the list of VPNs.
21. Tap your VPN.

22. Tap Connect.

How to disconnect and remove a VPN on Windows 10 Mobile

Don't need your VPN anymore? Here's how to disconnect it and remove it from your phone.

1. Swipe down from the top of your screen.
2. Tap All Settings.

3. Tap Network & wireless.

4. Tap VPN.
5. Tap your VPN.

6. Tap Disconnect.

7. Tap Remove.

8. Tap Remove again to confirm.

Your privacy

Are you using a VPN while you use the internet? Which one are you using? If you're wondering which VPN is best for you, don't forget to head over to our buyer's guide.

See the Best VPN Services for 2017

If you're using an iPhone or iPad alongside Windows 10, here's how to get up and running with iCloud.

It's perfectly reasonable to expect a large number of iPhone and iPad owners to also use a Windows computer. The same was true back in the early days of the iPod and led to the development of iTunes for Windows. It's never been the greatest piece of software ever, but Apple, albeit less so than Microsoft, does recognize the necessity to make services cross-platform.

It's also perfectly reasonable that you may have never been aware that you could use iCloud on your Windows PC. It's not exactly shouted about since Apple would prefer you use its own PC hardware and software together. But, if you're using a mix of iOS and Windows, here's the basics on how to get set up with iCloud on Windows 10.

Originally published August 2015, refreshed for March 2017.

1. Know where to download

It sounds silly, but Apple doesn't exactly shout about iCloud for Windows on its homepage. If you didn't know it even existed, you may also not know where to find it.

All you need to do is visit the link below and download the iCloud for Windows installer.

Download iCloud for Windows

2. Signing-in

Once you've followed the instructions to install the package, the very first thing you have to do is sign-in. Use the same Apple ID username and password that you're signed into on your Apple devices.

3. Choose what you want to sync

iCloud covers a few different bases, and you might not want to sync all of them to your PC. Select the ones you want by checking the relevant boxes and then click "Apply."

The program you've installed support iCloud Photos, iCloud Drive and bookmark syncing from Safari to Internet Explorer. It can also integrate your calendars, contacts and more with Outlook on Windows.

4. File Explorer

Unlike Dropbox, iCloud Drive will not automatically add to your Quick Access panel in File Explorer. But it's easy enough to do yourself.

1. By default, your iCloud Drive folder will be in your main User folder. For example, in C:/Users/Richard/iCloud Drive, as it is on my PC.
2. Navigate to the director's location in File Explorer.
3. Find the folder "iCloud Drive" and right click on it.
4. Select "Pin to Quick Access" to have a shortcut permanently in the left-hand pane in File Explorer as seen in the image above.

That covers off the very basics. We'll be looking in more detail at each feature offered by iCloud for Windows in specific guides.

For more on iCloud be sure to stop by and see our buddies at iMore.

What exactly is the "Microsoft Edition" of the Samsung Galaxy S8 (GS8)? How is it different than the regular version? And why would you want to buy an Android phone from Microsoft? Keep reading for answers to these questions and more.

Last week, Microsoft quietly (and somewhat curiously) said that it will sell a version of Samsung's new flagship smartphone in its U.S. retail stores. The phone, The GS8 "Microsoft Edition" immediately grabbed online headlines, and after we published a short news story on the device, Windows Central readers quickly sounded a collective, "What the ... ?"

Microsoft still hasn't made an official announcement or issued a press release for the GS8 Microsoft Edition. So a number of questions remain ... or at least, they did. Read on for everything you need to know about the GS8 Microsoft Edition

What Windows users need to know about the Samsung Galaxy S8

What the hell is the Samsung Galaxy S8 Microsoft Edition?

The GS8 Microsoft Edition is exactly the same as the regular GS8 you'd buy from a wireless carrier or other retail, with a few very minor differences. The Microsoft Edition is available directly (and only) at physical Microsoft Stores in the U.S. Also, Microsoft reps in stores selling the device will help new owners install a wider variety of Microsoft Android apps on the devices before they actually leave with their new phones.

Is there anything that's different about the GS8 Microsoft Edition, other than apps?

Nope. It's all about the apps and the in-store purchase experience.

From Microsoft:

Neither the hardware nor the software is different from other Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ devices.

In the forums: What do YOU think about the Galaxy S8 'Microsoft Edition?'

Why buy a GS8 through Microsoft?

Why would you want to buy a Samsung phone from Microsoft, as opposed to, say, AT&T?

Um. Well ... we're not really sure. It's not exactly hard to search Google Play for the word "Microsoft" and then install any and all apps of interest. And there aren't any apps that are exclusive to the Microsoft Edition of the GS8, at least not according to a Microsoft employee named Ivan, who helped us preorder a GS8 Microsoft Edition at the Microsoft Store in Boston last weekend.

Microsoft presumably gets a cut of the profits for each phone it sells or some sort of comparable compensation for its efforts. So you could buy the phone from Microsoft simply to support the company. If you live very close to a Microsoft Store, you could do it for convenience. Or, if for some reason you feel as though you'd have trouble finding all of the available Android apps from Microsoft, you could want a Store staffer to help you navigate Google Play. (But honestly, that would be kind of sad.)

Samsung DeX may beat Microsoft's Continuum, but it's still no slam dunk

Is the GS8 Microsoft Edition available for the 'Big Four' U.S. carriers?

No, it's not.

The GS8 Microsoft Edition is only currently available for preorder for AT&T customers. Ivan at the Microsoft Store Boston also told us that the plan is to offer Verizon Wireless versions of the GS8 Microsoft Edition, but the Boston store wasn't offering Verizon preorders when we placed our AT&T order. (Microsoft didn't confirm or deny this information, but we also heard from Windows Central readers on Twitter who had similar experiences.)

Ivan told us that Microsoft currently has no plans to offer Sprint or T-Mobile versions of the GS8 Microsoft Edition. (Again, Microsoft didn't confirm or deny this information.) So unless you're an AT&T customer, the GS8 Microsoft Edition might not be for you, at least not for now. (You could unlock the phone and hope for the best on your carrier of choice, but that's not ideal.)

From Microsoft:

[R]ight now customers can preorder devices with AT&T.

Does the GS8 Microsoft Edition come in both smaller and larger "+" sizes?

Yep. You can get the GS8 Microsoft Edition in both sizes. Again, it's the same as the regular GS8 phones, except for all the Microsoft Android apps and the Microsoft Store availability.

Does it come in different colors?

No, it doesn't. Right now the GS8 Microsoft Edition is only available in black, according to Microsoft.

Will it be available via online Microsoft Stores?

No. The whole idea is for customers to pick up the device physically, so the store reps can help them install the full array of Microsoft software.

From Microsoft:

Regarding online availability, Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ devices are currently only available for preorder at U.S. physical Microsoft Store locations, as we want to ensure a best-in-class customer experience. 

Is the GS8 Microsoft Edition cheaper or more expensive than the regular version?

The Microsoft version of the AT&T GS8 costs the same amount as the one you'd buy from AT&T: $749.99 for the 64GB GS8 Microsoft Edition and $849.99 for the 64GB GS8+ Microsoft Edition.

When will the GS8 Microsoft Edition be released?

Right now, Microsoft expects the phones to be available for pick up at its stores on the official GS8 launch day: April 21, 2017. The sooner you order yours, the more likely you'll be able to get it that day. AT&T also says it will ship its GS8s so that they arrive "by April 21."

From Microsoft:

Customers can preorder Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ devices in black now and purchase beginning April 21, at U.S. Microsoft Store locations ...

Will Microsoft have GS8s on display in its retail stores?

Yes, at least according to Ivan from the Boston store. That's notable because there is little or no Windows phone presence in Microsoft Stores today, and its endorsement of a Samsung Android phone could have significant implications on the future of Windows Mobile. (It's also just weird, right?)

Do Microsoft Office apps come pre-installed on the GS8?

We've heard conflicting reports on this one, and though past versions of the Samsung Galaxy phones came with Office apps installed, the GS8 will apparently be different and will not ship with preloaded Microsoft apps, according to the company.

From Microsoft:

The applications do not come pre-loaded on the device. Microsoft Store associates will assist Samsung Galaxy S8 customers to set up their devices in the store to ensure every customer is ready to work, play and connect on their device when they leave.

Has Microsoft ever sold an Android phone in its stores before?

No way, no how. The GS8 Microsoft Edition is the first Android phone ever sold in a Microsoft Store.

From Microsoft:

This will be the first Android mobile phone sold at Microsoft Store, as we are always looking for new ways to provide value to customers and believe in offering an assortment of products to enable our customers to experience the best of Microsoft.

Hit Samsung's website for details on the new phones.

And for more in-depth GS8 coverage and expert analysis, pop on over to our sister site Android Central:

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+: Everything you need to know

If you're getting a new Samsung Galaxy S8 smartphone, these tips and tricks can help make the device work for you alongside your Windows 10 PC.

More than most Android phones, the Samsung Galaxy S8 is quite attractive to Microsoft fans. Windows 10 is the most used OS in the world, and it's a strong companion to any modern smartphone.

The Galaxy S8 has plenty of Microsoft support built right in by way of preloaded apps and the Continuum-like DeX system. Aside from all that, here are some of the ways you'll be able to use your phone and PC in perfect harmony.

Use Phone Companion for Windows 10 to transfer your photos

The Phone Companion app from Microsoft is a pretty easy way to go between your phone and PC. It can import all your photos from the phone to the built-in Photos app in Windows 10.

The Galaxy S8 will likely take some truly excellent photos, so there's a good chance you'll be using the app quite a lot. The guide linked below will help you keep organized by getting those shots off your phone and onto your PC.

