Ed Tittel
Ed Tittel has been working in and around IT for over 30 years and has been a Windows Insider MVP since 2018. The author of more than 100 computing books, Ed is perhaps best known for his Exam Cram series of certification prep books. These days, Ed blogs weekly for GoCertify.com and more often than that at Win10.Guru. To learn more about Ed, visit his website at edtittel.com.
Quick fixes for common Windows remote desktop problems
Built into Windows, Microsoft’s Remote Desktop and Remote Desktop Connection apps make it easy to connect to and control a remote PC — when they’re working properly. Here are some common problems you might encounter and what to do...
Winget: The best way to keep Windows apps updated
PowerShell’s winget command, which taps into the Windows Package Manager service, makes it a breeze to keep applications up to date in Windows 10 or 11. Here’s how to use it.
How to troubleshoot and reset Windows Update
When Windows Update refuses to cooperate, here are three basic troubleshooting steps to take in Windows 10 or 11 to get it back on track.
Build the ultimate bootable Windows repair drive
Load up a USB drive with the right software, and you’ll have a complete toolkit to restart, troubleshoot, and repair Windows PCs.
How to manage and customize Windows Terminal
The Windows Terminal app provides an entry into multiple command line tools for Windows 10 and 11. Some key customizations make it even more useful.
Windows troubleshooting tips, tools, and techniques
Microsoft offers numerous useful tools that can help users and admins diagnose problems in Windows 10 and 11. Here’s how to use them for best results.
How to use File History in Windows 10 and 11
You can back up and restore files with Windows’ built-in File History tool — but there are key limitations you should know.
How to make a Windows 10 or 11 image backup
Making a full system image backup preserves not only your files, but Windows and all its settings as well. Here are the best free Windows backup and recovery tools with step-by-step instructions.
How to keep your apps up to date in Windows 10 and 11
With dozens of applications installed on the typical Windows PC, keeping them all updated seems like a Herculean task. Automated tools can lighten the load considerably.
How to manually update Microsoft Defender
It’s imperative to keep Microsoft Defender up to date even when Windows Update isn’t working. Here are several methods to manually update Defender.
Using DISM to install Windows updates
If Windows Update can’t install a particular update (or isn’t working all), Microsoft’s DISM command provides a simple way to get Windows updates installed.
How to repair Windows 10 (and 11) in 4 steps
When Windows 10 gets wonky, try this series of repair techniques — in this order — to attempt to set things right.
REFRESH TEST STORY: Your step-by-step guide to repairing Windows 10 (and 11)
When Windows 10 gets wonky, try this series of repair techniques — in this order — to attempt to set things right.
MSRT vs. MSERT: When to use each Windows malware tool
The Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) and the Microsoft Safety Scanner (MSERT.exe) do more or less the same thing: scan for and remove Windows malware. We explore and explain the differences.
How to check if your PC can run Windows 11
Microsoft has re-released its PC Health Check app, which tells you if your PC meets Windows 11 hardware requirements. Here’s how to use the tool and two third-party alternatives to assess a PC’s ability to upgrade to Windows 11.
How to fix a frozen Start menu or taskbar in Windows 10
Before you restart your PC, try this.
The ins and outs of data recovery in Windows 10
Missing folders? Unreadable files? Corrupted hard drive? Sooner or later, most computer users lose data of some kind. Here’s a series of steps you can take in Windows 10 to get it back.
4 steps to repair Microsoft Office
If one or more Office apps is acting glitchy, work your way through this series of repair maneuvers, starting with the simplest.
Windows 10’s Remote Desktop options explained
Should you use Remote Desktop Connection, the Remote Desktop app, or MSRDC Windows Desktop to access Windows 10 PCs remotely? We detail the options and provide some troubleshooting tips in case things go wrong.