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PC Tips from Past QBS Newsletters

PC Tips newsletter

My free PC Tips newsletter has been published for more than ten years.

It has always provided valuable computer tips and up to date news on the latest happenings in the tech world.

Here's just a few of the many PC Tips published over the last 18 months or so. Why Not Sign up right now?

1. How to enable clipboard history in Windows 11

Windows 11 clipboard history allows you to store up to twenty five entries that you can retrieve later.

2. Windows 11's Sound Menu and how it works

Windows 11 gets a fully featured Sound menu which gives you the ability to easily pair new input and output devices.

3. How to enable God Mode in Windows 11

The so called God mode gives you access to over 200 settings. It is simply a folder that contains shortcuts to most of the options in Control Panel.

4. Windows 10 BitLocker

On most of the devices that are designed for Windows 10, device encryption is automatically enabled. Windows Setup automatically creates the necessary partitions and initializes encryption on the operating system drive with a clear key. To complete the encryption process, you must perform the following step.

5. Windows 11 Focus Sessions and Virtual Desktops

With messages and video chats popping up throughout the work day, it's easy to get distracted as the work piles up. Focus Sessions in Windows 11 encourages you to set aside time for work that requires uninterrupted,deep focus.

6. Quick Settings in Windows 11

Quick Settings in Windows 11 resembles what you might get on an Android or iOS device. There are now sliders for both the brightness and the volume of your PC. The volume slider even has a pop-out menu to let you pick your output source.

7. The Windows 7 BOOTMGR is missing problem

The "BOOTMGR is missing" error shows its ugly head shortly after your computer is turned on, just after the Power On Self Test (POST) is complete. At this point in the boot process, Windows has only just started to load.

8. Moving the Windows 11 taskbar location

Although Microsoft moved the Start button in Windows 11 to the middle of the task bar you can move it back to the left with just a few simple clicks.

9. Windows 11 offers DirectX 12 Ultimate

Windows 11 unlocks the full potential of your system's hardware, putting some of the latest gaming technology to work for you. DirectX 12 Ultimate – this new version of DirectX is the newest version of the API and the new gold standard for the next-generation of games.

Even More Great Tips

10. The DirectX Diagnostic Tool

This Diagnostic Tool helps you troubleshoot DirectX related issues. Use the tool to generate a dxdiag text report file, which has detailed information about your computer's graphics, sound, and other devices.

11. Turn off Windows 10's search indexing

Windows 10 indexes your hard disk in the background so it can search your PC more quickly. But slower PC's that use indexing will often see a slow down in their performance and by turning indexing off can give a useful speed boost.

12. Center the Windows 10 Taskbar

If you cannot upgrade to Windows 11 you might still like some of its features such as its centered taskbar icons.

13. Shut Off Windows Tips and Tricks

When you start up your brand new Windows PC you will notice that Windows keeps an eye on what you are doing and offers suitable tips and tricks depending on what task you are doing. These tips can be an annoyance and may even affect the performance of your PC.

14. Can you switch off Windows 10 Update?

Can Windows Update be completely turned off. Unfortunately the answer is no. Microsoft has already changed the way updates are delivered.

15. Clean your PC with Windows own tools

If your disk is bloated with files you don't need, you may find your PC is gradually slowing down. So cleaning out all this junk could give you a performance boost.

16. Secure data deletion and erasure

Today, organisations need to manage many different types of devices, including hard drives, SSDs, servers, tape backups, mobile devices, memory cards, and virtual environments. It's now more important than ever to manage every bit of data securely and comply with regulations, especially at the end of the data life cycle.

17. The Windows 10 Hidden Game Bar

Using the Windows key-G command, you can pull up the new and improved Game Bar.

18. What to do if you cannot access your PC's Hard Drive?

If Windows fails to load and you cannot even access your hard drive, try booting from a DOS-bootable USB drive, that you should have already created, to establish whether or not the drive is actually working properly.

19. Pesky Windows Sound Problems

There could be a number of reasons for a lack of sound from your Windows PC. First make sure you've plugged your speakers into your PC, have turned the speakers on and have turned up the volume. And make sure you actually have a soundcard installed.

The next issue of the QBS Free PC Tips Newsletter will be sent on 26th January 2024.

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