How to Customize Your Windows 10 Experience

Windows 10 seems to be a winner. But, the only way to really know if a new operating system will meet the public’s needs and wants is to wait and see how they react. If they keep it when they buy a new computer, it’s a good system. 

If they put an older OS on a new computer, then it’s probably not. 

The reception of Windows 10 is positive overall. 

With Windows 10, as with all of Microsoft’s operating systems so far, there are programs, apps, and other tools that can be turned on and used. However, they’re not necessary or useful for every user, so it’s important to choose what’s right for you.

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According to a report about personal technology in the New York Times, many of the optional features are related to networking, system administration, and software development, but as with earlier versions of Windows, there are also options that “regular” users may wish to use. The first step is to go to the Windows Features option box and look at the different menus and screens and determine what is possible for the version of Windows you have.

The Windows Features box, when selected, will show the user a list of different applications and programs that can be enabled or disabled. If there is a checkmark in the box next to the option, the option is already on. The “Start” menu is one of the first places the technophiles suggest a new user of Windows 10 begins their search to see what they do want to turn on or off.

The Start Menu

Most people will be perfectly satisfied with the default version of the start menu. It is the same version of “Start” that they accessed with Windows 7 with a few nuggets from Windows 8.1 that proved popular. One difference is there is a Tablet mode with this version of Windows and it has been made for 2 in 1 devices and allows easy access to the start menu when the keyboard has been removed.

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The folders that the user sees when they go to the start menu can also be customized. This allows the user to have the folders they use the most at a convenient location. All the user has to do is go to settings, then personalization, then start and add to or remove apps or folders, or other things that they use a lot. Perhaps it is Netflix that the user wants to have access easily and quickly. It is easy to add this program to the Start Menu.

Cortana



Windows 10 has its own personal assistant called Cortana. Setting up Cortana is easy as it will ask (in writing), very simply what you want to be called, and if you want different customization for Cortana too. If you think that Cortana is a little too Big Brother to your Winston Smith, you can leave this program off too.  If you like Cortana, you can teach her to know your voice only, or you can let any voice access her.

Update Apps
When you upgrade to Windows 10, you can upgrade many of the apps that you have already received from Windows by going to the Windows Store and following the prompts from the Downloads and Installs pages as they relate to Windows 10. This is also where a user can ensure they have all of the updates to Windows 10 installed on their computer and their system.

Microsoft Edge


Windows 10 has a new Microsoft browser called Microsoft Edge. Using Microsoft Edge will not stop you from using other browsers, but Edge will be there for you to use if you like, and if you choose, you can make it your default browser. 

Quick Action Buttons



There is now an Action Center on the desktop for different devices. This Action Center will alert users about apps and systems that might need to have upgrades or changes made for them. As part of the Action Center, there are also Quick Action buttons that allow the user to click them and go to different options that the user visits often. 

Optional Features on Windows 10
The truth is, there are dozens of features that users can turn off or turn on with any operating system. Most users won’t even know that these options exist, and if they did know of their existence, they wouldn’t mess with them. 

Examples (there are dozens of optional features):

    .NET Framework 3.5 — This is needed for people who want to run certain applications
    Active Directory Lightweight Director Services — This is used to authenticate users on a network
    Embedded Shell Launcher — Use this if you want to replace Windows 10’s Explorer.exe shell with a custom shell. 
    Hyper V — This is a virtualization tool

People very involved in technology may turn these optional features (and the dozens of other options) on or off, but some will automatically turn on if a new download requires it. Most people won’t consider changing the factory settings, but should know that they are there if needed.

Windows 10 is proving to be popular with users and is recognized as a convenient and improved operating system.