Windows Archives - Page 2 of 20

Stop your PC from logging your computing activity and sending it to Microsoft

Posted on May 22, 2025

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Did you know your Windows 11 PC is logging every action you take, storing it in a database and sending it back to Microsoft?

Yep, every website you visit, every app you use, every game you play, every file you open…all of that data is collected, stored and sent to Microsoft for them to use for various purposes.

If this collection, transmission and usage of your detailed computing activities makes you a bit squeamish, you’re certainly not alone. I’m right there with you. [Read more…]

This Windows service is spying on you (but you can stop it)

Posted on April 12, 2025

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By default, a sneaky Windows service that’s constantly running on your PC watches your every move and sends the data it collects about your computer usage back to Microsoft.

Unfortunately, there are a couple of serious issues with this… [Read more…]

Clear out junk with Windows 11’s Cleanup Recommendations tool

Posted on April 5, 2025

As you probably know, Windows PCs tend to accumulate tons of “junk” that takes up valuable storage space on your machine’s hard drive or SSD.

There are numerous “system cleanup” apps that will clear this junk out for you, but Windows 11 now has it’s own native tool for this. It’s called “Cleanup Recommendations” and it’s very easy to use. [Read more…]

How to quickly create a Desktop shortcut to any app on your PC

Posted on April 3, 2025

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Note: The link in this post is an affiliate link.

It’s very easy to remove a shortcut (icon) from the Desktop on a Windows PC. In fact there are several ways to do it, including:

1 – Right-Click on the icon and then click Delete.

2 – Left-click on the icon to select it, then press the Delete key on your keyboard.

But have you noticed that there is no obvious way to create a Desktop shortcut to an app? [Read more…]

Computer (or phone) acting strange? Try this first.

Posted on March 25, 2025

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Have you ever been using your computer and had it start acting strange for no apparent reason?

I’m sure you probably have because it happens all the time.

For example, just the other day my Internet connection shut down and it simply refused to re-establish a connection.

A couple of days later my earbuds just stopped working right in the middle of a video I was watching, and they refused to start working again even after I loaded a different video. They worked fine when I tried them with phone.

When those things happened I didn’t immediately jump into troubleshooting mode and start checking drivers or verifying system settings. I did this instead… [Read more…]