Latest Windows How-To Stories
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A beginner’s guide to BitLocker, Windows’ built-in encryption tool
Here's how to set up BitLocker, the encryption tool Microsoft built right into many versions of Windows.Updated
How to find your Windows or Office product key
Locate your Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office product keys with this simple guide.Answer Line
You can safely use Windows 7 until 2020, but I won’t be answering your questions
Microsoft will stop supporting Windows 7 in January of 2020, but I'm turning over Answer Line to Josh Norem today.Updated
How to clean your Windows registry and speed up your PC
A cluttered registry can slow Windows to a crawl, but cleaning it effectively isn't easy. We put several registry cleaners to the test and offer tips to help you get your registry down to size and improve your PC's performance.How-To
How to use Microsoft Edge, Windows 10’s new browser
Windows 10 introduced a new Web browser, Microsoft Edge. We'll show you its new features, from Cortana to Web Notes, and how to use them effectively. (Now updated with Anniversary Update features!)Answer Line
Removing Windows 10’s default apps isn’t easy, but CCleaner can help
Microsoft makes it hard to remove its built-in apps in Windows 10, even if you really don't want them. CCleaner gives you a way, though, and we'll show it to you here.Hassle-Free PC
How to set up photo reminders in Cortana in Windows 10
The Anniversary Update is chock-full of little tweaks that will make your experience just that much better, like photo reminders in Cortana.Hassle-Free PC
How to remove your email address from Windows 10’s login screen
The Anniversary Update adds a nice little feature that makes it easy to hide your email address on Windows 10's sign-in screen.Hassle-Free PC
How to use Cortana-friendly Sticky Notes in Windows 10 to keep track of tasks
Sticky Notes and Cortana merge in the Anniversary Update for a stylus-free way to set reminders.Answer Line
How to run a DOS program in Windows 10
There are some old DOS applications that you just can't afford to lose (or games you still like), and Windows 10 lets you keep them. Here's how.How-To
7 things I learned once I built my first PC
There's always a first time for building a PC, and the guides can only go so far when it gets to specific details for each part. Read on for seven things I wished I'd known before I started.Hassle-Free PC
How to ban the sites you hate from Cortana’s top headlines
Like Cortana but hate that it always surfaces news from a certain site? Now you can dump that site thanks to a new Cortana feature.
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3 alternatives if you don’t want to enter a password on your Windows machine
You boot your PC; you enter your password. You come back from a break; you enter your password. You open your laptop; you enter your password. Let's make this easier.
How-To
Windows 10 reinstallation tip: How to reset your PC and keep your files
Sometimes Windows needs a fresh start—maybe a program’s gone awry or a file’s been corrupted. Luckily, Windows 10 has an option where you can reinstall Windows and wipe your programs, but it keeps your files intact.How-To
Windows 10 reinstallation tip: How to reset your PC and remove everything
There are several reasons why you might want to reset Windows 10 and remove everything. Fortunately, Windows 10 lets you start over with a few clicks.
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How to reinstall Windows like a pro
It's super-easy to reinstall Windows 10 or 8, and not much more difficult to reinstall Windows 7. Use these tips to get the most out of a reinstall.How-To
How to enable Android notifications on the Windows 10 preview
The feature is a work in progress, but it offers a hint at how your PC might integrate more deeply with an Android phone.Answer Line
When to choose a password, when to choose a PIN
You understand that you need to protect your PC, phone, and online accounts. But do you always have to use a long and complex password?Hassle-Free PC
How to use Cortana and Lenovo’s ReachIt to find files strewn across your digital life
Lenovo's Reachit integrates with Cortana to search your local hard drive and various online accounts.Hassle-Free PC
How to add a Hibernate option to the Windows 10 Start menu
Windows 10 doesn't include Hibernate in the shut-down options by default, but it's easy enough to add it.Hassle-Free PC
Explore Cortana’s skill set: 4 useful but lesser-known tricks
Cortana isn't all about calendar appointments, reminders, and jokes. Microsoft's digital assistant is capable of all sorts of tricks.Answer Line
How to get Windows 7’s Start menu in Windows 10
Classic Shell let's you replace Windows 10's Start menu with that of Windows 7, or even Windows XP.Hassle-Free PC
How to copy links from Windows Store apps to your clipboard
A little app called Share Via Clipboard takes the frustration out of copying links or other content from Windows Store apps.How-To
