Windows Help & Tips
From fixing update errors to speeding up your computer, these Windows guides cover the most common issues we see at customers' homes every day.
Popular Guides
Passkeys
Passkeys replace passwords with something phishing cannot steal, and Google, Microsoft, Apple and Yahoo all support them. Here is how they work.
Read Guide →Facebook Settings needed to protect yourself
Old apps and games connected to Facebook can still read your profile. Here are the settings to check and what to switch off first.
Read Guide →QuickBooks Running Slow? 7 Fixes That Actually Work
QuickBooks crawling when you need it most? Seven fixes that actually help, from company file size to network setup and hosting mode.
Read Guide →All Windows Help & Tips Guides
Switching from PC to Mac: What Small Business Owners Should Know
Thinking about moving your business from PC to Mac? What actually transfers, what does not, and the costs people tend to overlook.
Has Your Computer Been Hacked? A Simple Checklist
Strange pop-ups, emails you did not send, odd charges? Run this checklist to tell a real intrusion from a scare, and know what to do next.
Windows 11 dictation feature
Windows 11 can type what you say. Press the Windows key and H in any document to start voice typing, and here is how to punctuate as you go.
What to Do If Your Email Gets Hacked (Step-by-Step Recovery)
Email hacked? Change the password, check for forwarding rules the attacker left behind, and work through this recovery order step by step.
MacBook Running Hot and Loud? 5 Ways to Fix It
MacBook fan roaring and the case too hot to touch? Five fixes that address the usual causes, from runaway processes to blocked vents.
Setting Up a Home Office in a Small Space: Tech Essentials Under $500
A workable home office fits in a corner and costs under $500. What to buy, what to skip, and how to make a small space comfortable to work in.
Best Printers for Home Offices (And How to Fix Common Problems)
Which printer actually suits a home office, and how to fix the problems every printer eventually has. Honest guidance, no brand loyalty.
How to Back Up Your Business Data
Most small business data disasters were preventable. A plain guide to what to back up, how often, and where, so a failed drive stays an annoyance.
Windows 11 Update Stuck or Failing? How to Fix It
Windows 11 update stuck on a frozen progress bar? Try these fixes in order, from the update troubleshooter to clearing the download cache.
Microsoft 365 for Small Businesses: Setup and Best Practices
Setting up Microsoft 365 for a small business, done properly: licences, email, shared files and the security settings people usually skip.
Computer Frozen? How to Recover Without Losing Your Work
Computer frozen mid-task? Try these recovery steps in order. Most of the time your unsaved work can still be saved if you do not reboot first.
Password Managers for Families: Which One Is Best?
A password manager the whole family will actually use. How the main options compare on price, sharing and ease, with a plain recommendation.
Should You Upgrade to Windows 11 in 2026?
Getting nagged to upgrade to Windows 11? Whether you should depends on your hardware and how you use the machine. Here is how to decide.
How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to Windows PC
Moving photos from an iPhone to a Windows PC without losing quality or dates. The cable method, the cloud method, and when to use each.
Outlook keeps typing in CAPITALS when composing a new email
Outlook typing everything in capitals? The font for new mail has been set to all caps. Change it under Options, Mail, Stationery and Fonts.
External Hard Drive Not Showing Up? Data Recovery Options
External drive not showing up? Work through these checks, from cables and ports to Disk Management, before assuming the files are gone.
How to Solve Common Jitterbug Phone Issues
Jitterbug voicemail, ringer and setup problems solved in plain English, including what to do after moving data to a replacement phone.
What Happens When Windows 10 Support Ends in 2025? Complete Guide to Your Options
Windows 10 support ended in October 2025, so security updates have stopped. Here are your options, including what to do on older hardware.
Windows 11 System Requirements and Compatibility
Will your PC run Windows 11? Check the processor, TPM 2.0, Secure Boot and RAM rules here, plus what to do if your machine falls short.
6 Ways to Speed Up Email and Downloads on Your Phone
Email crawling and downloads stalling on your phone? Six changes that help, from sync settings to storage and background app refresh.
How to Use Facebook’s Privacy Checkup
Facebook's Privacy Checkup walks you through who sees your posts and data. Here is what each section changes and what to choose.
How to Find Every Online Account Linked to Your Email
Dozens of forgotten accounts tied to your email address? Here is how to find every one, close what you no longer use, and lock down the rest.
How to Move Photos Off Your Phone and Still Keep Them
Move photos and videos off your phone to free up space while keeping full access to every one of them. Here is how to do it safely.
