Your daily dose of practical, easy to follow tech tips!
Question from Leta W.: I have an external USB hard drive that I use to back up all of my important files. I keep this drive plugged into the back of my PC, and it’s hidden from view.
My question is can I hide that drive from showing up in File Explorer?
My daughter uses this computer too, and I want to make sure she doesn’t wipe out any of my saved files on the external drive. This computer is running Windows 10.
Rick’s answer: [Read more…]
Question from Jacinda P.: The other night I was typing away when the File Explorer window popped into view. I closed it and thought nothing of it at the time.
The problem is I must have hit something to make the Ribbon disappear in File Explorer because it’s been gone ever since that night. I feel like such a dummy!
I use the ribbon a lot and I really miss it. Can you tell me how to get it back? My computer is an Acer All-In-One with Windows 10.
Rick’s answer: [Read more…]
I frequently receive emails and messages from folks asking why their USB flash drive isn’t showing up in Windows Explorer (File Explorer for Windows 8 users).
This typically occurs after something happens to the drive’s file structure that makes the drive unrecognizable as a valid drive to the Windows Explorer utility.
Luckily, this can be fixed as long as there isn’t a problem with the physical drive itself. Follow these steps to format a USB flash drive that doesn’t show up in Windows Explorer: [Read more…]
As they have with previous versions of Windows, Microsoft decided to hide “known” file extensions by default in Windows 8.1.
Why they would ever think it’s a good idea to hide them is beyond me, but of course the guys and gals in Redmond have had me scratching my head in wonder for years.
In addition to making it difficult to determine a file’s “type” while viewing it in a list, hiding file extensions also makes it easier for hackers to trick us into opening malicious files. Not a good thing!
As luck would have it, it’s very easy to prevent Windows 8.1 from hiding file extensions. Just follow these steps: [Read more…]
If you access the Control Panel and File Explorer as often as I do, clicking an icon on the Desktop to access them can be a real time saver. I do it all the time.
Although accessing either of these essential tools is faster and easier than ever before in the latest versions of Windows, there’s absolutely nothing faster than just clicking on an icon.
It’s actually quite easy to add File Explorer and Control Panel icons to the Desktop in Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1. Here’s how: [Read more…]