Enable System Protection / Create a Restore Point
Enable System Protection / Create a Restore Point
What happens if you install a bad piece of software or a defective driver and your computer starts acting strangely or you can’t even boot. You’ll want to revert Windows 10 to the previous system restore point, which will turn back the clock on your drivers, programs and settings to a time when the system worked perfectly. However, Windows 10 comes with system protection disabled. If you want to protect yourself – and you should – set up restore points following the instructions below.
Show File Extensions and Hidden Files
Show File Extensions and Hidden Files
By default, Windows 10 hides most file extensions so, when you’re browsing through your files, you can’t easily see what type of file they are. Your quarterly report, for example, will appear as “3dqreport” instead of “3dqreport.pptx” while that web page you saved will display as “homepage” rather than “homepage.htm” or “homepage.html.” Microsoft has been disabling extensions by default for the past several versions of its OS in a misguided effort to simplify the file system for users. However, this approach can create more problems than it solves. For example, I recently ran into a problem when linking to a font file because I referenced it as “myfont.ttf” when the hidden extension was in caps and the real name was “myfont.TTF.” In an effort to protect you from yourself, Microsoft also hides certain operating system files from you by default. But what if you need to find these files or edit them to troubleshoot? And can’t you trust yourself not to delete important files? Here’s how to show extensions and hidden files in Windows 10.
Disable User Account Control
Disable User Account Control
Windows wants to wag a finger at you every time you try to install a program or change a vital setting by popping up a dialog box and making you click Ok to continue. Why warn you if you already know what you’re doing? Good question. Disable User Account control to stop the needless, annoying dialog boxes.
Disable the Lock Screen
Disable the Lock Screen
Unless you have a tablet and, even if you do, the Windows lock screen is an unnecessary decoration that makes you click or swipe one extra time every time you boot or wake your computer. In order to unlock your computer, you have to dismiss the lock screen, but then still have to enter your password or PIN on the login screen. Why not just go straight to the login screen?
Change Your Default Browser
Change Your Default Browser
If you upgraded to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or 8, you’ll notice that Microsoft Edge is now your default browser, even if Chrome or Firefox was your default before. Edge Browser is a bit faster than Chrome or Firefox, but doesn’t provide the level of extensibility that its competitors offer. If you are a Chrome or Firefox user, you’ll want to change your default right away.
Delete the Windows.old Folder
Delete the Windows.old Folder
If you upgraded from Windows 7 or 8 to Windows 10, the installation program keeps a copy of your previous version of Windows around, just in case you want to roll back. However, those files, which live in a folder called Windows.old, take up 15 to 16GB of disk space. If you plan to stay with Windows 10 (and you should), there’s no reason to keep these archived files around. Unfortunately, deleting them isn’t quite as simple as dragging the Windows.old folder into the recycle bin.
Speed Up Your Shutdowns
Speed Up Your Shutdowns
If you’re old enough to have used a PC in the 1990s, you’ll remember how quickly it shut off; you just hit the power button and walked away. Though Windows 10 boots very quickly, it can still take a while to shut down or restart. Part of the issue is that the OS waits a long time before exiting any programs you have running. In some cases, Windows 10 even stops and waits indefineitely for you force close open applications. If you decided to reboot your computer, you probably meant to close that Wordpad window with the readme.txt file open in it. You can speed up your shutdowns by setting Windows 10 to kill processes and applications in short order.
Windows 10 Basics
Windows 10 Basics
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7 Settings to Change Right AwayWindows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts to Save You Clicks5 Ways to Take ScreenshotsChange Your Password in Windows 10Uninstall Programs in Windows 10Enable or Disable Tablet ModeAdd a User (Child or Adult)Change the Screen ResolutionSync Your Settings Across DevicesSync iPhone with Windows 10Control Windows 10 with Your VoiceUpgrade to Windows 10 From Windows 7 or 8Eliminate Blue Light With Night LightCreate a New FolderGet to the Desktop in Windows 10Add a PrinterAll Windows 10 TipsSet Alarms
Now that you’ve optimized your Windows 10 laptop, learn how to whitelist programs by opening a port on Windows Firewall. Having issues with Windows 10? Our sister site, Tom’s Hardware, has a team of staffers standing by in the forums to answer your questions 24/7.
