Table of contents for July 2016 in Windows Help & Advice

We knew it had to happen eventually, but it finally looks like Microsoft are pulling the plug on free Windows 10 upgrades. The free upgrade programme comes to an end on the 29th July, so make sure you upgrade all your PCs before then, unless you want to pay a hefty $119 fee for the new version. However, by then, we should hopefully be getting our hands on the first major update to Windows 10 – the Anniversary Update. If you’re unsure about whether you need it then check out our feature on page 69 where we cover it in full. Elsewhere this issue, you’ll learn how to reinstall Windows 10, should you ever need to, how to hack the Windows 10 registry to unleash your PC’s full potential and…

Have my robot butler dreams finally come true?! Not quite, I’m afraid. This little guy is the RoboHon, a cute bipedal robot created by Japanese tech-company Sharp. But he can’t serve you drinks, answer the door, or attempt to bump off rich relatives in the 1920s. So what can he do? RoboHon can walk, talk and even dance. He’s basically an Android smartphone with arms and legs, which means he can listen to your voice, recognise your face, and understand commands. So what’s the point? Sharp reckons the robot could become an essential part of any home or office. As well as looking pretty cute, and providing a crunchy plaything for confused pets, he can remind you of upcoming tasks, take down memos, and take photos with the cameras embedded…

Microsoft’s Xbox games consoles and Windows PCs have always had an on/off relationship. The first Xbox was developed to capitalise on the success of PC gaming in the late-90s, using the same programming language as Windows computers. There have been crossover games developed by Microsoft, such as Fable III and Gears of War. But for the most part Microsoft’s consoles and PCs have been treated as two distinct divisions – until now. The Xbox One, the latest version of Microsoft’s games console, isn’t doing quite as well as Microsoft hoped it would. 36 million PlayStation 4s have been sold to date, while Microsoft has shifted just 19 million Xbox Ones. It’s a bitter pill for Microsoft to swallow, as the two consoles have never been more similar – both, essentially,…

Reinstalling and setting up Windows again can be a chore, so speed up future reinstalls by creating a perfect recovery image. After reinstalling Windows and apps, reinstall your key programs and set them up as you like them. Then, before you restore your File History backup, launch Macrium Reflect Free and take a new drive image. Create a recovery CD or USB stick following the prompts, and next time you need to reinstall Windows, make sure your File History backup is up to date, then boot from your recovery media before restoring this drive image. All you’ll need to do is bring Windows and your apps up to date, and reinstall new programs. Before restoring your File History backup, create a new drive image to use the next time you…

At a glance Skill level… Anyone can do it Straightforward Tricky in parts Suitable for… Windows 10 Windows 8.1 Windows 7 Apple’s iTunes app allows you to access the iTunes Store and purchase new media, as well as keep your iOS device backed up and up to date. In this tutorial, we’ll introduce you to the latest version, iTunes 12. iTunes 12 enables you to use Apple’s newest Store features, such as Family Sharing (which lets you share your purchases with up to six people in your family, without having to dole out accounts or share your passwords). It also brings a few changes to the interface compared to the previous version. Of course, iTunes 12 isn’t perfect by any means, and some Windows 10 users have experienced issues upgrading…

At a glance Skill level… Anyone can do it Straightforward Tricky in parts Suitable for… Windows 10 Windows 8.1 Windows 7 Anyone who’s had to work late at the office will know how staring at a bright monitor can affect your ability to sleep when you get home. Much of this problem is caused by your monitor’s screen temperature – cool blues are great during the daytime when you want a bright, colour-accurate display, but as the sun goes down, continuing to stare at your display plays havoc with your body’s melatonin production. One way to fix this problem is to ban the use of your computer after dark, but that isn’t always practical. Don’t worry, though, because a free program called f.lux can adjust your monitor’s screen temperature as…

At a glance Skill level… Anyone can do it Straightforward Tricky in parts Suitable for… Windows 10 Windows 8.1 Windows 7 Any musician will know how painstaking, complicated and expensive it can be to produce notation by hand. Thankfully, Windows is blessed with a number of music notation tools, and one of the best happens to be both free and open source. MuseScore 2 combines all the functionality you need to build simple or complex scores from scratch with a user interface that doesn’t require a degree in music (or engineering) to understand. It’s intuitively laid out, and you can build your score using drag-and-drop or keyboard shortcuts. You can even plug in a MIDI instrument and let MuseScore record you as you play, but for the purposes of this…

“We could see even more hardware innovation…” The Anniversary Edition is great news for gamers – it boosts Windows’ gaming power, increases the range of must-have games and will make a difference to the Xbox One too. The Xbox One will get the best bits from Windows, and Windows will get the best bits from the Xbox One. The biggest new feature is DirectX 12. DirectX is Microsoft’s engine for gaming and imaging, and each new version brings better performance and more realistic graphics. DirectX 12 can take full advantage of the latest graphics cards, delivering stunning video and smooth performance. As AMD puts it, it’s “like going from a two-lane country road to an eight-lane superhighway”. Whether you’re running a super-powered gaming rig or a budget laptop, DirectX 12…