How to go back to Windows 7 or 8 after an unwanted Windows 10 upgrade
Microsoft's pushing Windows 10 onto Windows 7 and 8 PCs even if you didn't consent to it. Here's how to get your computer back to normal.Answer Line
How to manage Windows 10’s People app
Windows 10 comes with a contacts app, but it's not entirely clear what you can do with itHassle-Free PC
Why you should use the OneDrive app in Windows 10
The OneDrive Windows Store app for Windows 10 makes viewing offloaded files easier.How-To
How to uninstall QuickTime for Windows
Apple stopped supporting QuickTime for Windows, but left a couple of major security flaws unpatched. The company recommends you uninstall it, and now would be a good time. Here's how.Answer Line
You can dual-boot Windows 7 with Windows 10, but there’s a catch
You can dual-boot old and new operating systems, but if you upgraded to Windows 10, your old Windows 7 is gone. Here's how to start over.Answer Line
Your PC has malware! Here’s how to remove it
Malware is designed to stay put. You should be able to get rid of the malicious code with these steps.Answer Line
Windows 10’s hidden hard drive partitions: How to find them, how to remove them
Your Windows PC came with one or two partitions you're not supposed to touch, and upgrading to a new Windows version just creates more. You might be able to get back a little storage space, if you tread carefully.Hassle-Free PC
3 quick fixes for your Windows Store problems
Ugh, the Windows Store. Some days you just want to forget it exists. Here are three quick fixes for when the Windows store is not working.Hassle-Free PC
How to make Windows 10 notifications last a little (or a lot) longer
Windows 10 notifications going by too fast? Here's how to slow them down.Hassle-Free PC
How to remove Live Tiles from the Windows 10 Start menu
Say you're just not feeling Windows 10's Live Tiles, it's possible to banish them from the Start menu for a minimalist vibe.Answer Line
How to make your Windows 10 user account local
The account you log onto in Windows 10 is probably connected to Microsoft. Here's why you might (and might not) want to change that and how to do it.Hassle-Free PC
How to copy windows that weren’t meant to be copied with Textify
Textify is a free Windows utility that lets you easily copy a window's text, whatever the source.
Hassle-Free PC
How to uncover Windows 10’s hidden ‘Applications’ view in File Explorer
A quick command in Run turns File Explorer into an at-a-glance display for all your installed programs and Windows Store apps.
How-To
How to clean install Windows the right way
Performing a Windows reinstall can make your PC feel like new, but you'll want to do some prep work first to avoid losing precious data and software.Hassle-Free PC
How to keep charging your USB devices past your PC’s bedtime
With a simple tweak of your Windows settings, you can get a charge from your USB ports when your PC is in sleep mode.Hassle-Free PC
How Cortana in Edge can help you find context for images
Microsoft recently added 'Ask Cortana' support for images in Edge. Here's how to use it.Answer Line
Windows 10 picture password: Draw your own conclusions about its safety
Windows 10's picture password gives you an alternative to traditional passwords and PINs that could be easier to remember. Whether it's as safe is a good question–we go over the issues here.
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Restore a Windows 7 backup in Windows 10
It's good to have a backup when you've lost your PC. But only if you can recover the files.Hassle-Free PC
How to download local maps for offline use in Windows 10
Don't let an unpredictable Internet connection keep you from where you're going—Windows 10 lets you download maps to use offline.Hassle-Free PC
Onetastic add-in for OneNote puts your notes in a calendar
Onetastic's OneCalendar is a great way to view your notes organized by date.
How-To
7 ways Windows 10 pushes ads at you, and how to stop them
Regardless of whether you upgrade from Windows 7 or pay $100 for a new license, Windows 10 bombards you with ads. Here's how to make them stop.Hassle-Free PC
Clear out your PC’s junk files with Kaspersky Cleaner Beta
A new program from security firm Kaspersky cleans out your PC's log files and cache files quickly and easily.Answer Line
3 ways to speed up Windows 10 without buying new hardware
Why wait? A few simple tweaks will improve Windows 10's performance without an expensive hardware upgrade.Hassle-Free PC
Three easy ways to paste plain text into Word
Pasting formatted text from the web can often be a hassle—but not if you use these tricks.Hassle-Free PC
How to turn your screencast into a GIF with Recordit
Because sometimes an animated GIF really is worth a thousand words.Hassle-Free PC
3 pre-Windows 10 tricks worth revisiting
Yes, Windows 10 is great, but there are some tips and tricks from older versions of Windows that are still plenty useful.Answer Line