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[Guide] Things To Do After Installing Windows 10

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When we install a new operating system in our computer, we need to customize several settings and options, install required software programs and device drivers, etc to make the computer ready for use.

But when we install a new version of Windows, it might come with new features and many changes. Since we are used to previous Windows version and its features, the new Windows features and changes might annoy us which may make the new Windows OS very hard to use.

Same thing happens when you install or upgrade to the recently released Windows 10 operating system in your computer. Windows 10 comes with lots of new features such as brand new Start Menu, new Settings app, Action Center, Cortana, OneDrive integration, new Edge web browser, etc.

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Windows_10_Logo.png

Many users who were using Windows 8/8.1 or Windows 7 or other older Windows versions in their computers and switched to Windows 10, may find the new features and modern (metro) apps and settings very uncomfortable.

That’s why, today in this exclusive article we are going to list some important things which you should do after installing Windows 10 in your computer. These things will not only help you in disabling new features which you don’t want to use but also help you in restoring old classic programs and UI which you miss in Windows 10.

So without wasting time lets start the guide:

Free Up Disk Space by Deleting Previous Windows Backup Files

If you upgraded from previous Windows version to Windows 10, you can get a good amount of free space on your hard disk by deleting the backup files of previous Windows version. Check out following tutorial to learn how to get free space in Windows:

[Tip] How to Get Extra Free Disk Space in Windows?

Restore Windows Photo Viewer

Microsoft has disabled Windows Photo Viewer program in Windows 10 which was the default picture viewer in previous Windows versions. Windows 10 comes with the new Photos app as default to open image files which is a little bit slow in opening image files.

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Windows_Photo_Viewer_Running_Windows_10.png

You can restore Windows Photo Viewer as default image viewer program in Windows 10 with the help of following exclusive tutorial:

[Tip] Restoring “Windows Photo Viewer” as Default in Windows 10

Customize Windows Update Settings

Microsoft has replaced the classic Windows Update program with new modern app in Windows 10. Also the options to customize Windows Update to notify users before downloading and installing new updates have been removed from its settings. Now Windows Update automatically downloads and installs new available updates without interrupting you in Windows 10.

This might cause problems if you are using a limited or slow Internet connection. Also sometimes Windows Update may install new driver updates which might break your OS.

With the help of following tutorial, you can customize Windows Update settings and can force it to always notify you before downloading new updates:

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Forcing Windows 10 to Always Notify Before Downloading Updates

Fixing Windows 10 Automatic Updates Install Problem

Restore Classic Programs and User Interface

Microsoft has replaced classic Calculator program in Windows 10 with a new modern Calculator app. Also there are many changes in UI such as new modern fly-outs for icons present in Taskbar notification area (or System tray).

Windows_10_Battery_Flyout_Change.png

You can take help of following tutorial to restore classic Calculator, Internet Explorer shortcut, MS Paint, Wordpad programs as well as restore classic UI for system tray icons:

[Tip] Restoring Classic Programs and User Interface in Windows 10

The above mentioned tutorial will also help you in restoring classic Desktop personalization options such as changing themes, wallpapers, color and appearance, etc.

Improve Privacy Settings

There are lots of talks about privacy settings in Windows 10. People claim that Windows 10 collects user data and automatically sends it to Microsoft. If you are worried about this data collection and telemetry, you can improve your privacy settings in Windows 10 using following guide:

[Guide] Best Privacy Settings for Windows 10

Get Rid of White Titlebars in Program Windows

When you start using Windows 10, you immediately notice that all program windows show White titlebars. It looks very annoying and hurts the eyes. You can fix this annoyance and enable colored titlebars in Windows 10 using following tutorial:

White_Inactive_Titlebar_Windows_10.png

[Tip] Get Rid of White Titlebars in Windows 10

You can also get colors on inactive programs titlebars using following tutorial:

[Windows 10 Tip] Get Colors on Titlebars of Inactive (Background) Program Windows

Customize Windows Explorer (or This PC)

“This PC” in Windows 10 comes with many changes such as new icons in Navigation Pane, 6 extra folders and the new Quick Access or Home View. Also the text size in titlebars is a little bit smaller than previous Windows versions. If you find these new additions unnecessary, you can remove or disable these new features and icons using following tutorials:

How to Disable Default “Quick Access” or “Home View” in Windows 10 File Explorer

[Windows 10 Tip] Remove Icons from Navigation Pane of This PC

[Tip] Remove 6 Extra Folders from Windows 10 Explorer “This PC”

[Tip] Increase Titlebar Text Font Size in Windows 10

Switch Between Start Menu and Start Screen

Windows 10 comes with new Start Menu but if you are missing Windows 8/8.1 Start Screen, you can enable a similar Start Screen in Windows 10 using following tutorial:

How to Switch Between Start Menu and Start Screen in Windows 10

Clean Up Taskbar

Windows 10 Taskbar contains some extra icons such as Cortana Searchbox, Task View and Touch keyboard button. If you don’t need these extra icons, you can clean the Taskbar by removing these unnecessary items with the help of following tutorial:

Search_Task_View_Buttons_Removed_Windows_10_Taskbar.png

Remove Search Box, Task View and Touch Keyboard Buttons from Windows 10 Taskbar

Disable Cortana, OneDrive and Action Center

If you don’t want to use the new Cortana assistant or don’t want to save files on the cloud using new OneDrive feature or if you don’t want to receive notifications from the new Action Center, you can turn the desired features off using following guides:

[Tip] Disable Notifications and Action Center in Windows 10

[Tip] Disable Cortana and Bing Search Results in Windows 10

[Tip] Disable OneDrive in Windows 10

Remove Unnecessary Modern (Metro) Apps

Windows 10 comes with many built-in modern apps such as Calendar, Mail, People, Music, Photos, etc. If you don’t use modern apps, you can uninstall them using following tutorials:

[Tip] How to Uninstall Modern Apps in Windows 10

[Guide] How to Remove All Built-in Apps in Windows 10

Easy Way to Uninstall Built-in Apps in Windows 10

Speed Up Windows 10 and Improve Computer Performance

If you think your computer is running slow after installing Windows 10, you can speed up Windows 10 and improve your computer performance with the help of our master tutorial:

Master Tutorial to Make Windows 10 Super Fast

Disable Login Screen Background Image

Microsoft has added a new background image to Windows 10 Login Screen. If you liked the clean and minimal Login Screen of Windows 8/8.1, you can get the same Login Screen in Windows 10 by disabling the new background image. Check out following article:

How to Disable Login Screen Background Image in Windows 10

Check Out Hidden Secret Features and Registry Tweaks

You should also check out following hidden secret options and Registry tweaks present in Windows 10 which can enable many useful and interesting features:

Hidden Secret “Exit Explorer” Option in Windows 10 Start Menu and Taskbar

Hidden Secret Features and Useful Hotkeys in Windows 8 and Later

Collection of Windows 10 Hidden Secret Registry Tweaks

Troubleshoot Issues and Problems in Windows 10

If you are facing any problem after installing Windows 10, check out following troubleshooting guides addressing some frequently faced issues in Windows 10:

Also check out our Windows 8/8.1 tutorials which will also work fine in Windows 10:

Windows 8/8.1 Tips and Tutorials

Best Windows 7 Registry Tweaks and Tips-n-Tricks Which Work in Windows 10

Published in: Windows 10

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

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Comments

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  3. Dear VG – I am impressed – having just installed Win10 there is a lot of settings to adjust and your fine articles are of great assistance – thanks – and keep up the good work.

  4. You have done a great job to mitigate the frustrations and annoyances that Microsoft has dumped on unwitting users. There are a few other irritating hare brained features in windows 10 that are worth finding a solution:

    1. The Scroll bar is very narrow; makes is difficult to use.
    2. The resizing corners are so tiny, it take several attempts to place the cursor in the corner to resize windows.
    3. Previously one could pin “C Drive” Control Panel and computer short cuts to the task bar. In windows 10 that is not allowed anymore.
    4. Recent items which was a quick way to access recently opened files is now unavailable in the start menu.

  5. Seems I am not the only one finding big start/boot up problems with the Anniversary update 1607. On my Samsung 64 bit laptop running W 10 Home, most of my problems is a very slow boot up vs. build 1511. Wifes HP Desktop 64 bit also running W 10 home, she has to turn the power off a 2nd time after starting, in order for computer to boot up…..what happened?

    Any suggestions? Can’t roll back either machine as the previous version folders gone. Any way to get 1511 back? Been hoping MS would send out a patch, but none to date…..

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