TIME TAKEN 20 minutes Add users Before starting with Family Safety, we need to make sure your computer is properly set up. If you’re sharing a single user account between your family, it’s time to change that and use one account each. Click the Start button at the bottom of the screen and choose ‘Settings’. Select ‘Accounts’ followed by ‘Family & other users’. You’ll see user accounts are split into two sections – as we’re adding younger family members, click the ‘Add a family member’ button to continue. Set up a child user Select ‘Add a child’. Your child will need their own Microsoft account to continue – if it’s already been set up, type the email address used to log into it and click ‘Next’ followed by ‘Confirm’. Once…

You can trust our reviews Our reviewers are 100 per cent independent, with years of experience in the world of computing. Our rigorous testing procedures mean that only genuine, high-quality products are awarded high star ratings. If you see an item of hardware bearing a high score, you can be confident that it is an excellent product. We choose the best products Thousands of new PC products are released every year and choosing between them can be an impossible task. Our experts select only the best hardware and software to feature in this magazine. Even better, our star rating system makes it simple to find the best products, giving you a fast, trustworthy guide. How we review Our expert reviewers guarantee to test every piece of hardware rigorously and thoroughly,…

Away from the loud, explodey world of videogames, computers can provide interesting twists on familiar games, and their interactive nature means you don’t have to worry about losing pieces. Here we look at some of the best conversions of real-life games in the world of Windows. Of course, no list would be complete without a mention of Solitaire. The time-sinking card game has been part of Windows since the early-90s, and you can find its latest, turbo-charged edition, Solitaire Collection, in the Windows Store on Windows 8 and Windows 10. Other classic games lurking in the Windows store include Sudoku, Bingo, and even jigsaw puzzles. The latter work well on computers, with a nice selection of images and satisfying sound effects when the pieces snap into place. For a more…

Search smarter The little search box in the top right-hand corner of Windows 7’s Explorer is a great way to find files quickly, and there are a few ways to make it even more powerful and efficient. It includes ‘AND’, ‘OR’ and ‘NOT’ operators, so you can search for ‘beach AND sea’ (to find files with both words in their names), ‘beach OR sea’ (for files with either word in their name), or ‘beach NOT sea’ (for files without the latter word). It gets even better in your pictures library – type datetaken: in the search box and you can find photos taken on a specific date, or look them up using tags from ‘Yesterday’ to ‘A long time ago’. On-screen keyboard Windows 8 comes with a built-in touchscreen keyboard,…

1 For  how long does Apple expect an average iPhone to last? A. 18 months B. 3 years C. 5 years 2 Three million units of which ageing music format were sold in the UK last year? A. Cassettes B. Records C. Minidiscs 3 Which title recently bagged the Bafta for best game? A. Fallout 4 B. Everyone’s Gone to the Rapture C. Rocket League 4 Microsoft’s new smartphones will be known as what? A. Word Phone B. Phone 10 C. Surface Phone 5 Google has used a powerful camera to photograph what? A. The Eiffel Tower B. St Paul’s Cathedral C. The Apprentice cafe 6 Some of Fisher Price’s activity toys will include mounts for what piece of tech? A. Virtual Reality headsets B. GoPros C. E-cigarettes…

Windows 10 is pretty tough, but if you find yourself in a situation where something has gone wrong, what can you do to get your machine back up and running? Thankfully, the latest version of Windows comes with everything you need to take charge of various problem and fix them using a combination of different tools. In this feature, we’ll show you how to make sure your important data is backed up first, and then we’ll investigate the utilities that can bring your device back to life, from a simple rollback of key system files and settings, to a full-blown reinstall of Windows itself. It could be that a restore will do the trick instead of a more radical reinstalling of Windows.…

There’s no need to tear your hair out if nothing seems to help with the troubleshooting. You can go the whole hog, wipe your hard drive clean and restore Windows to its factory settings. This approach will delete any personal data you have saved on the drive, so make sure it’s fully backed up first using our guidelines earlier. It’s also a good idea to make a note of any programs you’ve installed on your PC, so you can download and restore them after Windows has been reinstalled. Reinstall Windows Microsoft knows how painful the reinstall process can be, which is why with Windows 10 it’s gone out of its way to make the process easier than ever. The simplest way to reinstall Windows is through Windows itself. Click ‘Start…

