Curt Simmons - Windows 11 For Seniors For Dummies

FIGURE 16-12

Reset a Misbehaving Computer

Glitch happens. The computer misbehaves, a program crashes, or the machine becomes unexpectedly slow. If your computer is misbehaving, try resetting it. Select the Search icon on the taskbar and type settings. Select the Settings app in the search results. Under System, scroll down and select Recovery (see Figure 16-13).

Before you reset your PC, see Chapter 13 for information about updating and maintaining Windows 11. Updating Windows may resolve some problems.

The Reset function should leave your data alone and unchanged. However, consider following Steps 1–4 in the section “Restore Files with File History” to confirm that your external drive contains all your files. Better safe than sorry.

FIGURE 16-13

Under Reset This PC, select the Reset PC button, as shown in Figure 16-14.

Before choosing the reset option, try the Fix problems Without Resetting Your PC option first (refer to Figure 16-14). This action may fix the PC’s problems much faster.

The Reset function doesn’t remove apps installed through the Microsoft Store but does remove any apps you installed any other way. This safety feature is based on the assumption that something you installed from some other source is causing a problem. Be certain that you either don't need a desktop app or that you have the materials necessary to reinstall a desktop app, such as Microsoft Office. Windows 11 will create a file on the desktop after the fact, identifying the programs it removed.

In the Choose an Option dialog box, select Keep My Files. (Or select Cancel, if you’re just exploring this feature and don’t want to continue with it.)

Reset runs, and your computer will restart at least once. When the reset process is complete, the Lock screen appears. Sign in as usual. If you see a file named Removed Apps on the desktop, double-click or double-tap it to open that file in your browser. The removed apps are listed. If you’re aware that one of these apps created a problem, don’t reinstall it.

FIGURE 16-14

Don’t be intimidated by the Reset function — it's easy, quick, and worthwhile if it makes a problem computer run better.

A

accessibility features, 57–61

accounts

adding profile picture, 54–55

email, 140–141

local

creating, 79–83

deleting, 85

overview, 74–77

securing with passwords, 83–84

switching to Microsoft account, 77–79

Microsoft, 71–74

overview, 65–66

active windows, 96

Activity section in Teams, 151–153

ad-blockers, 123–125

administrators, 79, 85

Airplane Mode, 70–71

alarms, 177–178

albums in Photos app, 217–218

alerts

events, 173

settings management, 63

Teams, 160–161

anti-virus software

overview, 264–265

Virus Protection, 259

app bar, 30–31

apps. See also specific apps

arranging, 40

buying, 202–203

closing, 28–29

defined, 18

deleting, 40–41

downloaded, 198

icons and, 25, 88

installing, 74, 195–197

managing startup, 89, 254–255

in Microsoft Store, 190–193

navigating, 31

overview, 26–30

pinning, 38–39

programs

installing, 248–250

uninstalling, 250–254

rating, 199–200

recently opened, 282

searching for, 35–38

settings management, 34–35

snapping, 25

on Start screen, 61

stopping with Task Manager, 103–104

switching between, 29

troubleshooting, 29

uninstalling, 40–41, 201–202

aspect ratio, 210

attachments

email, 134–136

Teams, 148–149

Audacity, 248–250

audio

accessibility settings for, 60

defined, 227

enabling during call, 156–158, 183

file formats, 230–231

recording, 243–244

Automatic Maintenance, 259

AutoPlay window, 213–214

B

backgrounds

changing desktop, 100–101

filter in Teams, 156–157

backing up files

external hard drive, 303–304

factory reset, 317–319

flash drive, 304–308

OneDrive, 308–310

billing information, adding to Microsoft Store, 202–203

Bing, 114

Bluetooth, 270

bookmarks in Edge, 115–118

browsers, web

blocking ads, 123–125

bookmarks, 115–118

Collections, 121–123

features, 119–123

Google Chrome, 108

InPrivate browsing, 120–121

Mozilla Firefox, 108

navigating, 109

overview, 107–111

search bar, 113–115

shortcut keys, 109–112, 114, 116

tabs, 112–113

burning CDs, 240–243

C

Calculator app, 38

Calendar app, 170–174

calibrating touchscreens, 276–278

Camera app

adding profile picture with, 54

editing tools, 209

overview, 206–208

settings management, 208–210

videos, 206–208

cameras

importing photos from, 210–214

as plug-and-play device, 268

CDs (compact discs)

burning, 240–243

copying, 228–231

installing program from, 248–250

chats

Activity section, 151–153

managing, 153–155

overview, 146–151

clicking

contextual menus and, 38

dragging and, 11

overview, 11

Clock app, 177–179

closing windows, 93

cloud storage, 308–310

Collections (Edge), 121–123

commands, shortcut keys

closing app, 28, 284

copy, 13

cut, 15

delete, 298

locking computer, 54

paste, 213

print, 222

redo, 295

save, 180, 280

screenshots, 215

select all, 133

undo, 295

zooming in/out, 216

compact discs (CDs)

burning, 240–243

copying, 228–231

installing program from, 248–250

composing email, 130–132

computers

connectivity between, 67–68

hardware and, 10

locking, 54

powering off, 22–23

powering on, 16–18

shutting down, 23

Sleep mode, 22–24

troubleshooting & maintaining

anti-virus software, 259, 264–265

apps, 29

Automatic Maintenance, 259–260

hardware, 275–276

installing programs, 248–250

managing startup apps, 254–255

Reliability Monitor screen, 260–261

resetting, 317–319

restarting, 23, 56

Security and Maintenance window, 257–261

speeding up, 261–263