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When Windows 10 takes up too much disk space, try this
When your Windows 10 installation is too big to run comfortably on your drive, shrink it down with Compact.exe, a built-in tool designed expressly for this purpose. Read on for this and other workarounds.
How-To
Killing Cortana: How to disable Windows 10’s info-hungry digital assistant
Cortana, Microsoft's supremely useful digital assistant, is a highlight Windows 10 feature—but not everyone will appreciate the amount of personal information she demands to be helpful. Here's how to disable Cortana in Windows 10.Answer Line
How to create a Windows 10 recovery USB drive
The ability to make a recovery disk or USB drive is one of the most useful troubleshooting tools included with Windows 10.
Max Productivity
Photoshop fonts: Creating swashes, swirls and flourishes
Photoshop lets you make any font fancier with swashes, swirls and other flourishes. Here's how.World Beyond Windows
How to use Evernote in Linux
Evernote still doesn't officially support Linux, but that doesn't mean you can't get your note-taking on.
Max Productivity
Photoshop fonts: Using Text Type and Text Editing to transform fonts
Adobe Photoshop's Text Type and Text Editing tools let you manipulate standard fonts for greater visual impact.
Max Productivity
Windows 10: How to customize multi-finger touchpad gestures
Take advantage of the Creators Update precision touchpad enhancements and get more done in less time.
Max Productivity
How to use Microsoft Excel’s Conditional Formatting
Excel's conditional formatting lets you formats cells based on the value of those cells or their formulas. Learn the basics of this amazing feature.
Hassle-Free PC
How to launch Chrome faster with Native Lazy Tabs
If you have Chrome set to start with all your previous tabs, the browser's startup time can be slow. The extension Native Lazy Tabs can fix that.
How-To
How to set up a wireless router
These tips will make your wireless router installation and configuration even easier.
Max Productivity
Google Slides: 3 Chrome extensions for better presentations
Enhance Google Slides with a few choice Chrome extensions. The ones here can auto-create photo slides, turn text to speech and more.
Smart Mobile Tricks
10 basic iOS tricks every iPhone owner should know
From message stickers and 3D Touch to Live Photos and Apple Pay, iOS is stuffed with features that grab headlines. But some of iOS's most useful features are the oldest ones—and they're easily overlooked.
How-To
How to download a Windows 10 ISO file
Windows 10 makes it easy to download and use an ISO file to reinstall the operating system. We’ll show you how to do it.
Max Productivity
Excel tutorial: How to import and parse complicated data
Importing data into Excel from other sources can result in long, messy strings of text you need to parse. We'll show you how.Hassle-Free PC
How to install Windows 10 on a USB drive with Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool
Microsoft's Media Creation Tool offers an easy way to create a USB drive to install Windows 10.
Max Productivity
3 Google Slides tricks to engage your audience
Google Slides has powerful features that can liven up your presentation and keep your audience engaged. Try these first.
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External drive died? Your data may still be easy to recover
If your external drive is no longer detected, don't give up hope. It could be relatively easy to recover the data.
Max Productivity
Create custom email addresses & extract domain names from URLs
Use commands and formulas to make these tasks a breeze
Max Productivity
How to unsend Gmail messages with the Undo Send feature
Accidentally send a dirty joke to your boss instead of your bestie? Here's how to bring it back.Hassle-Free PC
How to save Windows Spotlight images to your PC in a few clicks
The Windows 10 app SpotBright lets you save Windows Spotlight images to your PC.
Max Productivity
7 Excel tips for huge spreadsheets: Split Screen, Freeze Panes, Format Painter and more
The bigger and uglier your Excel spreadsheet gets, the more you need these tips to handle the data with as little hassle as possible.
Max Productivity
4 Google Translate features you’ll use every day
Use these tips to translate documents, build a personal phrasebook, and even improve your own English.
Hassle-Free PC
How ‘Start – A New Tab Page’ turns Chrome into an iGoogle replacement
Start – A New Tab Page is an interesting Chrome extension for those who need more information in their browser.
Hassle-Free PC
How to get past Windows Defender SmartScreen in Windows 10
The SmartScreen filter in Windows 10 can sometimes stop you from downloading the app you want. Here's how to get past it, and why sometimes you should think twice before doing so.
