Windows 10 Inside Out

Ed Bott is an award-winning author and technology journalist who has written about technology for more than two decades. His 25+ books have been translated into dozens of languages and include at least one volume on every edition of Windows and Office since 1994.   Carl Siechert, coauthor of 20+ books covering products ranging from MS-DOS 3.0 to Windows 10, uses Windows 10 in his business, LittleMachineShop.com.   Craig Stinson, a computer industry journalist since 1981, was editor of Softalk for the IBM PC, one of the earliest IBM PC magazines. His books include Microsoft Excel 2013 Inside Out.

Introduction   xix
Who this book is for   xix
Assumptions about you   xix
How this book is organized   xx
Acknowledgments   xxi
Errata, updates, & book support   xxi
Free ebooks from Microsoft Press   xxi
We want to hear from you   xxii
Stay in touch   xxii
PART 1: Getting started with Windows 10   1
Chapter 1: What’s new in Windows 10   3
Next-generation hardware   4
The Windows 10 user experience    5
Fundamental changes in core features   11
Windows 10, the web, and cloud services   13
Working and playing with Windows 10   15
More updates, more often   17
Windows 10 for IT pros and experts   19
Chapter 2: Installing, configuring, and deploying Windows 10   21
Before you start   22
Check for potential compatibility problems   23
Back up your data and settings   24
Choose the right package   25
Choose your upgrade method   27
How Windows 10 Setup works   28
Upgrading to Windows 10   29
Using Windows Update   29
Using Windows installation media   33
Checking compatibility   33
Transferring files, apps, and settings   34
Performing a clean install   39
Making bootable media   39
Setup and your hard disk   44
Configuring a multiboot system   48
Activating Windows   52
Entering a product key   54
Activating a retail copy of Windows   57
Activation requirements for OEM installations   57
Product activation and corporate licensing   58
Managing Windows activation from the command prompt   59
Tweaking and tuning your Windows 10 installation   59
Chapter 3: Using Windows 10   61
An overview of the Windows 10 user experience   62
Navigating Windows 10   64
Using and customizing the Start menu   64
Using and customizing the taskbar   71
Controlling how notifications appear   76
Switching tasks   79
Switching between virtual desktops   81
Using Windows 10 on a touchscreen device   82
Managing and arranging windows   89
Cortana and search   93
Chapter 4: Personalizing Windows 10   99
Settings vs. Control Panel   99
Customizing the visual appearance   100
Selecting the desktop background   101
Selecting colors   103
Customizing mouse pointers   104
Configuring desktop icons   105
Controlling the appearance of other icons   107
Configuring the taskbar with multiple displays   108
Customizing the lock screen   109
Working with fonts   110
Making text easier to read   111
Using font smoothing to make text easier on the eyes   112
Calibrating your display’s colors   113
Making other small visual tweaks   113
Working the way you like   114
Taming your mouse or other pointing device   114
Managing keyboard settings   117
Selecting sounds for events   118
Choosing a screen saver   119
Tuning Windows to know about you   120
Syncing your settings between computers   123
Working with themes   123
Synchronizing other settings   124
Overcoming challenges   125
Chapter 5: Networking essentials   129
Getting started with Windows 10 networking   130
Checking your network’s status   131
Using the network icon and flyout   131
Network And Sharing Center   136
Monitoring network performance in Task Manager   139
Setting network locations   141
Connecting to a wireless network   143
Connecting to a hidden network   146
Wireless security   148
Sharing wireless connections with Wi-Fi Sense   151
Sharing files, digital media, and printers in a homegroup   152
Creating a homegroup   154
Joining a homegroup   157
Browsing shared folders and files   160
Sharing a printer   161
Leaving a homegroup   161
Chapter 6: Managing user accounts, passwords, and credentials   163
Working with user accounts   163
Microsoft account vs. local account   165
Changing account settings   169
Deleting an account   171
Managing the sign-in process   173
Setting a password   175
Using a PIN   178
Using a picture password   178
Using Windows Hello for biometric sign-ins   179
Signing out, switching accounts, or locking your computer   181
Sharing your PC with other users   183
Adding a user to your computer   183
Controlling your children’s computer access   185
Restricting use with assigned access   188
Introducing access control in Windows   188
Permissions and rights   193
User accounts and security groups   193
Managing and securing your credentials   196
Chapter 7: Securing Windows 10 devices   197
Understanding security threats   197
What’s new in Windows 10   200
Securing devices   200
Securing data   201
Securing identities   202
Blocking malware   202
Monitoring your computer’s security   203
Staying on top of security updates   206
Blocking intruders with Windows Firewall   208
Using Windows Firewall with different network types   209
Managing Windows Firewall   210
Enabling or disabling Windows Firewall   210
Allowing connections through the firewall   212
Restoring default settings   214
Advanced tools for managing Windows Firewall   214
Preventing unsafe actions with User Account Control   216
What triggers UAC prompts   216
Dealing with UAC prompts   218
Modifying UAC settings   221
Encrypting information   223
Using the Encrypting File System   224
Encrypting with BitLocker and BitLocker To Go   226
