03/2020    Windows 10 information:
                Introduction to Windows 10 video course      <==NEW!!!
                Windows 10 Training Courseware
                Preserving Your Privacy in Windows 10
                Introduction to Windows 10 Security
                7 Tips for Customizing the Windows 10 taskbar

12/2016    Windows 10 Simplified booklet

12/2016    How to bring an old laptop back to life for free.   Neverware, an operating system developer, now offers a free software called CloudReady -- which can turn about 200 old PC and Mac computers into usable machines again. CloudReady is a version of the same operating system found on Google Chromebook laptops, and it's lightweight enough to be compatible with older, slower computers.

11/2016    Seven things you should never do online by Kim Komando.

09/2016    Resources available to help keep your computer safe.  Websites & information mentioned on 9/13/16 by LCCUG presenter, Bob Gostischa, is available for viewing by following this link, goo.gl/5v4sIQ.

08/2016    How to Really Erase All Personal Data From Your Laptop, Tablet, or Phone. Selling or giving away a device is economical, but shouldn't become an opportunity to lose private data. And the delete button isn't as permanent as you think.

08/2016    Windows 10 free upgrade is still available using Windows 7 and 8 product keys. In spite of the official end of the free Windows 10 update offer on July 29, it seems any valid Windows 7/8.x retail product key still installs Windows 10 for now.

08/2016    Windows 10 Anniversary Update Walkthrough. On the 2nd of August, Windows 10 will receive the largest update to the Operating System we have seen so far – The Windows 10 Anniversary Update. Here’s what you need to know.

08/2016    Here's how to get Windows 10 for free- still. People who assistive technologies still quality for the free upgrade, though Microsoft doesn't ask for any evidence that you actually use such tools.

08/2016    The dangerous cost of ‘free’ Wi-Fi. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Free Wi-Fi is no exception to this adage. Security company Avast tested this theory by setting up a number of free fake Wi-Fi hotspots to see how many people would take the bait. They caught a lot of fish.

07/2016    4 cheap senior medical alert systems.

06/2016    Tech support scammers are now impersonating victims’ Internet Service Providers.  Read more from this article.

03/2016    PDF version of Neil Higgins' presentation on Backing Up Your Computer.

02/2016    5 Easy Steps to Keep Your Computer and Tech Safe in 2016.  Spring cleaning isn’t just about washing drapes and scrubbing walls. Follow these steps to bolster efficiency and security in your technology.

02/2016    Windows 7 & 8.1 Users: Brace Yourself For a 6GB Windows 10 Download!  First Microsoft made the OS upgrade free - and then last July Microsoft pushed the download out to millions of customers who had "reserved" a free copy, whether they were ready to upgrade or not.

11/2015 Free Up Disk Space by Moving Windows Apps to External Media.  Note that this method only works on certain apps (namely, universal apps and Modern apps). You can’t change the installation location for desktop apps with this method.

11/2015 The Ultimate Windows 10 Activation & License FAQ, answering some of the most commonly encountered questions regarding Windows 10 activation and licensing.

    What is the “Get Windows 10” Tray Item and How Do You Remove It?

    A second tool can be download from this web site.

    Using either of these tools will probably be safer than editing the Windows Registry on your machine by hand. Read the web sites thoroughly to understand how to use either program.

11/2015    10 Reasons to Finally Upgrade to Windows 10.

09/2015    Windows 10 after one month: Hits and misses.

09/2015    Ten Quick Ways to Customize & Personalize Windows 10.

09/2015    Installing Windows 10 using the media creation tool.  The media creation tool can be used to upgrade your current PC to Windows 10 or to create a USB or DVD and install Windows 10 on a different PC.

07/2015    Windows 10 download.  If you need to install or reinstall Windows 10, you can use the tools on this page to create your own installation media using either a USB flash drive or a DVD.

09/2015    If You Regret The Upgrade to Windows 10, Downgrade with EaseUS System GoBack Free.  EaseUS System GoBack Free is a great way to allow yourself the freedom to upgrade your OS without totally committing, meaning that if you are not happy, for whatever the reason, you can simply go back to where you were before.  Read more here. 

08/2015    Windows 10: Good, but is it good enough?  As even cave-dwelling monks probably know by now, Windows 10 is out for all the world to see — and it appears to be a qualified success. Is downloading and installing the new OS a no-brainer? If you use Win8, the answer is almost assuredly yes; but if you’re a Win7 fan, some serious considerations await.

08/2015    How to Clean Install Windows 10.  

08/2015    Bogus Emails Making the Rounds as Windows 10 Upgrade.  Here's a link to another article with good examples about this scam

08/2015    Microsoft is now releasing their new Windows 10 Operating System.  This is an upgrade that is free for legitimate owners of Windows 7 & Windows 8.1 systems.  Windows 10 promises to fix problems with earlier versions and claims to be more secure.  Microsoft's plan is to upgrade a billion personal computers, causing inevitable confusion among PC users.  

    Bad guys are trying to exploit this confusion.  You might get calls from scammers that claim to be Microsoft tech support and try to charge you for the upgrade using your credit card.

    Be very careful with any email claiming to be from Microsoft about "your Windows 10 upgrade".  Make sure that any links in the email really go to Microsoft.  Better yet, do not click on any link or open any attachment, but go to the Microsoft website for more information.

08/2015    How to Downgrade from Windows 10.  While most of the response to Windows 10 has been positive, it might not be for everyone. The good news is that downgrading from Windows 10 to your previous operating system is a relatively simple task.

08/2015    10 Awesome New Features in Windows 10 You Should Know.  Touch-centric Windows 8 was widely panned. Windows 10 is a return to form, with some fun extras too.

08/2015    How to Disable Windows 10 Microsoft Account Login

06/2015    How Security Questions Can Get You in Trouble.  Who’s your favorite superhero?  No matter which name you choose, bad guys have a decent shot at correctly guessing it due to the limited number of possible answers, according to a new study.  There is a major problem with the security questions often used by online services to help users recover passwords: The answers to such questions are either memorable or secure, but rarely both.

06/2015    How to Build Your Own PC.  If you want the strongest, most adaptable, and most upgradeable personal PC, you should build it yourself. 

03/2015    Too many users are still habitually downloading their software from untrustworthy sources such as Download.com. This article explains the dangers of downloading from untrustworthy sites & what to look out for- even from legitimate download sites.

03/2015    When installing software, you can avoid unwanted crapware by using a program called Unchecky, which automatically unchecks unrelated offers in the installation process.  Read about this great software here.  Unchecky is still in Beta stage, which means the software is still undergoing refinements.

03/2015    Think Twice if You Get a Call From the IRS or the ‘Prize Patrol’.   As if consumers don’t already have enough scams to worry about, the Federal Trade Commission says impostor scams are on the rise.  Here are the FTC’s top 10 impostor scams.

03/2015    ALERT: A vulnerability that could allow man-in-the-middle eavesdroppers to crack HTTPS (secure web connections) and steal sensitive data exists in every version of Windows, Mac OS X, iOS, Android, and even Blackberry OS.  Click here for the full article.  For added reassurance, you can visit http://freakattack.com and check the top line for a message about whether the browser you are using is vulnerable to the loophole.

03/2015    Security Expert: Uninstall Your Flashlight App Immediately. Security experts say some of the most popular flashlight apps for Android phones could be stealing data from your phone, including your location, phone number, contacts list or, potentially, your mobile banking information. Here is a Threat Assessment Report of 10 Top Android Flashlight Apps. A YouTube video can be viewed here with a report of the issue.