Hassle-Free PC
What to do if Windows 10 Control Panel disappears from the WinX power user menu
If Microsoft removed the Control Panel option from your WinX menu, here's how to get it back.
Smart Mobile Tricks
6 ways to lock down your iPhone’s lock screen
Just because your iPhone is locked with a passcode or Touch ID doesn’t mean it’s safe from prying eyes and fingers. These iOS settings can help lock down your phone’s lock screen.
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Word resume tips: Using style sheets, shapes and text boxes for a professional look
Updating your résumé means more than refreshing the information. We'll show you how to use style sheets, shapes, and text boxes to create a modern, professional layout.How-To
How to share Steam games with family and friends
With Steam's Family Library Sharing you can share your games library with others. Just be careful who you share with.
How-To
Excel’s IF statement made easy
If you can decide what to have for lunch, you already understand Excel's IF logic–you just need to understand the format.
Max Productivity
How to add video to Google Slides for a more powerful presentation
It's easy to add video to Google Slides, so why wouldn't you give your presentation that extra boost?
Hassle-Free PC
How to use your Windows 10 PC as a mobile hotspot
Even your PC can share its Internet connection with other devices when necessary.
World Beyond Windows
Sync your files for free, and maintain privacy, using open-source Syncthing
Linux-based Syncthing lets you sync data for free and control who's is able to see it.How-To
How to back up your Steam games
Steam lets you re-download your purchased games, but sometimes it's easier to keep a local back up.Hassle-Free PC
How to activate Game Mode in the Windows 10 Creators Update
Game Mode is a great choice for budget gamers or anyone else who needs to dedicate as many system resources as possible to their game.
How-To
How to change where Steam installs your PC games
C:// isn't your only choice for storing Steam games if you have multiple drives attached to your PC.
Hassle-Free PC
How to get a shared family calendar with a Microsoft Account
Microsoft is making it easy to create a calendar that everyone in your household can access and edit.
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The free GifCam makes capturing animated GIFs a snap
GifCam is a super-lightweight, portable utility that captures still and action shots of your computer screen in GIF or AVI form. It's also free, though donations are appreciated.
Smart Mobile Tricks
6 ways to make the most of 1Password for iOS and Android
You'll be a happier 1Password user once you master these mobile tips and tricks, from unlocking 1Password with your fingerprint to entering passwords with the 1Password keyboard.
How-To
How to install Linux on a Chromebook
The Crouton project makes it simple to install a full Linux desktop operating system on a Chromebook.
Hassle-Free PC
How to snooze your Wi-Fi in the Windows 10 Creators Update
The Windows 10 Creators Update has a new feature that lets you turn off your Wi-Fi, and then turn it back on automatically after a set time period.
Answer Line
How to use MAME emulator to cure computer game nostalgia
MAME is the name that matters for arcade game and PC emulators. Its aim is to preserve the PC and gaming past—and let you enjoy them once again.
Answer Line
When to defrag a hard drive, TRIM an SSD and perform other storage tasks, or not
Hard drives need defragging. All SSDs can use a good TRIM. But how and when? We'll tell you what to do and not do, and what's being done automatically.
How-To
How to find the Windows 10 Creators Update’s hidden desktop themes
The Windows Store has nearly 175 desktop themes for Windows 10 Creators Update users, but don't start by opening the Store to find them.
Max Productivity
How Excel can help with metric and American Standard conversions
Excel can streamline your global activities if you set up functions to convert metric to American Standard, and dollars to euros.How-To
How to stop websites from asking for your location in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari
Browsers can supply your location when you permit it. If you have no plans of ever permitting it here's how to turn that feature off.
Max Productivity
Word newsletter tutorial: Using page layout features for professional results
Word makes it easy to create a newsletter using the Page Layout tools. Make columns and multipage layouts, add images and more. Here's how.Hassle-Free PC
Set your power button to turn off all your PC’s displays in the Creators Update
Windows 10 has new Power Options setting in the Control Panel.
Hassle-Free PC
How to create a single-column Start menu in the Windows 10 Creators Update
There's a new setting in the Creators Update that lets you simplify the Start menu.
Max Productivity
Use PowerPoint Photo Album to chronicle corporate or personal events
PowerPoint 's Photo Albums feature makes creating a slideshow super-easy, with intuitive menus and dialog screens.How-To