How to transfer photos with Phone Companion for Windows 10

Download Phone Companion from the Windows Store

Calendar and Mail with Outlook

You could use your Outlook account with Gmail and Google Calendar. Or you could do yourself a favor and get the Outlook app for Android on your Galaxy S8.

After Microsoft gobbled up Sunrise Calendar, parts of it are slowly appearing in Outlook, such as integrations with third-party services. Outlook contains email and calendar within the same app on Android, and you can also pull in mail accounts from Gmail.

Why use two apps when you can have only one that gets the job done?

Download Microsoft Outlook for Android from the Google Play Store

Samsung SideSync

Samsung SideSync is often overlooked, but it's a really useful piece of software for Galaxy phones. It allows you to connect your phone to a PC and get your notifications, or even the entire phone display, mirrored.

It's not like DeX, because it's just a window that represents your phone, hooked up to the PC via Wi-Fi. But it's pretty reliable and a nifty way to transfer files quickly without having to hunt for a cable, or even touch the phone at all.

It will work better over a wired connection to the PC, though, and faster than wirelessly. Whichever way you prefer, SideSync is a great feature to have.

Download Samsung Sidesync

Use Cortana as your assistant

Samsung has Bixby on the Galaxy S8, and Google has the Google Assistant, but neither of those can boast the freedom of Cortana. By being available cross-platform, you have some elements of synchronicity between your phone and your PC with Cortana.

You can have basic notification mirroring, and of course the benefits of using Cortana as your assistant, on both phone and PC. If you use Cortana on your Windows 10 PC a lot, it's a no-brainer to download it to the Galaxy S8.

Recent updates have allowed access to the lock screen, and because it's Android, it's a simple process to make Cortana your default assistant.

Download Cortana from the Google Play Store

Set up OneDrive camera backup

OneDrive is a terrific cloud storage service to use, particularly if you're also an Office 365 subscriber with that 1TB allowance to fill. The OneDrive app for Android is nicely done, but one feature you should look at enabling is the camera backup.

While moving photos to your PC en masse with Phone Companion is good, if you want to back up to the cloud, you'll have a two-stage process. By enabling it in the OneDrive app for Android, any new snaps you shoot with that awesome camera will be auto-magically sent up to the cloud for you.

OneDrive is also preloaded on the Galaxy S8, so if it's anything like recent devices you'll likely get some free storage added to your account for two years, as well.

Time to relax

If Groove is your music service of choice, not only did you choose well but you'll have a solid experience with the Android app. And if Xbox is your preferred console, the old Smartglass app has now been replaced by the newer Xbox app.

Neither are completely on par with their Windows counterparts, and the Xbox app, in particular, lags behind. But both are important parts of the Microsoft ecosystem, so it's good to know you won't have to relinquish either by using a Galaxy S8:

Download Groove Music from the Google Play Store

Download Xbox from the Google Play Store

For full coverage of the Samsung Galaxy S8 be sure to stop by Android Central.

Have you come across a problem or issue with the Windows 10 Creators Update? Chances are, you're not alone. In this guide, we show you the most common problems and explain how to fix them.

The Windows 10 Creators Update is finally available for download for desktop PCs, laptops, and tablets. The new version is slowly rolling out to more than 400 million qualifying devices around the world, and because it is a "feature update," you'll be getting a slew of new features and improvements.

However, unlike those regular cumulative updates that you get every month, a new major update means a new set of problems. Although, the Creators Update aims to be the "best Windows ever," building an OS is a difficult task and a lot of work, and it's expected (at least initially) that you'll come across errors, bugs, and other problems during and after the installation.

While a major release rollout never goes as expected, you may also come across issues that are not necessarily problems with the new OS. More often than not, the reason for an installation failure can be traced to outdated device drivers, software conflicts, and custom configurations that prevent you from getting the new version.

In this Windows 10 guide, we walk you through a number of solutions to resolve known problems installing the Creators Update on your desktop PC, laptop, or tablet.

• How to fix Windows Update errors on Creators Update installs
• How to fix Media Creation Tool errors installing the Creators Update
• How to fix storage problems during update installation
• How to fix corrupted files on a USB bootable media
• How to fix stuck downloading updates using the Media Creation Tool
• How to fix missing or damaged update files
• How to fix minimum hardware requirements errors
• How to fix Windows 10 before installing a feature update
• How to fix Windows Update errors trying to download updates
• How to fix driver problem during installation
• How to fix compatibility issues during installation
• How to fix installation error after an accidental restart
• How to fix app-compatibility errors during installation
• How to fix problems trying to complete the installation
• How to fix Windows 10 activation problems
• How to fix unexpected error while downloading installation files
• How to fix Windows 10 Creators Update DTS / Dolby Digital Live audio
• How to fix Windows 10 Creators Update problems with Intel's Clover Trail processors
• How to successfully install the Windows 10 Creators Update

Windows 10 Creators Update problems and solutions

The Windows 10 Creators Update is out, and you can get it in a number of ways, including using Windows Update and doing an in-place upgrade using the Media Creation Tool. However, if the feature update fails to install on your device due to an error or bug, this guide will help you to identify and resolve the most common problems.

