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System Recovery

How to restore Windows to a working state. How to reset your Android smartphone, or your iPhone, to its factory settings. How to troubleshoot problems with your gadgets, and computers.

tutorial How to enter the UEFI BIOS from Windows 10 (7 ways)

How to enter the UEFI BIOS from Windows 10 (7 ways)

Do you need to know how to access UEFI (BIOS) on your computer, because you want or need to adjust hardware settings, manage your boot devices, or maybe even overclock your processor? If you’re wondering how to enter BIOS on a Windows 10 device, know that there are several ways to do so. In this tutorial, I’ll show you all the different methods I
tutorial How to open UEFI (BIOS) from Windows 11 (7 ways)

How to open UEFI (BIOS) from Windows 11 (7 ways)

Do you have a Windows 11 computer or device and don’t know how to access the UEFI or BIOS settings? Are you facing issues with your PC, like booting or hardware configuration problems, that you think can be repaired from there? Are there performance tweaks you’d like to make in the UEFI (BIOS)? Whether you need to enter UEFI/BIOS to troubleshoot your computer or
tutorial How to use BSOD QR codes in Windows

How to use BSOD QR codes in Windows

QR codes have a mixed reputation. Some users and companies find them useful, while others are wary of potential risks. Regardless of your opinion on them, if you’re using Windows 10 or Windows 11 and encounter a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), you may notice a QR code. This feature is theoretically designed to help you understand what caused the BSOD and how to
tutorial Shortcuts for the UEFI BIOS & Windows Recovery Environment

Shortcuts for the UEFI BIOS & Windows Recovery Environment

When performing system maintenance, troubleshooting issues, or making hardware configuration changes, you may have to access your computer’s UEFI (BIOS) or the Windows Recovery Environment. Unfortunately, manually navigating through menus can be time-consuming, especially when you want or need to act as fast as possible. The good news is that in both Windows 10 and Windows 11, you can use commands and shortcuts for
tutorial How to trigger a BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) in Windows

How to trigger a BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) in Windows

Have you ever felt like you needed to consult an ancient Greek oracle to ask if your rock-solid Windows PC will ever crash? 🙂 While it’s rare to never have seen a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), it’s even rarer to trigger one on purpose. After all, why would you intentionally crash your own system? You’d almost be like a digital arsonist, right? But
tutorial What is a BSOD? How to find and troubleshoot BSOD error codes

What is a BSOD? How to find and troubleshoot BSOD error codes

The Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) is one of the most infamous things in Windows operating systems. It appears when your Windows machine encounters a critical error from which it cannot recover. BSOD errors have various causes, including hardware failures, driver issues, memory corruption, or even system file errors. Fortunately, each BSOD comes with an error code that can help identify the underlying problem
article What is BIOS? What is UEFI? How are they different?

What is BIOS? What is UEFI? How are they different?

If you are a casual computer user, you may have heard about the BIOS, UEFI, BIOS failures, or Dual BIOS motherboards, but you might be wondering what these terms mean. What is a BIOS except for a weird-sounding acronym? What does BIOS do? Moreover, what is UEFI and how is it different from BIOS? Are these things really that important for the operation of
tutorial How to factory reset Windows 10 and delete everything

How to factory reset Windows 10 and delete everything

Do you want to give your computer a fresh start? Wiping everything is the way to go if you’re selling it or just want a thorough cleaning. In case you’re not sure how to do it, that’s what this guide is for. I’ll walk you through the steps to completely wipe Windows 10 and restore it to its factory settings. This is also perfect
tutorial How to boot Windows 11 in Safe Mode (8 ways)

How to boot Windows 11 in Safe Mode (8 ways)

So, you have Windows 11 installed on your computer, but apps misbehave, and system features are constantly acting up, causing you headaches? If that’s the case, you’re probably looking for a way to troubleshoot and fix your system. Lucky for you, Windows 11 comes with a neat tool called Safe Mode that can help with the whole troubleshooting process. Now, you might be wondering,
tutorial How to reset Windows 10 without losing your files

