Futurelawyer

Make Your Windows Computer Work Like You Want It To.

Microsoft Power Toys. Power Toys is a Microsoft utility that contains many ways to customize your Windows computer. Want to make your machine yours? The Power Toys tools are the way. You can resize screens, make windows show always on top, quickly mute video conferences (avoids embarrassment), create keyboard shortcuts, launch apps instantaneously with a key combination, rename files in bulk, and a host of other cool functions. Install it. Play with it. Enjoy power and toys. What more could you want?

Stardock Start 11 - Control Your Windows 11 Interface.

Stardock Start 11. One of the first programs I install when I get a new computer is Start 11 from Stardock. I hate the tiled interface, and I bought this little $5 program when Windows 7's efficient lower left interface went away some years ago. It is still only $5.99, and it transforms the way I interact with the computer. Microsoft ruined the beautiful, simple lower left menu buttons when it went with the ugly tiles. Of course, interfaces are a highly personal thing, and Stardock recognizes that, giving you the option to pick and choose how your menu system looks and works. For six bucks, your regain control over your computer use. Thanks, Stardock.

Be A Windows God With One Click Of Your Mouse.

How to Enable God Mode In Windows. Windows is a complicated operating system, and there are literally hundreds of options that can be optimized or tweaked to suit your personal preferences. But, what a pain it is to find one when you need it. What if you want to auto-hide the taskbar? It will get you some more screen real estate, for sure. Of course, some of us like having all our program options visible at all times. In any event, good luck remembering how to get to the taskbar settings, along with dozens of other tasks. The good news is that the Vista inspired God mode, which puts just about every Windows command in one place, has survived all the way to the current Windows 11, and you can install it free and easily. Tom's Guide is a great site, and the instructions are online. Be a computer god. You know you want to.

Are You A Tab Switcher Or A Desktop Switcher? Windows Tip Of The Day.

How to Use Virtual Desktops In Windows. We humans are creatures of habit. We will continue doing things the same way because they are familiar, even though much more efficient methods of getting work done appear. Lawyers spend a lot of time in front of computer screens these days, and, for many, it was a tough slog to learn the habits required to be efficient in front of a computer monitor. However, some old habits serve us well, such as skill with a modern keyboard. Keyboard shortcuts take a while, but forcing habitual use can be helpful. Many of us are not familiar with a more common tip, using more than one desktop. Virtual desktops can act like 2 or 3 computers in one, and are available with the click of a mouse. Just click the little taskview button on the taskbar, and add a desktop by pressing the plus virtual screen. Voila, a new desktop that, like a blank canvas, is ready for any app you want to run. Go back and forth between desktops to have a full screen for any endeavor. This was introduced in Windows 10 and works fine in Windows 11. Learn new habits. The old ones are wasting precious minutes of your life that you will never get back.

Do You Know Where Your Data Is?

Acronis True Image Is Where My Data Is. I am always preaching about data back up, because the digital space is invisible to us, and we keep our lives there. My question isn't completely rhetorical. I really do want to know where my essential data is, all the time, every time. Storage is key. I keep much of my data safe by storing it on Micro SDs, USB drives, and in the cloud. The more places it is stored, the better the likelihood I can find it in a catastrophe. One method I have used is to create a digital image of my drives on a regular basis. While I have recently been using the Windows based imaging app, it was failing on a regular basis, and I didn't trust it anymore. So, I spent $49.99 on an old faithful, Acronis True Image, now named Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office. I don't need the Anti Virus and Cyber Protection functions, since I have Malwarebytes for that; but, the imaging and other security tools are second to none. It keeps as running image of my drive on a 2 Terabyte USB external drive, and a backup image on my portable 2 Terabyte drive that I carry around. It works in the background, and, since I have it scheduled every night at 2 in the morning, I never have to follow it around. It never ceases to amaze me that otherwise intelligent people, who install security systems on their homes and offices, and fancy locks on their doors, don't do rudimentary things to protect their lifeblood data. No more preaching. I will just lead by example. If you don't follow, that is on you.

