How to: 10 things to do after installing Windows 10

Technical Level : Basic

If you just performed an upgrade or new installation of Windows 10, here are some things you should right away.

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Top Things to Configure After Upgrading to Windows 10

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Comments (3) 

Wow, just got a free install of Win 10 and I have issues and errors I cannot fix. I am not techie, but can follow most directions, unless they instruct you to do actions that are not fully explained or I don’t know how to do.

I did try and get Autologin on my desk top. I downloaded a file, it shows up in my files, but does not work. I keep having to sign in. Other issues exist. I now have NO sound and no recognition of the driver I did have in Win 7. Not sure what to do there. Well, you get the picture. I’d like answers to my Win 10 «fails», in a simpler explanation and fix. It’s frustrating and I wish I had Not changed to 10. I will try to fix, but not finding answers. Oh, another BIG issue is that with some instructions they show a start menu or action that does not look like the box I get when I click Start. sigh.

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Wow, just got a free install of Win 10 and I have issues and errors I cannot fix. I am not techie, but can follow most directions, unless they instruct you to do actions that are not fully explained or I don’t know how to do.

I did try and get Autologin on my desk top. I downloaded a file, it shows up in my files, but does not work. I keep having to sign in. Other issues exist. I now have NO sound and no recognition of the driver I did have in Win 7. Not sure what to do there. Well, you get the picture. I’d like answers to my Win 10 «fails», in a simpler explanation and fix. It’s frustrating and I wish I had Not changed to 10. I will try to fix, but not finding answers. Oh, another BIG issue is that with some instructions they show a start menu or action that does not look like the box I get when I click Start. sigh.

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Reactivating Windows 10 after a hardware change

Activation helps verify that your copy of Windows is genuine and hasn’t been used on more devices than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow.

When installing Windows 10, the digital license associates itself with your device’s hardware. If you make significant hardware changes on your device, such as replacing your motherboard, Windows will no longer find a license that matches your device, and you’ll need to reactivate Windows to get it up and running.

To activate Windows, you’ll need either a digital license or a product key. To find out which you need, see «What activation method do I use, product key or digital license?» in Activate Windows 10. Then, use the following info to help you successfully prepare for a hardware change and reactivate Windows 10.

Prepare your Windows 10 device for a hardware change

First, follow these steps to find out if Windows 10 is already activated.

Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Activation .

If you’re not activated, complete the activation process with the steps you see on the Activation page. If you experience an error while activating, see Get help with Windows activation errors.

Once you’ve confirmed that Windows 10 is activated, follow these steps:

In Windows 10 (version 1607 or later), it is essential that you link your Microsoft account with the Windows 10 digital license on your device. Linking your Microsoft account with your digital license allows you to reactivate Windows using the Activation troubleshooter whenever you make a significant hardware change.

First, you’ll need to find out if your Microsoft account (What is a Microsoft account?) is linked to your Windows 10 digital license. To find out, select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security and then select Activation . The activation status message will tell you if your account is linked.

Windows is activated with a digital license

This means that your Microsoft account is not linked to your digital license.

Follow instructions for Add an account.

Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account

This means that your Microsoft account is already linked to your digital license.

No further action is required. You are ready to use the activation troubleshooter.

If your Microsoft account is not linked to your digital license, follow these steps to Add an account:

Sign in as an administrator to add your Microsoft account. To confirm that you’re using an administrator account, select the Start button, then select Settings > Accounts > Your info . Under your name, you’ll see Administrator. If you’re not an administrator, see Create a local user or administrator account.
Go to Your info in Settings

Confirm that the administrator account is also your Microsoft account by checking to see if an email address is displayed above Administrator. If an email address is displayed, this is a Microsoft account. If not, you’re logged in using a local account. If you don’t yet have a Microsoft account, see How to create a new Microsoft account.

Once you confirm that you’re an administrator and using your Microsoft account, go back to the Activation page, select Add an account, enter your Microsoft account and password, then select Sign in.

After your Microsoft account has been added, the message on the Activation page will change to: Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account.

Make sure that the edition, Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro, is the same before and after your hardware change. Your digital license and product key will reactivate only if the edition remains the same.

You can see your edition on the same Activation page where you checked your activation status. To see which edition you have, select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Activation .

If you used a product key to get to Windows 10, then you’ll need that key again after the hardware change. To find out how to locate your key, see Find your Windows product key.

For more info about product keys and digital licenses, see Activate Windows 10.

Reactivate Windows 10 after a hardware change

When you’re ready to reactivate, make sure that your device is connected to the internet and then follow the steps for either a digital license or product key.

You’ll need to first add your Microsoft account and link your account to the digital license on your device. After linking your Microsoft account, run the Activation troubleshooter to reactivate Windows 10.

This troubleshooter will only be available if your copy of Windows 10 (version 1607 or later) isn’t activated.

To use the Activation troubleshooter:

Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Activation > Troubleshoot . The troubleshooter will show Windows can’t be activated on your device.

Select I changed hardware on this device recently, then select Next.

