Tips and tricks for everything from upgrade issues and freeing up storage, to solving privacy errors and using safe mode

Windows is undoubtedly the most popular desktop operating system in the world. The Microsoft-developed OS was used by more than 75% of desktop users as of March 2021 - almost five times more than its biggest rival, Apple's macOS.

However, this growing popularity doesn't mean the OS is perfect. Although Windows 10 faces far fewer security issues than some of its predecessors, namely Windows 7 and Windows Vista, the operating system also comes with its very own set of challenges, although thankfully the majority of them occur only occasionally and are not extremely serious.

These may include occasional slow boot times, pointlessly convoluted localisation options, notifications you definitely didn’t ask for, and, at times, you might even notice that your storage availability is way lower than you anticipated. Although these aren’t complete deal-breakers, they can prove to be annoying, especially if encountered on a regular basis without a clear fix.

This is why I have decided to compile some of the most common Windows 10 problems as well as provide some invaluable advice on how to fix them quickly before engaging technicians to pay for the solution(Which is usually temporary most times).

1. Can't upgrade from Windows 7 or Windows 8: One of the most common issues with Windows 10 can happen straight away when you attempt to upgrade from Windows 7 or Windows 8. This could take the form of a warning that the 'Get Windows 10' (or GWX) app is not compatible, or the app may not appear at all, which will lead to a failed update. Here are a few things you can try to move the update it along:

A. Open Control Panel and then run Windows Update and ensure that the PC is fully up to date. If updates fail, run the Windows Update Troubleshooter (see below, number C)

B. Use the Media Creation Tool. Don't rely on GWX: visit Microsoft official website and select software then choose windows 10, click Download tool now, save the tool, and run it on the PC you want to upgrade. If this didn't work for you back when Windows 10 launched, try it again now - the tool has been improved.

C. Make sure that hardware Disable Execution Prevention (DEP) is switched on in the BIOS, referring to your motherboard manual for help if you need it. If you still have problems, use the Start Menu to search for 'performance', run Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows, click the Data Execution Prevention tab and turn DEP on for all programs and services, then reboot and try again.

2. Can't upgrade to the latest Windows 10 version: Windows 10 receives major updates every so often, such as the May 2020 Update (codenamed 2004) and the October 2020 Update (codenamed 20H2). Each of these updates introduces new features to Windows 10, as well as a number of bug fixes and a whole lot more.

Despite Windows 10 being the most stable release yet, one of the most frequent problems experienced by the platform users is updating to the latest version of Windows 10 when it's released. The perfect solution is to confirm that your OS version is activated to avoid this but there is also an alternative albeit temporary. Before you start upgrading, you'll need to check which Windows 10 version you're already running. You can do this by heading to the "About Windows" screen.


If you're ready to install the latest version of Windows 10, you can use the Windows Update Tool, although the Media Creation Tool alternative is the more reliable option. You simply need to download it, install it and use it to manually upgrade your PC to the latest version.

Just a little side note. When you run Media Creation Tool, you may not see any reference to upgrading to the late version of Windows 10 when using the software, or which version it will upgrade your system to. Instead, it refers to whether it's the Home or Business version you're trying to install and if this is the version you're running, you can hopefully be rest assured the newest build will be installed.

3. You have a lot less free storage than before: After installing Windows 10, the obsolete version of the OS is hanging around in the background taking up valuable disk space. You may be asking as to why this happened, and the answer is that Microsoft isn't quite as controlling as some other big tech companies. Instead of forcing users to update their hardware and never look back, Microsoft keeps a hold of the important files that made up your previous OS in the C:/ drive. This is in case you don't like the new Windows 10 and decide to change back to the previous operating system that you might be more used to.

If you like the new OS and want to delete the old one for good, then click on the Windows Start button and type "cleanup" to automatically search the system. A "Disk Cleanup" app should appear before you in the search criteria field. Click on it to open the application.

A drive selection box should appear. Simply select the drive your OS is installed on. The default drive should appear first which is usually the C:/ drive. If you're confident that this is the main drive where your OS is installed, hit OK. Windows should scan your system for a while and then a box will pop up.

Now, two things could happen at this point. You could be presented with a list of files to delete right away, one of which is "Previous Windows Installation(s)", or if that option is not visible, you will need to select the "Clean up system files" option on the bottom left.

Windows will do some more calculations and give you another a remarkably similar looking box, this time with the option to delete previous windows installation(s). You might have to scroll down to find it, but it should be taking up a sizeable bit of drive space, in our case, 5GB. Tick this option and click OK. In the separate message box that appears asking if you're certain you want to send this, click Delete Files, and you're done.

4. Windows Update isn't working: Many people have reported issues with Windows Update in Windows 10. Check first that you've upgraded to the Windows 10 Fall update (see above, number 2). If you're still getting problems, download and run the Windows Update Troubleshooter, then reboot and try to update again.

If the problems remain, you might need to get a bit more stuck in. First, check that System Restore is configured and create a restore point. With this done, use Win+X and select Command Prompt (Admin), then type 'net stop wuauserv' (without the quotes) and hit Enter, followed by 'net stop bits' and Enter. You should see confirmations that each service was either stopped or wasn't running. Next, open Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution. Delete its contents including any sub-folders. Now reboot, open Windows Update, and click Check for updates.

5. Turn off forced updates: There is a workaround for users running Windows 10 Pro: from the Start Menu, search for 'gpedit' and run the Group Policy Editor. Expand Computer Configuration in the left-hand pane and navigate to[b] Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Update[/b]. Double-click Configure Automatic Updates in the list, select the Enabled radio button, and in the left-hand box select 2 - Notify for download and notify for install. Now click OK, and you'll be notified whenever there are updates - unfortunately, they'll be a daily irritation if you're using Windows Defender.

The Group Policy Editor isn't available on Windows 10 Home, but we'd recommend you at least open Windows Update, click Advanced options, and select Notify to schedule restart from the Choose how updates are installed list. While you're here, all Windows 10 users might want to click Choose how updates are delivered and ensure that Updates from more than one place is either off or set to PCs on my local network.

6. Turn off unnecessary notifications: Windows 10 introduced Action Centre, a panel positioned to the side of the display which aggregates all the notifications your system makes so you can deal with them all at once. It's a handy feature but it can also become clogged with notifications quickly if they're not frequently addressed.

Notifications can vary from the incredibly important systems messages to miscellaneous social media of software updates. There is, however, a way to filter out the messages you have no interest in.

You can open Settings, head to notifications & actions, and you'll be greeted with several toggle buttons which you can customise on an app-by-app basis. You can also just head straight to the settings screen by searching 'notification and actions' in the search bar.

My own always put on screen.

Windows not activated. Activate Windows.


What's the cause and how can I solve it.

7. Stop Windows 10 using 4G data:

Windows 10 often uses your internet bandwidth invisibly in the background which can play havoc with your data allowance if you're using a portable hotspot.

To stop Windows 10 devouring your cellular data allowance in the background:

A. Go to Settings, then Network & Internet.
B. Select Wi-Fi and then Advanced Options.
C. Click "Set as metered connection" to on, and Windows will stop fetching non-essential data in the background, such as app updates and Start screen tile updates.

Oddly, this tip doesn't work if your PC connects to the internet via Ethernet.

8. Fix privacy and data defaults: We're not a fan of some of the data-sharing defaults in Windows 10, and we'd recommend all users review them periodically. Use the Start Menu to search for and run the Settings app, then click Privacy. In the left-hand pane, you'll see many areas where your computer might be sharing data. It's worth spending time checking that you're comfortable with allowing apps to use your computer's camera, microphone, account information and so on, and where you are, checking that no surprise apps appear in the lists. Note, too, that the default Feedback & diagnostics setting is to send enhanced data to Microsoft.

If you use Windows Defender, click the back arrow, and select Update & Security, then Windows Defender. Check that you're happy with the default behaviour, which is to enable Cloud-based detection and Automatic sample submission.

Many people are uncomfortable with the idea of Wi-Fi Sense, which is designed to get you onto wireless networks more quickly. On a device with Wi-Fi, click the back arrow, select Network & Internet, click Wi-Fi, and select Manage Wi-Fi Settings. We'd strongly recommend turning off Connect to suggested open hotspots, connect to networks shared by my contacts, and disabling the button under Paid Wi-Fi services if it's present.

9. . Where's Safe Mode when you need it?; Safe Mode can be a life-saver in many system-critical problem situations, especially when your device is finding it difficult to start correctly. However, what if one day, you find out that you can no longer activate Safe Mode by pressing the F8 or Shift+F8 keys at boot? Although unnerving, it’s important to remain calm. What you can try is to boot into Windows first, and then restart the device by pressing the left Shift key. As an alternative, you can also do it by going into Update & Security in Settings. However, bear in mind that neither of these options will be of any help if your PC isn’t capable of booting into Windows at all.

10. Enable System Restore: By default, System Restore isn’t enabled in Windows 10, we can’t think why that is, it is such a useful and essential feature everyone should have.

