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Last post Author Topic: Windows 10 - Collection of Hacks, Tweaks, Improvements  (Read 49459 times)

IainB

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Windows 10 - Collection of Hacks, Tweaks, Improvements
« on: November 08, 2016, 01:36 PM »
After searching the DC Forum for a Win10 tweak today (2016-11-09), I reckoned that a simple collection/index of pointers to such tweaks would have been useful for me and would have saved me some time and might similarly be useful for other forum members too, so here goes: (We may need a Wiki...)
It's a bit of a tedious manual exercise, but if forum members find that it is likely to be of use, then I shall try to maintain/update the index with any pointers - if members could kindly post the links in comments to this thread.
____________________________________________________

Index: (Last updated 2018-12-21.)
General:

Administrator status:

Default Apps.:

Device Drivers:
  • Try temporarily disabling the driver signing verification to enable old (unsigned) device drivers for older devices/peripherals not supported by Win10 - Re: Windows 10 Tips.

Ergonomics/perception/readability:

GUI and Controls:

Multimedia - DVD, CD-ROM, Video/Audio:

Network:
  • Set network type to public or private by Registry hack) - Windows 10 Tips.
  • Get Windows to detect/set network type public or private - Re: Windows 10 Tips
  • Run the appropriate shortcut to set the current connection to Public or Private - see  here.

Privacy:

Settings:

Start Menu and Shell:

System + RAM:

Virtual Machine:
  • Fix for Windows 10 Pro constraint (blocks VirtualBox's ability to run 64-bit VMs) - Re: Windows 10 Tips

Windows Update Control:

________________________________________________
This summary collection has been drawn from DC Forum and other sources, as a quick central reference point.
Relevance: Though the context is Windows 10, some/most of these points could probably variously relate to Win8/8.1, and Win7, and some also to earlier versions of Windows.
« Last Edit: December 21, 2018, 01:12 AM by IainB »

Deozaan

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Re: Windows 10 - Collection of Hacks, Tweaks, Improvements
« Reply #1 on: November 08, 2016, 01:40 PM »
See also this thread: Windows 10 Tips

IainB

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Re: Windows 10 - Collection of Hacks, Tweaks, Improvements
« Reply #2 on: November 08, 2016, 01:46 PM »
@Deozaan:
Thanks! Is exactly what I am talking about.
(I don't want to duplicate that.)

IainB

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Stop Windows 10 from resetting default apps.
« Reply #3 on: November 09, 2016, 12:31 AM »
Having become sick and tired of Win10 repeatedly overriding my preferred default apps, I have just added a fix - a very handy tool: Stop Windows 10 from resetting default apps with Stop Resetting My Apps
Seems to work a treat.
« Last Edit: November 09, 2016, 12:46 AM by IainB »

Curt

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Re: Windows 10 - Collection of Hacks, Tweaks, Improvements
« Reply #4 on: November 09, 2016, 03:24 AM »
Thank you for a thorough work, IainB  :up:



I was so pleased just an hour ago to find Blackbird finally has been updated. At the moment one still has to go to http://www.getblackbird.net/download/ (rather than to major Geek) to get the brand new 0.9.97 Last updated: Nov. 8, 2016 (Nov. 1, 2019  |  Version: 1.0.79.3)
« Last Edit: September 09, 2020, 10:53 AM by Curt »

IainB

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Re: Windows 10 - Collection of Hacks, Tweaks, Improvements
« Reply #5 on: November 09, 2016, 07:08 PM »
to go to http://www.getblackbird.net/download/ (rather than to major Geek) to get the
Thanks @Curt. I've added that as a note to the Blackbird item.

4wd

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Re: Windows 10 - Collection of Hacks, Tweaks, Improvements
« Reply #6 on: November 09, 2016, 07:26 PM »
A slightly easier way to set Public or Private network, just run the appropriate shortcut and it'll set the current connection to Public or Private.

From here.

IainB

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Re: Windows 10 - Collection of Hacks, Tweaks, Improvements
« Reply #7 on: November 14, 2016, 02:26 PM »
A slightly easier way to set Public or Private network, just run the appropriate shortcut and it'll set the current connection to Public or Private.