Using Windows Defender to block malware   228
Using Windows Defender   229
Manually scanning for malware   230
Dealing with detected threats   232
Stopping unknown or malicious programs with SmartScreen   233
PART 2: Working and playing with Windows 10   235
Chapter 8: Using and managing modern apps and desktop programs   237
What’s in a modern app   238
Browsing the Windows Store   240
Finding additional information   242
Buying an app   243
Uninstalling an app   243
Managing line-of-business apps   244
Apps included with Windows 10   245
Installing, running, and managing desktop applications   246
Running desktop applications as an administrator or another user   247
Dealing with compatibility issues   248
Managing programs and processes with Task Manager   249
Terminating a program with Task Manager   250
Finding detailed information about a program   251
Assigning a program to a specific processor   252
Reviewing history   252
Managing startup programs   254
Suspending or removing startup items   255
Setting default programs and file-type associations   259
Using a nondefault program ad hoc   264
Turning Windows features on or off   265
Setting AutoPlay options   265
Chapter 9: Productivity and communication tools   269
Mail, Calendar, and People   270
Setting up and using Mail   270
Setting up and using Calendar   275
Adding or editing contacts with People   278
Downloading and using Skype   279
Using the mobile and desktop versions of OneNote   282
Using the mobile versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint   284
Features common to the mobile Office apps   284
Exploring the mobile Office apps   287
Using Maps   289
Using Alarms & Clock   293
The info apps: News, Weather, Sports, and Money   294
News   294
Weather   296
Sports   298
Money   300
Sharing and saving news stories   301
Preserving items of interest with Windows Reading List   302
Voice Recorder   305
Chapter 10: Music, photos, movies, and games   307
Managing your digital media libraries   308
Music   311
Groove Music   312
Using Windows Media Player to rip CDs   316
Managing photos and digital images   318
Using the Photos app to crop and edit pictures   322
Organizing photos into albums   326
Windows Photo Viewer and Paint   329
Watching movies, recorded TV shows, and video clips   331
Miracast   333
Xbox and other forms of online entertainment   336
Chapter 11: Browsing the Internet   339
Why the new browser?    340
Browser basics   341
Setting or changing your default browser   341
User interface basics in Edge   342
Using the Start page in Edge   343
Using tabs   345
Customizing your home and startup pages   348
Changing your default search provider   351
Using favorites, history, and the reading list   354
Browsing with favorites in Edge   354
Using the reading list, an alternative to favorites, in Edge   357
Browsing with favorites in Internet Explorer   360
Working with pinned sites in Internet Explorer   361
Browsing through history   362
Managing downloads   364
Using SmartScreen Filter to avoid phishing sites and dicey downloads   365
Making text more readable   366
Using Reading View in Edge   367
Sharing webpages from Edge   369
Annotating Edge pages with web notes   370
Managing and troubleshooting add-ons in Internet Explorer   372
Privacy and security issues   373
Allowing or not allowing your browser to save sign-in credentials   374
Blocking pop-ups   376
Clearing your browser history and other personal information   377
Blocking cookies and sending do-not-track requests   379
Configuring security zones in Internet Explorer   381
Chapter 12: Organizing and searching for files   383
Exploring File Explorer   383
Customizing the Quick Access Toolbar   386
Navigating in File Explorer   387
What’s what and where in a user profile   389
Common profiles   392
Working with libraries   393
Using compressed (zipped) folders   398
Displaying or suppressing check boxes   399
Arranging data in File Explorer   399
Managing file properties and metadata   406
Recovering lost, damaged, and deleted files and folders   412
Recovering files and folders with the Recycle Bin   412
Relocating personal data folders   415
Using Save locations   418
Using Windows Search   419
Searching everywhere   419
Configuring search and indexing options   420
Basic search techniques   430
Advanced search tools and techniques   434
Saving searches and clearing search history   440
PART 3: System maintenance and troubleshooting   441
Chapter 13: Hardware   443
Adding, configuring, and removing hardware devices   443
Installing a new Plug and Play device   444
How device drivers and hardware work together   446
Getting useful information from Device Manager   449
Enabling and disabling devices   454
Adjusting advanced device settings   454
Updating and uninstalling drivers   456
Disabling automatic driver updates   457
Updating a device driver manually   458
Rolling back to a previous driver version   461
Uninstalling a driver    462
Fine-tuning hardware and printer settings   465
Printers and print queues   467
Keyboards, mice, touchpads, and pens   471
Displays   474
Bluetooth devices   477
USB devices   478
Speakers, microphones, and headsets   478
Chapter 14: Managing disks and drives   481
The Windows 10 disk-management tools   481
Running Disk Management   482
Managing disks from the command prompt   483
Setting up a new hard disk   486
Installing Windows on a new disk   486
Adding a new disk to an existing Windows installation   487
Choosing a file system   490
Managing existing disks and volumes   492
Extending a volume   493
Shrinking a volume   494
Deleting a volume   495
Converting a FAT32 disk to NTFS   495
Assigning or changing a volume label   496