Note: This guide includes general errors that are known to occur during an installation or upgrade process of Windows 10, but they're not necessary problems with the OS. In addition, this guide features recommendations and solutions specific to the Windows 10 Creators Update.

How to fix Windows Update errors on Creators Update installs

Description

When trying to install new updates, an error message may prevent Windows Update from applying new updates successfully.

Resolution

The errors you'll receive may vary depending on the reason that caused them. However, you can quickly try to resolve this problem using the troubleshooter to reset the Windows Update components.

1. Download the Windows Update Troubleshooter tool from Microsoft.

2. Select the Windows Update option.

3. Click Next to continue.
4. Click the Try troubleshooting as an administrator option (if applicable).
5. Select Windows Update again.
6. Click Next to start the troubleshooting process.
7. Click Close.
8. Restart your computer and try to install again.

Note that you can also use the troubleshooter to reset your network adapter using the Windows Networking Diagnostics option. In the case, it's a network adapter issue.

If you receive error 0x80245006, it means that a file needed by Windows Update is damaged or missing. You can use the Windows Update Troubleshooter with the steps mentioned above to fix this issue.

In the case that the steps don't fix Windows Update, you can try to install the Creators Update using the Media Creation Tool.

How to fix Media Creation Tool errors installing the Creators Update

Description

Using the Media Creation Tool to install version 1703, you may encounter a problem related to DynamicUpdate, and restarting the update process will reset the download, but your device will get stuck again.

Resolution

1. Open File Explorer (Windows key + E) and navigate the following path:

   C:\$Windows.~WS\Sources\Windows\sources

2. Then double-click the Setupprep.exe to launch the update process again.

How to fix storage problems during update installation

Error

• 0x80070070 – 0x50011
• 0x80070070 – 0x50012
• 0x80070070 – 0x60000
• 0x80070008

Description

These errors typically appear when your device doesn't have enough free space to complete the installation process of a new update.

Resolution

Use the Disk Cleanup tool available with the OS to free up space on your hard drive.

1. Open Start.
2. Search for cleanmgr and click the result to open Disk Cleanup.
3. Select the C: drive.
4. Click OK.
5. Click the Clean up system file button.
6. Click OK, making sure the C: drive is selected.
7. Select the files you want to delete, including "Recycle Bin,""Temporary Internet Files,""Temporary Files,""System error memory dump files,""Previous Windows Installation" and "Temporary Windows installation files." Remember not to delete "Windows Setup temporary files", because these are the files needed to install the new update on your computer.

8. Click OK.

9. Click the Delete Files button to complete the task.

10. Try to install the Windows 10 Creators Update again.

Quick Tip: If you can't free up enough space, you can connect a USB flash drive of at least 8GB to your computer, and Windows 10 will detect and use it as temporary storage to successfully install the update.

How to fix corrupted files on a USB bootable media

Description

If you created a USB bootable media to install the Windows 10 Creators Update, the upgrade might fail or generate an error that will halt the installation. This is a common problem that is usually caused by corrupted files.

Resolution

Redownloading the installation files from the Microsoft support site and recreating the bootable media will fix the issue.

When using the Media Creation Tool, make sure to use Disk Cleanup(see instructions above), and only delete the Windows Setup temporary files before trying to create the media again. Otherwise, you're likely to experience the same error.

How to fix stuck downloading updates using the Media Creation Tool

Description

While using the Media Creation Tool to upgrade to Windows 10, the tool gets stuck downloading additional updates before the installation process.

Resolution

You can quickly resolve this issue by restarting the upgrade process, but this time, after the Media Creation Tool completes downloading the installation files, make sure to disconnect your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection to the internet.

After upgrading to the Creators update, reconnect your computer to the internet and check for updates by going to Settings> Update & security> Windows Update, and click the Check for Updates button.

How to fix missing or damaged update files

Error

• 0x80073712

Description

Getting this error trying to download or install the Windows 10 Creators Update means that some files needed to install version 1703 are damaged or missing.

Resolution

If the installation files didn't download correctly, use the Disk Cleanup tool (see instructions above), making sure to delete the Windows Setup temporary files, and then use the following steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & security.
3. Click on Windows Update.
4. Click the Check for updates button to try downloading the update again.

In the case the download or installation fails once again, you can try to apply the new Creators Update using the Media Creation Tool.

How to fix minimum hardware requirements errors

Error

• 0xC1900200 – 0x20008
• 0xC1900202 – 0x20008

Description

Although all devices running Windows 10 should be compatible with the Creators Update, starting with the Anniversary Update, Microsoft changed the minimum hardware requirements. If you're running the 32-bit version of Windows 10, your device requires at least 2GB of RAM to install the Creators Update.

