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System Recovery

How to restore Windows to a working state. How to reset your Android smartphone, or your iPhone, to its factory settings. How to troubleshoot problems with your gadgets, and computers.

Windows 11

Windows 11 Media Creation Tool: Create a setup USB stick or ISO file

  • tutorial
  • Ciprian Adrian Rusen
  • 03.10.2022
Do you want to install Windows 11 2022 Update (version 22H2)? Unless you intend to upgrade from Windows 10 using Windows Update or the Windows 11 Installation Assistant, you’ll need to download an ISO file with the setup files and then write it on a Windows 11 DVD, or create...
PowerShell

How to reinstall all the Windows default apps with PowerShell

  • tutorial
  • Codrut Neagu
  • 16.09.2022
Some people do not like the universal apps installed by default In Windows 10 or Windows 11 and want to get rid of them. They can manually uninstall most of them using the Settings app or PowerShell. Apps like Calendar, Mail, Camera, Photos, or Candy Crush Soda Saga can be...
Windows Troubleshooting

Use Startup Repair to fix problems that keep Windows from loading

  • tutorial
  • Codrut Neagu
  • 01.07.2022
Is your Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer or device unable to load the operating system successfully? Is Windows reporting missing or damaged system files? If that's the case, you should try to boot from a recovery drive and use the Startup Repair tool. It’s a very helpful tool that...
Command Prompt (CMD)

Repair the EFI Bootloader or the MBR (Master Boot Record) for Windows

  • tutorial
  • Codrut Neagu
  • 01.06.2022
You can use system recovery tools to fix most of your computer problems. However, there are times when you'll need to address such issues manually, for example, when your Windows computer won't boot. In these cases, you can use a tool named Bootrec.exe. It can help you troubleshoot and repair...
System Repair disc

6 ultimate boot CDs (system rescue) for troubleshooting Windows PCs

  • misc
  • Codrut Neagu
  • 19.05.2022
Each and every Windows user should have a rescue disc nearby, stored in a glass box that says: “Break if your computer breaks!”. They are a very efficient way of troubleshooting the problems and issues your computer is having when it doesn’t want to start, when it starts but does...
USB drive

How to boot from a USB drive (4 ways)

  • tutorial
  • Codrut Neagu
  • 13.05.2022
There are many situations in which you might want to boot your computer using a USB flash drive. Maybe because you need to install Windows on your PC or maybe because you want to try the latest version of your favorite Linux distribution. Whatever reasons you might have, here are...
Command Prompt (CMD)

How to use SFC to repair missing or corrupt Windows files in CMD

  • tutorial
  • Codrut Neagu
  • 10.05.2022
When you have problems with your computer, Windows system files may become corrupted or go missing. This might be caused by sudden power drops, hardware malfunctions, a hard disk or solid-state drive approaching its end of life, and so on. If Windows reports that it can’t start because some of...
Windows 11

How long does it take to install Windows 11?

  • misc
  • Codrut Neagu
  • 27.04.2022
Windows 11 has been out in the wild for some time now, and many have already installed and tried it. But, like with any operating system, many others didn’t get it yet and have questions regarding the download and installation processes. One of the most popular ones on forums and...
Recuva

How to recover deleted files with Recuva (from SSD, HDD, USB stick, etc.)

  • tutorial
  • Tudor Dan
  • 15.03.2022
Don't you hate it when you accidentally delete a file, only to realize later that you need it? If it went to the Recycle Bin, it is easy to restore. But what if you permanently deleted it, with a Shift + Delete keyboard combination? Maybe you had those files on...
Find My Device

How to find and lock your lost or stolen Windows device

  • tutorial
  • Tudor Dan
  • 03.03.2022
Both Windows 10 and Windows 11 have a locating feature that makes it easier to find your computers and devices when they get lost. It is called Find My Device and, when it is turned on, it allows Windows to regularly check and store your location and then help you...
Windows logo

How to uninstall Windows from your PC

  • tutorial
  • Codrut Neagu
  • 21.02.2022
Some of our readers have asked us how to remove Windows from their computers. Some of them want to remove Windows 10 or Windows 11 and empty their drives. Some have dual-boot configurations and want to keep only one Windows version. Others have Windows and Linux running alongside and prefer...
System Repair disc

How to create a System Repair disc in Windows 10 and Windows 11

  • tutorial
  • Ciprian Adrian Rusen
  • 25.01.2022
If you want to repair a malfunctioning computer with Windows 10 or Windows 11 installed, you need a USB recovery drive or a repair disc. Most people prefer using USB memory sticks to create such drives. However, if you still have a computer laying around with a DVD or Blu-Ray...
Command Prompt (CMD)

How to open Command Prompt when Windows doesn't boot (3 ways)

  • tutorial
  • Codrut Neagu
  • 06.01.2022
The Command Prompt is a powerful tool that you can use for various purposes, including troubleshooting and fixing problems with Windows. Starting it is easy if Windows is working correctly, but what do you do when Windows refuses to load? How do you "boot" to Command Prompt (cmd.exe) "from BIOS"...
Windows 11

How to factory reset Windows 11 and remove everything

  • tutorial
  • Codrut Neagu
  • 25.11.2021
Do you want to know how to delete everything on Windows 11? Are you looking for the easiest way to wipe Windows 11 to factory settings? If you answered yes, then you’ve come to the right place. In this tutorial, we guide you through all the steps required to remove...
Windows 10

How to factory reset Windows 10 and wipe all data

  • tutorial
  • Codrut Neagu
  • 22.11.2021
How do you wipe a computer clean to sell it? How do I wipe my computer and delete everything? Moreover, how do you do a factory reset for Windows 10? These are all legitimate questions to which you’re probably looking for answers. Good news: you’ve come to the right place....
Windows 11

How to reset Windows 11 without losing your files

  • tutorial
  • Codrut Neagu
  • 16.11.2021
It seems that whatever we do, our Windows 11 computers break down at some point. Whether it’s because of broken drivers, corrupt system files, or malfunctioning apps, there comes a time when Windows 11 starts to slow down or throw undecipherable errors. That’s when you probably think the only solution...
Windows 10

How to reset Windows 10 without losing your files

  • tutorial
  • Codrut Neagu
  • 12.11.2021
If Windows 10 breaks and nothing seems to work well anymore, you might contemplate reinstalling it from scratch. However, that would mean that you must go through a rather elaborate process in order to save your files and reinstall Windows 10. Fortunately, you do not have to do so, because...
Windows 11 updates

How to pause Windows 11 updates

  • tutorial
  • Tudor Dan
  • 11.11.2021
Unfortunately, Windows updates are often a hit-and-miss affair, with many users rushing to update their operating system only to find that the process broke built-in apps and features or even made their device unusable. If you’re cautious about updating Windows 11 or you want to troubleshoot a buggy update, you...