Keyboard Issue: How to Fix When Nothing Types on Screen
Hearing key clicks but nothing appears on screen? An accessibility setting called Filter Keys is usually the cause. Here is how to switch it off.
Windows 11 Controlled Folder Access Blocking Apps
Controlled Folder Access blocking an app you trust? Add it to the allowed list in Windows Security without switching the protection off.
Quicken Sounds Stop: How to Fix Audio Issues in Quicken
Quicken lost its ca-ching and other sounds? Re-enable audio in Quicken's preferences and check the Windows sound settings behind it.
QuickBooks Update Issue: How to Fix Frozen Update Installations
QuickBooks update frozen partway through installing? Here is what causes it to stall and how to finish the update without losing your file.
Outlook Errors: How to Fix PST File Access Issues and Email Problems
Outlook refusing to open your PST file or throwing errors on send? Here is how to diagnose the common causes and repair the data file.
Outlook vs Gmail: How to Fix Sending Issues and Email Authentication Problems
Outlook suddenly refusing to send through Gmail? Google tightened authentication. Here is what changed and how to get sending working again.
QuickBooks Closes Immediately, Part 2: Advanced Solutions for Persistent Issues
Still closing on launch after the basic fixes? Advanced steps for persistent QuickBooks crashes, including company file and Windows causes.
QuickBooks Closes Immediately: How to Fix It
QuickBooks opening then shutting straight down? Work through these fixes in order, starting with the QuickBooks Tool Hub, before reinstalling.
Fix Chrome sync issues (iPhone/Android)
Chrome sync paused or stopped on your phone? Sign back into the Google account and work through these fixes to get bookmarks flowing again.
How to change the display from two pages to one in Microsoft Word
Word showing two pages side by side? Use the View tab's One Page zoom option to get back to a single page view. Clear steps, no jargon.
How to speed up your slow iPhone
A slow iPhone usually needs a restart, some free storage and a few settings changed. Work through these steps before considering a new phone.
4 Ways to Protect Yourself Against AI Guessing Your Passwords
AI can guess a weak password in seconds. Four practical changes that make yours far harder to crack, starting with length over complexity.
Printing Issue
Printer adding a line of code across the top of every page? A scanner status setting is bleeding into your print jobs. Here is the fix.
Updated Microsoft Word Tips
Password-protect a document, control access and other Word features worth knowing. Practical steps rather than a tour of the ribbon.
Scanning Tip (Windows)
Scanner not cooperating on Windows? The free Microsoft Scan app from the Store often detects it when the manufacturer software will not.
Google Chrome Crashes
Chrome showing Aw Snap on every page you open? The browser itself is usually not the problem. Work through these likely causes in order.
How to Get Rid of Dots Indicating a Space Between Words
Dots appearing between every word in Word? Those are formatting marks, not typos. One setting hides them again. Here is where it is.
Outlook is very slow attaching files to email
Outlook fine until you attach a file, then it crawls? Here is what causes the slowdown and how to get attachments moving again.
Fast Startup
Windows Fast Startup speeds up boot by keeping some data in memory, but it causes odd problems too. Here is what it does and when to turn it off.
How to get programs to stop loading automatically
Too many programs launching at startup slows everything down. Here is how to see what loads automatically and stop the ones you do not need.
QuickBooks Error and Internet Explorer
QuickBooks refusing to open because Internet Explorer was removed? A Windows update caused it. Here is how to get QuickBooks running again.
Metered Windows Updates
Windows updates causing problems? Setting your connection as metered gives you control over when updates install rather than blocking them outright.
Windows 10 Update Issue
Some Windows 10 updates break printer sharing across a network. Here is what goes wrong and how to get shared printers working again.
Maximizing the Minimized
A program that opens straight to the taskbar and refuses to show on screen can be coaxed back. Here is how to restore a stuck window.
Ransomware Protection
Ransomware arrives through ordinary looking links and attachments. Here is how it gets in and the practical steps that keep your files safe.
Quick Tip: Ccleaner
CCleaner clears out the temporary files and clutter that slow a computer down over time. Here is how to use it without breaking anything.
Automatic Date setting in Word
Word replacing the date on a document you opened? That is an auto-updating field. Here is how to keep the original date in place instead.
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC
Acrobat Reader opening one file then refusing to open any more? A repair usually fixes it. Here is what to try before reinstalling.
