Keyboard shortcuts
It never ceases to amaze me how many of these keyboard shortcuts I use almost daily – and yet they still remain largely unknown to most people. Here’s a handy infographic to make all of our lives easier!
Disable Windows Updates in Windows 10 and 11
Problem:
Updates keep messing up the PC.
Look, I’ve never been a big fan of Windows Updates, especially the automatic ones. They kick in at exactly the wrong time, forcing you to wait to restart or going in badly pushing you into an inescapable boot loop. And it’s even worse since Windows 8, where you can no longer just disable them. However I’ve run across a solution that sometimes works…
Solution:
Try adding the following key to the registry:
- Use the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run command.
- Type regedit, and click OK to open the Registry.
- Browse the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
- Right-click the Windows (folder) key, select New, and then click Key.
- Name the new key WindowsUpdate and press Enter.
- Right-click the newly created key, select new, and click Key.
- Name the new key AU and press Enter.
- Inside the newly created key, right-click on the right side, select New, and click on DWORD (32-bit) Value.
- Name the new key AUOptions and press Enter.
- Double-click the newly created key and change its value to 2. It’s for “Notify for download and notify for install”. Click OK.
- Close the Registry to complete the task.
Outlook will not load
Problem:
When trying to start Outlook, you recieve the error :
“Cannot start Microsoft Office Outlook. Cannot open the Outlook window”
This error shows up because something has redirected or courrupted your user profile.
Solution:
Go to the Start menu. Hit run..then type the following; Outlook.exe /resetnavpane
This clears and regenerates the Navigation Pane for the current profile
Outlook slow switching between folders
Problem:
A delay between switching folders in inbox, which is als present when switching back to inbox from other places such as Calander and Contacts. This can be fixed by disabling hardware accelleration.
Solution:
There may be a control for this in file/options/advanced under “Graphics” or “Display”. If not, you’ll have to edit the registry.
Step 1 – open your registry. Press the windows key and type “Regedit” then press enter or click the Regedit icon, windows 7 users you can type Regedit in your start bar.
Step 2 – Browse to: COMPUTER HKEY_CURRENT_USER Software Microsoft Office 15.0 Common Graphics. If you don not have a “Graphics” right click on “Common” and choose “New” then “Key” and create “Graphics” (no quotes)
Step 3 – Once on the Graphics “folder” right click it and choose new DWORD (32-bit) Value
Step 4 – Give the new DWORD a Value name: DisableHardwareAcceleration and give it a Value of 1 – Click OK to save it.