Here are the Windows 10 Creators Update minimum hardware requirements:

• Processor: 1GHz processor.
• RAM: 2GB for 32-bit or 64-bit.
• Hard drive space: 16GB for 32-bit or 20GB for 64-bit.
• Graphics card: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver.
• Display: 800 x 600.

Resolution

While this shouldn't be a problem for most users, some devices, like low-end tablets and laptops, may be affected by this limitation. The recommendation here is to install more memory, and if it's not possible, you should consider getting a new device.

How to fix Windows 10 before installing a feature update

Description

If you've been running the same installation for a long time without any kind of maintenance, you'll probably come across performance and other issues that will prevent the Creators Update from installing on your device.

Resolution

Use the SFC command tool on Windows 10 to repair corrupted files or restock missing system files.

You can refer to our guide to use the SFC tool with Command Prompt to repair your Windows 10 installation.

If you're still having problems, you can try the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool to fix your current installation.

How to fix Windows Update errors trying to download updates

Error

• 0x800F0922
• 0xc1900104

Description

There are two different meanings to these errors. While typically they mean that your device isn't able to contact Microsoft's update servers, they can also indicate that the System Reserved partition ran out of space.

Resolution

Solution 1: If there is a problem connecting to the Windows Update servers, the problem could be that you're using a VPN connection. You can quickly fix this issue by disconnecting your current VPN session and trying to update again.

Solution 2: While it's rare that your System Reserved partition is less than the required size, sometimes third-party applications, especially security software, may write data to the reserved partition, which can be the reason why your computer cannot update.

You can fix this issue by using a third-party tool to resize and make the System Reserved partition larger (around 500MB).

How to fix driver problem during installation

Error

• 0xC1900101 - 0x20004
• 0xC1900101 - 0x2000c
• 0xC1900101 - 0x20017
• 0xC1900101 - 0x30018
• 0xC1900101 - 0x3000D
• 0xC1900101 - 0x4000D
• 0xC1900101 - 0x40017

Description

Any error that starts with 0xC1900101 is likely to be a device-driver-related error.

Resolution

There is a number of things you can do to fix a driver issue.

Solution 1: Update the driver in question to the latest version. The best way to get the most up-to-date version is by downloading the latest driver from your device manufacturer's support website.

To update a driver on your computer, do the following:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Device Manager and click the result.
3. Expand the device causing problems. (The device having issues will likely to appear with a yellow exclamation mark.)
4. Right-click and select Update Driver Software to check for updates or click Uninstall to bypass the error.

If you download the driver from your manufacturer, use their instructions to update, instead of using the steps mentioned above.

Solution 2: Disconnect the device causing the issue, install the Creators Update, and then reconnect it. Also, remove all non-essential peripherals, such as removable storage, printers, Bluetooth, and other hardware that may cause the problem.

Solution 3: Use the SFC command tool on Windows 10 to repair the installation.

If you're still having problems, you can try the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool for repair the installation.

Solution 4: These errors can occur if you don't have enough space to do the upgrade. Make sure to have at least 16GB of storage. If you don't, use the instructions mentioned above (How to fix storage problem during update installation) to free up space.

Solution 5: Use the Media Creation Tool to do a clean install of the Windows 10 Creators Update.

How to fix compatibility issues during installation

Error

• 0x800F0923

Description

When you hit this error, it indicates that either a driver or application isn't compatible. Typically, you may come across this error with the graphics driver, an outdated driver for a particular hardware, or it could also be a compatibility problem with an old program or security software, such as an antivirus. (Most of the time it's not Windows Defender).

Resolution

If your device is working properly without the Creators Update, it could be difficult to find out exactly the application or driver that may be preventing you from updating using Windows Update.

The quickest way to get around this issue is to use the Media Creation Tool to do the upgrade. As you go through the steps, the tool will show you anything that is known to cause the installation to fail, such as applications and device drivers, and if you don't have enough space to perform the update.

If the report points out a driver-compatibility issue, visit your manufacturer's support website to get the latest update.

In the case that your device driver is up to date but it's causing problems, you could temporarily uninstall it, continue with the installation of the Creators Update, and then reinstall the device in question after the upgrade.

Warning: This is an advanced process and you should proceed with caution.

To remove a driver from Windows 10, do the following:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Device Manager and click the result.
3. Expand the device causing the problem.

4. Right-click and click Uninstall.

Once you complete the steps, try to install the Windows 10 Creators Update on your computer.

If you're dealing with a software related problem, check your software vendor support website to download and install any new updates. You could also uninstall the application blocking the update and then continue with the installation.

How to fix installation error after an accidental restart

Error

• 0x80200056

Description

During the upgrade process, you may get this error because your computer was restarted by accident.

Resolution

This is one of the few errors you shouldn't have to worry about. Just try to upgrade one more time, and make sure not to interrupt the installation.

