The upgrade to Windows 10 has been smooth for most, but some users will always encounter some common issues. Whether it’s the screen flashing, not being able to connect to the Internet, or the battery draining too quickly, it’s time to resolve these annoying problems.

Update Stuck Downloading or Won’t Install

Since Windows 10  forces updates on you, it makes it even more frustrating when the Windows Update process doesn’t go smoothly. If one of your updates is stuck during download or is refusing to install, it’s likely that the file is corrupted. In that case, it’s necessary to flush out the update files and start from the top.

To do so, press Windows Key + R to open Run and input C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download and click OK. Next, delete everything inside the folder, but don’t delete the folder itself. You might need to boot into safe mood if some files won’t delete. Once complete, restart your computer and attempt the update process again.

Battery Draining Too Quickly

Those of you on portable devices that upgraded to Windows 10 at launch may have found that the new operating system took a hefty toll on your battery life. Intel and Microsoft solved this together, so make sure your drivers are up-to-date and you should find it resolved.

If not, you might want to turn attention to some of Windows 10’s new features. Though Cortana, the virtual assistant, can come in very handy, she does impact the battery slightly. If you want to reserve all the power you can, do a system search for Cortana, select the relevant result, then switch Let Cortana respond to Hey Cortana to Off.

Windows Update can also have a drain on your battery (and bandwidth), especially now that it can share updates you’ve downloaded with others. To turn this off, press Windows Key + I and then navigate to Update & security > Windows Update > Advanced options > Choose how updates are delivered and move the switch to Off.

Default App Choices Have Changed

Did you upgrade to Windows 10 and find that your images weren’t opening in your favorite app anymore? Or that your browser had defaulted to Microsoft Edge? For whatever reason, Windows 10 isn’t good at remembering what programs you’d chosen to open specific file types. Though it’s a pain to reconfigure them all, it’s easy to change your default apps.

First, press Windows Key + I and select System. Then, from the left-hand navigation, choose Default apps. Here, you can change your default app for your photos, videos, and more.

Wi-Fi Connection Not Discoverable

If your system is no longer detecting your Wi-Fi connection, this is likely due to VPN software that you have installed. It can also impact some Ethernet connections. Your first port of call would be to go to your VPN software’s website and update to the latest version, one compatible with Windows 10, as this might solve the issue.

If this doesn’t work, open an administrative Command Prompt by pressingWindows Key + X and selecting Command Prompt (Admin). Then input the following two lines, pressing Enter after each:

reg delete HKCR\CLSID\{988248f3-a1ad-49bf-9170-676cbbc36ba3} /f

netcfg -v -u dni_dne

If this doesn’t work, the issue might be driver related, rather than VPN. For this, system search device manager and select the relevant result. In the new window, expand Network adapters. Then right-click your wireless adapter and selectUpdate Driver Software…

Touchpad Not Working

If your touchpad isn’t working, let’s start with some simple steps to see if it’s actually enabled. First, check your keyboard to see if there’s a function button that turns the touchpad off and on. This will vary depending on your device, but it’ll usually be represented by an icon on one of the F# keys.

If this doesn’t work, press Windows Key + I, select Devices > Mouse & touchpad > Additional mouse options. A new window will open and from here you need to click the tab which is furthest to the right, likely called Device Settings. Underneath Devices, select your touchpad and ensure it’s not disabled. If it is, then click the Enable button.

Failing this, press Windows Key + X and select Device Manager. Then expand Mice and other pointing devices, right-click your touchpad and select Update Driver Software… You could also navigate to the manufacturer’s website and download your drivers that way instead.

Can’t Install or Update Store Apps

If you’re having trouble installing or updating apps within the Store, you might need to clear the cache. This is really easy to do.

First, press Windows Key + R to open Run. Input WSReset.exe and click OK. A blank Command Prompt window will open, but don’t worry, it is working away. Eventually it’ll close and the Store will open, hopefully with your issues resolved.

Microsoft Office Files Don’t Open

If you’re trying to open Microsoft Office files and getting errors like “file is corrupt and cannot be opened”, “unable to start correctly”, and “experience an error trying to open the file”, it might be due to problems with the Protected View feature.

To overcome this, press CTRL + X and then select Command Prompt (Admin). Input the following command, but replace the Office number with whatever version you’re using, and then hit ENTER on your keyboard:

icacls "%programfiles%\Microsoft Office 15" /grant *S-1-15-2-1:(OI)(CI)RX

You should now be able to open your Office files. If not, try repairing the installation. For this, do a system search for programs and features and select the relevant result. Find Office in the list, right-click it and then press Change. Select Online Repair and then click Repair.

Flickering or Flashing Screen

If your screen is flickering or flashing when it didn’t before, it’s likely due to an incompatible application or driver. Norton AntiVirus, iCloud, and IDT Audio are all programs that are known to cause this problem. Update them and see if it fixes the problem, else you might need to uninstall then reinstall. On Norton’s part, they have an official support page  to help.

An operating system will never be completely problem-free, but hopefully we’ve been able to resolve some of the most annoying issues that have been cropping up in Windows 10.

Google Chrome has a lot of useful features that you should be using. Not only does it have a supercharged bookmarks manager for improved organization, but its built-in password manager keeps you safe and secure, too.

