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Windows 10 setup and configuration secrets for experts

12 of 31 NEXT PREV
  • Repair your Windows 10 installation... without losing out

    Repair your Windows 10 installation... without losing out

    Award-winning technology writer Ed Bott of The Ed Bott Report has mastered the ins and outs of the Windows 10 set-up process so that you can too.

    Up first: Repairing your installation.

    For this maneuver, Windows 10 installment media is required (and can be obtained using the free Media Creation Tool).

    When you're set, download the ISO and double-click to mount it as a virtual drive. (Or, if you chose to create bootable media on a USB drive, open that removable drive in File Explorer.) Double-click Setup to begin reinstalling Windows.

    Published: June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT)

    Photo by: Microsoft

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • What to keep

    What to keep

    When asked what you want to keep, choose the option shown here: Keep personal files and apps. Follow the wizard's prompts to finish setup. After a couple restarts, you'll have a refreshed installation of Windows 10, with your desktop programs, apps, and settings intact.

    Read more about this tip.

    Published: June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT)

    Photo by: Microsoft

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • Cutting in line

    Cutting in line

    Next: How to cut to the front of the line for the next version.

    Join the Windows Insider Program at insider.windows.com using the same Microsoft account that you sign in to Windows 10 with. Then go to Settings > Update & security > Windows Insider Program. Click Get Started and then restart.

    Published: June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT)

    Photo by: Microsoft

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • More on line-cutting

    More on line-cutting

    Check the settings and confirm that you're in the Release Preview ring. Once you've completed the process, you'll receive new Release Preview updates automatically using Windows Update.

    Read more about this tip.

    Published: June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT)

    Photo by: Microsoft

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • Back up your third-party hardware drivers

    Back up your third-party hardware drivers

    Probably the most frustrating and time-consuming part of installing or reinstalling Windows on a new PC is tracking down the correct drivers for your system and peripherals.

    To back up your current collection of drivers, open File Explorer and go to C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore. Copy the FileRepository subfolder to a backup location.

    Published: June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT)

    Photo by: Microsoft

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • More on backing up

    More on backing up

    After your clean install is complete, you can reinstall any custom drivers by using the Update Driver option from Device Manager and specifying the backed-up copy of the FileRepository folder as the location where you want Windows to look for new driver files.

    Read more about this tip.

    Published: June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT)

    Photo by: Microsoft

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • Reset your PC completely

    Reset your PC completely

    This multi-step process requires choices on your part, with one final confirmation that lays out in very clear terms exactly what's about to happen.

    You can back out at any time before you click that last button. To start, go to Settings > Update & security > Recovery. Under the Reset this PC heading, click Get Started.

    Published: June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT)

    Photo by: Microsoft

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • Make your choices for the reset

    Make your choices for the reset

    Choose Keep My Files (best choice if you're planning to reuse the PC yourself) or Remove Everything (if you're turning the device over to someone else).

    If you choose to remove all files, the next option allows you to wipe the empty space those files occupied so they can't be recovered using disk utility software.

    Published: June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT)

    Photo by: Microsoft

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • Then just click the button!

    Then just click the button!

    Click the Reset button on the final summary page. Windows will automatically download and install the most recent cumulative update to complete the installation.

    Read more about this tip.

    Published: June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT)

    Photo by: Microsoft

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • ​Find and decode secret version details

    ​Find and decode secret version details

    Type about in the search box, or open Settings > System > About.

    Published: June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT)

    Photo by: Microsoft

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • Look for the Version code

    Look for the Version code

    In the list of system details, you'll see a four-digit Version code. The first two digits indicate the year your version of Windows 10 was released; the second two digits are the month. So, version 1607, as pictured, was released in July 2016.

    Published: June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT)

    Photo by: Microsoft

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • Reading the OS Build code

    Reading the OS Build code

    The OS Build code is read in two parts. On the left side of the dot is a five-digit value that identifies the build number associated with a version release. On the right side is a three-digit value that identifies the most recently installed cumulative update.

    Published: June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT)

    Photo by: Microsoft

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • How to track updates

    How to track updates

    Use Microsoft's Windows 10 and Windows Service 2016 update history to track all the updates that have been released.

    Read more about this tip.