To turn this on, it must be enabled manually using Control Panel. Search for Create a restore point and click on the first result to open the System Properties page. Under the "Protection Settings" section, select the main "System" drive, then click “Configure”. Then Select the “Turn on system protection” option. Click the Apply button and then the OK button.

Once this is done, Windows 10 will always create a restore point when applying a new update or when particular system changes are carried out.

11. Fix slow boot times: Like Windows 8 before it, Windows 10 uses a hybrid boot to enable fast boot times. When you shut the system down, apps and app processes are terminated, but the Windows kernel itself is hibernated to allow for a faster restart. In theory, it's great, but it still is terribly slow for some Windows 10 users.

Disable it by searching for Power Options in the Start Menu and running the matching Control Panel applet, then in the left-hand pane click Choose what the power buttons do. Click Change settings that are currently unavailable, scroll down and un-tick Turn on fast start-up, then click Save changes. This should prevent a very slow start on affected PCs. Some users report that if they subsequently reboot, re-trace their steps and re-enable fast start-up the problem remains cured.

12. The lock screen gets in the way: Return to a locked Windows 10 device and you'll see a pretty picture. That's nice, but it's a needless obstacle in the way of logging in. If you're as impatient as we are, disable the lock screen by searching the Start Menu for regedit, and running the Registry editor.

Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows. If you don't already see a key named 'Personalisation', select the Windows key, right-click it, choose New>Key and rename this new key to Personalization (sic). Right-click the Personalisation key choose New again then select DWORD (32-bit) Value. Select New Value #1 in the right-hand pane and use F2 to rename it NoLockScreen, then double-click it, change the value data to 1 and click OK. After a reboot, the lock screen will be gone.

13. Turn on Pop-Up Blocker in Edge: If you used Microsoft Edge, you may find that pop-up ads will get in the way of the websites you actually want to visit. You can disable pop-ups by clicking on the icon with three dots on the right-hand side of the address bar and then clicking on "Settings", then "View advanced settings". Under "Block pop-ups" make sure this is set to "On".

14. Files opening with the wrong default apps: Windows 10 has a nasty habit of reverting all the file associations back to default settings when it updates. This means that even if you specifically set certain types of files to open with certain apps, they may switch back to the Windows defaults.

This isn't ideal, especially given that the default Windows apps for many tasks are inferior to third-party alternatives. Luckily, there's an amazingly simple fix for this, allowing you to restore your preferred associations.

Open Windows 10's Settings app, and under the System tab, you should find a category marked 'default apps'. From here, you'll be able to pick what kind of app opens various kinds of media. For example, you change it so that music is played in Windows Media Player rather than Groove Music.

You can even get right down to the minute details, changing which apps handle specific file extensions. This means that you can set different programs to open specific image or video files, for instance, while still having the majority handled by a different application.

NOTE: Could not upload images for clearer understanding on here as it was not loading. You can reach out to me if you need the images for some of the steps shared.

Seunpaul01:
My own always put on screen.

Windows not activated. Activate Windows.


What's the cause and how can I solve it.

Good Morning. It means you need to activate your windows OS to be able to seamlessly enjoy using your system.

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9ce1...thank you

kennyldelsu:
9ce1...thank you

Yw.

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I have also had a few problems ever since I installed Windows 10 on my computer. Luckily, I even found solutions for a few of them. The most annoying one is the fact that the update got stuck downloading, which I know happens to most of us. My advice would be to find an activation license key, making it easier to install the operating system. I got emailed a license from https://mysoftwarekeys.com/product/windows-10-pro-mak-500-pc-activations-license-key, and it worked out great. I easily installed it. The battery draining too quickly is also something I hate about Windows 10!

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Exchange Server 2016 (Standard and Enterprise Edition)
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Office 2013 (Professional, Standard and Ultimate version)
Office 2016 (Professional, Standard and Ultimate version)
Office 2019 (Professional, Standard and Ultimate version)

Office 365
- Project Professional 2019
- Office Home and Business 2019
- Visio Professional 2019
- Office Professional Plus 2019

Office Home and Business 2016 for Mac
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Office Professional Plus 2016
Office Professional Plus 2019

SharePoint Server 2016 (Standard and Enterprise)
SharePoint Server 2019 (Standard and Enterprise)

Visual Studio Enterprise 2017
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Visual Studio 2017 for Mac
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Windows 10 Pro Plus
Windows 10 Enterprise
Windows 10 Pron N
Windows 10 Education


Windows Server 2016 (Datacenter, Remote Desktop Services user connection(50) and Standard)

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