Quick Desktop View (Peek)
Need to see the desktop without minimizing a dozen windows? Windows has a Peek feature that shows it instantly. Here is how to enable it.
“Secret” Start Menu in Windows 10
Right-click the Start button and Windows reveals a text menu with the tools you actually need. Faster than hunting through Settings.
Shake
Shake a window with your mouse and Windows minimizes everything else instantly. Useful once you know it exists, annoying until you do.
Quick Assist
Quick Assist lets one Windows PC control another remotely, which makes helping a family member far easier. Here is how to start a session.
Chrome: saved passwords and bookmarks
Chrome passwords and bookmarks often sit outside your backup. Here is how to export both so a computer failure does not take them with it.
Windows 10 Personalized (Ver 1809)
Windows can look and behave the way you prefer. Dark mode, colours, and the personalization settings worth changing on a new machine.
Making labels, (using Office version 2010 or later)
Turning a list of addresses in Excel into printed labels is fiddly until you know the order of steps. Here is the mail merge process, simply.
Opening attachments
Attachment will not open in your browser? Each browser handles this differently. Here is how to fix it in Chrome, Edge and Firefox.
Files, Shortcuts will not open
Windows blocking a network shortcut with an internet security settings message? Here is which setting causes it and how to allow the file.
Fix a corrupted Recycle Bin
Recycle Bin reporting itself corrupted and refusing to empty? A single command rebuilds it. Here are the steps, and they are safe to run.
Outlook 2016, (Office 365)
Outlook 2016 opening minimized with the restore button unavailable? Here is what causes the stuck window and how to get it back to normal.
Zoom and Screen Resolution
Text too small on a wide monitor? Changing resolution is the wrong lever. Here is how to scale what you see without losing screen space.
Task Scheduler Corrupt
Scheduled tasks failing or reporting corruption? Here is how to identify the broken task and rebuild it so your automation runs again.
QuickBooks: Keeping Multi User Active
QuickBooks dropping out of multi-user mode? Here is how to set it properly and what keeps kicking everyone back to single user.
QuickBooks Script Errors
Script errors in QuickBooks trace back to Internet Explorer or Edge, even if you use another browser. Here is how to stop them appearing.
Quickbooks Advertising
QuickBooks upselling with pop-ups and throwing script errors at every launch? Here is how to quiet the advertising down for good.
Flip and Rotate Video Utility
Video recorded upside down or sideways and impossible to reshoot? A free utility rotates it permanently. Here is how to use it.
Moving Mac files to a PC
PCs cannot read Mac-formatted drives on their own. HFSExplorer opens the drive and copies your files across without any special hardware.
Protected View in Word
Word slow to open files from a network or the internet? Protected View is the usual cause. Here is what it does and how to adjust it safely.
Missing Date: Quick Tip
Taskbar clock showing the time but not the date? A single display setting hides it. Here is where to look to bring the date back.
Getting rid of the Win10 upgrade reminder
Constant upgrade reminders from Windows are easy to dismiss and hard to stop. Here is how to turn the nagging notification off properly.
Windows 10 Tips – The Look
Windows can be made easier on the eyes with a few changes to theme, contrast and text size. The third in our series of Windows tips.
Windows 10 Tips – Privacy
Windows shares more by default than most people would choose. The privacy settings worth reviewing, and what each one actually controls.
Windows 10 Tips – Start Menu
The Start menu can be reshaped to match how you actually work. Pinning, resizing and tidying it, in the first of our Windows tips series.
Windows Directory Statistics
Hard drive full and no idea what filled it? WinDirStat maps every folder by size so you can see exactly what to delete. Free, and safe to use.
Outlook Fonts and Styles
Outlook changing your font after an Office update? Reset the font and style for new messages, replies and forwards so the change sticks.
Windows 10: Where’s my desktop?!
Windows booting to tile view instead of your desktop? Tablet mode has been switched on. Here is how to turn it off and get the desktop back.
(Win10) Critical Error: Start Menu and Cortana are not working…
Windows showing a critical error about the Start menu at sign-in? Here are the fixes that resolve it without reinstalling the system.
Tracking Changes in Word 2010/2013
Track Changes records every edit and comment so nothing gets lost between drafts. Here is how to turn it on, review and accept changes.
Outlook Data Files
A large Outlook data file risks corrupting and taking your mail, contacts and calendar with it. Here is how to find its size and keep it in check.
Windows 10 Tweaks
A handful of settings changes that make Windows faster and less irritating day to day, from startup items to notification noise.
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