2015 Most Popular Windows Downloads and Posts
Windows 10 made a splash this year with a ton of new improvements, a ton of old features, and did we mention it’s free? Here are our best Windows posts from one of the most significant years in platform history.
How to skip the line and upgrade to Windows 10 now
If you’ve backed up a copy of Windows 10 but haven’t received an update request yet, here’s a secret: you can skip the line and update right now.
How to clean install Windows 10
Windows 10 is finally here, and your computer will automatically prompt you to upgrade. But if you’d rather start from scratch, you can do a clean install – you just have to follow a few steps in the correct order.
What Windows 10 Privacy Nightmare Settings Really Do
Windows 10 has a few handy new features, but according to the rest of the web, it also has features that hide any semblance of privacy. But this opinion is a little exaggerated. Let’s take a closer look at what each of these settings actually do, and which ones are actually a privacy issue.
Lifehacker Pack for Windows: Our list of essential Windows apps
There are more awesome programs in Windows than we can count, but some of them are essential for just about any PC setup. In this year’s Annual Lifehacker Pack for Windows, we’re highlighting the downloads you need to improve productivity, communication, media management, and more.
The best new features in Windows 10
Today is the day Windows 10 finally arrived! Although the rollout will be in waves , we have been launching the Insider Preview for several months now. Here are some of the best features you can expect when ( or if ) you decide to upgrade.
How to customize Windows 10 and fix minor inconveniences
Windows 10 removes a lot of the annoyances left over from Windows 8, but it also has a few of its own – however small they may be. Here’s how to tweak several new features of the OS and fix minor features.
Why I started using a gaming mouse and keyboard to get the real work done
Everyone knows that gaming mice and keyboards can get you to play fast-paced games at their best. But with all these buttons and macros, they can really help you work smarter. This is why I swear by them.
Why is the Windows 10 “system” process using so much RAM?
If you’ve taken the jump and upgraded to Windows 10 , you might have noticed something odd: the System process sometimes takes up an insane amount of RAM, possibly over 1GB. This isn’t actually a bug, it’s a Windows 10 feature. Here’s how it works.
Should I upgrade to Windows 10?
Windows 10 is finally here. You’ve seen some of its best new features , even heard what it’s like to use every day. But you might be wondering if you should upgrade. For some, it’s free, a great update, and a foregone conclusion. Others are better off waiting or thinking about other options. Let’s see where you fall.
Microsoft now lets you download Windows 7 ISOs with a valid license
If you don’t have a Windows 7 disc on hand, but want to create a custom installation , start Windows from a USB stick, or just do a fresh install, you’ll need the disc ISO file. Previously, you could download them from Digital River servers , but these links no longer work. Microsoft now has a Software Recovery Center where you can download these ISO images for free.
Anything you can ask Cortana to do in Windows 10
Cortana is one of the coolest new features in Windows 10. You may already be familiar with personal assistants like Google Now and Siri, but now they’re built right into your desktop! Here’s how to get information, manage your schedule, and even run a few Google commands.
Best Duplicate File Finder for Windows
You are downloading too much shit. Sometimes you download the same crap a few times. Even if you need to keep these files, you won’t need two of them. To get rid of deceptions, we recommend dupeGuru.
Find out if you will get a free upgrade to Windows 10 with this flowchart
There has been a lot of misunderstanding about who will get the free updates to Windows 10 on July 29th , but this flowchart should make it simpler and easier to determine if you do.
The best Windows 10 features you probably haven’t heard of
Windows 10 has arrived. It doesn’t matter if you’re jumping over the edge or still trying to decide if you should upgrade , chances are you’ve heard of some of the best new features in Windows 10 . Here are some of the really cool ones that you may not have heard of.
What’s new in the big November Windows 10 update
Windows 10 is getting its first major update today with a number of features you requested, such as colored title bars, fixes to the Start menu, and (finally!) The best way to activate your Windows 10 license.
How to customize the Start menu in Windows 10
Over the past few years, the Windows Start menu has dangled in front of us and picked up more times than we can count, but finally it came back – and brought many new tricks. For the first time, the Start Menu is highly customizable, which means you can make it work exactly the way you want it to.
How to hide the Get Windows 10 icon from the taskbar
This week Microsoft officially announced the release date for Windows 10 and allowed you to reserve a copy using the icon that appeared on the taskbar. But after that, the system tray icon just … stays there. Here’s how to get rid of it.
Windows 10 apps you really need to use
Microsoft has done a big job with its new Universal Apps for Windows 10. While some developers are in no rush to join the bandwagon, some have developed new versions of their apps just for Windows 10 and are worth taking a look at.
I’m a privacy advocate but still use Windows 10 and Google Now
Privacy is important and we must fight for it . I have said this many times . But when Windows 10 launched, I greeted Cortana, despite some concerns from privacy activists . It sounds disingenuous, but it’s easy to resolve if you understand how privacy works as currency. This is how I continue to advocate for a safer, privacy-focused Internet and continue to use these great free tools.
Crapware is a terrible problem and it’s our fault
I love free apps. Who doesn’t love getting something for free? There is only one problem: on the other side of this download link, each developer must choose whether to charge money for their app or offer it for free and find another way to make money. And when we refuse to pay, we make that decision for them. We have created a demand for bundled malware.