Win10 tweaks to improve computing work and play

Topic

New Reply

	TOP STORY Win10 tweaks to improve computing work and play
	By Lincoln Spector If you’ve spent any time working with Windows 10, you’ve doubtlessly figured out that the new OS isn’t perfect. Fortunately, in the Windows tradition, Win10’s behavior can be changed to better fit your computing style. Here are six tweaks that you may find useful.

---

The full text of this column is posted at windowssecrets.com/top-story/win10-tweaks-to-improve-computing-work-and-play/ (opens in a new window/tab).

Columnists typically cannot reply to comments here, but do incorporate the best tips into future columns.[/td]

[/tr][/tbl]

Reply | Quote

Replies

The mode provided by the suggested mechanism hearkens back to Windows 98, a mode Microsoft has been trying to get away from – for good reason. If you don’t have an icon (for the program you want) on your desktop or Start page/menu, then it is probably not something you use all that often. However, if you know the name of the program, it is almost always more efficient to just hit the Windows key and start typing the name. That will usually get you there more efficiently than trying to drill down through a menu hierarchy. Sometimes even better than looking for an icon. As pointed out in the article, this approach also works for finding features in the operating system which are not even regarded as applications.

Reply | Quote

The mode provided by the suggested mechanism hearkens back to Windows 98, a mode Microsoft has been trying to get away from – for good reason. If you don’t have an icon (for the program you want) on your desktop or Start page/menu, then it is probably not something you use all that often. However, if you know the name of the program, it is almost always more efficient to just hit the Windows key and start typing the name. That will usually get you there more efficiently than trying to drill down through a menu hierarchy. Sometimes even better than looking for an icon. As pointed out in the article, this approach also works for finding features in the operating system which are not even regarded as applications.

Absolutely agree with this. I’ve switched to this method when Microsoft introduced Windows 8 with its Start Screen, and I actually welcome (and love) this big change. Starting a program has never been easier with this method, although as I remember Windows 7 can also do the trick. I immediately maximize my Start menu on Win10 to mimic the old Start Screen.

Anyway, for that annoying notifications, you may use Quiet Hours to temporarily turn off all notifications (sounds and banners), so instead of drilling down to Settings and turning off individual annoying notifications to later on turn it back on again, you can turn all of them off by just a single click. I can’t provide a screenshot since my Windows is in Indonesian (so I’m missing the advanced settings for Quiet Hours, which is handled by the one and only Cortana), but here you go: http://www.howto-connect.com/windows-10-turn-on-quiet-hours-to-disable-notifications/

Reply | Quote

I enjoy the Windows Secrets articles, but I would appreciate some attention being given to the millions of Windows 10 users around the world who do not have access to Cortana. All we have is a “one of these days” promise of Cortana. Perhaps there’s scope for an article about using Windows 10 without Cortana and the attached facilities.

Reply | Quote