Fix the small stuff yourself

Press Windows key + Shift + S, then drag over the area you want. The screenshot copies to your clipboard and a preview appears so you can save or mark it up. Print Screen alone copies the whole screen, and Windows key + Print Screen saves a file straight into Pictures, Screenshots.

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, select the frozen program, and choose End task. If the whole screen is stuck, press Ctrl + Alt + Del and pick Task Manager from that menu.

Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc, choose Startup apps in the left menu, then right-click anything you do not need at sign-in and choose Disable. Fewer startup apps is the single easiest speed win on most computers.

Go to Settings, System, Storage and turn on Storage Sense so Windows empties temporary files automatically. Then review the Downloads folder and the Recycle Bin, which are usually the two biggest offenders.

Go to Settings, System, About for the processor, memory, and Windows version. For graphics and more detail, press Windows key + R, type dxdiag, and press Enter.

Click the network icon by the clock, choose your network, and enter the password. If it will not connect, turn Wi-Fi off and on, restart the computer, then restart your router by unplugging it for thirty seconds. That sequence resolves most drops.

Go to Settings, Apps, Default apps, select the browser you prefer, and click Set default. You can do the same for your PDF reader and email program from the same screen.

Go to Settings, Bluetooth and devices, Printers and scanners, then Add device. Make sure the printer is on and on the same network. If Windows cannot find it, the printer's own app or a USB cable usually gets it done.

Go to Settings, Accounts, Sign-in options. Choose PIN or Password and follow the prompts. On a company computer you can also press Ctrl + Alt + Del and choose Change a password.

Go to Settings, System, Notifications. Turn off apps you never need to hear from, and use Do not disturb for meetings and focused work. Turning off the suggestions and tips at the bottom of that page quiets Windows itself.

Go to Settings, Accessibility, Text size and drag the slider. If everything, not just text, feels small, go to Settings, System, Display and raise Scale instead.

Open Windows Security from the Start menu, choose Virus and threat protection, and click Quick scan. Windows Defender is built in and genuinely good. If something looks infected and you are a client, stop and call us before clicking anything else.

Go to Settings, Apps, Installed apps, find the program, click the three dots, and choose Uninstall. If you do not recognize a program, search its name before removing it, or ask us.

Plug it in, then press Windows key + P and choose Extend. Arrange the two screens under Settings, System, Display by dragging them to match how they sit on your desk.

Open File Explorer, right-click This PC, choose Map network drive, pick a letter, and enter the folder path your office uses, such as two backslashes, the server name, then the share name. Check Reconnect at sign-in so it comes back after a restart.

Hold Shift while clicking Restart from the Start menu's power button. After the blue menu appears, choose Troubleshoot, Advanced options, Startup Settings, Restart, then press 4. Safe Mode loads only the essentials, which is useful when something misbehaves at every normal startup.