02/2015    Does your Computer Have VD? If you bought a Lenovo laptop any time since September, 2014, it may have come with a piece of adware called Superfish that puts all of your Web browsing sessions at risk of hacking. The same flawed technology has been found in three different parental control programs, and may be incorporated in any number of other legitimate programs. Here's what you need to know, and do...  Lenovo may have to defend a class action lawsuit which follows the revelation that the adware had the potential to spy on users.

03/2015    Hard Drives, SSDs, Flash Drives: How Long Will Your Storage Media Last? We know that CDs and DVDs don’t last forever.  What about hard drives and solid state drives?

03/2015    Should I Remove It? is a very simple but extremely powerful Windows application that helps users, both technical and non technical, decide what programs they should remove from their PC.

02/2015    19 Hidden Chrome Features That Will Make Your Life Easier. Click through this slideshow for a list of 19 hidden tricks hidden inside Chrome that you really need to be using.

02/2015    How do I route my email through Gmail? Gmail is a great spam filter. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that as I write this, it is perhaps the best. Only a small amount of spam makes it through, and very few false positives are thrown. It’s not perfect, but no solution is.

02/2015    Safepasswd.com is a simple website that generates random passwords with options for password length and type, such as Easy to Remember versus all manner of not easy. The website is also useful for those who “can’t think of a new password”.

01/2015    Microsoft to give away Windows 10 as free upgrade.

01/2015    Ransomware Strikes Again - Cryptowall. Making regular backups of critical data and keeping your software up to date is more important than ever thanks to the arrival of new, “improved” malware like Cryptowall 2. This update to a well-known ransomware exploit is making life miserable for business and personal computer users worldwide. Here's what you need to know...

01/2015    DOWNLOAD ALERT: Foistware Warning. Foistware is a term used for software that's "foisted" on you, typically without your knowledge or explicit consent. How can I avoid this?

01/2015    Downloading? Watch Out For These Danger Signs. A look at two other popular download sites, to see if they are also guilty of foisting garbageware on downloaders.

01/2015    How do I get rid of the ASK virus that hijacks my browser and configure my computer so I never see it again?

01/2015    Microsoft's support timeline.  Check this page to see if your Operating System is still supported or when it will cease to be supported.

01/2015    Start the new year with a clean Windows PC. A little time spent now on preventive maintenance can save hours of PC troubleshooting later undefined and provide better computing all year long. Use the following steps to give your PC an annual checkup undefined and ensure it starts 2015 as healthy as possible.

11/2014    Ten Tips for Online Holiday Shoppers.  Shopping online for the holidays is easy and convenient, but when you use the right tools, you can also save a lot of cash. Here are some money-saving tips for the smart online holiday shopper.

06/2015    Red cursor files to make your computer cursor more visible.

01/2015    4 Ways to Make Your Gmail Safer in 2015. If you’re not taking every measure available to protect your email account, now is the time to start.

01/2015    Mobile Threat- Android Malware Looks Safe, Steals Your Photos and Messages. A nasty app called PhoneSpy takes advantage of our trusting relationship with our phones to harvest the most personal of information.

12/2014    Need help deciding which anti-malware product to use? The not-for-profit organization AV-Comparatives claims to run the most comprehensive suite of real-world malware tests, and it regularly reviews popular free and paid anti-malware packages, with results posted monthly.
    When looking at this or any other AV performance table, be aware of numerous caveats. For example, AV-Comparatives notes that while some products might achieve 100 percent protection in the tests, that’s not a guarantee that you’ll see the same level of protection. The tests are extensive, but they don’t include all malware. Moreover, the results are a snapshot in time. Existing exploits can adapt quickly, and new forms are popping up every day. (It’s the reason new virus definitions are offered frequently - and are necessary!)  The full article from Windows Secrets Newsletter is available here.

12/2014    A dozen tools for removing almost any malware. Need to get a system clean of malware and/or verify that it’s completely malware-free? Use one or more of these free tools to clean up even the worst malware infections undefined and keep PCs clean.

12/2014    Is it a simple software error undefined or malware?  The causes of anti-malware failure range from minor system errors to raging, full-blown infections. Here’s how to safely sort things out.  Plus: Security concerns about bypassing Windows’ UAC, a reliable DVD drive suddenly dies, and a free DOS-emulator helps you run very old apps and games.

12/2014    Temporarily disable your laptop touchpad as you type. Two freeware programs are available that will temporarily disable the touchpad for a number of seconds any time a key is pressed. If no key is pressed after a certain amount of time, then you are able to use the touchpad freely. This will help to eliminate the issue of your cursor jumping around the screen as you type due to inadvertently hitting the touchpad as you type.
    touchpad blocker
    touchfreeze

03/2015    Why You Should Connect a PC to Your TV (Don’t Worry; It’s Easy!) OK, you have a Roku, or a Chromecast, or some other streaming device. HowToGeek explains why you should connect a PC to your TV too. The post also has advice to hook it up and control the PC.

12/2014    Cutting the Cable Cord. If cord-cutting is on the rise, why are there more cable subscribers than ever? We're busting the cord-cutting myths everyone takes for granted.

01/2015    Interactive TV Coverage Browser. This is a mapping tool that will let you browse the TV transmitters in your area and see their coverage maps presented in a visual and dynamic format.

12/2014    How to Cut the Cord and Ditch Cable Once and For All. Quitting cable cold turkey is an intimidating prospect, especially if you're a heavy user. But it's easier than ever to fill the void, with more quality content than ever to fill it with.

12/2014    Dealnews decided to test out a Chromecast for a review and discovered that it's not as streamlined as it seems. In their latest, hard-hitting video, they blow the lid off the device and expose some of the flaws that Google failed to mention.

12/2014    8 Things You Didn't Know Your Chromecast Could Do. While the ultraportable device is pretty much plug and play, there are a few tips and tricks that can make casting more magical. Check them out in this slideshow.

12/2014    Quick & Dirty Guide: The Difference Between a Streaming Stick & Set-Top Box. If a streaming stick is cheaper, why would you pay more for a set-top box?

01/2015    Can You Run It On Linux? 10 Vital Apps You’ll Want When You Switch. Now has never been a better time to switch to Linux, but you may still be hesitant about it because you’re not sure whether your favorite applications from Windows will work on it. To help answer your questions, we’ll take a look at 10 popular Windows applications and whether you have options for them in Linux or online.

12/2014    An online Spirograph. Change the background and pen colors, number of teeth on fixed and rotating parts, roll the gear around and watch the geometric shape appear. Then erase or download your creation.

01/2015    Near-certain ways to improve PC startup times.  Four free tools offer safe and certain ways to pare your boot times to the minimum. The process takes a little time and effort, but if you follow the steps outlined here, better boot times are all but guaranteed!

12/2014    The First Eight Things To Do With Your New Computer. A few steps immediately after you get your new computer can save you a lot of time, effort and loss of data later. Here are some recommendations.

12/2014    Are You Getting The Internet Service You Pay For? ISPs around the world are notorious for shaping traffic and limiting traffic in a way that is oblivious to their users. Most of the time, Internet users believe that the fault is with their connections or their network setups but they are unaware of ways to test their Internet connection for this problem. This article describes how to test your ISP.

12/2014    Missing Windows DVD? How to Download and Reinstall.

