This tutorial will show you how to change an internal disk drive status to offline or online as needed in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
By default, all newly discovered disks are brought online with read and write access.
When you take a disk offline, it is removed from "This PC" in File Explorer, and becomes unmountable and inaccessible (even after a restart) until you bring it back online. You also cannot initialize a disk or create volumes/partitions on a disk until it's online.
Taking a disk offline does not turn off the disk, but it will still use your Turn off hard disk after setting in Power Options.
Taking a disk offline can be a handy way to effectively remove the disk as needed without having to physically remove the disk...
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Restore Classic File Explorer with Ribbon in Windows 11
This tutorial will show you how to restore the classic File Explorer with Ribbon for your account or all users in Windows 11.- Brink
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Create Windows 11 Bootable USB Installation Media
This tutorial will show you how to create a bootable USB flash drive used to install Windows 11 with UEFI support.- Brink
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Uninstall or Reinstall Copilot app
This tutorial will show you different ways to uninstall or reinstall the Copilot app for your account or all users in Windows 10 and Windows 11.- Brink
- Replies: 0
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Add or Remove "Learn about this picture" Desktop icon
This tutorial will show you how to add or remove the "Learn about this picture" desktop icon when using Windows Spotlight as your desktop background for your account in Windows 11 and Windows 10.- Brink
- Replies: 18
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Use SFC to Repair System Files in Windows 11
This tutorial will show you how to run the System File Checker (SFC) tool to repair missing, corrupted, and modified system files in Windows 10 and Windows 11.- Brink
- Replies: 19
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Download Official Windows 11 ISO file from Microsoft
This tutorial will show you how to download an official Windows Server ISO or Windows 11 64-bit or ARM64 ISO file from Microsoft.- Brink
- Replies: 411
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Repair Install Windows 11 with an In-place Upgrade
This tutorial will show you how to do a repair install of Windows 11 by performing an in-place upgrade without losing anything.- Brink
- Replies: 319
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Clean Install Windows 11
This tutorial will show you step by step on how to clean install Windows 11 at boot on your PC with or without an Internet connection and setup with a local account or Microsoft account.- Brink
- Replies: 223
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Enable or Disable Recall Feature in Windows 11
This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the Recall feature for all users in Windows 11 on home (personal) or managed (work or school) Copilot+ PCs.- Brink
- Replies: 2
Tutorials
Windows 11 tutorials, tricks, tips, and guides.
This tutorial will show you how to add or remove the Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Libraries, Music, Pictures, and/or Videos folder(s) in the File Explorer navigation pane when using "Show all folders" for all users in Windows 11.
The navigation pane is the far left pane in File Explorer used to find files, folders, and drives on your PC or network.
When you turn on Show all folders in the navigation pane, the Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Libraries, Music, Pictures, and Videos folders will always show in the navigation pane by default.
If you like, you can add and remove the Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Libraries, Music, Pictures, and/or Videos folder(s) in the File Explorer navigation pane with "Show all folders" turned on...
This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the tab Performance detector in Microsoft Edge for your account or all users in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
The Microsoft Edge web browser is based on Chromium and was released on January 15, 2020. It is compatible with all supported versions of Windows, and macOS. With speed, performance, best in class compatibility for websites and extensions, and built-in privacy and security features.
Microsoft Edge proactively takes steps to minimize resource usage when your device is under pressure to keep your device running smoothly. One way Microsoft Edge does this is by putting tabs to sleep when memory pressure is detected on your device. Sometimes the proactive steps that Microsoft Edge...
This tutorial will show you how to change the removal policy of external storage devices such as USB flash drives or external drives in Windows 11.
Windows defines two main policies, Quick removal (default) and Better performance, that control how the system interacts with removable drives.
You can change the policy setting for each external device while connected, and the policy that you set remains in effect if you disconnect the device and then connect it again to the same computer port.
You can use the storage device policy setting to change the manner in which Windows manages removable storage devices to better meet your needs. The policy settings have the following effects:
Quick removal: This policy manages storage operations...
This tutorial will show you how to create a shortcut of an elevated task to run an app as administrator without getting a UAC prompt for your account in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
When you open an application file with Run as administrator, you will get a UAC prompt by default for approval before the app is allowed to run with elevated rights.
In addition, Windows will not allow elevated apps to run at startup by default.
