Windows 10 - Tips, Tricks, and Other Helpful Information

JerryM · « **on:** 8 May 2016, 06:34 am »

Inasmuch as I intended to avoid Win 10, a catastrophic f*ck up caused me to need a new laptop. The new machine is quite awesome, but is Win 10 resident. As such, I'm trying to get used to the new digs.

Do you have any cool tips, tricks, or other helpful information regarding how to get around within Win 10?

I'm pretty sure I've handled the myriad security issues, but that's a guess at this point.

What say you?

Thanks in advance, and have fun,

Jerry

JerryM · « **Reply #1 on:** 8 May 2016, 06:49 am »

I quickly came to realize that Win10 has some operational issues here on AC.

To wit, none of the items above the reply/post text box work in Win10. None of the smileys, not the 'Insert Picture' or 'Insert Hyperlink' clickys, not the 'more' link for additional smileys. If one doesn't know the "code" for these entries, one is screwed.

However, by clicking on the three "More" dots in the upper right-hand corner of Win10, one can choose to run AC within Internet Explorer. Doing this brings back all of the typical functionality of the clickys and smileys. It's a completely separate page, including login, etc., but it works.

Have fun,

Jerry

srb · « **Reply #2 on:** 8 May 2016, 07:34 am »

What you were first using was the default Metro-style Microsoft Edge browser. Not sure why the icons don't work in Edge, but as you discovered, by clicking on the menu (...) you can open in regular-style Internet Explorer.

If you want to make Internet Explorer your default browser, you can go to Control Panel > Default Programs > Set your default programs , and after the programs list populates, select Internet Explorer on the left and click "Set this program as default".

• To find a program more quickly in Start > All apps, click on any of the numerical or alphabetic headers to display an alphabetic grid and go directly to that numeric or alphabetic program group.

• Make often used folders available to Start > File Explorer > by right-clicking on any folder in File Explorer and selecting "Pin to Quick Access". You can remove them either in the Quick Access area at the top of the left side Navigation Pane in File Explorer or from the Start > File Explorer > (Jump List) itself.

You can also pin "Recent" folders directly from the Jump List by right-clicking. If you prefer not to show recent folders in the Jump List, you can disable that in File Explorer > View > Options > General tab > Privacy section.

Steve

JerryM · « **Reply #3 on:** 8 May 2016, 07:41 am »

Sweet. Thanks, Steve!

srb · « **Reply #4 on:** 8 May 2016, 07:49 am »

After you've organized your Start Menu tiles into labeled program groups, you might find that after updating certain programs, the tile/icon is missing.

In those cases, the program installation removed the icon and subsequently added it back to the Start Menu, but didn't put it back where it found it (!). You will find it at the very bottom of the tile groups and just need to drag it back to its vacated position.

Steve

JerryM · « **Reply #5 on:** 8 May 2016, 08:09 am »

Quote from: srb on 8 May 2016, 07:34 am

...If you want to make Internet Explorer your default browser, you can go to Control Panel > Default Programs > Set your default programs , and after the programs list populates, select Internet Explorer on the left and click "Set this program as default". ...

That doesn't work from here.

I even tried clicking on "Choose defaults for this program" and then clicking "Select All". No worky.

srb · « **Reply #6 on:** 8 May 2016, 08:20 am »

You may be able to display an additional program group column in the Start Menu, depending on your display resolution. Try dragging the right-hand edge of the window and see if it's possible to expand it (the area on the right border is rather small, so you may have to precisely find where you get the double-ended dragging arrow).

The column width doesn't dynamically size, but is fixed based on the maximum number of possible tiles left to right. So while it may seem like there's enough screen width for another column, it may be falling a bit short and you won't be able to drag any farther to the right.

You can also increase the height of the window to ~ 85% of the available screen height.

Steve

srb · « **Reply #7 on:** 8 May 2016, 08:25 am »

Quote from: JerryM on 8 May 2016, 08:09 am

That doesn't work from here. I even tried clicking on "Choose defaults for this program" and then clicking "Select All". No worky.

OK, in the same Control Panel > Default Programs location, try clicking on the 4th link "Set program access and computer defaults". Select the Custom radio button, expand the selection and under "Choose a default web browser", select Internet Explorer (or whatever other installed browser you choose).

Steve

SteveFord · « **Reply #8 on:** 8 May 2016, 10:11 am »

I use Google Chrome to post pictures with Windows 10 on this site.

=

HAL · « **Reply #9 on:** 8 May 2016, 12:08 pm »

In the Edge browser tools, you can start IE11 and post with that if you run into problems with the new one.

sunnydaze · « **Reply #10 on:** 8 May 2016, 03:48 pm »

I'm not computer technical at all. If it's not plug n play I'm in trouble. So I'm not clear at all on what all your problems are.....

All I can say is 2 weeks ago I got a brand new laptop with Windows 10 installed. So far it's been a joy to use. No problems with this, or any other site I've been on. They look and work exactly as they did on Windows XP. No adjustments, or gyrations, or finagling required at all.