11/2014    How to safely test-drive Win10 undefined step by step. The safest and easiest way to install and work with the preview of the next Windows is within a virtual machine undefined this article shows how.

11/2014    Windows 10 Hands-On: A Good Start. Notes from a user who had the chance to spend a few moments with a demo PC running the new platform. He was impressed with a UI that seemed both familiar and fresh at the same time.

11/2014    Windows 10 Start Menu & other features.  Worldstart has an article describing some of the new features in Windows 10.  Click here to read the article.

10/2014    Did the Store You Shop At Get Hacked? Here’s What To Do. Everyone seems to agree that companies should do more to protect the people who’ve entrusted them with valuable data, but the trend of high-profile hacks seems likely to continue in the near future. Here’s how you can protect yourself.

09/2014    Free eBook- PC Maintenance Handbook, 2nd Edition. Improve your PC's performance, speed, and reliability.
    This handbook is designed to help you find ways to maintain your Windows PC and ensure it remains clean and speedy throughout its life. Computers quickly get bogged down by junk files, invalid registry entries, a fragmented hard drive, spyware, adware, low disk space, and more. A speedy system is just a few clicks away, but sometimes it's hard to know where to start or even what to do. The purpose of this eBook is not to define the ultimate solution; its purpose is to give you simple, unbiased advice on what have been found to be the best options out there.

08/2014    Windows 3 Fun: Getting Really Old Software Running On A 64-Bit PC. Here’s how to get incredibly old 16-bit software and games like Chip’s Challenge running.

11/2014    On the subject of games, Console Living Room is a part of the Internet Archive. They bring you not only a collection of consoles from video gaming history, but they also allow you to access and play the games design for those consoles in your internet browser!
  When you arrive to the Console Living Room you’ll be treated to a gallery of old consoles. Each console will offer you a library of games to pick from.

08/2014    ALERT: Serious Security Flaw in USB Drives. Undetectable malware can be hidden in any USB flash drive, according to security researchers Karsten Nohl and Jakob Lell.

07/2014    Use Windows' Problem Steps Recorder to assist in getting help with a problem.  Most of us have had the frustrating experience of trying to explain some kind of problem with our computer to someone over the phone. It’s often hard to relate what the problem really is in words unless you know a whole lot about computers. There’s a simple solution that’s already available on your Windows 7 and 8 computer. It’s called Problem Steps Recorder and it could be the best-kept secret of Windows. Here’s how to use it.

07/2014    The 2014 Guide To Windows 7 For Ex Windows XP Users.
Have you finally decided to upgrade from Windows XP and managed to get a cheap copy of Windows 7? You made the right decision! You will get used to Windows 7 in no time. Best of all, we have many great resources to help you settle in and get up to speed.

07/2014    How do You Search for Multiple File Types at the Same Time in Windows 8? (Note: this also works for Windows 7)

07/2014    How to Bypass and Reset the Password on Every Operating System. Passwords can be reset or bypassed on every operating system. These tricks all require physical access to the device.

06/2014    Tired of unchecking unrelated offers while installing software?
Have you ever felt, while installing software, that the installer tries to push additional unwanted programs at all cost?  Unchecky aims to keep potentially unwanted programs out of your computer.

06/2014    14 Free & Open Source Alternatives For Paid Software. Don’t waste money on software for personal use! Not only do free alternatives exist, they most likely offer all the features you need and may be easier and safer to use.

05/2014       The Best Free Video Editors For Windows. Here are the five top choices for Windows users.

05/2014    Here is a collection of previously recorded presentation videos from past LCCUG meetings, including Virtual Credit Cards & using Truecrypt & Keepass.

  Kim Komando also has a short article about Keepass.

04/2014    10 Common Web Tasks You Can Do Without Signing Up. Security bugs like Heartbleed make it abundantly clear that your logins and passwords are not safe. But what if you could use the Web for common tasks like uploading photos and videos or chatting with friends, all without signing up for an account?

02/2014    Acronis Drive Monitor. Free, downloadable software application developed by Acronis to monitor hard disk drives. Acronis Drive Monitor can help predict when a hard drive is about to fail, giving you the chance to backup your data before disaster strikes.

12/2013    Don’t Get Scrooged by These 20 Nasty Holiday Scams. Retailers do big business during December, but so do thieves. With so much money flowing freely, con artists are out in full force.

12/2013    How to Talk to a Live Person: Every Customer Support Number You'll Ever Need. PC Mag has compiled a list of customer support phone numbers and tips for navigating to an actual person. From retailers to wireless carriers to cable providers to manufacturers, calling these numbers and following a few easy steps will get a real person on the line before you know it.

    If you're interested in contacting a company not on the list, ContactHelp.com and GetHuman.com are also great resources to check out.

02/2014 How to Get Data Off an Old Hard Drive (Without Putting It in a PC). You saved an old hard drive (or three) from previous computers and now you’d like to get at the data on them. Is there an easy way to access the data without cracking open your current computer and mounting the hard drives inside?

02/2014    Sorting out the revolution in PC backups: Part 1. An overview of the five leading types of backup technology available today for Windows users. These capsule summaries should help you quickly sort through the benefits and limitations of each option.

02/2014 Microsoft Excel School- Formulas and Functions.
             Lesson 1: Why Do You Need Formulas and Functions?
             Lesson 2: Defining and Creating a Formula
             Lesson 3: Relative and Absolute Cell Reference, and Formatting
             Lesson 4: Useful Functions You Should Get to Know

12/2013    9 Ways to Profit From Broken Electronics.  Selling your older-model smartphones, laptops and other electronic gadgets is a fairly easy way to bring in extra money (or offset the cost of new devices), but what if those old models are broken?  You might be tempted to send them straight to the recycling center, but even broken electronics can bring in a little cash.  Before you recycle, check out these options for selling your gadgets. You won’t get as much as you would for like-new items, but the extra cash may be worth it.

12/2013    How to Digitize/Backup Cassette Tapes and Other Old Media. If you have some old cassette tapes lying around, it’s a good idea to digitize and back them up before they decide to show their age and stop working. In this guide, we’ll show how to convert your old collections to digital files, and the best practices for doing so.

12/2013    How to Get Started With Speech Recognition on Windows 7 or 8. Did you know Windows has had Speech Recognition built-in since Windows Vista? This is more than just a way to type by speaking aloud undefined you can use it to control applications and navigate the desktop with your voice.
It’s a free, built-in alternative to paid voice dictation programs like Dragon NaturallySpeaking. It’s a shame most Windows users will likely never find it buried in the Control Panel.

12/2013    Research Your Family Tree Online.   MakeUseOf staff writer Christian Cawley will help you to get the data you need by teaching you about all the best tools for the job. By reading this guide, you’ll know exactly how to approach your family tree project. 

11/2013    What The Windows XPocalypse Means For You. In April of 2014, Microsoft will stop offering security and performance updates for its elderly operating system. What does this mean for you?

10/2013    CryptoLocker Is The Nastiest Malware Ever & Here’s What You Can Do. CryptoLocker is a piece of malware targeting computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system. It is typically spread as an email attachment, often purporting to be from a legitimate source.
    This article discusses the malware and how to avoid it, including a utility that locks down Windows to prevent infection by the Cryptolocker malware.  Note, however, that Micky tried this utility and it seemed to add an unwanted program to the computer that had to be removed.  Please be careful about this utility, but pay attention to the other advice given in the article.

