Delete Unnecessary Files

Even with today’s very large hard disks, you can still end up with too many useless files taking up too much hard disk space—especially if you’re obsessed with taking vacation pictures or photos of your very cute grandkids. Fortunately, Windows lets you identify and delete these typically unnecessary files.

Click the Start button and then click Settings (or open the Action Center and select All Settings) to open the Settings tool.

Click System to open the System page.

Click to select the Storage tab.

Windows 10 includes a Storage Sense utility that automatically deletes unnecessary files when disk space runs low. Click this switch “on” to activate Storage Sense.

The next section of this tab displays storage by type of files. Temporary files can typically be deleted to free up disk space. Scroll down and click the Temporary Files item.

Windows scans your disk for various types of temporary files. Check those types of files you want to delete.

Click Remove Files.

Delete Unused Programs

Another way to free up valuable hard disk space is to delete those programs you never use.

Click the Start button and then click Settings (or open the Action Center and select All Settings) to open the Settings tool.

Click Apps to open the Apps page.

Click to select the Apps & Features tab.

Click the program you want to delete; this expands the app’s listing.

Click Uninstall.

Activate File History

In Windows 10, you can back up important data files using the File History feature. When enabled, File History automatically creates copies of all the different versions of your files and enables you to restore them in case they get lost or destroyed. To protect your valuable files, then, there’s little you need to do except turn on File History.

Open the Settings tool and click Update & Security to open the Update & Security page.

Click to select the Backup tab.

If you have not yet selected a backup drive, click + Add a Drive and select a drive—typically an external hard disk or another computer on your home network. (If you’ve previously selected a backup drive, the Automatically Back Up My Files switch should be clicked “on.”)

To configure File History, click More Options.

Click the Back Up My Files control and select how often you want to perform a backup—from every 10 minutes to daily.

Click the Keep My Backups control and select how long you want to keep your backed-up files. (The default is Forever, although you can select other options.)

By default, File History backs up all the folders in your User folder. To add another folder to the backup, go to the Back Up These Folders section, click + Add a Folder, and select a folder.

To skip backing up a specific folder, go to the Exclude These Folders section, click + Add a Folder, and select a folder.

You Can’t Connect to the Internet

This problem is likely caused by a bad connection to your Wi-Fi network or hotspot. Fix the Wi-Fi problem and you can get back online lickity-split.

1. Try turning off and then turning back on your PC’s wireless functionality. You might be able to do this from a button or switch on your computer, or you can do it within Windows. Click the Connections icon on the taskbar to display the Connections pane. Click “off” the Wi-Fi control, wait a few moments, and then turn the Wi-Fi option back “on” and reconnect to your network.

2. It’s possible that your computer is too far away from the wireless signal. Move your computer nearer to the closest Wi-Fi router or hotspot.

3. If you’re using a public Wi-Fi hotspot, you might need to log on to the hotspot to access the Internet. Open your web browser and try to access any web page; if you’re greeted with a log-in page for the hotspot, enter the appropriate information to get connected.

4. If nothing else works, it’s possible that the hotspot to which you’re trying to connect has Internet issues. Report your problem to whomever is in charge at the moment.

5. If you’re on your home network, it’s possible that your Wi-Fi router or cable modem (or combination gateway device) is the problem. Try turning off the router and modem or gateway device for five minutes or so, and then turning them back on.

6. It’s also possible that your home Internet service provider (ISP) is having issues. If the problem persists, call your ISP and report the problem.

You Can’t Go to a Specific Web Page

If you have a good connection to the Internet and can open some web pages, trouble opening a specific web page is probably isolated to that particular website.

1. The site might be having temporary connection issues. Refresh the web page to try loading it again.

2. You might have typed the wrong address for this particular site. Try entering the address again.

3. You might have the wrong address for a specific page on the website. Try shortening the address to include only the main URL—that is, go directly to the site’s home page, not to an individual page on the site. For example, instead of going to www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=2131141, just go to the main page at www.informit.com and navigate from there.

4. If you continue to have issues with this website, it’s probably a problem with the site itself. That is, it’s nothing you’re doing wrong. Wait a few moments and try again to see if the problem is fixed.

You Can’t Print

What do you do when you try to print a document on your printer and nothing happens? This problem could have several causes.

1. Click the Print button or command to open the Printer page or dialog box and then make sure the correct printer is selected.

2. Make sure the printer is turned on. (You’d be surprised…)

3. Check the printer to make sure it has plenty of paper and isn’t jammed. (And if it is jammed, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to unjam it.)

4. Check the cable between your computer and the printer. Make sure both ends are firmly connected. Lots of printer problems are the result of loose cables.

Your Computer Is Slow

Many computers will start to slow down over time. There are many reasons for this, from an overly full hard disk to an unwanted malware infection.

1. Close any open programs that don’t need to be open at the moment.

2. Delete unnecessary files to free up hard disk space, as discussed in the “Delete Unnecessary Files” section earlier in this chapter.

3. Install and run a reputable antimalware utility to find and remove any computer viruses or malware unknowingly installed on your system. (Learn more about antimalware utilities in Chapter 15, “Protecting Yourself Online.”)

4. Ask a knowledgeable friend or professional computer technician to check your computer’s startup programs; these are programs that load automatically when Windows starts up and run in the background, using valuable computer memory. Have your friend or technician remove those unnecessary startup programs.

A Specific Program Freezes

Sometimes Windows works fine, but an individual software program stops working. Fortunately, Windows presents an exceptionally safe environment; when an individual application crashes or freezes or otherwise quits working, it seldom messes up your entire system. You can then use the Task Manager utility to close any frozen program without affecting other Windows programs.

1. When an application freezes, press Ctrl+Alt+Del.

2. Click the Task Manager option to launch the Task Manager utility.

3. Click the Processes tab.

4. Go to the Apps section and click the program that’s frozen.

5. Click the End Task button.

Your Entire Computer Freezes

If you’re like many users, the worst thing that can happen is that your computer totally freezes, and you can’t do anything—including shut it off. Well, there is a way to shut down a frozen computer and then restart your system.

1. Hold down the Windows key on your keyboard and simultaneously press your PC’s power button. If that doesn’t work, press and hold the PC’s power button for several seconds, until the PC shuts down.

2. Wait a few moments and then turn your computer back on. It should restart normally. If not, you might need to consult a computer technician or repair service.