Windows Archives - Page 18 of 20

How to bypass the Logon screen and boot straight to the Desktop in Windows 10

Posted on August 23, 2020

By default, Windows 10 displays a Logon Screen requesting that you enter a password before it will finish booting up into Windows, and it will display this screen even if you haven’t created a password for your user account.

Dealing with the Logon Screen can be an unnecessary annoyance if you know you are the only person that will ever have access to your computer.

Luckily, Microsoft made it fairly easy to configure Windows 10 to skip the Logon Screen and have the machine boot straight to the Desktop. Here’s how: [Read more…]

How to make a Desktop Shortcut for quickly creating a System Restore Point

Posted on August 7, 2019

A while back I wrote a post that explains how to force a Desktop shortcut to always “Open as administrator”.

As an example I mentioned a shortcut that I had created that quickly saves a System Restore Point without having to navigate any of the usual Windows menus.

Several people wrote in asking how to make their own shortcut to create a new Restore Point, so I thought it might be a good idea to write a post explaining how to do it.

Luckily, it’s very easy to make a shortcut for creating a new Restore Point. Just follow the steps below: [Read more…]

Q&A: Why have my keyboard’s arrow keys stopped working in MS Excel?

Posted on August 4, 2018

Question from Dorean W.: Hi Rick! I’m teaching myself how to use Microsoft Excel and I’ve run into a problem.

I used to be able to use the arrow keys on my keyboard to move from cell to cell, but all of a sudden that has stopped working. Now the arrow keys cause the entire page to move either up and down or side to side.

Can you tell me how to fix this? My computer is running Windows 10.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

How to use your Mac keyboard with virtually any mobile device

Posted on April 3, 2018

A few days ago a reader asked me if it’s possible to use a full-size PC keyboard with a Windows tablet. The answer is yes as long as the keyboard supports Bluetooth connectivity.

As I was answering that question it got me to thinking about all the Apple users out there who might have a Bluetooth-enabled Mac keyboard laying around.

As one would imagine, a Mac keyboard should be the perfect keyboard to use with an Apple device running iOS. [Read more…]

Q&A: Why does Microsoft release some Windows Updates to users in batches?

Posted on June 30, 2017

Question from Paula H.: I’ve noticed that Microsoft releases most Windows Updates to everyone at once but every now and then they’ll release one to people in batches, over several days.

Why don’t they just release all updates to everyone at the same time? Seems like it would be simpler that way.

Rick’s answer: That’s a great question, Paula. And if memory serves you’re the only person who has ever asked it.

There are actually two reasons why Microsoft “rolls out” some updates instead of making them available to everyone at the same time: [Read more…]