Enter your connected Microsoft account and password, then select Sign in. The troubleshooter will only work with the connected Microsoft account.

From the list of devices that are linked to your Microsoft account, select the check box next to This is the device I’m using right now.

If you don’t see the device you’re using in the list of results, make sure that you signed in using the same Microsoft account you associated with the Windows 10 digital license on your device.

If you continue to experience errors while activating, see Get help with Windows activation errors and locate the error you’re getting.

If you didn’t link your Microsoft account to the digital license before the hardware change AND you used a product key to upgrade to Windows 10, then continue to next section.

If Windows 10 wasn’t pre-installed on your device when purchased and you used a product key to upgrade to Windows 10, then you’ll need that same product key after the hardware change.

Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Activation > Change Product Key, then enter the product key.

If you installed a retail copy of Windows 10 on your device using a Windows 10 product key and then made hardware changes, follow this same process using your Windows 10 product key.

If you continue to experience errors while activating, see Get help with Windows activation errors and locate the error you’re getting.

If you don’t have a digital license or product key

If you don’t have a product key or digital license, you can purchase a Windows 10 digital license after installation finishes. Follow these steps to make a purchase:

Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Activation . Then select Go to Store to go to the Microsoft Store app where you can purchase a Windows 10 digital license.

Need more help?

If you need additional help reactivating Windows on your device, contact customer support.

10 things to do after installing or upgrading to Windows 10

So you have upgraded to Windows 10. That is great! There are a few things you may want to do now. This post will tell you the some important settings you need to take a look at & things you need to do after installing or upgrading to Windows 10.

Things to do after you install or upgrade to Windows 10

1] Check for Updates and its settings

Once the upgrade process is completed, I suggest you open the Start Menu and click on Settings to open the Settings app. Next click on Update and Security. Here, under Windows Update, click on Check for updates button. There may be more updates – especially some new features device drivers that your system may want to download.

Let the download and installation complete and then restart your computer. Wait for a while and let all the system processes complete their job and settle down. Again open Windows Update settings. Ensure that you are not set to get Insider Builds. Under Advanced settings, you may want to change the default Automatic Restart to Notify to schedule restart. Also, decide if you want to Defer Updates.

Next, click on the Choose how upgrades are delivered and then move the slider to Off position, to turn off Windows Update Delivery Optimization or WUDO.

2] Take additional actions

Check the Notifications and Action Center. Check if your Windows 10 is activated. See if there are pending things you need to complete. Click on them for more details.

3] Is your antivirus software running?

Check if your security software is activated and working. My third-party security suite, along with a few other software, was deactivated. I had to reinstall them. If you use the built-in Windows Defender, you may need to configure Windows Defender settings, update it manually the first time and run a full scan. You may also want to check if all your other programs are working – like some have reported that AutoCAD was not working after Windows 10 upgrade.

4] Manage Wi-Fi Sense

You need to check your Wi-Fi Sense settings. Wi-Fi Sense is a feature in Windows 10 that allows you to connect to your friend’s shared Wi-Fi connections. You can manage your Wi-Fi settings and decide whom the Wi-Fi details should be shared with, or you may turn off Wi-Fi Sense completely. I have turned it off, as I have no interest in sharing my Wi-Fi network details with my Facebook, Outlook.com or Skype contacts.

5] Personalize Windows 10

Personalize your Windows 10 experience. Especially set the Colors settings via Settings app > Personalization > Colors. Customize the Windows 10 Start menu to suit your requirements. You may want to personalize a few more things too.

Make File Explorer open to This PC instead of Quick Access, if you wish to. Install or move Windows 10 Apps to another Drive. As of date, this feature has been deferred for a later time, so it may not be available currently. Set Sign-in options. Sign in securely using a PIN. Set up a PIN. Set the quick links you want to appear in the Start Menu using the Personalization app.

Unpin programs from the taskbar or Start Menu that you don’t need, and add your favorite ones there.

Change Windows 10 Privacy settings. Our Ultimate Windows Tweaker 4 will let you easily tweak Windows 10 Privacy settings and more!

6] Set default programs and browser

Don’t like using the built-in default apps or programs? Change default programs. You may want to set your default browser, change the default media player or any other program.

7] Tweak Microsoft Edge

Take a look at Microsoft Edge. Import your browser bookmarks and favorites into the Edge browser. Change your home page, Change your default search engine if you wish. These Edge browser tips and tricks will help you get the best out of Microsoft Edge.

8] Set your Search bar settings

Do you want to make the Search Bar smaller and create more space on the taskbar? Right-click on the taskbar > Search > Show icon only. Do you want to taskbar search to search locally the computer only and not the web? Turn off web search in that case.

9] Use the Battery Saver Mode

Make Windows 10 battery last longer. Use the new Battery Saver mode. When activated, the feature conserves battery life by limiting the background activity and adjusting the hardware settings.

Anything I missed?

Now take a look at these Windows 10 tips and tricks to get the best out of this new operating system.

Date: March 2, 2020 Tags: Tips, Windows 10