Windows 10 has built-in features to free up space by deleting old files in the %temp% directory and Downloads folder. Windows 10 Settings has an option (“Storage”) which automatically clears temporary files your apps are not using, files in the Downloads that haven’t been modified in the last x days, or files lying in the Recycle Bin for x days.Read more
There are many tools to extract the Product Key from a live system or from the registry hive of an offline computer. Additionally, here is a neat little Vbscript that gets the Product Key of your current Windows installation–no third-party program required. The script works on Windows 7, 8 and Windows 10.Read more
After clean installing Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, some users face a problem where the State Repository Service consumes high CPU usage (anywhere between 20% to 100%) when an external link is clicked in Microsoft Edge. The system may stall for 20-30 seconds and then the link is opened.Read more
After installing the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, many users experience an unusual issue with App icons on the Start screen. Here’s the list of symptoms:Read more
Windows 10 and 11 include a beneficial security feature named Controlled folder access, which is part of the Microsoft Defender Exploit Guard. You may have noticed the Unauthorized changes blocked notifications. Microsoft Defender’s Controlled folder access feature is the one behind those notifications. Controlled folder access helps you protect valuable data from malicious programs, such as ransomware.
This article explains how to configure CFA and prevent Unauthorized changes blocked notifications when running a program.
Windows 10 and 11 come with many built-in Store apps that may not be useful to you. As you may have known, PowerShell allows you to uninstall individual apps or all apps using a single command.Read more
Windows Defender can detect and remove malware and viruses, but it doesn’t catch Potentially Unwanted Programs or crapware by default. However, there is an opt-in feature that you can enable to make Microsoft Defender antivirus scan and eliminate adware, PUAs, or PUPs in real-time.Read more
This article tells you how to export/backup and import/restore the device drivers in Windows 10 or 11. The task can be accomplished using the DISM command-line tool or PowerShell.
If you have OEM branded computer, you’re usually provided with a restore media or a recovery partition on the hard drive. And restoring the computer using the OEM’s recovery options would put back all the pre-installed software and drivers.Read more
It’s no longer necessary to use Internet Explorer for downloading Windows Updates (.msu update packages for offline install or distribution) from the Microsoft Update catalog. The Microsoft Update catalog now supports any browser, as Microsoft has revamped the site and eliminated the ActiveX Control.
This article tells you how to download updates from the Microsoft Update catalog using your web browser or PowerShell.Read more
Traditionally, Windows users have employed XCOPY or SyncToy to mirror copy a certain directory to a different location. If you’re using Microsoft SyncToy, especially on Windows 10 or 11, it’s possible that sometimes the files or folders may be missing in the destination, or the destination folder has extra files or folders that are not in the source folder. Fortunately, nowadays, were have many specialized freeware sync tools that can compare and auto-sync your folders.Read more
