Microsoft Word 2013 includes a handy feature that lets the user perform a Web search for a selected word or phrase, but the default platform for this search is Microsoft’s own Bing. While Bing has some unique features that make it useful for certain types of searches, most users would likely prefer to use Google. Here’s how to make the switch
How to Enable the New Clock and Calendar Design in the Windows 10 Technical Preview
Not all features of Windows 10 are yet available in the Technical Preview builds, but some unfinished areas are simply hidden. With the understanding that these hidden features are not yet complete, here’s how to enable the new Desktop taskbar clock and calendar window in the latest Technical Preview of Windows 10.
How to Configure Windows 10 File Explorer to Open with This PC View
File Explorer in Windows 10 now opens by default in the ‘Quick Access’ view, which displays a user’s recently accessed files and data and isn’t very useful for Windows power users. Here’s how to configure File Explorer to open in the much more useful ‘This PC’ view instead.
How to Enable the Spartan Edge Rendering Engine in Windows 10
When Windows 10 debuts later this year, it will include a new Web browser called Spartan. Spartan represents Microsoft’s efforts to create a streamlined browser from scratch, with a new rendering engine that’s built for the modern Web. While the Spartan app and interface are still absent from the latest Windows 10 Technical Preview build, here’s how you can get a taste of the new Spartan Edge rendering engine right from within Internet Explorer 11.
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Where to Find the Windows Wallpaper Location on Your PC
Each new version of Windows, including each new Windows 10 preview build, introduces beautiful new wallpaper images. Here’s where you can find these high resolution images on your PC, so you can use them as your wallpaper on other devices or older versions of Windows.
How to Shrink or Hide the Windows 10 Taskbar Search Box
The latest Windows 10 Technical Preview introduces a new taskbar search box that allows users to access both standard Windows and Web searches as well as the new Cortana interface, but it’s relatively wide and takes up a lot of space. Thankfully, you can minimize the amount of space that the Windows 10 taskbar search utilizes, while still maintaining full access to all of its features.
Two Ways to Manage and Disable the Charms Bar in Windows 8
On Windows 8 touch devices, the Charms Bar is generally very useful, but those who use Windows 8 primarily on a desktop with a mouse and keyboard may find it distracting, and may be frustrated by inadvertently triggering the bar when the mouse is moved to the right corners of the screen. To avoid these issues, here are two ways to manage and disable the Charms Bar in Windows 8.1.
How to View and Restore Hidden Updates in Windows
Windows updates are important, but sometimes certain updates aren’t applicable to particular systems, or troubleshooting calls for delaying updates. In Windows, you can hide unneeded or unwanted updates, but it’s still a good idea to revisit hidden updates to ensure the latest security patches and bug fixes are applied. Here’s how to view and restore hidden updates in Windows.
How to Disable Aero Snap in Windows
Aero Snap is a feature introduced in Windows 7 that lets users position and resize desktop windows by dragging them to the edges of the screen or double-clicking their title bars. But sometimes Aero Snap is more of a pain than a convenience, and some users may want to fully control the size and position of their desktop windows themselves, without the well-intentioned but often incorrect “help” from Windows. Thankfully, you can disable Aero Snap in Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 with a quick trip to the Control Panel. Here’s how to do it.
How to Fix an Incorrect Windows Clock
Sometimes a user’s Windows clock can go awry and display the incorrect date or time, usually due to hardware issues, a temporary loss of Internet connectivity, or online synchronization problems. If your Windows clock is wrong, but you’re currently able to connect to the Internet, you can easily set the correct time by re-synchronizing your PC with an online time server. Here’s how to do it.