    Published: June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT)

    Photo by: Microsoft

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • ​Keep your laptop from waking up in your travel bag

    ​Keep your laptop from waking up in your travel bag

    Simple: Make your PC go into hibernate rather than sleep mode. To do this, open Control Panel (or use the search box on the taskbar) and search for Power Options. From the list of links on the left, click Choose what closing the lid does.

    Published: June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT)

    Photo by: Microsoft

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • Change to Hibernate

    Change to Hibernate

    In the When I close the lid section, change the behavior under On Battery to Hibernate and then save your changes. The next time you close the PC's lid, your PC will be guaranteed to keep its cool.

    Read more about this tip.

    Published: June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT)

    Photo by: Microsoft

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • Shut down OneDrive completely

    Shut down OneDrive completely

    In Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise, open Local Group Policy Editor (Gpedit.msc) and go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > OneDrive.

    Double-click the policy Prevent The Usage Of OneDrive For File Storage and set it to Enabled. Restart your PC. The built-in cloud-storage system will be history.

    Published: June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT)

    Photo by: Microsoft

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • More on shutting down OneDrive completely

    More on shutting down OneDrive completely

    On devices running Windows 10 Home, open Registry Editor to navigate to HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\OneDrive. (If that key doesn't exist, you need to create it).

    Add a new DWORD value, DisableFileSyncNGSC, and set it to 1. Restart the PC to make the policy setting effective.

    Read more about this tip.

    Published: June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT)

    Photo by: OneDrive via Facebook

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • Turn off Cortana completely

    Turn off Cortana completely

    A simple registry edit can turn off all of the personal-assistant features, leaving only the ability to search for local apps, files, and settings. On a single device running Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise, use the local Group Policy Editor, gpedit.msc, to open the policy Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Search > Allow Cortana and set it to Disabled.

    Use Group Policy to apply this setting across multiple machines in an enterprise network.

    Published: June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT)

    Photo by: Microsoft

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • If you have to do it manually

    If you have to do it manually

    On a system running Windows 10 Home, a manual registry edit is required. Find the key HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search (you might need to create this key if it doesn't exist), and then create the DWORD value AllowCortana and set it to 0.

    Read more about this tip.

    Published: June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT)

    Photo by: Microsoft

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • Find your PC's original product key

    Find your PC's original product key

    Open a PowerShell window and issue this command:

    (Get-WmiObject -query 'select * from SoftwareLicensingService').OA3xOriginalProductKey

    If you see no output, that means your system does not include the Windows key in the BIOS, as is often the case with home-built PCs, devices built by a System Builder OEM, or those that were originally sold with a Windows 10 license.

    Published: June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT)

    Photo by: Microsoft

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • The command for viewing a licensing status

    The command for viewing a licensing status

    Network administrators who manage licensing using Key Management Services can view all details about a machine's current licensing status with this command:

    Get-WMIObject -Class SoftwareLicensingService | Select-Object -Property *

    Be sure to include the asterisk at the end of the command.

    Read more about this tip.

    Published: June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT)

    Photo by: Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • Find out if your PC can run Hyper-V

    Find out if your PC can run Hyper-V

    On Windows 10, you can only enable the virtualization platform if your CPU supports Second Level Address Translation (SLAT) and Virtual Machine Monitor Mode Extensions.

    To find out if your processor is on it, open the System Information utility while Windows 10 is running. Type msinfo32 in the search box and then click System Information from the top of the results list. That opens the app shown here.

    Published: June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT)

    Photo by: Microsoft

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • Hyper-V recon, continued

    Hyper-V recon, continued

    Scroll to the bottom of the System Summary results, and look for the four items that begin with Hyper-V. If you see a "Yes" next to each one, you're ready to enable Hyper-V.

    If you see a "No" after the Virtualization Enabled In Firmware setting, you have to go into your BIOS (or UEFI firmware) settings and turn on support for virtualization. If you see a "No" next to any of the other items, you won't be able to run Hyper-V.

    Read more about this tip.

    Published: June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT)

    Photo by: Microsoft

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • Switch back to a local account

    Switch back to a local account

    Did Windows 10 talk you into you setting up a Microsoft account? It happens. It also so happens that you can remove the connection to a Microsoft account at any time. Open Settings > Accounts and click Your info. After confirming that your account is set up to use a Microsoft account, click Sign in with a local account instead.

