There is no doubt about it – Windows 10 is here, and previous Windows versions will eventually be dropped from Microsoft support.
Anyone who buys a new PC other than a Mac will most certainly be using Windows 10. So let’s dig in and take control!
NOTE! – DO NOT make these adjustments on a company-owned PC! You will become very unpopular with your in-house PC support people!
ALSO – Much of this discussion applies to Windows 10 Pro . Windows Home users will need to make some changes via regedit, which deserves a page of its own.
Windows 10 is a response to much dissatisfaction with Windows 8 and 8.1, just like Windows 7 was a response to Vista. Microsoft has done a nice job of letting the user decide whether to use a Windows 7-like PC desktop, or a Windows 8-like icon interface.
These two options are called desktop mode and tablet mode:
Desktop Mode
Windows 10 will, by default, determine which mode is appropriate for your hardware. If this isn’t satisfactory for you, you can force Desktop mode like this:
Click on Start – Settings – System –Tablet Mode –When I sign in – Use Desktop Mode
Click Start – Settings – Personalization – Start – Use Start Full Screen – Off
Log out of Windows and log back in. – you will be in Desktop mode.
Tablet Mode
If you decide to use Tablet Mode, the process is similar:
Click on Start – Settings – System –Tablet Mode –When I sign in – Use Tablet Mode
Click Start – Settings – Personalization – Start – Use Start Full Screen – On
Log out of Windows and log back in. – you will be in Tablet mode
Restore Control Panel
If we are going to make changes to Windows, we need ready access to the settings. The old control panel is still the best way to go, but Microsoft has not given us easy access. To get control, just do this:
Move cursor to an empty area on the desktop.
Right-click, then click New – Shortcut and navigate to C:\Windows\System32\control.exe
Click Next, then enter a name for the shortcut. Click Finish. Now you can quickly get to control Panel.
Create Restore Points
The regular creation of Restore Points is one of the most powerful safeguards you can use to protect your computer. Proper creation and use of Restore Points allows you to restore a computer to a time in the past, without deleting any recently created documents. Even a computer that refuses to boot can be rescued.
Begin by searching for ‘restore point’ in the Windows search box (Cortana). Click on ‘Create a restore point’.
The System Properties box will open. Click on the drives(s) to be protected (usually C:\) and then click ‘Configure’. The System Protection box will open. Select ‘Turn on system protection’. If desired, adjust the Disk space Usage setting. Click ‘Apply’ and ‘OK’. Then click ‘Create’ in the System Properties box. You have created a Restore Point.
