The Ins and Outs of Using Windows for Beginners
Over 1.3 billion devices around the world run Windows, making it the most popular desktop operating system today. With constant updates and new versions released regularly, Windows packs in cutting-edge features that keep users productive and entertained. But for beginners, the myriad of options and customizations can feel overwhelming initially. Thankfully, with a bit of guidance, even total novices can master Windows in no time. In this post, we’ll explore tips and tricks to help you get the most out of Windows.
Setting Up Personalized User Accounts
One of the first things to do on a new Windows device is to create separate user accounts for each person. This allows individuals to customize their settings, desktop wallpaper, and more. Plus, having distinct accounts enables keeping sensitive documents private via password protection.
Does Windows 10 have a password?
Although Windows 10 doesn’t have the option to protect folders and files with a password, it doesn’t mean your data isn’t secure. One of the reasons why you can’t apply a password to a folder is that your account is already protected from unauthorized access with a password (and even encryption if you use BitLocker).
How do I unlock a hard drive in Windows 10?
Click This PC, and then double-click the drive under Devices and drives. In the sign-in page, type the password you used to lock the drive. If you forget the password, click “More Options -> Enter recovery key” and type the recovery key (48 digits) in the text file. 3. Click Unlock and access your files and folders.
To add a new user in Windows 10 and 11:
- Go to Start > Settings > Accounts
- Select Family & Other Users from the left sidebar
- Choose Add Account from the right pane
- Pick a account type (local, Microsoft, etc) and fill in the requested details
Once added, users can toggle between accounts directly from the lock screen. The privacy offered by personalized accounts makes Windows great for families, roommates, and workplace colleagues sharing a computer.
Organizing Files with the File Explorer
The File Explorer app lets users browse folders and organize documents with ease. Double-clicking it opens a left pane showing available drives and directories. Here we can create new folders via right-click > New > Folder. Giving descriptive names like “Work Documents” or “Family Photos” helps with organization.
The right pane displays folder contents. We can view files as icons, details like type/size, or thumbnails. Other handy features include sorting by name, date, etc and searching documents by keyword. Overall, File Explorer makes Windows excellent for productivity and storage.
Customizing the Interface
While Windows sports a clean, minimalist look out of the box, customizing the interface can boost comfort and productivity. For example, those with impaired vision can enable the Magnifier tool under Ease of Access to zoom in. Dark mode swaps white backgrounds for black, reducing eye strain.
How do I password protect folders in Windows 11 / 10?
There are several ways to lock down particular folders or even individual files. The cheapest and easiest of these we’ve found to password protect folders in Windows 11 / 10 is using Easy File Locker, a freeware app that gives you fine-grain control over what you protect. Here’s how. 1. Download, install and run Easy File Locker. 2.
How do I encrypt a file in Windows 10?
1. Open File Explorer and right-click on the file or folder you want to password protect, and then select Properties. 2. Select Advanced. 3. Next, click “Encrypt contents to secure data” and click OK. 4. Click Apply to begin the encryption process. 5.
Additional tips for customization include:
- Changing desktop wallpaper via Settings > Personalization
- Adjusting taskbar location and size
- Adding widgets like news, weather, and more
- Pinning favorite apps to Start menu
- Modifying mouse pointer speed/size
Don’t be afraid to tweak Windows to match personal preferences and needs!
Improving Performance
With Windows installed on billions of devices worldwide, Microsoft continuously rolls out performance improvements via Windows Updates. Downloading the latest updates ensures you benefit from speed boosts and new capabilities.
Further steps to speed up Windows include:
- Closing unused browser tabs and apps
- Running Disk Cleanup to delete temporary files
- Adding more RAM if available
- Adjusting visual effects under Performance Options
- Uninstalling little-used programs
Avoid resource hogs like Bitcoin miners that can slow Windows to a crawl. With a few prudent adjustments, your system can run like new again.
Enhancing Security
While Windows incorporates robust antivirus software called Windows Defender, third-party options like Bitdefender often offer better protection. Malware scanning, firewalls, and regular Windows updates thwart most attacks.
How to password protect a folder in Windows 10?
Here’s how to password protect a folder in Windows 10, so you can fill it with files you want to keep secret — and how to lock it, open it and repeat. 1. Right-click inside the folder where the files you want to protect are located. The folder you want to hide can even be on your desktop. 2. Select “New” from the contextual menu. 3.
How do I hide files in Windows 10?
Open Windows’ File Explorer and navigate to the folder or file you want to hide. Right-click on it, select “Properties”, and check the “Hidden” box in the menu that appears. Click “OK” and the folder will disappear from view. Check out our guide to hidden files for more detailed information on hidden files in Windows.
How do I delete a locked file in Windows 10?
From the Process Explorer tool, click File from the top menu, and then click Show details for all processes. Now click Find from the top menu and then click Find Handle or DLL. On the popup, enter the name of the locked file you are trying to delete, and click Search. When the search results show up, click on the file.
How to bypass admin password in Windows 10?
To bypass the admin password, it’s better to choose the Custom: Install Windows only (advanced) option here. This will wipe all files from your PC before reinstalling Windows. Select the drive to install Windows at the next stage. If you have multiple partitions, you might need to delete and recreate these first.
For added security, consider:
- Using strong passwords with special characters
- Turning on two-factor authentication
- Avoiding pirated software and media
- Scheduling frequent backups to external drives
- Exercising caution with unrecognized email attachments
With vigilance and common sense, Windows can provide excellent defense against viruses, ransomware, and other threats for worry-free computing.
Conclusion
Whether for work, school, or entertainment, Windows remains the desktop OS of choice worldwide thanks to unparalleled versatility, extensive app support, and constant innovation from Microsoft. By taking advantage of personalized accounts, File Explorer, customizations, performance optimizations, and security protocols, both tech experts and casual users can maximize productivity on Windows. What tips do you recommend for getting the most from Windows? Let us know in the comments!
Does Windows 10 encrypt files?
Sign in using a Microsoft account that has administrator rights on the device. That action removes the clear key, uploads a recovery key to the user’s OneDrive account, and encrypts the data on the system drive. Note that this process happens automatically and works on any Windows 10 edition. So, does the password set on windows 10 protect files?
What is folder lock & how does it work?
Folder Lock, powerful software to safeguard vital data and files, sets password protection to selected files and folders on Windows PC. It allows users to hide files, encrypt files, and even securely delete files. Many Folder Lock users have experienced the same issue, forgetting the password.
How to remove password from locked folder?
Step 1. Open Folder Lock and click “Lock Folders”. Step 2. Enter your serial number in the password column, then click “OK” to unlock it. Step 3. After this, you can open your locked folder and files again. Method 2. Remove Password from Locked Files by Uninstall Folder Lock Offered by: YouTubers, geeks from tech forums.