    Published: June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT)

    Photo by: Microsoft

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • Finalizing the switch

    Finalizing the switch

    Enter the password for your Microsoft account to confirm that you're authorized to make the change and then click Next. On the Switch To A Local Account page, enter your new local user name and password, along with a password hint, as shown here. Click Next to sign out from the Microsoft account and sign back in using your new local account.

    Read more about this tip.

    Published: June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT)

    Photo by: Microsoft

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • How to enable the built-in Administrator account (and why you shouldn't)

    How to enable the built-in Administrator account (and why you shouldn't)

    First the tip, then the warning. To enable this account, open an elevated Command Prompt window and issue two commands. First, type net user administrator /active:yes and press Enter. Then type net user administrator <Password>, where <Password> is the actual password you want to use for this account.

    Published: June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT)

    Photo by: Microsoft

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • But don't do it

    But don't do it

    Now the warning: The Administrator account is not needed in the current Windows design and is disabled by default to reduce the attack surface on a Windows PC. So, yes, while you can enable the Administrator account, you shouldn't.

    Read more about this tip.

    Published: June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT)

    Photo by: Microsoft

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • Move your synced OneDrive files to a new location

    Move your synced OneDrive files to a new location

    The option to change the sync folder location appears when you first set up OneDrive. If you want to change the location after you've already completed setup, follow these steps:

    1. Right-click the OneDrive icon in the taskbar's notification area and click Settings.
    2. On the Account tab, click Unlink this PC.
    3. Using File Explorer, move your current OneDrive folder to the new drive.
    4. In OneDrive Settings, click Add an account. Sign in using the credentials for the account you removed earlier, then click Change location, and and specify the path to the folder where you moved the files.
    5. Complete setup. Be sure you choose the same folders that are currently in the local sync folder.

    Read more about this tip.

    Published: June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT)

    Photo by: Microsoft

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • Disable annoying notifications

    Disable annoying notifications

    Open the Settings app and go to the Notifications & Actions section: To turn off all app notifications, move the Get notifications from apps and other senders slider to the Off position.

    Published: June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT)

    Photo by: Microsoft

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • Choosing which to silence

    Choosing which to silence

    To pick and choose which ones to silence, scroll down to the section headed Get notifications from these senders. Move the slider for an individual app to the Off position to disable notifications from that app or feature.

    Published: June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT)

    Photo by: Microsoft

    Caption by: Ed Bott

  • Customize even more

    Customize even more

    For more fine-grained control over how an individual app can display notifications, click the app's entry in the Notifications list and customize per your preferences.

    Read more about this tip.

    Published: June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT)

    Photo by: Microsoft

    Caption by: Ed Bott

12 of 31 NEXT PREV
Ed Bott

By Ed Bott | June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT) | Topic: Security

  • Repair your Windows 10 installation... without losing out
  • What to keep
  • Cutting in line
  • More on line-cutting
  • Back up your third-party hardware drivers
  • More on backing up
  • Reset your PC completely
  • Make your choices for the reset
  • Then just click the button!
  • ​Find and decode secret version details
  • Look for the Version code
  • Reading the OS Build code
  • How to track updates
  • ​Keep your laptop from waking up in your travel bag
  • Change to Hibernate
  • Shut down OneDrive completely
  • More on shutting down OneDrive completely
  • Turn off Cortana completely
  • If you have to do it manually
  • Find your PC's original product key
  • The command for viewing a licensing status
  • Find out if your PC can run Hyper-V
  • Hyper-V recon, continued
  • Switch back to a local account
  • Finalizing the switch
  • How to enable the built-in Administrator account (and why you shouldn't)
  • But don't do it
  • Move your synced OneDrive files to a new location
  • Disable annoying notifications
  • Choosing which to silence
  • Customize even more

Make the operating system work for you and your device.

Read More Read Less

Reading the OS Build code

The OS Build code is read in two parts. On the left side of the dot is a five-digit value that identifies the build number associated with a version release. On the right side is a three-digit value that identifies the most recently installed cumulative update.

Published: June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT)

Caption by: Ed Bott

12 of 31 NEXT PREV

Related Topics:

Security TV Data Management CXO Data Centers
Ed Bott

By Ed Bott | June 26, 2017 -- 18:10 GMT (11:10 PDT) | Topic: Security

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