That's right, I'm coming from XP. That's how old my recently departed computer was!

I'm using Google Chrome as browser. Perhaps your issues will be solved with it?

I simply turned on the new machine, went through the few steps that it prompted me on, downloaded Google, and started browsing. Everything has worked perfectly.

PSB Guy · « **Reply #11 on:** 8 May 2016, 04:20 pm »

FWIW, Windows 10 is not the problem with this site, it's Internet Explorer. I haven't been able to post pictures here with any version of IE, on any version of Windows. Do yourself a favour and switch to Google Chrome, you'll be glad you did.

Cornelis

charmerci · « **Reply #12 on:** 8 May 2016, 07:54 pm »

I just got a new laptop with W10.

Every three minutes, MS Edge will try to connect to the net and 123media dot com keeps popping up, opening new tabs even when not connected up.
I've cleared the history, cookies...everything but it keeps doing it. I've run 3 different SW scans and they've found no problems either.

Help!

srb · « **Reply #13 on:** 8 May 2016, 08:14 pm »

Quote from: charmerci on 8 May 2016, 07:54 pm

Every three minutes, MS Edge will try to connect to the net and 123media dot com keeps popping up, opening new tabs even when not connected up.

"123media dot com" (and .net) is a parked (inactive) site hosted by GoDaddy, owned by a dude in NJ and the domains expiration dates are 12-May-2016. Is this domain name you're quoting correct?

Steve

audio.bill · « **Reply #14 on:** 8 May 2016, 08:17 pm »

I suggest that you check out the following free software which allows you to address Windows 10 privacy issues. Shutting off many of these unnecessary "services" also significantly improves boot time and overall system responsiveness and efficiency. It also runs without installing anything on your system and all settings can be easily reversed. https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10 Hope this helps!

charmerci · « **Reply #15 on:** 8 May 2016, 08:29 pm »

Quote from: srb on 8 May 2016, 08:14 pm

"123media dot com" (and .net) is a parked (inactive) site hosted by GoDaddy, owned by a dude in NJ and the domains expiration dates are 12-May-2016. Is this domain name you're quoting correct?Steve

Maybe - I'm at work now - though I'm pretty sure.

I haven't used that laptop often on the net and this only started after the 2nd time I connected to wi-fi.

Quote from: audio.bill on 8 May 2016, 08:17 pm

I suggest that you check out the following free software which allows you to address Windows 10 privacy issues. Shutting off many of these unnecessary "services" also significantly improves boot time and overall system responsiveness and efficiency. It also runs without installing anything on your system and all settings can be easily reversed. https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10 Hope this helps!

Thanks. I'll try it later.

It just seems really weird that I could clear all the cookies and history, close the browser down and every three minutes, the computer tries to hook up to the net.

HAL · « **Reply #16 on:** 8 May 2016, 09:29 pm »

Quote from: PSB Guy on 8 May 2016, 04:20 pm

FWIW, Windows 10 is not the problem with this site, it's Internet Explorer. I haven't been able to post pictures here with any version of IE, on any version of Windows. Do yourself a favour and switch to Google Chrome, you'll be glad you did.

Cornelis

I use IE11 and post pictures all the time on AC. Something else is wrong.

charmerci · « **Reply #17 on:** 8 May 2016, 11:11 pm »

Quote from: audio.bill on 8 May 2016, 08:17 pm

I suggest that you check out the following free software which allows you to address Windows 10 privacy issues. Shutting off many of these unnecessary "services" also significantly improves boot time and overall system responsiveness and efficiency. It also runs without installing anything on your system and all settings can be easily reversed. https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10 Hope this helps!

OK - so it's on the computer - which they say is enough, it's tough to find how to find how to open the program on W10 - but it's still trying to get on the computer.

I get this pop-up from my 360 Total Security program
The following program is trying to attack the computer via Windows Explorer. Block this activity if it is unrecognized.

Program: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows System\WinService.exe

Then gives me the option to block or allow.

srb - it's 159media dot com

audio.bill · « **Reply #18 on:** 9 May 2016, 12:33 am »

I didn't get such a warning from my security software, but I use Bitdefender. I am confident that the program is safe but it does allow you to access privacy settings which may be what is causing the alert from your security software. It's got to be your call, but in my experience this program is invaluable and comes highly recommended from several credible sources on PC security.

charmerci · « **Reply #19 on:** 9 May 2016, 12:52 am »

Quote from: audio.bill on 9 May 2016, 12:33 am

I didn't get such a warning from my security software, but I use Bitdefender. I am confident that the program is safe but it does allow you to access privacy settings which may be what is causing the alert from your security software. It's got to be your call, but in my experience this program is invaluable and comes highly recommended from several credible sources on PC security.

It is downloaded. I just can't figure out how to open a program on Windows 10 if the program hasn't set up a shortcut!