How to fix app-compatibility errors during installation

Error

• 0xC1900208 – 0x4000C

Description

This error indicates that your computer has an app that is not compatible and as a result won't be able to continue with the upgrade.

Resolution

You can quickly resolve this issue by removing the software that is incompatible. Typically, your third-party antivirus or security software is the reason for this error.

How to fix problems trying to complete the installation

Error

• Error: We couldn't complete the updates. Undoing changes. Don't turn off your computer.
• Error: Failure configuring Windows Updates. Reverting changes.

Description

These are common errors that usually appear while trying to install any type of update. Unless you can figure out the exact error, you won't find a particular solution.

Resolution

Use the Windows Update history information to identify the error and find a proper solution:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & security.
3. Click on Windows Update.
4. Click the Advanced options link.
5. Click the View your update history link.

6. Click the link for the update that failed to install and note the error code.

You can then use your favorite search engine, or the Windows Central forums, to resolve the problem.

Usually, you'll come across these errors if you're using an older laptop, and simply shutting down the device, unplugging the power cord, and removing the battery for a few minutes may fix the issue.

How to fix Windows 10 activation problems

Error

• Windows not activated

Description

After the installation, Windows 10 becomes deactivated preventing users from taking full advantage of the OS.

Resolution

If the activation problem occurs after the installation of the Windows 10 Creators Update, use the Activation Troubleshooter tool to reactivate the OS.

How to fix unexpected error while downloading installation files

Error

• 0x80190001

Description

This error will occur when unexpected problems are found trying to download the required files to upgrade.

Resolution

The quickest way to resolve this issue is by attempting to upgrade using the Media Creation Tool.

How to fix Windows 10 Creators Update DTS / Dolby Digital Live audio

Error

• Digital sound not working

Description

After installing the Windows 10 Creators Update (version 1703) some users at the Microsoft forums are reporting that the Realtek High Definition Audio driver doesn't accept Dolby Digital Live and DTS Surround anymore. This happens even after reinstalling the driver or doing a clean install of the Creators Update.

Status

Microsoft hasn't acknowledge this issue as a problem with the Creators Update.

Resolution

If Dolby Digital 5.1 is a must have feature on Windows 10, the best way to resolve this issue is to remove the Creators Update until Microsoft releases a fix, or the company behind the Realtek High Definition Audio driver makes available a new update.

To remove the Windows 10 Creators Update, do the following:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & security.
3. Click on Recovery.
4. Under "Go back to a previous version of Windows 10", click the Get started button.
5. Select the reason you're rolling back and click Next.
6. Click No, thanks.
7. Click Next.
8. Click Next again.
9. Click Go back to earlier build to begin the process.

How to fix Windows 10 Creators Update problems with Intel's Clover Trail processors

Description

On devices with Intel's Clover Trail processors the Windows 10 Creators Update won't install. Or after the installation icons and text may not appear, or may show as solid color blocks.

Status

Microsoft has acknowledged that the Windows 10 Creators Update doesn't support Intel's Clover Trail processors. The company is working with partners to delivers drivers for devices featuring the following Intel's Clover Trail processors:

• Atom Z2760
• Atom Z2520
• Atom Z2560
• Atom Z2580

Resolution

If your devices has one of the currently unsupported processors, Microsoft advices to skip the Creators Update until there is a permanent solution. In the case you have already installed the update, you should remove it using the following steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & security.
3. Click on Recovery.
4. Under "Go back to a previous version of Windows 10", click the Get started button.
5. Select the reason you're rolling back and click Next.
6. Click No, thanks.
7. Click Next.
8. Click Next again.
9. Click Go back to earlier build to begin the process.

How to successfully install the Windows 10 Creators Update

Usually, installing a new version of Windows 10 should be a straightforward process, just like applying a new cumulative update but taking a little bit longer. However, it's not a simple task to build an OS that will run smoothly without errors on million of devices with countless hardware configurations.

Below, you'll find a few things that will help to prevent errors during the installation of the Windows 10 Creators Update on your device.

Create a full backup to revert changes

Although Windows 10 includes a mechanism to roll back any changes during an installation, it's not always perfect, as such it's always recommended to make a full backup of your computer before installing a significant update like the Creators Update.

If something goes wrong during the upgrade, you can use your backup to go back to your previous configuration. You can always use our guide with all the steps you need to make a full backup of your Windows 10 device.

Record your settings before updating

In the past, we've seen cases of users losing some settings they configured in their previous installation. If you have configured specific settings on Windows 10, it's a good idea that you make a note of them before upgrading.

Some settings you may want to record include notifications, tablet mode, virtual desktop, default apps, and privacy settings, as well as apps you pin in the Taskbar and policies you configured using the Local Group Policy editor.

Uninstall conflicting apps

Sometimes the installation of a new version of Windows 10 may fail due to an app that isn't compatible. Usually, it's a good practice to uninstall any app that may cause problems, especially older traditional desktop applications.