But if you ask me, Chrome has one specific feature that really comes in handy, especially if you’re the kind of person who opens a million different tabs or if you have a really slow computer that lags and crashes. I’m talking about Chrome’s Task Manager feature.

To open it, simply press Shift + Esc. Here are three ways it can come in handy and why you should think about using it:

• It shows you how much RAM and CPU each tab is using.This is good for diagnosing memory leaks, CPU hogs, and figuring out when a website is hogging resources and bogging down your computer.
• It shows you active extensions. This can be useful when you suspect that a certain extension is using too many resources and slowing down your system.
• It lets you kill individual tabs. This is super useful when a certain tab is frozen and unresponsive to clicking the “X” on the tab. Instead, pop open the Task Manager and click “End Process”!

In fact, if you want to become a Chrome power user, you really have to master the built-in Task Manager because it will prove useful on so many occasions. It’s one of the reasons why Chrome beats all of the other major browsers.

Photoshop is the most famous image editing application in the world; its name has become a verb. It’s the industry standard, the most powerful, and generally just the program to use if you’re serious about image editing. But the problem is, because it can do so much, getting to grasp with all the features can take years. There are, however, plenty of easy ways you can improve your Photoshop skills. Let’s have a look at some of them.

Learn the Keyboard Shortcuts

Photoshop is a huge program with hundreds of features. Each tool can be accessed from a menu or toolbar, however, remembering where each one is or what icon represents it can be a challenge. Frankly, going on the hunt with your mouse every time you want to do something is an incredibly slow and laborious way to use Photoshop.

If you want to get good with Photoshop, one of the most important things to master are keyboard shortcuts. They make the app infinitely more intuitive to use. Want to use the brush tool? That’s B; add a new layer? Command-Shift-N if you’re on a Mac, Control-Shift-N if you’re on a PC.

All the most common tools and features in Photoshop have a keyboard shortcut that’s worth learning. If a tool you use a lot doesn’t have one, you can even create your own. The best way to learn Photoshop’s shortcuts is to print off  a cheat sheet with all the keyboard shortcuts and put it on your wall where you can see it. Whenever you go to do something and you don’t know the shortcut, check the chart and use it.

Try Different Ways of Doing Things

There’s almost never just one way of doing something in Photoshop. Instead, different tools can be used to create the same results in different ways. One of the big mistakes Photoshop novices make is they learn a technique that works (most) of the time without understanding what it really does and why it works.

You can use a High Pass filter to sharpen but why would you use that over a Smart Sharpen layer? Do you get different results? The answer in both instances is that it depends.

Next time you’re using Photoshop, try a different tool instead of the one you normally use. If you mainly use Levels, try and use Curves instead, and vice versa. In the photo above, both layers are increasing contrast. Occasionally you won’t be able to get the results you want but most of the time it’ll work out fine. Whatever happens, you’ll get a deeper understanding of both tools.

When you switch from thinking about how you’re going to do something to what you’re going to do regardless of the tool you’re well on your way to being a Photoshop master.

Watch Experts Work

I learnt to use Photoshop by watching experts work and it’s the best technique for improving your Photoshop skills I know. The hardest leap you have to make when you’re learning Photoshop is from how to use each tool to when to use each tool. The former is a lot easier than the latter.

Many people watch online courses to learn the basics of Photoshop and then stop, thinking they’ve covered enough. Instead, I’d recommend that you keep watching more advanced courses; once you’ve got the grasp of the basics of the program you should watch courses that are well beyond your current skill level. Don’t try and imitate the instructor, just watch how they use each tool. You’ll absorb that knowledge and be able to use it in your own work.

Don’t Do Everything All at Once

One of the worst things you can do when you’re using Photoshop is to sit down, work all the way through a project, save it, and then share it with the world (or your client). When you’re working away you get caught up in what you’re doing and it’s very easy to push things too far. Simply adding too much saturation and contrast can take what would be an awesome image and turn it into something completely over the top.

There are two strategies you can use to overcome this. Implementing them will instantly take your Photoshop skills up another level. First, dial every effect back to 70%. The way to do it is work as normal until you’re satisfied with everything, then group all your layers and lower the opacity down to 70%.

Second, after you finish an edit, stand up, and walk away for 20 minutes. Don’t look at it again until that time has passed. When you sit back down you’ll be looking at the project with fresh eyes and you’ll often catch mistakes and areas where you’ve gone too far (or not far enough).

Work Non-Destructively

Basically, there are two ways to edit an image: you can modify the original pixels or you can use non-destructive techniques to record what modifications you are making in a reversible way. The actual pixel pushing only occurs when you save the final product out.

Non-destructive editing is one of the biggest game changers in Photoshop. Instead of having to go back and start from scratch if you don’t like something you’ve done, you can modify it and tweak it as much as you like. Rather than using Adjustments, you should use Adjustment layers. Instead of the Sharpen or Dodge and Burn tools, you should use filters and Curves layers.

While this isn’t the place to dive deep into non-destructive editing, most experts you watch (see tip two!) will be using the techniques. Watch how they go back and tweak things and add that into your own workflow.

These tips may be simple, some of them are things that will take time. You won’t master all the keyboard shortcuts over night and learning from experts requires continuing education. Other tips though, can be put into place today. Next time you do something in Photoshop, try a different technique and walk away for a few minutes once you’re finished. I guarantee the finished product will be better for it.