11/2013    CryptoLocker: The Worst Malware Ever? This is malware that when it infects a computer, it starts encrypting every document, spreadsheet, PowerPoint, graphic and photo file it can find. Once everything is encrypted, the malware posts a ransom notice demanding money. The Greater Cleveland PC Users Group has created a special CryptoLocker page and updates it regularly with articles, software, tips and video links.

10/2013 Opt out of Google's invasion of your privacy. Google wants to use your image and name in ads without compensating you. That is, unless you complete their opt-out procedure.  Another link to the same topic from Clark Howard. However, I think Clark doesn't explain the procedure as clearly as Bob Rankin does in the previous link.

11/2013    How to Slash Your Monthly Expenses by $1,000 (or More) per Year. This article explains how you can cut your cable bill, slash other monthly expenses from your budget, and provides details on how to save money on monthly service and subscription fees.

12/2013    MiniTool Partition Wizard Home Edition is a free partition manager software designed by MiniTool Solution Ltd. Home users can perform complicated partition operations by using this powerful yet free partition manager to manage their hard disk. Functions include: Resizing partitions, Copying partitions, Create partition, Extend Partition, Split Partition, Delete partition, Format partition, Convert partition, Explore partition, Hide partition, Change drive letter, Set active partition, Partition Recovery.

11/2013    11 Amazing Ways People Are Using 3D Printers For Good, Not Guns.

11/2013    Sending Large Files Made Easy. Finding it difficult to send email attachments larger than 25MB in Gmail? Well, there are several alternatives to sending large files. Here are a few that are better than the best in the business…

Favorite Web Sites.  Lists of web sites from past presentations:
    01/08/2013 presentation web sites. 
    11/22/2011 presentation web sites.
    09/07/2009 presentation web sites.

Here is the link to the power point that was used at the November 13 meeting concerning TVs and Computers.  It is saved as a PDF and hopefully everyone can access it.    TVs and Computers is a big subject that is changing faster than we can get a handle on it.  Hopefully this presentation will give it some clarity.
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BxVp1c6R1nzhV2ZwRzNiWFBQYnc

Also during our November 13th meeting, we briefly discussed watching Football games via Internet streaming.  Here is an article about that topic:
How to stream live football games online for free.  Don't have the cash for that premium NFL package from your cable provider? Here's how to watch live football games streaming online for free.


Information presented in the AVAST Online Security Presentation of July, 2012.

Handout on using Picasa from the May 8 meeting from Geeks on Tour

Recomended free software from John "Free John" Kennedy
           CAMUG-handout.pdf

What's In Your Hard Drive?
     Slide show from 08/09/2011 presentation by Neil Higgins.

Cloud Computing revised powerpoint    -   7-12-11

The 10 hottest Five Apps lists of 2012.  Here are the ten most popular Five App Blog posts in 2012 according to Google Analytics.  For instance: Five apps for crapware cleanup; Five must-have apps for your USB stick. 

Did you know you can restore previous versions of files and folders in Windows 7?  Here is a link to a good article explaining how to use this function: 
     Use Windows 7’s Previous Versions to Go Back in Time and Save Your Files

When I’m in a folder in Windows XP, I see a button called Back and one called Up. What’s the difference?    Moving Up and Back in Windows Explorer

Have you ever booted up your computer and not been able to reach the Windows desktop?  This tip explains how to use Safe Mode with Command Prompt to run System Restore from a command prompt.    Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Beginner Geek: How To Change the Boot Order in Your Computer’s BIOS.  The boot order in your computer’s BIOS controls which device it loads the operating system from. Modify your boot order to force your computer to boot from a USB drive, CD or DVD drive, or another hard drive.

Microsoft Virtual PC is a free application that helps you create your own virtual machines inside your current operating system, so you can test software, or learn a new environment easily. Here’s how to get started.
     How to Create a Virtual Machine in Windows 7 Using Virtual PC

08/2013 Run your Windows XP system in Windows 8 with VMware. Use VMware tools to convert your existing Windows XP system into a virtual machine and then run it in Windows 8.

08/2013 Convert your existing Windows XP system into a virtual machine. This article shows you how to use free VMware products to convert your existing Windows XP system into a virtual machine and then run it in Windows 8.

================ Windows Backup: ====================

01/2016    Good articles about using Windows Backup from the How To Geek: 
   How to Use All of Windows 10’s Backup and Recovery Tools
   Learning Windows 7 – Backup and Recovery
   How to Create a System Image in Windows 7, 8, or 10

01/2013    How to install the Backup utility from the CD-ROM in Windows XP Home Edition.  The Backup utility helps you protect your data if your hard disk stops working or your files are accidentally erased. With Backup, you can create a copy of all the data on your hard disk, and then archive it on another storage device, such as a removable hard disk or a tape. The Backup utility is not included in the default installation of Windows XP Home Edition. Therefore, to use Backup, you have to install it manually.
To manually install Backup, follow these steps:
    Put the Windows XP Home Edition CD in the CD Drive.
    Double-click the Ntbackup.msi file in the following location to start a wizard that installs Backup:
    CD drive:\VALUEADD\MSFT\NTBACKUP
    When the installation wizard is finished, click Finish.
If the wizard completed the installation, the program was successfully installed and you can now use the Backup utility

01/2013    How to use the Windows XP Backup utility.  Windows XP requires third-party disk-imaging software in order to back up the entire hard drive including the operating system (Win7 has it built in).

01/2013    Here is a list of free Hard Disk Backup / Restore and Image / Cloning Utilities.    These utilities are NOT just for Windows XP, however.  They can also be used with Windows 7.

Using Windows XP Backup- a YouTube tutorial.  This tutorial backs up "Documents & Settings", but a similar method can be used to backup "All information on this computer".

How to use Windows XP: Restoring your backup files.

Create a System Repair Disc in Windows 7.  You never know when a malfunction might occur. This article takes a look at an option in Windows 7 that lets you create a System Repair disc in case you need to boot from it to recover your OS.

How to create a system image of your Windows 7 installation  Even though the end of this article states that Windows' Imaging is only available on business and ultimate versions of Windows 7, it is available on the Home Premium version as well.

01/2015    Emergency repair disks for Windows: Part 1. When your PC won’t boot from its hard drive, you might be dead in the water — unless you’ve created a bootable emergency repair disk or drive. Repair disks don’t simply get PCs started; they also include tools that might fix what’s wrong with the system. And creating a repair disk takes just minutes.

How do I create an image of my new machine?  (This example uses Acronis True Image)

What Files Should You Backup On Your Windows PC?

Backup and restore: frequently asked questions.  Here are answers to some common questions about backing up and restoring files. 

How does Windows choose which files to back up?  When you back up your files using Windows Backup, you can let Windows choose what is backed up or you can select the individual folders and drives that you want to back up. Depending on what you select, your backup will contain the items described in this article.

How to back up your files with Windows 7's built-in backup utility.  To help ensure that you don't lose your files, you should back them up regularly. You can set up automatic backups or manually back up your files at any time.  This guide includes a one-minute video.

How to Create a System Image in Windows 7.  Another article from the How-To Geek.

Free backup software, Macrium Reflect Free.  This version does disk imaging and cloning.  The free version, does NOT do incremental or differential backups, however.

01/2013    Imaging with Macrium Reflect.  Here are two video tutorials on how to use Macrium Reflect to create a full system image backup.  The first video tutorial is only around 7 minutes long.  The second video tutorial  is around 30 minutes in length. 