To uninstall apps on Windows 10, you can do the following:

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

4. Select the app you want to remove and click the Uninstall button.

5. Click the Uninstall button again to confirm.
6. Follow any additional on-screen direction to complete removing the app.
7. Repeat the same steps to remove other apps.

Antivirus and other security software are also known to cause problems during an upgrade. While it's always not recommended to leave your device unprotected, before proceeding with the installation of the Creators Update, you should remove or disable any security software.

If you're using Windows Defender, you can disable it with these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & security.
3. Click on Windows Defender.

4. Turn off the Real-time protection option.

The Windows Firewall could also interfere during a significant update. You can temporarily disable this feature by doing the following:

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Click on System and Security.
3. Click the Windows Firewall link.
4. On the left pane, click the Turn Windows Firewall on or off link.

5. Select Turn off Windows Firewall for private and public networks settings.

6. Click OK.

Don't block updates

If you're a Windows 10 Pro user, you may also want to check that you're not intentionally blocking the Creators Update from downloading to your device.

You can make sure your device can receive feature updates by doing the following:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & security.
3. Click the Advanced options link.

4. Clear the Defer updates option.

A computer configured with a metered connection will prevent any updates from passing through. As such, it's a good idea to double-check that you don't have a connection set to metered.

To make sure your device doesn't have configured a metered connection, do the following:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Network & security.
3. Click on Wi-Fi.
4. Click the wireless connection you're using.

5. Turn off the Metered connection option.

Disconnect non-essential devices

On significant updates, such as the Windows 10 Creators Update, it's known that peripherals and other devices connected to your computer are responsible for errors and a number of other issues, especially storage devices.

A good rule of thumb is to disconnect all non-essential peripherals from your device, including USB hard drives and flash drives, SD cards, Bluetooth devices, printers, scanners, and anything that may cause issues. During the upgrade process, a keyboard and mouse, monitor, and an internet connection are all you need.

After you have successfully installed the new version, you can always reconnect all your devices.

Do a clean install as the last resort

Alternatively, when nothing seems to work to upgrade, you should consider wiping your system and starting with a clean installation of Windows 10.

If you've tried all your possible options, you can download the Media Creation Tool to create a bootable media to do a clean installation of the OS with the Creators Update.

To create a USB bootable media, connect a USB drive with at least 4GB of storage, and do the following:

1. Download the Media Creation Tool from the Microsoft support website.
2. Double-click the MediaCreationTool.exe file to start the process.

3. Click Accept to agree to the terms.

4. Select the Create installation media for another PC option.

5. Click Next.

6. Use the default settings if you're planning to upgrade the same computer, or uncheck Use the recommended options for this PC, and select your language, edition, and architecture.

7. Click Next.

8. Click Next.
9. Select the USB flash drive option.

10. Click Next.

11. Select the storage you want to use.

12. Click Next.

13. Click Finish.

To do a clean installation of Windows 10 with the Creators Update using a bootable media, do the following:

Warning: When you perform a clean installation of Windows 10, you'll be erasing everything on your device, make sure to create a full backup of your PC before proceeding, and check that you have the installation files and product keys to reinstall any application you want to install after the upgrade.

1. Start your device with the USB installation media.

   • In the case your PC isn't booting from the USB flash drive, you'll need to change your system's BIOS settings to make sure it can boot from USB. Usually, you can access the BIOS by powering up your device and hitting one of the functions or ESC keys, but make sure to check your manufacturer's support website for more information.
2. On the Windows Setup, click Next to begin the process.

3. Click the Install Now button.

4. Click the I don't have a product key link to continue (assuming that your device was already running a properly activated version of Windows 10).

5. Click Next.

6. Select the edition of Windows 10 (if applicable) you want to install. This selection must match your previous edition.
7. Click Next.
8. Accept the licensing agreement

9. Click Next.

10. Click on the Custom: Install Windows only (Advanced) option to start a clean installation of Windows 10.

11. Select any partition on the hard drive (usually "Drive 0") and make sure to click the Delete button to remove the partitions.

12. Select the hard drive (Drive 0 Unallocated Space).

13. Click Next to begin the installation process.

After the installation completes, you'll need to go through the out-of-box-experience (OOBE) to configure Windows 10 with your personal settings. Then there are only two things left to do, including restoring your personal files from backup and reinstall any app you have installed before.

Wrapping things up

Although the Creators Update has been designed to overcome some of the limitations of the Anniversary Update, and improve the overall experience of Windows 10, remember that during the early days, it's expected that some users may come across errors, bugs, and other issues.

This is one of the reasons Microsoft rolls out updates like this one slowly, and also the reason to avoid forcing the update on day one if it's not being offered to you automatically through Windows Update. However, if you come across any problems during and after the installation of the Windows 10 Creators Update, you can use this guide to try in resolve them.

Microsoft is also expected to roll out new cumulative updates to address any problems that may appear during the initial release.

