Author name: Carter Blakefield

A slow startup time on a Windows PC can be frustrating and hinder productivity. This guide provides practical and effective steps to optimize your PC’s startup speed, ensuring a smoother and more efficient computing experience.

1. Check for Malware

Malware can significantly slow down your computer’s startup time. Running a scan with a reliable antivirus program can help identify and remove any malicious software that may be causing performance issues.

• Use a top-shelf antivirus like Norton or any other trusted antivirus software.
• Regularly update your antivirus software to ensure it can detect the latest malware.
• Perform full system scans periodically, not just quick scans, for comprehensive protection.
• If you find any suspicious or unknown programs in your Task Manager, investigate further as these could be malware.

2. Remove Excessive Browser Extensions

Browser extensions, while useful, can consume a significant amount of system resources. Removing unnecessary extensions, especially in resource-intensive browsers like Chrome, can improve your PC’s performance. read more

Windows retains the last copied or cut item in the clipboard, a temporary storage, until the computer is restarted or disconnected. The clipboard updates with new items, replacing the previous ones.

For security or privacy, you might want to erase this data to avoid potential data theft. To frequently clear your clipboard, consider creating a desktop shortcut for this purpose or adding a clear option to your desktop context menu.

Creating a Desktop Shortcut

– Right-click on the desktop. – Choose ‘New’ > ‘Shortcut’. – Enter `%windir%\System32\cmd.exe /c “echo off | clip”`. – Name the shortcut. – Double-click to clear the clipboard.

Using Windows PowerShell

– Open PowerShell. – Type `Set-Clipboard`. – Press Enter.

Utilizing Clipboard History

– Press `Windows + V`.
– For individual items, click the three dots and select ‘Delete’.
– To clear all, select ‘Clear all’. read more

To obtain Surface Pro 4 drivers, firmware, and software, visit the Microsoft Download Center. Ensure an active internet connection for downloading updates. If Wi-Fi issues arise, connect your device to a power source during the update process and avoid turning off your device mid-upgrade.

Version & Publication Date:

– The latest version available as of April 7, 2023.

Main Driver Package:

– **File Name**: SurfacePro4_Win10_18362_21.061.12819.0.msi
– **Size**: 349.4 MB
– **Purpose**: Includes all necessary drivers and firmware for the Surface Pro 4, useful for custom Windows images or repair. read more

In Windows 10 and 8, using a Microsoft account is often necessary for certain features like accessing the Windows Store. This requires switching from a local account to a Microsoft account. This process is straightforward for some users, but others might encounter issues. For instance, after upgrading from Windows 8 to 8.1, or to Windows 10, using a Microsoft account, you might see an error message:

“We are sorry, but something went wrong. Your account has not been replaced by this Microsoft account. Code: 0x80070426” read more

Windows Store applications remain a key feature in Windows operating systems, including Windows 8 and 8.1. A notable example is the Weather app, which, while useful, has been known to generate numerous error events. This issue persists in later versions of Windows, requiring updated troubleshooting methods.

Understanding the Error Events

– In Windows 8.1 Pro and later versions, the Weather app can create excessive error events, observable in the system’s event viewer. Detailed information about these errors is accessible in the event display. read more

The Windows Recycle Bin: An often overlooked yet essential component of our daily computing. Many users seldom empty it, relying instead on Windows to automatically manage its contents once it reaches capacity. Today, let’s shift our focus and delve deeper into its functionality! We’ll explore its mechanics and discover how to optimize its use across Windows 11, 10, 8.1, and 7.

Tips and tricks

Restoring Deleted Files: To restore a file, right-click on it in the Recycle Bin and select “Restore”. read more

If you’re encountering issues with the Control Panel not opening in Windows 10/8/7, this guide will assist you in diagnosing and fixing the problem. The cause might be malware infection, corruption or damage to the .cpl file, or a disrupted connection to the .cpl file.

As a precautionary measure, it’s recommended to create a system recovery point before starting the troubleshooting process.

Adjusting Display Scale

1. Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
2. Go to the System section.
3. Under the Display tab, locate the Scale and layout section.
4. Use the drop-down menu to select 100% as your scale setting.
5. Try opening the Control Panel again to see if the issue is resolved.

Disabling Windows Error Reporting Service

1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type msconfig and press Enter to open the System Configuration window.
3. Switch to the Services tab.
4. Scroll down and find the Windows Error Reporting Service.
5. Uncheck the box next to Windows Error Reporting Service.
6. Click Apply and then OK.
7. Restart your PC for the changes to take effect, and then check if the Control Panel opens.

Tweaking Windows Registry

Warning: Modifying the registry can lead to major system issues if done incorrectly. Ensure you back up the registry before proceeding. read more

Windows 10, Microsoft’s latest operating system, has seen widespread adoption among PC users. However, it has also been facing issues, notably with Internet connectivity. Many users who upgraded to Windows 10 report problems with Wi-Fi connectivity, especially those using PCs with VPN software, which struggle to detect wireless networks after the upgrade.

Users with computers running Windows 8.1 and VPN software are experiencing significant internet connectivity issues when upgrading to Windows 10. Key symptoms include: read more

When using Windows Disk Management, you might encounter an issue where the “Extend Volume” option is grayed out. This problem can arise in various Windows versions, including 10, 8, and 7, and it prevents users from increasing the size of their disk partitions through the usual methods.

The “Extend Volume” option in Windows Disk Management can be grayed out due to lack of adjacent unallocated space. To extend a volume, unallocated space must be immediately next to the volume. read more