Whether you’re stuck for inspiration or want to become a master of your Windows computer, our Explore section is the place to come. Each month we pack in tutorials covering a range of subjects suitable for all levels of expertise. This month we look at how to use iTunes in Windows, fix sound problems, and get more done on your PC than ever before with some great productivity advice. Enjoy our selection of tutorials and I’ll see you next time, for more essential Windows hints, tips and advice.…

At a glance Skill level… Anyone can do it Straightforward Tricky in parts Suitable for… Windows 10 Windows 8.1 Windows 7 With its combination of familiar features and intuitive new additions, Windows 10 is Microsoft’s most user-friendly operating system to date. Its accessibility doesn’t end with the new Start menu and straightforward Cortana search functions, though – Windows 10 also packs an impressive suite of extra tools to make using your PC as easy as possible. In Windows 7, certain features (including the magnifier) were only available as part of the Aero display scheme, which put heavy demands on low-powered PCs. Other features, including the screen reader and audio descriptions were buried five menus deep. Not ideal if you’re already having difficulty using your PC! Thankfully, with its new focus…

At a glance Skill level… Anyone can do it Straightforward Tricky in parts Suitable for… Windows 10 Windows 8.1 Windows 7 Back in last month’s issue I revealed the first of my favourite productivity tips in Windows 10. Now, I’ll show you the rest, so you can unleash the potential of your machine and make your life even easier, whether it’s creating Virtual Desktops to give you the effect of having multiple PCs, tapping on secret shortcuts so you can see everything on your machine at once, or using the power of your voice to command your PC into work. And, don’t forget – all these top tips are perfectly safe to do on your machine, so there’s no need to backup your PC before you start this. Just get…

At a glance Skill level… Anyone can do it Straightforward Tricky in parts Suitable for… Windows 10 Windows 8.1 Windows 7 FixWin is a simple tool for troubleshooting your Windows installation. Using it you can fix dozens of Windows problems and annoyances that might be caused by malware. Anti-malware scanners can help you remove these harmful programs, but that in itself will not always undo the changes to Windows caused by these pests, such as hiding the context menu, or disabling the Registry Editor. With FixWin, you can repair these unwanted modifications. The tool lists all its fixes and their symptoms across several categories. Every problem has a ‘Fix’ button that you click to apply the suggested solution. Remember that FixWin isn't a diagnostic tool, so it won’t look inside…

The Anniversary Edition is completely free for Windows 10 users, but there’s still a ticking clock – if you haven’t yet taken advantage of Microsoft’s free Windows 10 upgrade for Windows 7 and Windows 8 users, do so now. The freebie period ends on 29 July, and from then on you’ll need to pay if you want Windows 10. It probably won’t be very expensive, but why spend money if you don’t have to? However, if you want Windows 10 but don’t have Windows 7 or Windows 8 you’ll need to buy a copy. Microsoft offers it as a download or on a USB stick. At the time of writing Windows 10 Home was £99.99. Don’t worry if your PC is getting on a bit, it should still run Windows…

The Anniversary Edition brings lots of goodies for Windows Phone users too. You can still read notifications, answer calls and send and receive messages via your PC, but you also benefit from Continuum, which blurs the lines between phone and PC. Continuum makes apps aware of what they’re connected to, so for example, Outlook on a phone transforms into a PC-like experience when you connect it to a monitor, keyboard and mouse. The Anniversary Edition makes that even better with a new app, Connect, which enables you to connect without a dock or cable. You can use it to mirror your phone’s display on a PC, or access your phone’s features from your PC. There’s another feature involving Windows Phone called Windows Unlock. It enables you to unlock your PC…

In each issue of Windows Help & Advice we show you how to get to grips with Windows 10, and master the basics. This month we look at setting up Family Sharing and how to make your passwords more secure. Family Sharing is the best way to make sure all family members can enjoy your PC without having to worry about the kids deleting stuff, or them seeing or doing inappropriate things. We look at passwords on page 83 – it’s always tempting to use something basic, so we show you how to make your PC more secure without the hassle. Matt Hanson Associate Editor www.facebook.com/windowsmag…

TIME TAKEN 40 minutes Open Settings You log into your Windows PC every day, but you might not want anyone to be able to access your personal account, even if it’s just a partner or your kids. Therefore it’s a good idea to create a picture password, which will save you typing an uncrackable series of letters and numbers every time you want to log in. To begin, click the Start button and select ‘Settings’ followed by ‘Accounts’. Picture perfect Now select ‘Sign-in options’ and then click ‘Add’ under ‘Picture Password’. Enter your account password (if you have a local account without a password assigned to it, you’ll first need to create one). Once done, click ‘Select picture’ to choose a picture from the ones stored on your PC. This…