From here.
Into the Index it goes...
« Last Edit: November 14, 2016, 02:39 PM by IainB »

IainB

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How To Enable Paths Longer Than 260 Characters In Windows 10
« Reply #8 on: December 12, 2016, 03:23 AM »
Just remembered to add this into the Index: (a potentially very useful hack)
(Fixes long filename/file name or long path problem.)
@Shades: The article How To Enable Paths Longer Than 260 Characters In Windows 10 mentions that Win10 Home won't permit access to the GPE (Group Policy Editor), but it does allow access to Regedit (the Registry Editor).
I presume it would be correct, but out of interest I shall try to remember to check it out next time I am working on a Win10 Home PC (like you, I am not usually using Win10 Home - I use Win10 PRO).
« Last Edit: December 12, 2016, 03:30 AM by IainB »

IainB

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2017-01-12 0558hrs - Just added to the list: A handy 3-in-1 tool replicating some existing Windows 10 settings functionality - Starter - a Startup Manager + Task Manager + Services Manager for Windows
Starter is a Startup Manager cum Task Manager cum Services Manager will help you manage your Windows startup items & programs and more. The tool also lists all processes & information on memory usage, DLLs, priorities, thread count, etc.

EDIT 2017-01-15: Starter has not been tested by me. @tomos comments below that it worked on Vista but has not been updated since and so may not work on later versions of Windows.
At the website http://codestuff.obn...roducts_starter.html  it says:
Microsoft Windows 9x, Me, NT, 2000, XP, 2003, Vista.
« Last Edit: January 14, 2017, 02:02 PM by IainB »

tomos

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Re: Windows 10 - Collection of Hacks, Tweaks, Improvements
« Reply #10 on: January 11, 2017, 01:51 PM »
2017-01-12 0558hrs - Just added to the list: A handy 3-in-1 tool replicating some existing Windows 10 settings functionality - Starter - a Startup Manager + Task Manager + Services Manager for Windows
Starter is a Startup Manager cum Task Manager cum Services Manager will help you manage your Windows startup items & programs and more. The tool also lists all processes & information on memory usage, DLLs, priorities, thread count, etc.

that may work in windows 10, but hasn't been updated AFAIK since Vista days (I use it on one Windows 7 machine). Homepage is http://codestuff.obn...roducts_starter.html
Tom

Curt

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Re: Windows 10 - Collection of Hacks, Tweaks, Improvements
« Reply #11 on: January 13, 2017, 05:05 PM »
I am pleased to inform that 7+ Taskbar Tweaker has been updated for Windows 10. Latest beta version as of "now" is from December 28: http://rammichael.com/7-taskbar-tweaker. I have been testing it, and found no errors. There is also a version from September, that of course was stable back then, but should I call it stable now, when Windows meanwhile has been heavily updated?

2017-01-14_000205.gifWindows 10 - Collection of Hacks, Tweaks, Improvements



Post modified:
They have more free applications for Win 10: http://rammichael.com/software - including the eye browse raising Unchecky and the ingenious Textify
« Last Edit: January 14, 2017, 04:48 PM by Curt, Reason: Textify »

IainB

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Re: Windows 10 - Collection of Hacks, Tweaks, Improvements
« Reply #12 on: January 14, 2017, 01:55 PM »
@tomos: Thanks for your comment above.
I had not trialled the thing in Starter - a Startup Manager + Task Manager + Services Manager for Windows, and had assumed (perhaps incorrectly) from the article that it was Windows 10 but not necessarily earlier versions!

Anybody reading this and who tries it out in Win10, please post a comment about it here. Thanks.
I will eventually post a comment if I get around to trying it anyway.
« Last Edit: March 26, 2018, 08:10 PM by IainB »

app103

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Re: Windows 10 - Collection of Hacks, Tweaks, Improvements
« Reply #13 on: February 03, 2017, 02:59 PM »
I am pleased to inform that 7+ Taskbar Tweaker has been updated for Windows 10.

Just discovered this one, myself. Loving it! No more thumbnails on hover and buttons completely ungrouped.

Now if it could only tweak the toolbar padding, I'd be completely content. (I am not referring to pinned items padding, which does nothing for me, because I don't pin items)

brahman

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Re: Windows 10 - Collection of Hacks, Tweaks, Improvements
« Reply #14 on: February 14, 2017, 05:28 AM »
Talking about Taskbar: Maybe someone knows a solution for my problem of some pinned icons duplicating themselves when I click on them to start the program, and some do not duplicate themselves, but stay in place.

I would like it so that they will all stay in place, when I start the respective software to save space on my taskbar.

How do I do that?
Regards, Brahman

MilesAhead

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Re: Windows 10 - Collection of Hacks, Tweaks, Improvements
« Reply #15 on: February 14, 2017, 07:11 AM »
Talking about Taskbar: Maybe someone knows a solution for my problem of some pinned icons duplicating themselves when I click on them to start the program, and some do not duplicate themselves, but stay in place.

I would like it so that they will all stay in place, when I start the respective software to save space on my taskbar.

How do I do that?

