How To Fix Windows Problems

[Jackie Bullinger]

Regularlyupdating your system, maintaining good cybersecurity practices, and keeping an eye on system performance can prevent many common problems. However, when issues do arise, having a reliable resource to turn to for troubleshooting can make all the difference.

A frequent issue many users have with Windows 10 occurs right at the start when they upgrade from Windows 7 or Windows 8. This tends to be a warning which notifies a user that the 'Get Windows 10' (also known as GWX) app is not compatible.

Every now and then, Microsoft releases a new update for Windows 10. Updates tend to provide various bug fixes to help the operating system run smoother but can also introduce new and exciting features to Windows 10.

What's more, it might not tell you which version of the upgrade it will install. The tool asks you if you want the Home or Business version of Windows 10 and, if you have one of these already on your device, the newest build should hopefully be installed.

Also, make sure you've opted to keep the personal files and apps and click 'Install' to keep your data, apps, and most of your settings untouched. Now, when you hit 'Install', it should start installing the most up-to-date version of the operating system.

Unlike many other tech companies, Microsoft lets users upgrade their devices and keep a backup of the important files that comprised the previous version. This is embedded deep in the C:/ drive. If, for instance, you had upgraded to Windows 10 but wanted to roll back for any reason, the system allowed you to do that using this backup.

If, however, the new operating system takes your fancy and you're happy to wave goodbye to the previous iteration, there's a way to clear that backup. Click the Windows Start button and type 'cleanup' to search the system for the right up. Disk Cleanup should appear. Click on the search result to open the app.

A drive selection option should appear next. All you need to do is select the drive your operating system is installed on. The C:/ drive should appear first, as it's more often than not the default drive. Hit 'OK' if you're sure this is the drive your operating system was installed on. Windows 10 should then scan your system for a short period before another prompt appears.

You will now be faced with two choices, which look like a list of files to delete immediately. One option is 'Previous Windows Installation(s)' and the other will be 'Clean up system files' option on the bottom left if this first choice isn't available.

The operating system will then perform some more calculations and offers a similar-looking prompt window. This time, though, it will give you the option to delete previous Windows installation(s). You might have to scroll down to find it, but it should be taking up a sizeable bit of drive space (in our case 5GB). Tick this option and click 'OK'. In the separate message box that appears asking if you're certain you want to send this, click 'Delete Files' and you're done.

Many people have reported issues with Windows Update, whether that's the update getting stuck or simply failing. Check first that you've upgraded to the Windows 10 Fall update (see above, number 2). If you're still getting problems, download and run the Windows Update Troubleshooter, then reboot and try to update again.

If the problems remain, you might need to get a bit more stuck in. First, check that System Restore is configured (see below, number 7) and create a restore point. With this done, use Win+X and select Command Prompt (Admin), then type 'net stop wuauserv' (without the quotes) and hit Enter, followed by 'net stop bits' and Enter.

You should see confirmations that each service was either stopped or wasn't running. Next, open Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution. Delete its contents including any sub-folders. Now reboot, open Windows Update, and click Check for updates.

There is a workaround for users running Windows 10 Pro: from the Start Menu, search for 'gpedit' and run the Group Policy Editor. Expand Computer Configuration in the left-hand pane and navigate to Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Update.

Double-click Configure Automatic Updates in the list, select the Enabled radio button, and in the left-hand box select 2 - Notify for download and notify for install. Now click OK, and you'll be notified whenever there are updates - unfortunately, they'll be a daily irritation if you're using Windows Defender.

The Group Policy Editor isn't available on Windows 10 Home, but we'd recommend you at least open Windows Update, click 'Advanced options' and select 'Notify' to schedule restart from the 'Choose how updates are installed' list.

While this feature is helpful in principle, neglecting to manage it can lead to an overload of both important and trivial notifications. To handle this, open 'Settings' and navigate to 'Notifications & Actions' where you can customize which apps are allowed to send you alerts.

Windows Defender settings should also be checked. Navigate to Update & Security in Settings, then to Windows Defender. Review and adjust settings for cloud-based detection and automatic sample submission according to your preferences.

Wi-Fi Sense, a feature designed to connect your device to networks quickly, raises privacy concerns. To manage this, go to Network & Internet in the Settings menu, select Wi-Fi, then Manage Wi-Fi Settings. Turn off options like Connect to suggested open hotspots and Connect to networks shared by my contacts. This prevents your device from automatically connecting to potentially insecure networks.