01/2013    Purchase Acronis True Image Home backup utility at half the retail price from User Group Relations website.  If asked for an Order Code, use Order Code UGNL0812.  If you have problems ordering, you can contact Gene Barlow at support@ugr.com and he will assist you.   

FBackup is a free backup program for both personal and commercial use. It protects your important data by backing it up automatically to any USB/Firewire device, local or network location.  The backed up data can be either compressed (using standard zip compression) or an exact copy of the original files.  However, it doesn't do a full system backup (disk image backup).  FBackup has a simple interface and guides you through the process of defining a backup job using a friendly wizard.

02/2013    Here is a link to a simple utility called FreeFileSync that you can use to synchronize and backup just a few folders.  WorldStart wrote a review on it that you can read by clicking here.

03/2013    A free backup program from Paragon Software, Backup & Recovery 2012 Free.  This company makes excellent products and this backup program also can create full disk image backups.

01/2013    Where is the Backup program in Windows 8?  The ability to create System Images was buried in Windows 8, but not eliminated.

07/2013    4 Ways to Quickly Install Your Desktop Programs After Getting a New Computer or Reinstalling Windows. Installing your favorite programs doesn’t have to involve downloading installer after installer, clicking through wizards for hours.

01/2015    How Do I Schedule Automatic Backups? Leo Notenboom walks through the steps of scheduling a monthly full backup, using the free version of the backup software he uses and recommends: Macrium Reflect.

==============================================

09/2013 How to Fix Browser Settings Changed By Malware or Other Programs. Malware, adware, and pushy software installers all love changing your browser settings, giving you new home pages, default search engines, and obnoxious toolbars. It’s easy to forget to uncheck these options while installing software.

09/2013 Windows XP Users: Here Are Your Upgrade Options. Windows XP won’t be officially supported for much longer. Sure, you could keep using it undefined it won’t just stop working one day. It will just become more insecure over time as Microsoft and everyone else stops supporting it.

09/2013    Do You Really Need to Regularly Reinstall Windows?
For many people, Windows seems to slow down over time. Quite a few people fix this by regularly reinstalling Windows. But do you really need to regularly reinstall Windows? And, if so, how regularly do you need to reinstall it?

08/2013    How to Recover a Deleted File: The Ultimate Guide. It’s happened to most of us. You delete a file and realize you need it back. This guide will explain when you can get that file back and how to go about it.

03/2015    CD Recovery Toolbox Free (download) was developed for recovering damaged files from different disk types: CD, DVD, HD DVD, Blu-Ray, etc.  Click here to open a web page describing how to use this software.

04/2013    What’s All the Fuss About Evernote? Should I Be Using It?

04/2013    I’ve Been Using Evernote All Wrong. Here’s Why It’s Actually Amazing.

04/2013    Get Creative With Evernote: 10 Unique Uses You Haven’t Thought Of.

07/2013    How to Enable Full-Page Evernote Clipping on Android Devices. Evernote is a fantastic tool for clipping web pages for later perusal, but the default configuration on Android simply clips the URL and not the page/article. Read this to see how to remedy this oversight and enjoy the same kind of full-page clipping on your Android device that you enjoy on your computer.

03/2013    Five Tech Myths Debunked: Cell Phones Don’t Cause Cancer & More.  Technology is as susceptible to myths as any other niche.  Let’s set these tech myths straight.

01/2013  Beginner Geek: How to Reinstall Windows on Your Computer.  Depending on your version of Windows and how you installed it – or whether it came with your computer – there are a number of different ways to reinstall Windows.

Seven steps to securing Windows 7

Configure Windows 7 for a Limited User Account.  For best security, run your PC primarily with a limited-user account and not in administrator mode.  This article has excellent instructions for setting up a limited-user account.

Build a complete Windows 7 safety net

07/2014    Optimize Windows 7 for better performance. Here are some tips from Microsoft to help you optimize Windows 7 for faster performance.

07/2014    How to Open the Performance troubleshooter. The Performance troubleshooter checks issues that might slow down your computer's performance, such as how many users are currently logged on to the computer and whether multiple programs are running at the same time.

Make Windows XP Run Faster

How to improve performance of Older PCs

The Best Tips for Speeding Up Your Windows PC

12/2013    The Windows Speed Up Guide. MakeUseOf’s guide includes all the information you need to speed up your slow PC! This manual explains why Windows slows down and what you can do to prevent this from happening too quickly. We will explain how to store your data to reduce disk fragmentation, how you should properly remove programs to avoid registry junk, which system maintenance tools you should use to maintain a top notch performance, how to protect your system from malware attacks, and how to physically clean your machine to avoid hardware damage and failure.

Ask How-To Geek: Why You Should Never Vacuum Your PC

7 ways to work faster in Windows 7

How to make your Windows 7 system even faster

How to use the Resource Monitor in Windows 7 Every once in a while, your computer will slow down or freeze, or a program won’t work the way you expect it to. Windows 7's Resource Monitor can help you find out what is going wrong, and why undefined whether it’s CPU use, memory use, a program behaving badly, or something else. This tutorial will show everything you need to know about this great tool and how to use it.

Why It’s Good That Your Computer’s RAM Is Full.  Is your operating system using a lot of RAM? Don’t panic! Modern operating systems use RAM as a file cache to speed things up. Assuming your computer is performing well, there’s nothing to worry about.

5 tips for PC health from Microsoft: Organize your folders, update Windows, run antivirus software

The 35 Best Tips and Tricks for Maintaining Your Windows PC- a list of useful articles about maintaining your computer, operating system, software, and data.

Use Windows 7 Event Viewer to track down issues that cause slower boot times

Windows 7 Tutorials: How to Setup a System from Scratch? The Best Order for Installing Everything.  This also applies to other versions of Windows as well.

How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without Having to Reactivate

    For more information about using these programs, see this article from Kim Komando.


How to choose good passwords

08/2013    Hacking account passwords is easy, when 1 in 6 people use their pet’s name. A survey of 2000 people, commissioned by Google, has revealed some disturbing truths about passwords.

Create secure passwords with PasswordCard.    This fantastic website lets you print out a grid with random numbers and letters which you use to make your password.
WorldStart article can be found here: http://www.worldstart.com/passwordcard-secure-passwords-made-easy/

Toward Better Master Passwords      This article concerns the software program "1Passsword", but the concepts it teaches are usable for anyone.  Especially good advice starts with the section entitled "Don't tell the truth".
   
What Secret Questions should I use? Think about what you've posted online, and what's available through public records. Your mother's maiden name and the high school you attended are not secrets.

How to recover after your Email password is compromised

Using security tools is no substitute for common sense.  A blow-by-blow account of the LizaMoon infection.  Click here for the story.

ShouldIChangeMyPassword.com has been created to help the average person check if their password(s) may have been compromised and need to be changed.

Ten Ways to Protect Yourself From Identity Theft

What’s Fake Tech Support & Why You Shouldn’t Trust Everything You See on Google.  Don't get conned by errors in Windows' Event Viewer or other errors.  Click here to read the full article.

How To Get Your Free Yearly Credit Reports Without Getting Scammed.

Credit Freeze and Thaw Guide. Credit freezes are one of the most effective tools against economic ID theft available to consumers.

Keepass Password Safe (password manager).  The Classic version doesn't need Dot Net installed in order to work.
     http://keepass.info/

An alternative to Keepass is KeepassX which should work in Windows 8.

