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windows 8.1

How to Force Windows 10 To Begin Downloading

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Is your computer already up-to-date and ready to download Windows 10? If so that’s awesome. Except it’s still not downloading right?

Well, we know you’re anxious to get started with Windows 10 (so are we) so here is a quick guide on how to force Windows 10 to begin downloading on Windows 8 and 8.1.  (This guide should also work for Windows 7).

If you would rather just download Windows 10 to a usb drive or DVD you can get the .iso file to do so from Microsoft’s Windows 10 Disc Image page.

1.  First, Go ahead and open up Windows Update. You can do this by pressing the Windows key on your keyboard and then type “Windows Update”. Now go ahead and open Windows Update. (It would be helpful if your computer is completely up-to-date)

step1W10Update

2.  Next, hit the Windows Key on your keyboard again type “cmd”. Right click on “Command Prompt” in the menus to the right and select “Run As Administrator”.

 

3.  With the Command Prompt open, go ahead and type in “wuauclt.exe /updatenow”. Now check on your Windows Update window. You should see that Windows Update is Checking for Updates.Windows10UpdateSS

 

* At this point Windows 10 should begin downloading, if it isn’t , then repeat step 3.

* If you’re having trouble, you may also clear out your Windows Update data under “C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download” by deleting all of the files and folders there. Then retry the process.

 

How To Install Telnet on Windows 8 and 8.1

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Telnet is a very useful text-based tool for those who need to access other computers and devices on a network and manage them accordingly. However, many Windows 8 users have tried to run the program only to find it’s not there.  Instead, users are met with an error message stating, ‘not recognized as an internal or external command’.

There’s no need to worry as this application is available in Windows 8 but it does need to be installed and enabled.

To install Telnet on Windows 8 / 8.1,

  • Open the Control Panel
  • In the top right corner of the menu change the “View by” option to “Programs“.
  • Under Programs and Features select “Turn Windows features on or off“
  • In the dialog box that pops up, look for “Telnet Client” in the list and then put a check next to it.
  • Press “OK” and the installation of the client will begin.
  • Now you can use the command just as you did before!

Windows 8 Quick Guide for New Users

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Wind8Bro2

Windows 8 is fast and builds upon the success of previous versions of Windows, but it’s not exactly the easiest operating system to get used to. Windows 8 has a brand-new look and our beloved Start menu and desktop seems to have vanished in place of a new “Start Screen”. Where in the heck do you go from here?

If you or a friend have recently bought a new Windows 8 PC and you’re completely lost, there’s no need to worry, as Microsoft has released a great Training Brochure (PDF) that covers the basics and also gives you some handy shortcuts to get you around the new OS much faster.

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The guide goes over pretty much everything you need to get started with Windows 8 including basic navigation, app arrangement and grouping, charms, PC settings, App commands, Internet Explorer 10 in Desktop mode and “App Mode”, Security, theme customization, and shortcuts.

Although Windows 8 may be a little scary at first, it’s still a quick and powerful version of Windows that should only improve over time. Once you get used to the new user interface, things should go a lot smoother and this guide will hopefully help you get there.

 

Windows XP Users, It’s Time To Move On

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xpLogo

 

Windows XP has stood the test of time quite well and has remained one of the most popular versions of Windows for over a decade. Many personal users and businesses are still using Windows XP right now, but that needs to change, and soon.

Why? Microsoft will be killing ALL support for XP on April 8th 2014. How does that affect you? The main reason is security or lack thereof. If Microsoft isn’t providing routine security patches to the operating system then it can quickly become vulnerable to attack. There’s no doubt that once the deadline passes, Windows XP will likely become a breeding ground for malicious code like viruses and spyware since XP will basically have a target on it’s back for not having official support. For this reason alone it’s worth it to upgrade to Windows 7 or 8.1 and unfortunately for some users that may mean buying a new PC.

Of course there are other reasons to upgrade as well including driver support, live technical support from Microsoft, newer applications that won’t run on XP, website compatibility,  and not to mention the fact that a newer PC running Windows 7 or 8 will likely be many times faster. Although Windows 8 got off to a rocky start because of criticism over it’s user interface design, it’s probably one of Microsoft’s fastest versions of Windows.

So don’t wait till after the deadline to make your changes, start the upgrade now or at least put together a game plan, especially if you’re a business.

How to Easily Shut Down Windows 8.1

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Win8_1StartScreen

In many ways Windows 8 is pretty awesome, but it has many flaws. One of these flaws is the lack of an intuitive UI. Many people have found that even performing the most common tasks, like shutting down the computer, are very difficult thanks to hidden menus and buttons.  Fortunately , Microsoft is looking to solve these problems with upcoming release of Windows 8.1, which is set to be available to the general public on October 17th.

We originally offered up a solution that allows you to quickly shut down your Windows 8 computer in one step but with the upcoming release of Windows 8.1, this process will no longer be necessary but you can still use it if you prefer. Instead, Microsoft offers it’s own solution, the Start Button.

With the new update, instead of opening the charms bar you can simply right-click the Start Button or press the Windows Key + X, which will open up a menu with the option to Shutdown or Sign Out.