How to set up a new…

For every Windows expert, the clean install is a time-honored ritual, a way to wipe out years of accumulated cruft and restore an old PC to new life. I went through this process with a four-year-old PC last week, a Dell XPS 18 whose performance was dragging. It had 8 GB of memory, more than enough for basic productivity tasks, but the vintage 5400 RPM hard disk had become a serious bottleneck.Fortunately, the prices of solid-state storage devices have dropped dramatically in recent years, so I was able to pick up a new SSD for a fraction of what it would have cost when this PC was new. After backing up the old hard drive, I could have restored a…
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How to enable Windows Sonic virtual…

The Windows 10 Creators Update comes packed with all kinds of little surprises. This tip covers a new feature that audiophiles will want to know about, as well as those who want to try and get a little bit extra out of their headphones and speakers. Ian Paul/IDG The Creators Update sonic for headphones setting. The Creators Update includes a feature called Windows Sonic for Headphones. It’s a spatial sound format that is supposed to make audio more immersive and give even the most bland pair of headphones a more 3D Audio feel.It appears developers have to enable this feature via some new APIs from Microsoft. To be honest, in my tests with a cheap pair of smartphone earbuds and…
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How to use Night Light in…

The Windows 10 Creators Update has a new feature that’s supposed to be easier on the eyes and help you fall asleep after a long night of web surfing. It’s called Night Light, and the feature restricts blue light emanating from your display by changing its hue.Studies have shown that blue light at night suppresses melatonin production more than other colors and shifts the body’s circadian timing, thereby disrupting the sleep-wake cycle. Prior to Night Light, users had to turn to third-party software such as the always popular f.lux to address this issue. Ian Paul/PCWorld Activate Night Light under Settings > System > Display. To activate Night Light, open the Settings app, and then go to System > Display. At the…
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Three simple ways to stop the…

The giant Creators Update to Windows 10 will get pushed to your PC before the end of the month, and if you’re not careful the software will come your way at the worst possible time.Maybe you’re facing a drop dead deadline, or about to board a flight – and Windows will make you stop what you’re doing and order you not to turn off your machine. Or maybe the gigabytes of code will come when you’re using your smartphone as a hotspot, and they’ll eat up every bit of your data allotment, costing you real money.But there are ways to avoid, or at least manage, this process. Here are three steps you can take right now.Change active hoursSince the Anniversary…
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Windows 10 Moves On From Fighting…

ForbesWindows 10 Moves On From Fighting AndroidForbesThe Windows 10 Creator Update promises to deliver a significant number of changes to Microsoft’s operating system – Forbes Gordon Kelly has been reporting on the potential changes in the update – but this weekend saw Microsoft confirm the upgrade paths …Windows 10 Creators Update features fall short for ITTechTargetUsers lose some control with new Windows 10 Creators Update admin featureDigital TrendsMicrosoft touts the Edge browser’s battery-friendly traitsNetwork WorldMashable -Windows Central -ZDNetall 184 news articles »
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Windows 10 Creators Update features fall…

The Windows 10 Creators Update does not have as many new enterprise features as IT professionals had hoped for. Despite some improvements to Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) and the operating system update process, the lack of other anticipated Windows 10 Creators Update features left IT underwhelmed. Microsoft released the update last week. By submitting your personal information, you agree that TechTarget and its partners may contact you regarding relevant content, products and special offers. You also agree that your personal information may be transferred and processed in the United States, and that you have read and agree to the Terms of Use and the Privacy Policy. “There’s just not much in here,” said Matt Kosht, IT director at…
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What Windows users should know about…

People walk past a Microsoft office in New York City in October 2015.  (Jewel Samad/Agence France-Presse via Getty Images) Microsoft had already fixed a number of Windows security vulnerabilities before they were revealed last week by the Shadow Brokers — a group that has released several leaks about the inner workings of the National Security Agency. For consumers, that means you should not be at risk as long as you’ve downloaded the latest security updates. In a company blog post, Microsoft said that it had addressed all of the vulnerabilities either on or before March 14. Desktop users who allow auto-updates or who regularly check for updates on their computers should be covered. [Hackers have just dumped a treasure trove of…
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Windows 10 Creators Update lets administrators…

Digital TrendsWindows 10 Creators Update lets administrators take away some user optionsDigital TrendsIf you work for an organization that’s transitioning to Windows 10, you might find that your work machine is less configurable than it was previously. Microsoft’s latest major Windows 10 update started making its way to users last week. Known as …What’s new on Cortana for the Windows 10 Creators UpdateWindows CentralReport: Microsoft exploring browser-like tabs for Windows 10 to simplify user experienceGeekWireWhat could have been: Canceled Nokia Windows phone prototype revealed with ultra-slim bezelsNeowinTech Times -Thurrott.com (blog) -PCWorld -Hot Hardwareall 172 news articles »
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What’s new on Cortana for the…

Microsoft is updating Cortana with the Windows 10 Creators Update, and here we show you everything you need to know. The Creators Update for Windows 10 has finally arrived, and with it, Microsoft is yet again introducing a new set of features and improvements. This time around, you’ll find support for 3D and mixed reality, new gaming features like Game Mode and Beam. Microsoft Edge gets vastly improved with new tab tools and an e-book reader. And the new Windows Defender Security Center allows you take more control of your device security and health. Alongside these new enhancements, in this latest release, Cortana is also getting some interesting new features that make your personal digital assistant more useful whether you…
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Windows 10 privacy settings: What’s new…

Windows 10 privacy is a contentious issue. This is in part because Windows 10 is integrated with cloud-based features like Cortana, and it has features influenced by mobile such as determining your location. Then there’s Microsoft’s more questionable goals, like scooping up diagnostic data and gathering information for better ad-targeting.In previous versions of Windows 10, managing privacy was, to put it mildly, an insane process. Settings were strewn all over the operating system and the web.Privacy isn’t much better in the recently released Creators Update, but Microsoft has consolidated its web-based privacy information related to a user’s Microsoft Account. In addition, privacy settings on the PC are a little more helpful.We’ve already covered the Creators Update privacy dashboard that users…
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