Microsoft has made a name for itself in the word-puzzle genre – first with anagram wordsearch Wordament, and now with Snap Attack, which is available in the Store for Windows 8 and 10. It works a lot like Scrabble, only you’re given a limited board and a few pre-defined words. It’s now up to you to use your eight letters to create as many words as possible in three minutes. Here are some tips to get you started on this frenetic word game.…

captionbot.ai Earlier this year, Microsoft caused some controversy by unleashing Tay, an artificial-intelligence-powered chatbot which, apparently, reflected the thoughts and feelings of young people around the world. As it turned out, a lot of those thoughts and feelings were racist and/or sexist, and Microsoft quickly took the bot offline. CaptionBot, Microsoft’s latest venture into AI, is a lot less offensive. Upload a photo, and it will analyse its content, and try to tell you what it sees. We tried it with a few images and it’s surprisingly accurate – it recognised people in front of a building, a cup of coffee, and a smartphone screenshot. It’s not perfect, and it seems to have a preference for describing everyday objects as giraffes, but as it employs machine-learning, it will get more…

Packed with informative tutorials Every issue, we guarantee to pack the magazine with great tutorials teaching you all the best things you can do with your PC. Each article features step-by-step instructions to make learning new skills fast and enjoyable. Customise Windows to work your way We all know how to do the basics but getting the most from Windows isn’t always easy. Our dedication to the operating system means you get the very best tips and tricks for all versions of Windows. Get more from your favourite websites We all have our list of favourite sites but often we miss out on great features because they’re difficult to use or hidden from sight. We’ll show you how to do more online, for a more satisfying web life. Discover new…

At a glance Skill level… Anyone can do it Straightforward Tricky in parts Suitable for… Windows 10 Windows 8.1 Windows 7 For all the benefits that come with upgrading to Windows 10, there have been reports that some people have experienced problems with sound output, leaving them unable to enjoy movies or hear anything at all from their PC’s speakers. For example, users whose PCs have VIA HD Audio have found they can only hear sound from certain apps. Fortunately, there’s a workaround if you’re affected by this issue. Right-click ‘Playback Devices’, right-click the audio output device and set it as the default device. Then select the device with your left mouse button, choose ‘Properties’, select the ‘Enhancements’ tab and check ‘Disable all enhancements’. That should fix the problem. For…

At a glance Skill level… Anyone can do it Straightforward Tricky in parts Suitable for… Windows 10 Windows 8.1 Windows 7 There are many cloud storage services available, and most of them do a decent job of backing up a few files. However, if you want to make sure all your documents are backed up in the cloud, you’ll need a bit more than the 2GB that Dropbox offers for free. Google Drive’s 15GB, for instance, looks a lot more attractive, and Microsoft’s OneDrive offers the same. The tight integration between Google Docs and Google Drive is another point in the service’s favour. The office suite, which runs in your web browser and in mobile apps, stores its files in Drive and, if they’re saved in its native format, they…

At a glance Skill level… Anyone can do it Straightforward Tricky in parts Suitable for… Windows 10 Windows 8.1 Windows 7 When it launched Windows 7, Microsoft prided itself on having made the new operating system far less bloated than Windows Vista and XP. This meant it ran better than those earlier versions, but there’s still lots of room for improvement. Whether you think it’s time you reinstalled your operating system for improved performance, or you want to help speed it up after a reinstall, we’ll guide you through a variety of methods that will ensure you you’re using a lean, fast version of Windows 7 for as long as possible. We’ll start with making a slimmed down installation for those who want to take the plunge and reinstall everything…

This summer, something big is happening that will make a huge difference to your PC if you’re running Windows 10. The Windows Anniversary Edition is a massive update to Windows 10 and will introduce some brand new features and make many of your favourite features even better. The Anniversary Edition sees a fresh approach. In the past, Microsoft would put all its new features into the latest version of Windows – so if you were on Windows Vista when Windows 7 came out, you would need to buy Windows 7 to get its features. That’s changed. The Anniversary Edition brings lots of exciting new stuff to Windows 10, and you can get it automatically without paying a penny. The Windows Anniversary Update isn’t just about PCs, though. It will also…

If you’ve upgraded your computer to Windows 10, but have had your machine for a while, there are probably all sorts of unwanted programs running when you start it up. You can use Task Manager to see what runs automatically when you fire up your computer. You’re then safe to remove anything that isn’t your anti-virus program. Restart your PC and if you find you want an app back, fear not – you can easily reinstate it.…

It’s the battle of the smartphones that’s dominating the Upgrade section this month. On the one hand, we have Microsoft’s Lumina 650, which is by far the best Windows 10 phone we’ve used, and on the other, there’s the new Samsung Galaxy S7, which exudes style and smartness. Which one should you choose? Well, we don’t think you can go wrong with either! Also this month we take a look at the Chuwi Hi12 Tablet, which is a budget version of the Surface 3. But can it hold a candle to the Microsoft original? Turn to page 88 now to find out!…