Assigning and changing drive letters   496
Mapping a volume to an NTFS folder   497
Checking the properties and status of disks and volumes   500
Permanently wiping all data from a disk   503
Working with virtual hard disks   503
Checking disks for errors   506
Optimizing disks for better performance   508
Working with solid state drives   510
Optimizing solid state drives   511
Monitoring disk usage   512
Changing default save locations   513
Using Storage Spaces   514
Chapter 15: System maintenance and performance   517
Keeping Windows up to date   517
Mastering Task Manager   525
Managing startup programs and services   531
Managing disk space   533
Power management and battery life   542
Monitoring and improving system performance   549
Monitoring performance with Task Manager   550
Using Resource Monitor to pinpoint performance problems   554
Chapter 16: Backup, restore, and recovery   557
An overview of Windows 10 backup and recovery options   558
Using File History to protect files and folders   562
Setting up File History   563
Choosing locations to back up   568
Restoring files and folders   570
Using the Reset option to recover from serious problems   575
Creating and using a recovery drive   580
Creating and restoring a system image backup   582
Creating a system image backup   583
Restoring a system image backup   587
Configuring system protection options   590
Rolling back to a previous restore point   594
System Restore do’s and don’ts   598
Chapter 17: Troubleshooting   599
Getting to know your troubleshooting toolkit   599
Built-in troubleshooters   599
Windows Error Reporting   601
Reliability Monitor   605
Event Viewer   607
Types of events   610
Viewing logs and events   610
Filtering the log display   612
Dealing with Stop errors   614
Customizing how Windows handles Stop errors   614
What’s in a Stop error   616
Isolating the cause of a Stop error   617
Troubleshooting with alternative boot options   619
PART 4: Windows 10 for experts and IT pros   623
Chapter 18: Using advanced system management tools   625
Viewing details about your system   625
Systeminfo   627
Windows Management Instrumentation command-line utility   628
System Information   628
Managing services   630
Using the Services console   631
Starting and stopping services   632
Configuring services   633
Managing services from Task Manager   636
Editing the Windows registry   638
Understanding the Registry Editor hierarchy   640
Registry values and data types   641
Registry virtualization   643
Backing up and restoring parts of the registry   644
Browsing and editing with Registry Editor   646
Using .reg files to automate registry changes   648
Using Microsoft Management Console   651
Chapter 19: Automating tasks and activities   655
Using Task Scheduler   655
Creating a task   659
Scheduling tasks with the Schtasks command   667
Automating command sequences with batch programs   668
Automating tasks with Windows Script Host   669
Chapter 20: Advanced networking   671
Viewing network status   671
Sharing resources with other users   673
Understanding sharing and security models in Windows   673
Configuring your network for sharing   674
Sharing files and folders from any folder   678
Sharing a printer   687
Finding and using shared resources on a Windows network   689
Working with mapped network folders   690
Connecting to a network printer   692
Connecting to another computer with Remote Desktop   692
Configuring your network for Remote Desktop connections   693
Enabling inbound remote desktop connections   695
Using Remote Desktop Connection   697
Troubleshooting network problems   707
Troubleshooting HomeGroup problems   710
Network troubleshooting tools   711
Troubleshooting TCP/IP problems   713
Chapter 21: Working with Command Prompt and Windows PowerShell   725
Working at the command prompt   725
Running with elevated privileges   725
Starting Command Prompt at a particular folder   726
Starting Command Prompt and running a command   726
Using AutoRun to execute commands when Command Prompt starts   726
Editing the command line   727
Using command symbols   727
Customizing Command Prompt windows   730
Setting the window size and position   730
Setting the window size and position visually   731
Selecting a font   731
Setting colors   731
An introduction to Windows PowerShell   731
Starting PowerShell   733
Interacting with PowerShell   733
Scripting with PowerShell   745
Finding additional PowerShell resources   749
Chapter 22: Running virtual machines with Hyper-V   751
Setting up Hyper-V   752
Using Hyper-V Manager   754
Creating a network switch   756
Creating a virtual machine   757
Specify name and location   757
Specify generation   759
Assign memory   760
Configure networking   760
Connect virtual hard disk   761
Installation options   763
Running a virtual machine   764
Using enhanced session mode   767
Changing settings for a virtual machine   769
Working with checkpoints   770
Appendix A: Windows 10 editions at a glance   773
Features available in all Windows 10 editions   774
Windows 10 Pro   778
Windows 10 Enterprise and Education   780
Appendix B: Help and support resources   781
Online help   781
Online reference material from Microsoft   786
Microsoft Knowledge Base   786
Microsoft TechNet   786
Microsoft Virtual Academy   786
Getting technical support   787
Microsoft Community   787
TechNet forums   788
Free and paid support from Microsoft   789
Appendix C: OneDrive and other cloud services   791
How OneDrive and OneDrive for Business work   791
Synchronizing files with Windows 10 devices   794
Office 365 and Office Web Apps   796
Index to troubleshooting topics   799
Index   801