Newsletter Archives
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Getting started with winget
ISSUE 20.21 • 2023-05-22 WINDOWS
By Simon Bisson
If you’ve used Linux, you’ll be familiar with package managers such as Debian’s apt and Red Hat’s yum.
They keep track of what’s installed on your computer — downloading updates and installing new software, managing dependencies so you always have the right libraries for your code. Drop into your command line, type a few keystrokes, and you’re automatically up to date.
Windows hasn’t really had the same design philosophy.
Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.21.0, 2023-05-22).
This story also appears in our public Newsletter. -
No NumLock key? Problem solved! Here’s the fix.
PUBLIC DEFENDER
By Brian Livingston
Most laptop makers are now leaving the NumLock key out of their smaller notebooks.
That’s a disaster for people who’ve been getting symbols that aren’t on their keyboard by entering Alt+number — for instance, typing Alt+0169 on the numeric keypad to get the copyright sign (©).
Some laptops have a function key for a “hidden” numeric keypad. But I’ll show you much easier ways. Read this today, and you’ll be writing documents faster — mañana!
Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.21.0, 2023-05-22).
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Windows Storage Spaces
HARDWARE DIY
By Will Fastie
I decided to try Storage Spaces on Opal, just to see what it would be like.
It’s a mixed bag. On the one hand, it’s less technically challenging than the Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RST) solution that lives partly in UEFI and partly in a Windows driver. On the other hand, it’s a work in progress, with some confusing configuration steps.
Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.21.0, 2023-05-22).
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How to manage your browser cookies
INTERNET
By Lance Whitney
Browser cookies can be helpful or harmful, depending on how and why they’re used in your browser. The key lies in taking control of them.
You probably already know that Web browsers use cookies to save certain information. Over the years, cookies have developed a bad rep because many websites and advertisers use them to track your online activities for the purpose of sending you ads and other targeted content.
But cookies can also help you by storing key details at websites that you frequently use. The trick here is knowing which cookies are good and which are bad, and how to manage them in general.
Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.16.0, 2023-04-17).
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When OneDrive isn’t OneDrive
ONEDRIVE
By Will Fastie
You think you know what you’re talking about, and then reality hits you smack on the nose.
You may recall that I have two OneDrive instances — one belonging to me, my personal Microsoft 365 account, and one belonging to the 365 Business plan we use to run this operation.
I thought they were identical in every respect.
Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.16.0, 2023-04-17).
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MS-DEFCON 2: Prepare for April showers
ISSUE 20.14.1 • 2023-04-06 By Susan Bradley
The next round of updates is coming soon and may be confusing.
For one thing, it now appears that Windows 10 and Windows 11 updates will diverge. That is reason enough for me to raise the MS-DEFCON level to 2.
Any confusion instantly causes me to recommend deferring updates.
It does not appear that the forthcoming updates for Windows 10 will introduce any changes. They will include only security patches. Microsoft stated:
After March 2023, there are no more optional, non-security preview releases for the supported editions of Windows 10, version 20H2 and Windows 10, version 21H2. Only monthly security update releases will continue for these versions.
Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (20.14.1, 2023-04-06).
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How to take advantage of the Photos app in Windows
WINDOWS
By Lance Whitney
The Photos app in Windows 10 and 11 will help you view and organize all the photos and videos scattered across your PC and other devices.
After years of shooting photos and videos, you may have thousands of them stored on your phone and your computer. And now you want to be able to access them all, preferably in one single spot.
Designed for Windows 10 and 11, the built-in Photos app is a free and convenient way to manage and view all your photos and videos, no matter where they’re located.
Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.12.0, 2023-03-20).
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Biniware Run — All your eggs in one basket
FREEWARE SPOTLIGHT
By Deanna McElveen
We all have that set of things we do every time we sit down at our computers. Open this, open that, read that webpage, check that stock price, etc. Why not put it all in one place?
Dicu Alexandru is a Romanian developer whose software portfolio includes the wildly popular Windows Firewall Control, which was purchased — along with his website — in 2018 by Malwarebytes (lucky dog!). Having many more ideas in his head, Dicu has continued to develop free software for the world to enjoy. I would just be sipping cocktails on a beach somewhere if Malwarebytes had bought my business — but you go, Dicu!
Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.11.0, 2023-03-13).
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How to fix File Explorer folder views in Windows 10 and 11
ISSUE 20.06 • 2023-02-06 PUBLIC DEFENDER
By Brian Livingston
There’s a common complaint about the file manager in Windows 10 and 11. You change File Explorer’s “folder view” to show filenames, dates, file sizes, and so forth. You’ve got them exactly the way you want. You select View, Options and use the View tab to click “Apply to Folders.” Then File Explorer immediately forgets what you said and shows folders any damn way it wants.
Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. But the anguish from this problem arises so often that it’s a wonder Microsoft hasn’t fixed it by now.
Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.06.0, 2023-02-06).
This story also appears in our public Newsletter. -
How to choose and use the best PowerToys for Windows 10/11
WINDOWS
By Lance Whitney
Microsoft packs a lot of cool tools into its free PowerToys offering. Here are some of the best.
Microsoft’s latest incarnation of PowerToys has been around for a few years. Geared for Windows 10 and 11, PowerToys aims to add more features and flexibility to Windows.
But now there are more than 15 individual tools in PowerToys. How do you know which ones are worth trying? Let’s check out what I think are the best of the bunch.
Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.05.0, 2023-01-30).
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RemindMe — The digital spouse
FREEWARE SPOTLIGHT
By Deanna McElveen
My husband has always claimed that he doesn’t forget things.
His excuse is that he purges them from his brain to make room for more computer knowledge. You know, purging things like previous vacations, former pets … his momma’s birthday.
I went looking for a reminder program to assist with all of my husband’s new medical appointments and stuff. I found a great one by Dutch software engineer Stefan Gansevles. The program is called — simply enough — RemindMe, and it is an absolute breeze to use.
Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (19.51.0, 2022-12-19).
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Is it time to move to Windows 11?
ISSUE 19.50 • 2022-12-12 WINDOWS 11
By Lance Whitney
Microsoft is increasingly aiming its latest enhancements at Windows 11 instead of Windows 10. Does that mean it’s time to jump ship to the newest version of Windows?
I’m in the market for a new primary laptop and face a choice of outfitting it with Windows 10 or Windows 11. A few months ago, I might have gone with Windows 10, but now I’m shooting for Windows 11. The irony is that I’ve been critical of Windows 11, specifically because of the dumbing down and inflexibility of the Start menu, Taskbar, and certain other features. So why am I opting for Windows 11?
Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (19.50.0, 2022-12-12).
This story also appears in our public Newsletter.