Securely Store Your Passwords with KeePass.  A brief tutorial on using Keepass.

KeyScrambler encrypts your keystrokes at the keyboard driver level, deep in the operating system, to defeat existing and future keyloggers. 
     This link takes you to information on KeyScrambler
     This link compares the free (Personal) edition with two other paid editions

The How-To Geek Guide to Getting Started with TrueCrypt.  If you’re looking for a simple and powerful way to encrypt everything from system drives to backup discs to everything in between, TrueCrypt is an open-source tool that will help you lock up your files. Here's how to get started.

How To Encrypt a Folder Using TrueCrypt

How to Protect Your Flash Drive Data with TrueCrypt

05/2014 How To- Encrypt Your Entire Hard Drive The Easy Way Using TrueCrypt.

The Top 10 Tips for Securing Your Data.  These 10 articles are the top methods that How-To Geek has covered for securing files and personal information both online and off, securing your Wi-Fi network, protecting website login information and passwords and other offline data.

Are On-Screen Keyboards Really More Secure?

Free Parental Control Software.  Qustodio’s internet parental controls empower you to provide greater protection for you children as they explore the online world. Using Qustodio, you can monitor how your kids use the Internet, set healthy access limits, and guard them against inappropriate content, cyberbullying, online predators, and more!
Qustodio Review

How to Optimize Mozilla Firefox for Maximum Privacy

How to Optimize Internet Explorer 9 for Maximum Privacy

Own Your Space--Keep Yourself and Your Stuff Safe Online
     Free digital book for teens

Free Security Check-Ups from StaySafeOnline.org.  Many computer security vendors offer free computer security checks for your computer. Visit any of the links on this site to check your computer for known viruses, spyware, and more and discover if your computer is vulnerable to cyber attacks.

WiredSafety.org:  The World's First Internet Safety and Help Group providing one-to-one help, extensive resources, information, and education to people of all ages on a myriad of Internet, mobile, gaming and interactive technology safety issues.

Microsoft Provides Tips to Help Protect Your Online Image

How to Wipe Yourself Off the Grid.  Whether you need to go on the run or you just want to settle down into a less digital life, here's how to get lost.

4 Ways to Outsmart Websites That Force You to Register.  Every now and then, you’ll encounter a website that forces you to register to view it. Rather than give the website your real email address – often an invitation to spam – you can use one of these tricks instead.

How to Clean Up the List of Apps that Have Access to Your Accounts.  Facebook, Twitter, Google, Dropbox, and all the other web services out there can be accessed by various applications and other services. Here are a couple of links that you can use to quickly remove anything that has access.

Advanced GEEK:  Whonix adds a layer of anonymity to your tasks.  The Whonix operating system is a nice solution if you're looking for a cheap layer of anonymity.

01/2013    Standard drive- and file-wiping tools are no longer adequate for completely removing data- especially when used with the newest hard drives.  Secure Erase, developed at UC San Diego’s Center for Magnetic Recording Research, is a free download that’s designed to securely erase magnetic media of all types- and it works with SSDs as well.  Another article on using HDDErase to securely erase SSD or flash-based memory drives.

Seven steps to securing Windows 7

Configure Windows 7 for a Limited User Account.  For best security, run your PC primarily with a limited-user account and not in administrator mode.  This article has excellent instructions for setting up a limited-user account.

02/2013    How You Can Be Infected via Your Browser and How to Protect Yourself.

08/2013 Sandboxes Explained: How They’re Already Protecting You and How to Sandbox Any Program. Sandboxing is an important security technique that isolates programs, preventing malicious or malfunctioning programs from damaging or snooping on the rest of your computer.

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Discount Computer Parts Presentation
     LCCUG Aug 11th 2009.ppt

Free Apps & Other Fun Stuff October 13, 2009
    Free Apps and other Fun Stuff.pdf

========== Wireless information: ==========

06/2014    Changing your wireless router's network passphrase.  This article explains how to change the password for connecting a computer to your wireless network.

06/2014    Resetting A Wireless Router's administrative access Password.  This article explains how to change the administration password for accessing your router’s settings.

11/2013    Ask HTG: What’s an ESN and Why Do I Care If It’s Clean?
If you’re in the market for a cellphone, especially a used one, you’ll hear a lot of talk about ESNs with an emphasis on whether or not the phone is “clean”. What exactly does acronym stand for and what does it mean if the phone is clean or not?

Set up and Manage a wireless network - March 23, 2010

Wireless Networks presentation.pptx

Installing a wireless router:
http://askbobrankin.com/installing_a_wireless_router.html

Connecting to Wireless Networks with Windows 7.  Being able to connect to a network and the web from wherever you are is almost essential. Windows 7 provides a simplified user experience for wireless LAN networks.

Connect to a Wi-Fi network that’s not broadcasting its SSID:
Wireless access points (APs) of a non-broadcast or hidden wireless network do not broadcast their Service Set Identifier (SSID) and are not visible during an active scan.  Users need to know the SSID and configure a preferred wireless network before they can connect. This article describes non-broadcast networks, why Microsoft recommends against their use, and the support for non-broadcast networks in Microsoft Windows.

Secure your wireless network.  Some good articles:
     Secure Your Wireless Network
     How To Secure Your Wi-Fi Network Against Intrusion
    Layering Your Home Network Security
   Five Common WiFi Security Mistakes.
   Is Your Wireless Router REALLY Secure?

10 tips to help improve your wireless network:
   http://www.microsoft.com/athome/setup/wirelesstips.aspx

Changing Your Wireless Network Password.  Your wireless security password can’t be modified through the Microsoft Windows network settings, but must be changed by logging into your router.

Routers using WPS are intrinsically unsafe.  Simple hacker tools can easily sniff out Wi-Fi passwords from routers that have Wi-Fi Protected Setup enabled undefined quite possibly yours included.  Read more from this article.

HTG Explains: Why You Shouldn’t Host an Open Wi-Fi Network.  Hosting an open Wi-Fi network can cause a number of problems for you, whether you’re trying to do a good deed by sharing your connection or just haven’t set up a password yet.

How to Access Your Router If You Forget the Password.  If you’ve forgotten a router’s password – or if you acquired a used router and don’t know its password – there’s a way to reset the password.

07/2013 10 Useful Options You Can Configure In Your Router’s Web Interface. Your wireless router has a variety of useful options you can configure. These are practically hidden undefined you wouldn’t know these features exist unless you were digging through your router’s configuration pages.

=====================================

05/11/2010:  Using Photoshop

It seems there are many Photoshop tutorials out there.  Just Google "Photoshop tutorials" and see what you get.  Here are just a few results:

Here is a web site that has "2 Minute Photoshop Tricks"   This site will be home to all kinds of Photoshop tips, tricks and tutorials.

Adobe Photoshop Tutorials

Photoshop Tutorials

Photoshop Tutorials- Beginner to Advanced Photoshop Tutorials

Tutorials-Photoshop.com is dedicated to bringing you a wide range of unique Photoshop tutorials.

How to Make Cinemagraphs undefined Still Photos that Move Like Movies!

How to Make Moving Pictures (Just Like Harry Potter)

How to Make Your Photos Move with a Thaumatrope.

50+ Tools & Techniques to Remove Image Backgrounds in Photoshop, part 1
50+ Tools & Techniques to Remove Image Backgrounds in Photoshop, part 2

30 Great Photoshop Tips and Tricks to Help Your Computer Graphic Skills

10 of the Best Articles for Learning More About Photography

How To Properly Scan a Photograph (And Get An Even Better Image).  Unless you know how to use your scanner correctly, the image quality can turn out poor. Here’s how to get the best results.