Next, go back to the main settings menu and select Update & Security, then navigate to Windows Defender. Review the default settings for cloud-based detection and automatic sample submission, and adjust them according to your preferences to ensure they align with your privacy needs.

Wi-Fi Sense, a feature designed to connect your Windows 10 device to networks more quickly, can raise privacy concerns. To manage this, enter the Settings menu, choose Network & Internet, then Wi-Fi, and select Manage Wi-Fi Settings. It is recommended to turn off "Connect to suggested open hotspots" and "Connect to networks shared by my contacts." Additionally, disable the option under Paid Wi-Fi services.

Safe Mode can be a life-saver in many system-critical problem situations, especially when your device is finding it difficult to start correctly. However, what if one day, you find out that you can no longer activate Safe Mode by pressing the F8 or Shift+F8 keys at boot?

Fortunately, there are a variety of ways to boot into Safe Mode. We've put together a guide on how to boot Windows 10 Safe Mode, which provides alternatives to using the F8 shortcut, or bypassing shortcuts entirely. These include access a boot option inside the Update & Security settings, or using the Left Shift button as part of a restart.

You can repeat these steps, substituting suitable names in quotes at the Command Prompt, to create shortcuts for Safe Mode with Networking (tick Network rather than Minimal in System Configuration) and Safe Mode with Command Prompt (Alternate shell).

Start by searching for "Create a restore point" and open the System Properties page from the first result. In the 'Protection Settings' section, select your main 'System' drive and click 'Configure.' Then, choose the 'Turn on system protection' option and apply the changes.

If you have a Windows tablet or laptop that can use a SIM card, you can access mobile internet on Windows 10 when Wi-Fi isn't available. However, this can lead to unexpected data usage if not properly configured, especially when using a portable hotspot.

In Microsoft Edge, you currently cannot save web pages as HTML files. Previously, Internet Explorer 11 provided a workaround for this feature, but it has since been removed from most Windows 10 PCs. Instead, you'll need to use a browser like Chrome that supports this functionality.

If you find the Windows lock screen annoying or obstructive, you can disable it through the Registry Editor. Start by searching for 'regedit' in the Start Menu to open the Registry Editor. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows.

Look for a key named 'Personalisation'. If it doesn't exist, right-click the Windows key, select New > Key, and rename it to 'Personalization'. Right-click this new key, choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it 'NoLockScreen'. Double-click this value, set the data to 1, and click OK. After rebooting your system, the lock screen should be disabled.

In Windows 8, Microsoft introduced hybrid boot to shorten start-up times, and this feature was carried over to Windows 10. Normally, when you shut down your PC, all processes are terminated. However, with hybrid boot, the Windows kernel goes into hibernation to speed up the next start-up. While this is useful, it can sometimes be too slow for IT professionals.

Interestingly, some users have found that toggling fast start-up off and then back on can resolve related issues. To do this, follow the previous steps to deselect the function, restart your system, and then re-enable it.

Additionally, if you dual-boot between Windows 7 and Windows 10, disabling fast start-up in Windows 10 can prevent Windows 7 from performing a disk check every time you boot. This happens because with fast start-up enabled, Windows 7 may not recognize that the disks were properly shut down in Windows 10. Disabling this feature ensures smoother transitions between the two operating systems.

If you love watching films on your PC or laptop, you might have been frustrated to discover that Windows 10 was released without a built-in app to play DVDs. Fortunately, Microsoft released an app called Windows DVD Player, but it costs 11.59.

Rene Millman is a freelance writer and broadcaster who covers cybersecurity, AI, IoT, and the cloud. He also works as a contributing analyst at GigaOm and has previously worked as an analyst for Gartner covering the infrastructure market. He has made numerous television appearances to give his views and expertise on technology trends and companies that affect and shape our lives. You can follow Rene Millman on Twitter."}), " -0-10/js/authorBio.js"); } else console.error('%c FTE ','background: #9306F9; color: #ffffff','no lazy slice hydration function available'); Rene MillmanSocial Links NavigationRene Millman is a freelance writer and broadcaster who covers cybersecurity, AI, IoT, and the cloud. He also works as a contributing analyst at GigaOm and has previously worked as an analyst for Gartner covering the infrastructure market. He has made numerous television appearances to give his views and expertise on technology trends and companies that affect and shape our lives. You can follow Rene Millman on Twitter.

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