 

Windows 11 - We Can Build It Better. We Can Make It Faster.

Why Windows 11 Feels Faster Than Windows 10. I have never had, and used, a daily driver notebook computer longer than the Microsoft Book 2 I am writing this post on. It is going on 4 years, and still going strong. It has a core I7 processor that, over time, has been left in the dust by new, faster chips; but, it plugs along at a good pace for lawyer type use. For document creation and assembly, law office accounting and billing, daily web browsing, and normal business computing, it is dependable, and fast. At least, I thought that, after 3 years, it was pretty fast. Upgrading to Windows 11 makes my beast feel like a sports car. It feels faster, quicker, easier to navigate, and prettier. It is somewhat like trading an old car for a new one. They perform the same tasks; but, they do it better, faster and with panache. If your workhorse is on the list of compatible tech (generally an 8th generation I5 or better), get Windows 11. I think I can get another couple of years out of the tank I call my computer.

Windows 11 - You Might Like It...You Might Hate It...Here's How To Hedge Your Bets.

How To Install Windows 11, And Then Remove It. Call it a test run. Starting today, you can download and install Windows 11, the next iteration of the world's most popular OS. Like an engagement, what if you don't like him or her after a test drive? Well, this article shows you how to show Windows 11 the door, in the nicest way possible. You don't have to marry Windows 11. Take her out for a spin, and, if you don't like it, leave it by the side of the road.

Start 11 Is Here - Get Ready For Windows 11.

Stardock Start 11. If you have been paying attention to me over the last few years, you know that I love the intuitive, lower left feel of the Windows 7 system. Stardock, for peanuts, ($5) has given me, and every Windows computer I have owned, the ability to ignore Microsoft's brain dead tile system, and other annoyances, by allowing me to customize the way I interact with them. Now, in anticipation of the Windows 11 launch on October 5th, 2021, the new version of Start, Start 11, is here. If you have taken my advice, and installed previous versions, you can upgrade for $3.95. Next to Malwarebytes, Start is the first thing I install on every new computer. How do you talk to your computer?

Sometimes I Feel Like A Voice Crying In The Wilderness.

Got A New Laptop? Here's How To Keep Your Data Safe. I realize that my computer security posts for the rest of us is like preaching to the choir. Most of you already do these things. But, now that Windows 11 will force you to take a look at new hardware to take advantage of Windows 11s hardware security, you should also know how to set up that new laptop so that you are protected, and your data is protected. First, install Malwarebytes or another rock solid Anti-malware and anti-ransomware software solution. Then, setup two factor authentication wherever you can. Then, become knowledgeable about phishing scams and how to avoid them. Then, be proactive about installing updates as they become available. Then, only use messaging or chat software that is encrypted end to end. For me, Signal is the best choice. Then, do not use public WiFi in hotels, waiting rooms, stores, restaurants, or anywhere else without a front end VPN application. I use PureVPN, but there are many competent programs out there. Be careful out there.

Android Apps On Your PC? Not So Fast, Kemo Sabe.

Android Apps On Windows. The announcement that Android apps would run natively on Windows 11 created some confusion. My first reaction was "Why?" My Android apps run fine on my phones and tablets. Then, I remembered that I like to access my Wyze security cameras that are set up at the office to see what is happening. I also have a couple at home. I can remotely monitor the house and office from anywhere. And, alas, there is no Windows desktop version of the Wyze software yet. I solved the problem with an Android emulator, BlueStacks. The only problem is that Bluestacks takes forever to load, and uses a ton of computer memory. So, it would be great to run it natively in the Windows environment. But, alas, that isn't the whole story. It seems that there will be no native Google apps and no Google Play Store, and no Google Play Services. Without them, Android just isn't worth it. Play Services performs many essential tasks for many Android apps, and native Google apps are essential to the Android experience. So, cool your jets, fellow Android nuts. We have a long wait ahead.