Windows • Archives Technically Easy

Windows 10 Displays Black Screen at Startup

July 8, 2019July 8, 2019 by Paul Salmon

After a few months, my desktop recently updated to Windows 10 version 1903, and after upgrading to that version refused to boot up properly. The machine would show the Windows logo, and then immediately display a black screen. The screen wasn’t blank because I can move the mouse cursor around the screen, but couldn’t do anything else on the computer.

Fix: Folders Loading Slowly in Windows Explorer

June 13, 2017 by Paul Salmon

When I reinstalled Windows 10 on my desktop I noticed the issue of folders loading slowly in Windows Explorer when I tried to view their contents. The issue was very noticeable as it took several seconds to the display the files within a folder, and accessing multiple folders became frustrating.

Fix: Prevent Hard Drives from Going to Sleep in Windows 10

September 24, 2022June 7, 2017 by Paul Salmon

After recently upgrading my Plex Windows 10 machine, I had an issue where I couldn’t prevent hard drives from going to sleep on that system. After the system restarted, a few hours later I would get an email from Stablebit Scanner indicating that one or more of my drives were no longer connected.

How to Disable Audio Enhancements in Windows 10

November 2, 2021November 28, 2016 by Paul Salmon

Knowing how to disable audio enhancements in Windows 10 can become useful if the audio enhancements cause a spike in CPU usage. There could be a variety of reasons why, such as incompatible drivers, corrupted files, or you just don’t want Windows to apply its own enhancements to the audio.

Fix: Windows 10 Update is Stuck on Downloading

November 18, 2016November 16, 2016 by Paul Salmon

There may be a time when the Windows 10 update is stuck on downloading an update and doesn’t progress beyond that point. I have recently experienced this issue on a laptop where Windows Update wouldn’t progress beyond the downloading part of the update. I did manage to fix the issue and update the laptop. Below are the steps that I used to correct the problem.

A Sneak Peek at Microsoft Edge – the Next Generation of Web Browser

June 2, 2015 by Paul Salmon

Internet Explorer has died. Well, let’s be honest, it has been on its last legs for some time now. Rumors of Project Sparta, Microsoft’s replacement browser, have been circulating for months. Then last April the software giant announced the creation of Microsoft Edge – a revolutionary new web browser.

Featuring a clean interface that is much more consistent with the new direction Microsoft has taken their operating system, Edge provides a look at the future of browsing. Lightweight, stripped down (with over 222,000 lines of code removed), and much faster, all Windows 10 devices will include Edge as their default browser.

One of the major problems that Internet Explorer has faced is its inability to compete in the mobile browser market – making Edge a little late to the game. Safari dominates iOS devices, while Chrome Mobile and Android’s native browser share the majority. Internet Explorer accounts for just 1.8% of the overall mobile browser usage. Microsoft Edge looks set to fix this. Designed to work across devices, Edge is a Web app that will make it a serious contender in the browser world.

How to Repair Your Outlook Files

January 7, 2015 by Paul Salmon

Outlook files, such as the PST and OST files, may develop a problem from time to time. While there could be any number of reasons the files could have problems, the main issue is that Outlook may refuse to work properly. In my case, I had a bad OST file, so I could do anything in Outlook except open the application. I couldn’t send or receive e-mails, which is the the main purpose of using Outlook.

The good news is that Microsoft does include a tool to help repair damaged Outlook files, and is very easy to use. Here are the steps you can follow to repair your Outlook files.

Top Software Applications You Should Have on a System

December 8, 2014 by Paul Salmon

Thousands of software programs are available online. The large number of applications can often make it challenging to make a choice regarding which software you should use and the ones you can do without. The task of choosing software is easier when you know what you need and what will be most beneficial for your daily tasks.

A number of important software programs are worth installing and are highly recommended for your machine.