If you come across any other errors or bugs during the installation of the Windows 10 Creators Update, and you know the solution, don't forget to share your notes in the comments, as it may well help other fellow Windows 10 users.

In the case, you can't find a solution to a problem, remember that you can use the Windows Central forum to seek answers.

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

Here's how to keep your iPhone and iPad photos in sync with your PC using iCloud Photo Library on Windows 10.

Of course, Apple would prefer if you used a Mac alongside your iPhone or iPad, but it isn't silly enough to assume that folks would give up their Windows PCs and go all-in on its hardware. As such, some of the core services you'll be using on those mobile devices are also available for Windows.

One specific service is iCloud Photos. It's a relatively easy way to share your iPhone or iPad photos with your Windows 10 PC, once you've got it set up. Here's what you need to know.

This guide was originally published in August 2015, but we refreshed it for April 2017.

1. Download, install and set up iCloud for Windows

Before you do anything you need to have iCloud for Windows installed and set up. The good news is that it's an easy process. The even better news is we have a complete guide to walk you through it, step by step.

How to set up iCloud on Windows 10

2. Enable it on your iPhone or iPad

It goes without saying, but before you can share anything to your Windows 10 PC you need to make sure you've enabled everything on your iOS device. If you need help with that, check out the guide linked below courtesy of our pals over at iMore.

How to enable iCloud Photo Library on your iPhone and iPad

3. Enable sync on Windows 10

If you didn't take care of it already in the first step, the next thing you need to do is to enable iCloud Photos in iCloud for Windows.

1. Open the Start Menu and navigate to the "iCloud" folder.
2. In there, you need to open the "iCloud" application.
3. In the box that pops up, check the box next to "Photos."

4. Choose what to sync

In the box you enable Photos in during the previous step, you'll also see a button labeled "Options" next to Photos. This is where you choose what it is you wish to sync to your PC.

Click on Options and you'll be presented with what you see in the image above. Here's what you can do:

• iCloud Photo Library: Upload your PC photo library to your iCloud storage.
• Photostream: This is a pretty simple way to share your iPhone and iPad photos with all of your iCloud enabled devices. It'll share everything you take and sync it to your Windows 10 PC, but it'll also work in reverse and allow you to add photos from your computer that will then sync to iCloud and any iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple TV that's set up for it.
• iCloud Photo Sharing: Choose the people you want to share photos with and allow them to add photos, videos and comments. Comments will show up right in the folder when you open it in Windows 10.
• Download and Upload new photos and videos to and from your PC.

You can also change the folder that synced photos go into. By default, it'll be set to go into Pictures or iCloud Photos, but you can change that to any other that you wish.

5. Quick Access

The steps above will leave you in a position where iCloud will sync your photos to your computer. The photos themselves will reside in the folder specified in the previous step, but iCloud for Windows installs a "desktop app" for quicker, easier management.

Only it's not a desktop app as you might imagine. To locate it you can either go into the "iCloud" folder in the Start menu and find "iCloud Photos," or just open File Explorer. iCloud Photos will be added there under "Devices and drives" in "This PC."

• To add to Quick Access in File Explorer, right-click on "iCloud Photos" and select "Pin to Quick Access."
• To pin to the Start menu, right-click on "iCloud Photos" and select "Pin to Start."

6. Add Photos to a folder or Photostream

Once you open up iCloud Photos and you're viewing either your folders or Photostream you can add new photos right from your computer.

1. Open the location you wish to share new photos to.
2. Above the main window look for "Add photos or videos." (See the image above.)
3. Choose the photos from your computer.
4. Once you're ready, hit "Done."

The photos you just selected will soon be available on the devices and to the other people to whom you allow access.

7. Create a new shared album

If you want to share a specific set of photos with friends or family who also use iCloud, there's a really easy way to do it.

1. Open the location you wish to share new photos to.
2. Above the main window look for "New shared album."
3. Add the email addresses of the people you want to share with.
4. Give the album a name.
5. Click "Next."
6. Select all the photos you want to add from your computer.
7. Click "Done."

Now, all the photos you added to the folder will be synced to the devices of everyone you shared to. It's important to remember that you need to add their iCloud email addresses, which may well be different than their regular email addresses, so always make sure to check if in doubt.

8. Unsubscribe from shared folders

If someone has shared a folder with you through iCloud but you're done with it and want to unsubscribe, you can do that too from iCloud for Windows.

1. Select the folder you want to unsubscribe from.
2. Click "Info."
3. In the box that appears click "Unsubscribe" in the bottom left corner.

You'll now no longer see any photos from these folders.

You may not get as wide a range of features as on macOS, but Apple at least provides a comprehensive, if a little rudimentary, way to keep your iCloud Photo Library in order on Windows 10. And you can now move photos both ways, as well as view and edit photos on Windows 10.

For more on iCloud Photo Library, be sure to visit our pals at iMore and check out their ultimate guide.