Newsletter Archives

• How to use two-factor authentication the right way

  Posted on May 9, 2022 at 02:43 CDT by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  SECURITY

  

  By Lance Whitney

  Two-factor authentication is still one of the best ways to protect your accounts. But there are right and wrong ways to use it.

  More websites and companies now offer two-factor authentication (2FA) to better protect your logins and accounts. The idea is to use a second form of authentication so that you’re not solely dependent on your password. The goal is to prevent your account from being accessed and compromised in case your password is ever leaked or stolen. And here’s how that can happen.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (19.19.0, 2022-05-09).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Security AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Multi-factor Authentication, security

• 5 free utilities to help you get more out of Windows 11

  Posted on April 4, 2022 at 02:45 CDT by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 19.14 • 2022-04-04

  WINDOWS 11

  

  By Lance Whitney

  You can squeeze more features and flexibility out of Windows 11 with the right utility programs.

  You’ve just upgraded to Windows 11. And maybe you like certain aspects of it but wish the new OS offered more capabilities. In many ways, Windows 11 is a minor upgrade to Windows 10, with visual changes and some new or redesigned features. But otherwise, it’s still the same old Windows with the same limitations and constraints.

  One way to make Windows 11 more robust and flexible is through a good utility program. An array of utilities is available that will enhance or improve the OS in both significant and subtle ways. Among the vast number of utilities out there, I’ve come up with five free ones: Microsoft PowerToys, ThisIsWin11, Files, BeWidgets, and Winaero Tweaker. Let’s check them out.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (19.14.0, 2022-04-04).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  AskWoody FREE Newsletter, AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Windows 11 AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Essential utilities, utilities, Windows 11

• 11 settings to tweak on a new Windows 11 PC

  Posted on February 21, 2022 at 02:45 CST by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 19.08 • 2022-02-21

  WINDOWS 11

  

  By Lance Whitney

  There are a bunch of settings you should configure before you fully dive into Windows 11.

  Let’s assume you’re running Windows 11 on a new or upgraded PC. Before you fully start working, playing, and hopping online, there are several key settings and features you should review, configure, or enable. By doing so, you’ll feel more at home with Windows 11. Among the settings to check are the Start menu, Taskbar, battery power, universal clipboard, and Windows Hello options.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 19.08.0 (2022-02-21).
  This story also appears in the AskWoody Newsletter 19.08.F (2022-02-21).

  AskWoody FREE Newsletter, AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Windows 11 AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Settings, Windows 11, Windows 11 Settings

• Two solid replacements for the kludgy Windows 11 Start menu

  Posted on December 13, 2021 at 02:43 CST by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  WINDOWS 11

  

  By Lance Whitney

  Don’t like the Windows 11 Start menu? Both Start 11 and StartAllBack will bring the menu back to more traditional and usable style and functionality.

  In its fervor to push out Windows 11, Microsoft made some key changes to the new OS — some good and some bad. On the bad side of the fence is the new Start menu. Dispensing with the familiar list and tile layout in Windows 10, Microsoft pared down the menu into a single box that shows only your pinned and recommended apps.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.48.0 (2021-12-13).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Windows 11 AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Start menus, Windows 11

• How Windows 11 changes File Explorer — for better or for worse

  Posted on November 8, 2021 at 02:45 CST by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  ISSUE 18.43 • 2021-11-08

  WINDOWS 11

  

  By Lance Whitney

  File Explorer in Windows 11 works mostly the same as in Windows 10, but there are visual and layout tweaks as well as new menus and locations for key commands.

  Those of you who upgrade to Windows 11 have to contend with a new and decidedly unimproved Start menu, a more limited Taskbar, and other changes that may leave you cold. Fortunately, File Explorer is one feature that survived the move to Windows 11 without major damage.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.43.0 (2021-11-08).
  This story also appears in the AskWoody Free Newsletter 18.43.F (2021-11-08).

  AskWoody FREE Newsletter, AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Windows 11 AskWoody Plus Newsletter, File Explorer, Windows 11, Windows Explorer

• The Windows Start menu: Trials and tribulations

  Posted on September 13, 2021 at 02:42 CDT by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  WINDOWS

  

  By Lance Whitney

  Don’t get me started: Windows 11 saddles us with yet another major change to the always vital but never quite right Start menu.

