Use DISM to fix issues SFC can't
A common suggestion on Windows support forums is to scan the system for file integrity issues using the command sfc /scannow which you may run on the active system but also on […]
Block "You need to format the disk" message in Windows
When you click on a drive letter of a drive with a RAW partition that has an assigned drive letter, you get the prompt "you need to format the disk in drive […]
The Windows Winsat command
Winsat, or Windows System Assessment Tool, is a Windows program that benchmarks various components of machines when run. The main file that is run to benchmark the device is winsat.exe, and you […]
How to edit timestamps with Windows PowerShell
The following tutorial demonstrates how you can edit file timestamps -- create, last access and last write -- using Windows PowerShell. PowerShell is part of any modern version of Microsoft's Windows operating […]
Manage Windows 10 Search Indexing
Windows Search can cause high load situations on Windows 10 machines -- and on previous versions of Windows as well -- especially when search indexing runs. Basically, what search indexing does is […]
How to delete large folders in Windows super fast
When you delete huge folders in Windows, you will notice that the process takes quite a bit of time to complete. I keep backup folders of Ghacks locally on a platter-based drive, […]
Remove the Windows.old folder manually
Windows creates the folder Windows.old on a PC running Windows when you upgrade the PC to a new version of the operating system. The Windows.old folder contains files and folders of the […]
How to disable Windows Defender in Windows 10 permanently
Windows Defender is the default antivirus solution of Windows 10 just like it has been on Windows 8. The program is enabled by default and will turn itself off if another antivirus […]
Should you run Windows Defender and the Malicious Software Removal Tool?
Microsoft has created several security solutions in the past that are either available as standalone downloads or integrated in Windows directly. The most common ones are Windows Defender, which Microsoft included in […]
Fixing "the application was unable to start correctly (0xc0000018)" in Windows
I have received the error message "the application was unable to start correctly (0xc0000018)" twice already ever since I upgraded one of my machines to Microsoft's new operating system Windows 10. A […]
Pin Windows Settings to the Windows 10 Start Menu
Microsoft reintroduces a proper start menu in its upcoming operating system Windows 10 after throwing the start menu to the trash in Windows 8 and reviving it in an unloving way in […]
How to enable Developer Mode in Windows 10 to sideload apps
If you are running a recent version of the Windows 10 Insider Preview, build 10122 or greater to be precise, then you may have noticed a new "For developers" option in the […]
How to block Windows 10 Upgrade notifications in earlier versions of Windows
Windows 7 and 8.1 users who have started their system today may have noticed a new update notification in the operating system's system tray area that allows them to reserve an upgrade […]
How to move Windows 10 apps to another drive to save space
While most apps for Windows 10 are considerable small in size, there are some games and larger apps available for the system that occupy hundreds of Megabytes or even more than that. […]
How to remove Windows 10 upgrade updates in Windows 7 and 8
Microsoft will ship Windows 10 later this year and with it comes an offer to upgrade existing versions of Windows to the operating system for free. Since the majority of Windows users […]
How to block wisptis.exe from running on Windows PCs
Wisptis.exe, the Microsoft Pen and Touch input component, is a process that may be running on your system even if it is not connected to a touch screen or has no pen […]
How to verify that system drivers are digitally signed
Device drivers are important files as they allow you and the operating system to interact with hardware connected to the system. Drivers, just like executable files, can be digitally signed to improve […]
Display a program's startup impact on Windows 8 or 10
It is common sense that any program that autostarts with the Windows operating system extends the startup process. Depending on the program, its impact may be small and barely noticeable or high […]