Unusual photo and video effects from Microsoft.  Digital photography gives us the freedom to take hundreds of photos and videos of places and people, at very little expense undefined so many images, that family and friends might be blasé at best about your latest efforts.  But three little-known apps from Microsoft can put some unexpected novelty back into your images.

==========================================

I Don’t Pay for Music Anymore (Legally)

Free music: Listen to the radio on your computer.  Any computer with an Internet connection can easily be turned into a global radio receiver.

Tips for buying music online.  Eeverything an Internet user needs to know to instantly sample, shop for, download, and share millions of hit singles and albums from the recording industry's biggest names.

How to Easily Identify the Song You’re Listening To.  Use these utilities to help you identify a new song you’ve heard.

======= Mobile/Tablet/eReader information: =======

02/2015    10 common misconceptions about mobile device batteries. Have you run into a few old-school users with antiquated ideas about how to treat smartphone batteries? Here are several myths worth debunking.

05/2014 Cryptocat is a fun, accessible app for having an encrypted chat with your friends, right in your browser and mobile phone. Everything is encrypted before it leaves your computer. Even the Cryptocat network itself can't read your messages.  Available for Web browsers & Apple iPhone mobile device; coming soon to Android.

11/2013 The 100 Best Android Apps of 2013. Navigate the galaxy of apps in Google Play with PC Mag's handy, carefully selected list of the 100 best Android apps.

11/2013    HTG Explains: Can You Use Any Charger With Any Device? Every device undefined smartphone, tablet, eReader, laptop undefined seems to come with its own charger. But do you really need all these chargers? Can you re-use the same charger for multiple devices?

So You Lost Your Smartphone, Now What?

Prey lets you keep track of your laptop, phone and tablet whenever stolen or missing -- easily and all in one place. It's lightweight, open source software that gives you full and remote control, 24/7.

10/2013    Why the Police Want You to Upgrade to iOS 7. Apple has added a great feature to its new iPhone operating system that has the potential to render stolen phones useless.

How to properly secure your iPhone or Android device

Control Your Android from a Browser with AirDroid

How-To Geek Explains: Does Your Android Phone Need an Antivirus?

03/2013    How to Avoid Android Malware and Other Android Security Threats.  Android malware can be avoided with a few common-sense tips.

BlueStacks App Player.  Run 750,000 Mobile Apps on Windows or Mac.

Don’t Be A Victim: Practical Tips To Protect Your Smartphone From Theft.

02/2013    How to Switch to VoIP and Ditch Your Home Phone Bill Forever.  You can enjoy the convenience of a whole-house land line without shelling out your hard earned money to your local telecommunications provider.

07/2013 How (and Why) to Get Started with Google Cloud Print. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could print from any of your devices (desktops, phones, tablets) to any of your printers, at any time? This article explores Google Cloud Print, a fantastic way to enable printing on all your devices big and small.

07/2013 How to Enable Native Google Cloud Printing and Printer Sharing in Windows. This article shows how to add Cloud Print functionality as a Windows service and native printing from any of your Windows computers.

How To Send eBooks & Other Documents To Your Kindle.  Send to Kindle for PC makes it easy to put content on your Kindle, whether it’s a free ebook or a Word document. You can also email files to @Kindle.com or transfer them over USB, the old-fashioned way.

How To Check Out Library Books on Your Kindle for Free.  At over 11,000 public libraries you can also check out ebooks for use on your Kindle. It’s simple, free, and best of all there’s no risk of late fees because the digital books simply expire the day they are due.

The Best Websites for Finding, Downloading, Borrowing, Renting, and Purchasing eBooks.

03/2015    Find Your Android Phone or Device Now! Think you’ve misplaced your Android phone in your house? Or worse yet, left it somewhere? Here’s how you can find it using your computer.  Click here to read a short article describing how to use Google's Android Device Manager.

09/2013    A parent's guide to mobile device safety. Smartphones and tablets are great for keeping kids entertained on long road trips or in the carpool line. But there are some dangers to your wallet when your kids play with your gadgets.

 ========== Windows 8 information: ==========

03/2015    Windows 8 For Dummies book.

11/2014    How to spend your first hour with Windows 8.1
Here’s what every knowledgeable Windows user should know about setting up Win8.1, whether they’re coming from Windows 8, Win7, Vista, or XP.

01/2015    Mastering Windows 8’s backup/restore system. Windows 8 has easily the most comprehensive backup-and-recovery system ever seen on a personal computer. With little user effort, and when applied correctly, Win8’s built-in backup tools provide automatic, frequent, triple-data redundancy.

09/2014    Reset Windows 8.1's Start Screen. If you've made changes to the Start Screen, you can return it to its previous state -- and even its original appearance. This article explains how.

07/2014    Windows 8.1 File History – A Realtime Backup Tool. Once activated, it archives older versions of your files automatically. Now it’s not a total system backup, but it does archive your documents, photos, music and videos.

05/2014    The only thing you need to know to master Windows 8.1. Windows 8/8.1 is a dramatic departure from the traditional Windows interface, and it can be overwhelming to find what you're looking for unless you know this one trick.

12/2014    Classic Shell: Turn Windows 8 Into Windows 7/XP. Some very creative people over at Classic Shell have released a freeware utility which can give you back the Start Menu everyone loved.

11/2013    Get the ISO you need to create your own Windows 8.1 DVD.  Microsoft wants you to run the update just like you would a Service Pack from Windows Update (there is no opportunity to download an ISO or order a DVD).
    But what if you have two or more Windows 8 systems? Do you really want to sit and wait while the online update runs multiple times? I didn't think so.
    Note: Even though the end result of this trick is have a Windows 8.1 DVD, keep in mind that this DVD can only be used to perform a Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 upgrade. You cannot use it to perform a clean install of Windows 8.1.

11/2013    Track down the Create a System Image tool in Windows 8.1. Learn where to find and launch the Create a System Image tool in Microsoft Windows 8.1, because it is not where it used to be.

11/2013    How To Upgrade To Windows 8.1 & How To Downgrade Back To Windows 8. Windows 8.1 is here and brings many new and improved features. The update is free for current Windows 8 users, it’s available from the Windows Store, and the installation process, if not quick, at least is easy. If you would like to boot to the desktop, take advantage of the improved SkyDrive integration, or run multiple apps next to each other with the new dynamic Snap feature, you should consider upgrading.

01/2013    How to decide: should you upgrade to Windows 8?  With all the hype about Windows 8, one question remains for most current Windows users: should you upgrade to Windows 8? In this article, David Gewirtz walks you through all the possibilities, so you're armed with the best decision-making strategy for your needs.

11/2013    Pro tip: Override the 4GB memory barrier on 32-bit Windows 8.1 systems. Turn on Physical Address Extension mode and unleash the full potential of your 32-bit RAM memory.

12/2013    Make the Internet Explorer app run in two windows.  A secret hidden in the Internet Explorer app that will allow you to have two tabs open on the screen at one time and position them side-by-side.

How To Play DVDs on Windows 8.  Upgrade to Windows 8 and you may be surprised to find that you can no longer play video DVDs. Unlike previous versions of Windows, Windows 8 doesn’t include built-in support for playing DVDs.