  Another version of Windows, another version of the Start menu. With Windows 11, Microsoft has unveiled its most dramatic change in years to a feature that’s always been a core part of Windows. Instead of the traditional vertical list of all the apps installed on your PC, we get a sparse, boxy window with links only to pinned and recommended apps. Getting to all your apps requires an additional step.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.35.0 (2021-09-13).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter AskWoody Plus Newsletter, History, Start menu, Windows

• Say hello to these new Windows 11 features

  Posted on August 16, 2021 at 02:42 CDT by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  WINDOWS 11

  

  By Lance Whitney

  The next flavor of Windows kicks in several new features, some interesting and hopefully helpful, and others not so much.

  Just when you’ve gotten comfortable enough with Windows 10, Microsoft unveils a new edition of its core OS with fresh and supposedly improved features to figure out. Adapting to a new operating system is always a chore, and that promises to be true with Windows 11. But what new features does the next generation of Windows offer, and which ones might actually be worth the upgrade?

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.31.0 (2021-08-16).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Windows 11 AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Windows, Windows 11

• Windows 11 says good-bye to these familiar features

  Posted on July 19, 2021 at 02:43 CDT by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  WINDOWS 11

  

  By Lance Whitney

  Windows 11 jettisons a bunch of items from Windows 10. But which losses will cause the most pain among loyal Windows users?

  To paraphrase a famous biblical quote, “Microsoft giveth, and Microsoft taketh away.” And that’s certainly true with Windows 11. With this new version of Windows, the folks in Redmond have added a range of features including a new visual design, a new Start menu, a widgets pane, and a revamped Microsoft Store, as well as upcoming integration with Microsoft Teams and support for Android apps.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.27.0 (2021-07-19).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Windows 11 AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Windows 10, Windows 11

• Microsoft account or local account – which one should you choose?

  Posted on June 28, 2021 at 02:41 CDT by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  MICROSOFT

  

  By Lance Whitney

  Which type of account should you use for your personal Windows 10 computer? That depends on your situation, though there are benefits and drawbacks to each.

  When you set up a Windows 10 PC for personal use, Microsoft makes you select which type of account you want to use to sign in. A Microsoft account will synchronize certain apps and settings across multiple devices and give you access to services beyond Windows. A local account provides an entryway solely to your current PC.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.24.0 (2021-06-28).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Microsoft AskWoody Plus Newsletter, local account, Microsoft Accounts, Windows 10

• How to control the security of your Microsoft Account

  Posted on May 31, 2021 at 01:02 CDT by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  MICROSOFT

  

  By Lance Whitney

  You can view and tighten many of the security settings associated with your Microsoft account to better protect it from compromise.

  A Microsoft account not only serves as your login to Windows but also grants you access to Microsoft 365, OneDrive, Skype, and other key Microsoft apps and services. Due to the power of such an account, a hacker who gains access to your credentials or to any of your Windows devices could view sensitive information and even spoof your identity.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.20.0 (2021-05-31).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Microsoft AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Microsoft, Microsoft Account

• How to control the privacy of your Microsoft account

  Posted on May 3, 2021 at 01:02 CDT by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  MICROSOFT

  

  By Lance Whitney

  You can review and manage a host of privacy settings and collected data for your Microsoft account via a dedicated account website.

  I know that some Windows users shy away from creating a Microsoft account because they’re concerned about the software giant siphoning up too much information about them. That’s certainly a valid concern. Like other tech companies, Microsoft will track many of your activities to “customize your experience” but also, sadly, to serve you targeted ads and other content.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.16.0 (2021-05-03).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Microsoft 365, Privacy AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Microsoft, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Accounts, privacy

• How to customize and manage your Microsoft Account

  Posted on April 12, 2021 at 01:08 CDT by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  ISSUE 18.13 • 2021-04-12

  MICROSOFT

  

  By Lance Whitney

  You can view and administer your subscriptions, devices, family members, rewards, and other aspects of your Microsoft account through a dedicated website.

  You have a Microsoft account that you use to sign in to Windows and possibly to other apps such as Outlook, Office 365, OneDrive, and Skype. But maybe there are aspects of your account that you’d like to tweak or at least review. Microsoft offers a website that serves up all the relevant details and settings on your account.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.13.0 (2021-04-12).
  This story also appears in the AskWoody Free Newsletter 18.13.F (2021-04-12).

  AskWoody FREE Newsletter, AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Microsoft 365, Windows 10 AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Account
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