How to reset Windows 10 without losing your files

If Windows 10 breaks and nothing’s working right, you might be thinking about a clean install. However, reinstalling it from scratch is quite a hassle and would mean that you must go through a rather elaborate process in order to save your files and reinstall Windows 10. Fortunately, you don’t have to do so because Windows 10 has a great trick up its sleeve.
tutorial How to downgrade Windows 11 and revert back to Windows 10

How to downgrade Windows 11 and revert back to Windows 10

Some people decide to take Microsoft’s advice and upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 using Windows Update or the Windows 11 Installation Assistant. Then, after a couple of days, they might discover they don’t like the new user interface and have trouble adapting, or they need some of the Windows 10 features that were removed from Windows 11. Others may buy a new
tutorial How to start Windows 11's Safe Mode with Command Prompt

How to start Windows 11's Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Being able to work in Safe Mode is essential when you have no other option for troubleshooting Windows 11 issues or boot failures. As Safe Mode loads only the most basic components required for the operating system to start, it can help you a lot in finding and resolving problems on your computer. Moreover, if you suspect some graphical user interface issues affect the
tutorial How to create a Windows recovery USB drive

How to create a Windows recovery USB drive

When Windows crashes because of a faulty update or when it doesn’t boot correctly, you can try fixing it with a recovery USB drive. Creating a recovery drive involves plugging a USB memory stick into a working Windows computer and running the Recovery Media Creator wizard. Here’s how it all works and how to create a recovery USB drive that works on any PC
article What is Safe Mode on a Windows computer?

What is Safe Mode on a Windows computer?

You may be familiar with the term Safe Mode in Windows, but do you know what it means and what it does? Do you want to learn more about it and how it differs from regular Windows? What about the differences between the three Safe Modes available on Windows operating systems? To get answers to all these questions, read this article: What is
tutorial How to turn off Safe Mode in Windows

How to turn off Safe Mode in Windows

Windows Safe Mode is a great way to troubleshoot your computer or device. You can use it to uninstall problematic drivers or programs and to remove stubborn malware. Once you have fixed your Windows problems, you can exit Safe Mode and boot normally into the Windows operating system... or can you? Read this article to learn four methods of turning off Safe Mode in
tutorial How to start Windows 10 in Safe Mode with Command Prompt

How to start Windows 10 in Safe Mode with Command Prompt

One way to troubleshoot Windows 10 problems or fix boot failures is to start the system in Safe Mode. Safe Mode only loads the essential components, which helps you isolate and solve the issues. However, some problems are so severe that they interfere with the graphical user interface, making Safe Mode with Command Prompt a better option, as it doesn’t run the Explorer shell.
tutorial How to start Windows 11 in Safe Mode with Networking

How to start Windows 11 in Safe Mode with Networking

If your Windows 11 system is having issues or failing to start, booting into Safe Mode can be a lifesaving step for troubleshooting. Safe Mode is a specialized startup mode that loads only essential components, allowing you to identify problems and potentially resolve them. More often than not, you also need internet connectivity for that, which makes Safe Mode with Networking indispensable. In this
tutorial How to start Windows 10 in Safe Mode with Networking

How to start Windows 10 in Safe Mode with Networking

If your Windows is acting up or not booting at all, you may want to try Safe Mode to fix it. Safe Mode is a special way of starting Windows that only loads the essential stuff, so you can troubleshoot and repair the issues. But sometimes, you need more than just the basics, like internet access. That’s where Safe Mode with Networking comes in
tutorial How to boot Windows 10 in Safe Mode

How to boot Windows 10 in Safe Mode

One of the best ways to troubleshoot Windows 10 issues is to use Safe Mode, a minimal environment that allows you to run the operating system with only the essential drivers and services. However, the old methods of pressing F8 or SHIFT + F8 during boot are no longer effective because Windows 10 boots too fast, and Microsoft disabled them. Instead, you have to
tutorial How to restore a backup made with Windows Backup

How to restore a backup made with Windows Backup

The Windows Backup app for Windows 11 and Windows 10 is not your regular backup solution. It doesn’t allow you to restore your entire system or any specific files, settings, apps, or credentials. The folders you’ve backed up are available directly in your OneDrive cloud storage. And, the other things you’ve backed up - settings, apps, credentials - can be restored only during the