Byerly Computer Services

General Win 10/11 Advice

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The main thing is to get your computer connected to the internet before you attempt to do anything. You then have to ensure your computer is connected to a “PRIVATE” network. To do that, you click the WINDOW button, then click on the “cog or gear” on the far left side of the screen (right above the power button). This is will open up a screen where one of the options is “Network & Internet”. Click on that. When it opens up, there is a representation of your computer, your network adapter and a globe. If underneath the network adapter it says “Private”, you are good to go. If not, below the the wording is a line that says “Change Network Properties”. Click on that and on the next screen, click on the slider for “Private”. Once this is done, close out of settings.

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If you use your laptop outside of your home/business, when you connect to their internet, answer the Network message in the big blue box on the right side of the screen “NO”. If you answer it yes, there is a possibility that other people could see/connect to your computer.

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When you turn on your computer, the screen may go black during startup. This is normal and does not mean there is a problem. Just leave it alone. Walk away and if it isn't to a sign on screen after about 15 minutes, then there MAY be a problem. Check and see if the hard drive light is flashing. If it is, Windows is just doing its thing. Patience is the order of the day.

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Always shut down the computer at night. Because Microsoft is still trying to make 10 work there are always updates. If you want to minimize how often it does it on its own (in the middle of you trying to use the computer) turning it off/on will cause the updates to go on then. Patience is the order of the day.

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When you turn off your computer, it isn't really off until all the lights go out. This is very important on laptops. DO NOT close the laptop lid until all the lights go out. If you do, the computer will go into sleep mode in the middle of the shutdown and may not restart without blowing up Windows. Patience is the order of the day.

 

DO BACKUPS! With Windows it is only a matter of when, not if it trashes your hard drive.