Do you need to remove obsolete icons from the notification area on the Windows taskbar? Do you see icons for apps that are no longer installed, and you want to get rid of them? While you can do this with dedicated apps, a simple trick is to remove two registry values and then restart the explorer.exe process in Windows. Here are two methods for cleaning the icons shown in the notification area, on your Windows PC:

NOTE: This guide applies to all versions of Windows, from Windows 7 to Windows 10.

Cool, free and safe screensavers can be hard to find. They have become popular programs for viruses and malware to piggyback on and may require or attempt to force the installation of unwanted toolbars and software. Many people do not use screen savers for their originally intended purpose, often simply setting their computer to shut off the monitor after idling for too long. However, there are several fascinating and useful screensavers out there for those who enjoy them, and we have tracked down some of the best free screensavers for Windows.

Do you want a shortcut that opens the "Shut Down Windows" menu, so that you can quickly shut down or restart your Windows computer or device? Based on requests from our readers, we have created this shortcut for you to use on any Windows computer. It works on Windows 10, Windows 8.1 and Windows 7. Here is how to use it and how to download it:

If you are bored with the Windows user interface and you are tired of its default customization options, maybe it is time for you to try some personalization packages. One of the best ways to make your desktop look unique is to install and use a new mouse cursor theme. There are plenty of them on the internet. In this article, we are going to share with you twenty-five of the best free mouse cursor schemes for Windows, which you can use to improve the visuals of your operating system. Let's get started:

Ever hear the old saying "Everyone complains about the weather but nobody does anything about it?" Today, although we still can't change the weather, we have many ways of checking the forecast so we can at least be prepared for what's coming. Every operating system offers a variety of weather apps to suit nearly anyone's needs. After checking out the offerings for Windows 8.1, iOS and Android over the years, I figured that getting similar apps from the new Windows Store would be easy. Mmmmm… not so much. Here's why:

If you are one of those users who use Internet Explorer as their default browser, this guide is perfect for you. If you don't think that the basic features of this browser are enough, you can always install add-ons to enhance its operation. Unfortunately, the list of add-ons for Internet Explorer is not very impressive and it's getting shorter with time. However, there are still some useful add-ons you can use to improve your web browsing experience, so we decided to put together a list with them. Here are the best add-ons for Internet Explorer:

We have created the biggest library of Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10 shortcuts. We have almost everything you need and we are willing to expand our collection, which now includes 139 shortcuts for Windows 7, 137 shortcuts for Windows 8.1 and 172 shortcuts for Windows 10. They are created in such a way that they will all work on each and every Windows computer. Also, if you want a shortcut that is not included our collection, leave a comment and we will try to add it to the package.

While we do like the modern interface offered by Windows 8.1 and Windows 10, there is one thing that we definitely dislike: it's rather difficult to create custom shortcuts to different apps and configuration panels, including the new Settings app from Windows 10. That's why we decided to give you our own special shortcut for PC Settings in Windows 8.1 and Settings in Windows 10, which involved a bit of custom scripting. The shortcut works for both operating systems:

The list of media players for Windows is very large, but despite the multiple alternatives, Windows Media Player still remains one of the most reliable media players on the market. Sure, there are a few usability features missing, but nothing absolutely critical. This is where Windows Media Player Plus! from BM production kicks in.

There are many ways to personalize your Windows device and make it look unique. In some of our articles we presented the best download locations for icons, mouse cursors schemes and many other visual elements. In this article we would like to present five great download locations for Windows 7 and Windows 8 themes. These websites provide many good looking themes, for free. Some of them provide original content and they feature works by photographers and illustrators. Let's get started: