How to Connect to Remote Assistance

Windows Remote Assistance lets someone you trust take over your PC and fix a problem from wherever they are.

Send Invite to Control Computer

  1. Hit the Windows Key.
  2. Type “msra“.
  3. Click on the “msra” result.

4. Here you need to decide are you going to send via webmail or open a program like outlook (How do you access your email on this computer)

If you use a program like Outlook it will open in the email program like this

Else you chose to create a file and it will prompt you to save the file on your computer so you can attach it to your webmail.

You can also use programs like Logmein or Teamviewer.

How to Change the Icon Size in Windows 10

Do you want the desktop icons in Windows 10 bigger so you could stop squinting at them and make them easier to tap on a touch screen? Or do you wish they were smaller so the shortcuts didn’t take up as much space on your screen?

1. Right-click on an empty space on the desktop.

2. Select View from the contextual menu.

3. Select either Large icons, Medium icons, or Small icons. The default is medium icons.

 

How to Change the Size of the Taskbar Icons

If you want to change the size of the icons in your taskbar, there’s a different setting for that, this will also change the size of text, apps, and other items across Windows.

1. Right-click on an empty space on the desktop.

3. Move the slider under “Change the size of text…” to 100%, 125%, 150%, or 175%. 

 

4. Hit Apply at the bottom of the settings window. Windows might ask you to log out and log back in for a more consistent experience.

 

This will not only make the icons in the taskbar a bit larger, but it will also make text bigger in apps like Microsoft Edge and Calendar, as well as in Windows notification windows.

How to check for updates – Windows 10

Windows by default will reach out online to check for updates by itself. But if for some reason you need to check for updates yourself here is how it is done.

On your keyboard hit your windows key 

 

This will bring up your menu then select the settings “Gear” icon

This will bring up your windows settings screen, at the bottom you will select Updates

On the next screen is where you can check to see if your PC is updated. You can also change your active hours so windows will not try to update while you are working. You can also Pause updates on this screen.

 

Windows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts are keys or combinations of keys that provide an alternative way to do something that you’d typically do with a mouse. Click an option below, and it’ll open to display a table of related shortcuts:

Copy, Paste and other general shortcuts
Press this key To do this
Ctrl + X Cut the selected item.
Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert) Copy the selected item.
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert) Paste the selected item.
Ctrl + Z Undo an action.
Alt + Tab Switch between open apps.
Alt + F4 Close the active item, or exit the active app.
Windows logo key  + L Lock your PC.
Windows logo key  + D Display and hide the desktop.
F2 Rename the selected item.
F3 Search for a file or folder in File Explorer.
F4 Display the address bar list in File Explorer.
F5 Refresh the active window.
F6 Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop.
F10 Activate the Menu bar in the active app.
Alt + F8 Show your password on the sign-in screen.
Alt + Esc Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened.
Alt + underlined letter Perform the command for that letter.
Alt + Enter Display properties for the selected item.
Alt + Spacebar Open the shortcut menu for the active window.
Alt + Left arrow Go back.
Alt + Right arrow Go forward.
Alt + Page Up Move up one screen.
Alt + Page Down Move down one screen.
Ctrl + F4 Close the active document (in apps that are full-screen and let you have multiple documents open at the same time).
Ctrl + A Select all items in a document or window.
Ctrl + D (or Delete) Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin.
Ctrl + R (or F5) Refresh the active window.
Ctrl + Y Redo an action.
Ctrl + Right arrow Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word.
Ctrl + Left arrow Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word.
Ctrl + Down arrow Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph.
Ctrl + Up arrow Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph.
Ctrl + Alt + Tab Use the arrow keys to switch between all open apps.
Alt + Shift + arrow keys When a group or tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it in the direction specified.
Ctrl + Shift + arrow keys When a tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it into another tile to create a folder.
Ctrl + arrow keys Resize the Start menu when it’s open.
Ctrl + arrow key (to move to an item) + Spacebar Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop.
Ctrl + Shift with an arrow key Select a block of text.
Ctrl + Esc Open Start.
Ctrl + Shift + Esc Open Task Manager.
Ctrl + Shift Switch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are available.
Ctrl + Spacebar Turn the Chinese input method editor (IME) on or off.
Shift + F10 Display the shortcut menu for the selected item.
Shift with any arrow key Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text in a document.
Shift + Delete Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first.
Right arrow Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu.
Left arrow Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu.
Esc Stop or leave the current task.
PrtScn Take a screenshot of your whole screen and copy it to the clipboard. 

Note

  • You can change this shortcut so it also opens  screen snipping, which lets you edit your screenshot. Select Start  Settings Ease of Access Keyboard, and turn on the toggle under Print Screen shortcut.
Windows Logo Key Shorcuts
Press this key To do this
Windows logo key  Open or close Start.
Windows logo key  + A Open Action center.
Windows logo key  + B Set focus in the notification area.
Windows logo key  + C

Open Cortana in listening mode.

Notes

  • This shortcut is turned off by default. To turn it on, select Start  > Settings  > Cortana, and turn on the toggle under Let Cortana listen for my commands when I press the Windows logo key + C.
  • Cortana is available only in certain countries/regions, and some Cortana features might not be available everywhere. If Cortana isn’t available or is turned off, you can still use search.
Windows logo key  + Shift + C Open the charms menu.
Windows logo key  + D Display and hide the desktop.
Windows logo key  + Alt + D Display and hide the date and time on the desktop.
Windows logo key  + E Open File Explorer.
Windows logo key  + F Open Feedback Hub and take a screenshot.
Windows logo key  + G Open Game bar when a game is open.
Windows logo key  + H Start dictation.
Windows logo key  + I Open Settings.
Windows logo key  + J Set focus to a Windows tip when one is available.

When a Windows tip appears, bring focus to the Tip.  Pressing the keyboard shortcuts again to bring focus to the element on the screen to which the Windows tip is anchored.

Windows logo key  + K Open the Connect quick action.
Windows logo key  + L Lock your PC or switch accounts.
Windows logo key  + M Minimize all windows.
Windows logo key  + O Lock device orientation.
Windows logo key  + P Choose a presentation display mode.
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Q Open Quick Assist.
Windows logo key  + R Open the Run dialog box.
Windows logo key  + S Open search.
Windows logo key  + Shift + S Take a screenshot of part of  your screen. 
Windows logo key  + T Cycle through apps on the taskbar.
Windows logo key  + U Open Ease of Access Center.
Windows logo key  + V Open the clipboard. 

Note

  • To activate this shortcut, select Start  > Settings  > System  Clipboard, and turn on the toggle under Clipboard history
Windows logo key  + Shift + V Cycle through notifications.
Windows logo key  + X Open the Quick Link menu.
Windows logo key  + Y Switch input between Windows Mixed Reality and your desktop.
Windows logo key  + Z Show the commands available in an app in full-screen mode.
Windows logo key  + period (.) or semicolon (;) Open emoji panel.
Windows logo key  + comma (,) Temporarily peek at the desktop.
Windows logo key  + Pause Display the System Properties dialog box.
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + F Search for PCs (if you’re on a network).
Windows logo key  + Shift + M Restore minimized windows on the desktop.
Windows logo key  + number Open the desktop and start the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. If the app is already running, switch to that app.
Windows logo key  + Shift + number Open the desktop and start a new instance of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + number Open the desktop and switch to the last active window of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.
Windows logo key  + Alt + number Open the desktop and open the Jump List for the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Shift + number Open the desktop and open a new instance of the app located at the given position on the taskbar as an administrator.
Windows logo key  + Tab Open Task view.
Windows logo key  + Up arrow Maximize the window.
Windows logo key  + Down arrow Remove current app from screen or minimize the desktop window.
Windows logo key  + Left arrow Maximize the app or desktop window to the left side of the screen.
Windows logo key  + Right arrow Maximize the app or desktop window to the right side of the screen.
Windows logo key  + Home Minimize all except the active desktop window (restores all windows on second stroke).
Windows logo key  + Shift + Up arrow Stretch the desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen.
Windows logo key  + Shift + Down arrow Restore/minimize active desktop windows vertically, maintaining width.
Windows logo key  + Shift + Left arrow or Right arrow Move an app or window in the desktop from one monitor to another.
Windows logo key  + Spacebar Switch input language and keyboard layout.
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Spacebar Change to a previously selected input.
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Enter Turn on Narrator.
Windows logo key  + Plus (+) Open Magnifier.
Windows logo key  + forward slash (/) Begin IME reconversion.
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + V Open shoulder taps.
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Shift + B Wake PC from blank or black screen

Avast Antivirus – How to register your free copy

We recommend our customers some type of Antivirus at a minimum. We recommend and have used AVAST for many years. Avast offers a lightweight flexible product, from free to paid. 

It is no longer necessary to register your Avast Free Antivirus as your initial free license automatically activates after installation. When your free license expires, you can let the program automatically renew it. Alternatively, you can manually activate your 1-year license by following the steps in this article.

Activate Avast Free Antivirus

  • Right-click the  Avast icon in your system tray and select Registration information.

  • On the My licenses screen, click the Upgrade now button next to Avast Free Antivirus in the list located under Licenses on this PC.

  • Click Select in the Avast Free Antivirus column.

  • Click the X icon on the new screen that appears to return to the My licenses screen.

Your Avast Free Antivirus license is now activated for one year. The expiration date of your license appears under Licenses on this PC.

When your license expires, you can let the program automatically renew it or manually activate your license again using the steps above.