How to Stop Windows 8 Waking Up Your PC to Run Maintenance.  Windows 8 comes with a new hybrid boot system, this means that your PC is never really off. It also means that Windows has the permission to wake your PC as it needs. Here’s how to stop it from waking up your PC to do maintenance tasks.

Windows 8: a Beginner’s Guide for the Bewildered – Part 1 of 3
Windows 8: a Beginner’s Guide for the Bewildered – Part 2 of 3
Windows 8: a Beginner’s Guide for the Bewildered – Part 3 of 3

The complete guide to a Windows 8 clean installation.  Greg Shultz documents the entire Windows 8 clean install procedure so we have a roadmap to follow and know what to expect.

Step by step: How to safely test-drive Win8.  This method lets you test-drive Windows 8 without having to make potentially risky changes to your current setup. There’s no need for dual-booting, special partitions, and so on.

Dual boot Windows 8 with Windows 7.  Discover how to run the new operating system alongside any existing version on the same PC.

05/2013    Remove Windows 8 from a dual-boot configuration.

8 things you need to know about Windows 8.  If you haven’t seen or tried the new version of Windows yet, prepare to be dazzledundefinedas well as very, very confused.

8 gotta-know tips for Windows 8 newbies.  Read this for eight tips that’ll help you find your bearings, from how to make sense of the new “Start” screen to where you’ll find the old-school Windows desktop.

Microsoft tutorials & videos about Windows 8: Get to Know Windows.

Free eBook from makeuseof.com:   Getting Started: Your Guide to Windows 8.  The password to download the book is "makeuseof" without the quotes.

Windows 8 101: Quick tips on the exciting new features of Windows 8. Click on each lesson to bring it to life.  

01/2013    15 Windows 8 Tips to Get You Started.  Windows 8 is the most drastic Microsoft operating system update in decades. Here's how to get the most out of it.

Windows 8 shortcuts.  A list from Microsoft.

To run older versions of Internet Explorer in Windows 8, you can run them in virtual machines and use Hyper V and the VHD images provided by Microsoft. 
First off, setup Hyper V as per the instructions given by Kronos here.
You can then download the respective vhd images from Microsoft and create a virtual machine for each version of IE.

Windows 8 vs. Windows 7: Top 10 Features That Will Be Gone. Windows 8 is remarkable not only for its new features, but for the removal of some old options which have been a flagship of Windows OS for years.

How to print from within Metro Apps in Windows 8.

How to close and reinstall Metro Apps on Windows 8.

How to Use the Windows 8 Mail App. 
How to Change or Disable the Default “Sent From Windows Mail” Email Signature.

10 things to try when applications won't work with Windows 8.  If you have problems getting an app to run on Windows 8, all’s not lost. One of these strategies or workarounds may get the application running.

Windows 8 Updates: Apps Not Included.  Pre-installed Microsoft Apps will not be updated in Windows Update, but rather, only in the Store interface.  Read more about this by clicking here.

02/2013    The Windows Store Isn’t the Only Place to Find Apps: Here Are a Couple of Alternatives.

If you've been using Windows for a while, you know that the OS sometimes doesn't support all of the media file formats you might want to play "out of the box."  Chances are you'll run into formats that won't play in the Windows 8 version of Windows Media Player.  And you know what that means: You need to install codecs - the "coder/decoder" software that decodes compressed files for playback. The good news is that the first codec pack for Windows 8 has been released, and it adds support for formats such as .divx, .mkv, .xvid and more.

Windows 8: How to Remove the Log-In Prompt.

03/2013    Should you protect your Windows 8 PC with a picture instead of a password?  Windows 8 enables you to protect your account with a picture password; but is it a good move?

Is there any way to make it so that every time you log into Windows 8, you see the traditional UI?  Yes, if you're willing to accept some tradeoffs.  Read more here.

Windows 8: How to Move Files From a Windows 7 PC.  When buying a new PC, transferring files from our old computer is one of the first things we think to do.  This article also outlines how to move files from Windows XP & Vista to a new, Windows 8 PC.

Everything You Need to Know About Refreshing and Resetting Your Windows 8 PC.

How to use the Refresh and Reset features in Windows 8.  And this article shows you how to use a custom image instead of the one that shipped with your PC.

How to Create and Use a Recovery Drive or System Repair Disc in Windows 8.
Windows 8 allows you to create a recovery drive (USB) or system repair disc (CD or DVD) that can be used to troubleshoot and restore your computer. Each type of recovery media gives you access to Windows’ advanced startup options. 
Regardless of whether you are using a Recovery Drive from a USB flash drive or from an optical disc, it is important to remember that a Recovery Drive is bit specific. In other words, if you create a Recovery Drive in a 64-bit version of Windows 8, you can't use that drive to boot up and repair a 32-bit version of Windows 8. Likewise, you can't use a 32-bit Recovery Drive to boot up and repair a 64-bit system.

02/2013    Know what to expect from the Windows 8 Recovery Drive.  This article from TechRepublic outlines how to use the Windows 8 Recovery Drive.

How to Enable Windows Defender.  You can manually activate Windows Defender after a trial antivirus software package has expired.

How to Make Windows 8′s Built-in Anti-Virus Scan Removable Drives.  Windows Defender doesn’t scan removable drives by default, like USB drives or SD cards, but you can quickly change a setting to make that happen automatically.

01/2013    Where is the Backup program in Windows 8?  The ability to create System Images was buried in Windows 8, but not eliminated.

01/2013    Enable Windows 8 File History to protect your data.  File History isn’t enabled by default.  This article shows how to enable File History and then shows how it works.

02/2013    How to Access Files From SD Cards and USB Drives in Modern Windows 8 Apps.  Modern Windows 8 Apps such as the Xbox Music, Xbox Video, and Photos apps can only display content stored in your libraries. You may want to store media files on an SD card or USB drive, but Windows stops you.

How to Use Linux on a Windows 8 PC.

02/2013    How to downgrade Windows 8 Pro to Windows 7.

02/2013    How To Use Multiple Monitors in Windows 8.  In short, you can only have one of your monitors displaying apps downloaded from the Windows Store. Any other monitor will be in traditional desktop mode.

03/2013    6 Ways To Customize the Windows 8 Start Screen.  While you can’t get rid of the Start screen in Windows 8, there are lots of ways to customize the look and feel of the Start screen and make it your own.

03/2013    More free programs to give Windows 8 a traditional start menu.


03/2013    Sandee's selected Windows 8 "youtubes" to help you learn Windows 8.  She also likes the very professional lynda's tutorials - $25/ month or a week trial for free. 

03/2013    How to Play Android Games (and Run Android Apps) on Windows 8

03/2013    How I Learned to Stop Hating and Start Loving Windows 8

07/2013    What Happened to Solitaire and Minesweeper in Windows 8? The desktop versions of Solitaire and Minesweeper are gone in Windows 8, replaced with Xbox-integrated full-screen versions. While the classic desktop versions are missing in action, there’s a way to get them back.

07/2013    How to Disable Bing From the Windows 8.1 Search Engine. Windows 8.1 includes online search results from Bing whenever you search for something on your system. Since many people aren’t going to want this, here is how to get rid of this behavior.

08/2013 Customize Your Windows 8 Installation Disc and Slipstream Updates With WinReducer. Windows installation disc-customizing tools are always useful. They allow you to add Windows updates to your installation media, streamline the installation process by filling in your product key and other information, and customize Windows’ default settings.


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