This is of Windows 7 vintage.  But it may shed some light on the issue:
http://www.ghacks.ne...the-windows-taskbar/

brahman

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Re: Windows 10 - Collection of Hacks, Tweaks, Improvements
« Reply #16 on: February 14, 2017, 12:40 PM »
Thanks, will check it out
Regards, Brahman

Curt

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Re: Windows 10 - Collection of Hacks, Tweaks, Improvements
« Reply #17 on: May 12, 2017, 11:13 AM »
All the local links from the various Godmodes from Windows 7, 8 and 10, Home, Pro and Server.

[urlattach=1]

Forgive me for having forgotten, where I got them from.

PS! If you can't see the attached file, don't worry, you're not the only one; I can't either.
« Last Edit: May 12, 2017, 11:19 AM by mouser »

mouser

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Re: Windows 10 - Collection of Hacks, Tweaks, Improvements
« Reply #18 on: May 12, 2017, 11:19 AM »
you cant use
[attach]
for non-image files.  i have fixed.

Contro

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Re: Windows 10 - Collection of Hacks, Tweaks, Improvements
« Reply #19 on: May 21, 2017, 03:38 PM »
A good thread for : Windows 8.1 - Collection of Hacks, Tweaks, Improvements ?
 :-*

IainB

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Re: Windows 10 - Collection of Hacks, Tweaks, Improvements
« Reply #20 on: July 29, 2017, 10:51 AM »
How to improve ergonomics/perception/readability of text across all applications in Windows 10: Adjust System font settings.
This could effectively transform the readability experience for people who - like me - have to use reading spectacles for reading from laptop screens.
(The image below was been "sharpened", and the text it contains is in the spoiler below the image.)
The text in the menus for all my applications are now made more readable with this simple change. Adjust and test the settings by trial-and-error to see what best suits your peculiar needs.

30_1366x766_CAD01847.png

Spoiler
      Adjusting the text (font) size/weight via the Control Panel:
      
      Screen clipping taken: 2017-03-29 08:35
      
      Text (font) size/weight settings: Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Display
       --- Change size of items
      I just now had to recreate these settings as my changing the DPI
      From 100% --> 125% reset all such settings to default.
      I did not make a note of the default settings, but I recall that they were all smaller than the settings I settled on, below. I had not made a note of my previous settings (which were "just right"), so these latest ones may need to be changed on a trial-and-error basis until I get them just right again.
      Text item
      Default
      (Not sure)
      My setting 2017-03-29
      Title bars
      9? Normal
      12 Bold
      Menus
      9? Normal
      11 Bold
      Message boxes
      9? Normal
      10 Bold
      Palette titles
      9? Normal
      10 Bold
      Icons
      9? Normal
      10 Bold
      Tooltips
      9? Normal
      10 Bold
      The result of these settings was to make the text on most application windows/panes visually more legible.



techidave

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Re: Windows 10 - Collection of Hacks, Tweaks, Improvements
« Reply #21 on: August 01, 2017, 06:01 AM »
IainB
I am running version 1703 of Win 10 Pro.  I cannot find those font settings anywhere.  I have looked in Control Panel and also in Settings.  Searching for "Fonts" or "Display" doesn't reveal them either.

4wd

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Re: Windows 10 - Collection of Hacks, Tweaks, Improvements
« Reply #22 on: August 01, 2017, 06:14 AM »
I am running version 1703 of Win 10 Pro.  I cannot find those font settings anywhere.

It's gone in 1703, all you've got now is a percentage scaling under Settings->System->Display->Scale and layout.

There may be settings in the registry that can be written directly.

cranioscopical

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IainB

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Re: Windows 10 - Collection of Hacks, Tweaks, Improvements
« Reply #24 on: August 02, 2017, 12:09 AM »
techidave:
...I am running version 1703 of Win 10 Pro.  I cannot find those font settings anywhere.  I have looked in Control Panel and also in Settings.  Searching for "Fonts" or "Display" doesn't reveal them either.
__________________________________
I am running Windows 10 Pro - Build 14393.rs1 release.170706-2004
Last update occurred on 2017-07-12
- it was: 2017-07 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems (KB4025339)
_______________________________________

The relevant settings page is rather buried away in the nested Settings menus.
The access to the font settings is: Settings-->System-->Display.
At the bottom of the Display page, select Advanced display settings - which goes to a page of the same name and with a subheading "Customise your display".
Scroll down the page to the bottom of the page and select the penultimate line (option), which says "Advanced sizing of text and other items".
Clicking on that takes you to an old-style (white) settings window, where there is a sub-heading "Change the text size only", under which is where the text changes (that I mentioned above) can be accessed.

It's really simple/quick to make and check/test/change-again the new settings from that page, to see how they affect the display. I suggest playing around with those till one finds what one likes.
Before I discovered that page, I used to use the WinAero tool (which worked OK, but was not as quick and easy as using the Settings).