If you want to run an app as administrator (elevated) without getting a UAC prompt or at startup, then you can create an elevated task using the steps below to run the application as a workaround to do so.
You must be signed in as an administrator to create and use this elevated shortcut.
Here's How:
1 Open...
This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off the hidden icon menu on taskbar system tray for your account in Windows 11.
The hidden icon menu (aka: taskbar corner overflow menu) shows the notification icons you turned off from showing on the system tray.
Starting with Windows 11 build 22572, you can turn on or off showing the hidden icon menu on the taskbar system tray.
Starting with Windows 11 build 22610, there will no longer be an empty show hidden icons arrow showing in your system tray when you’ve set all your icons there to show.
Option One: Turn On or Off Hidden Icon Menu on Taskbar System Tray in Settings
Option Two: Turn On or Off Hidden Icon Menu on Taskbar System Tray using REG file
EXAMPLE: Hidden icon menu...
This tutorial will show you how to view the purchase and order history for your Microsoft account.
After you make a purchase or order with your Microsoft account, Microsoft will post a charge to your payment option, you’ll see the amount and description on the statement from that payment option. This could be a credit card statement, cell phone provider statement, or other payment option, depending on how you paid.
You can compare your Microsoft account purchases with the statement from your payment option by checking your order history.
Your Microsoft account order history includes details such as order date, order number, price, payment method, status, shipping details, tracking, product key, print invoice, etc...
References...
This tutorial will show you how to restart the Widgets process for your account in Windows 11.
Widgets are small cards that display dynamic content from your favorite apps and services on your Windows desktop. They appear on the widgets board, where you can discover, pin, unpin, arrange, resize, and customize widgets to reflect your interests. Your widgets board is optimized to show relevant widgets and personalized content based on your usage.
If Widgets will not open, frozen, or acting buggy, then you could see if restarting the Widgets process may help.
Option One: Restart Widgets in Task Manager
Option Two: Restart Widgets using taskkill Command
Option Three: Restart Widgets using Stop-Process Command
EXAMPLE: Widgets...
This tutorial will show you how to export and import registry keys in Registry Editor using a REG file in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
System configuration information is stored centrally in a hierarchical database called the registry. You can use Registry Editor to add and edit registry keys and values, restore the registry from a backup or to default values, and to import or export keys for reference or backup.
You can export registry keys from Registry Editor to back up the selected key and its subkeys values and data to a REG file.
You can import a REG file to restore its keys, values, and data settings back to Registry Editor.
The HKEY_CURRENT_USER (HKCU) branch only affects the current user, and does not require being an...
This tutorial will provide you with a list of RTM (retail) and KMS generic keys (default keys) for all editions of Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Generic keys (aka: "default keys") for Windows 10/11 from Microsoft will allow you to install or upgrade to a specific Windows 10/11 edition you want, but will not activate it.
Using a generic key can be helpful if you wanted to install or upgrade to a specific Windows 10/11 edition for evaluation or testing on a PC or virtual machine, or just don't have a digital license or your genuine product key currently available and you will activate later when able.
If you do have a digital license linked to your Microsoft account for the specific Windows 10/11 edition associated to the PC you sign in...
This tutorial will show you how to search for and find keys, values, and data inside the Registry Editor in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
System configuration information is stored centrally in a hierarchical database called the registry. You can use Registry Editor to add and edit registry keys and values, restore the registry from a backup or to default values, and to import or export keys for reference or backup.
Sometime you may need to search inside Registry Editor to find a key, value, or data you want to edit, modify, rename, or delete.
Reference:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/sysinfo/about-the-registry
Here's How:
1 Open Registry Editor (regedit.exe)
2 In the left pane of Registry Editor, select the key or...
This tutorial will show you how to create a Check for Updates shortcut in Windows 11.
In Windows 11, you decide when and how to get the latest updates to keep your device running smoothly and securely. When you update, you'll get the latest fixes and security improvements, helping your device run efficiently and stay protected. In most cases, restarting your device completes the update. Make sure your device is plugged in when you know updates will be installed.
If you like, you can create a Check for Updates shortcut to use on demand to directly open the Settings > Windows Update page, and have it automatically check for updates.
EXAMPLE: Checking for updates on Settings > Windows Update page
Here's How:
1 Right click or press...
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