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If you have used your computer for a long time, you will probably encounter a situation where your programs are not working as they should be due to wrong or corrupted settings. Obviously, for most Windows users, the first thought that comes to mind is to uninstall and reinstall the program so that the program will hopefully reset itself to its default settings. For some applications this trick works, but for others it either doesn’t work or you need to explicitly delete the saved preferences or settings while uninstalling.
There are actually ways to reset programs to their default settings without having to uninstall and reinstall. Here is how you can reset Windows programs to their default settings.
Using Built-in Options ProgramsJust like Chrome, other programs such Firefox, Photoshop, and Thunderbird, will have their own options to reset the settings to their default configurations. Each program is different, yet you will probably find it in the options.
If you can’t find the option or if there is no option to reset the configuration, follow the instructions below.
Delete the Relevant AppData FolderNote: before going any further, make sure that you have a good backup of your system so that you can revert to the original settings if something bad happens.
In Windows almost all the applications, unless they are really old, store their settings and other files in the AppData folder. By deleting the target application’s folder in the AppData directory, you can reset a program to its default configuration.
The above action will open the AppData folder. Here you will find two folders: “Local” and “Roaming.” Most programs save their settings in the Roaming folder so that they are locked onto the user and can roam with the user (helpful in workstation environments). Open the Roaming folder, find the folder associated with your application and delete it.
The Local folder in the AppData directory hosts files that are user-specific and should not or can not roam (due to their size, like the cache files) with the user. Obviously, some applications might use the Local folder to save the settings. So, if deleting the target program folder in the Roaming directory didn’t work, go ahead and delete the folder that is related to your program in the Local folder.
Finally, if you are using a rearly old program that doesn’t follow these conventions, it might be storing its settings in the ProgramData folder located in the root of the C drive. Enter “C:ProgramData” into the Run dialog box and press the Enter button to open the folder.
In the “ProgramData” folder go ahead and delete the relevant application folder to reset the settings. One thing to keep in mind while using the ProgramData folder is that it is also used to store any and all data or settings that are applicable to all the users on your system. Think of it like an AppData folder for all the users on your system.
Vamsi Krishna
Vamsi is a tech and WordPress geek who enjoys writing how-to guides and messing with his computer and software in general. When not writing for MTE, he writes for he shares tips, tricks, and lifehacks on his own blog Stugon.
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How To Use Ease Of Access Settings In Windows 10
The Ease Of Access in Windows 10 lets you make your computer more accessible, based on your needs. You can change a lot of settings to make your PC work the way you want it to and can be useful to you if you are differently-abled. In this post, we will learn about the accessibility options in Windows 10 via Ease of Access Center.
Ease of Access Settings in Windows 10In the left pane, you will see the Ease of Access Settings segregated into three categories – Vision, Hearing, and Interaction.
1. Vision
Display
Cursor & pointer
Magnifier
Color filters
High contrast
Narrator
2. Hearing
Audio
Closed captions
3. Interaction
Speech
Keyboard
Mouse
Eye control
Let us learn more about these settings.
1. VisionThis section of settings allows the users to customize the size of the text and apps, adjust the screen brightness, change zoom level, use color filters, and so on.
Display
You can make the display on your PC easier to see by making the size of the text and apps bigger. You can adjust the brightness of your built-in display and use night light.
You can further personalize your Windows experience by choosing to show animations and transparency in Windows, to show desktop background image, and to automatically hide scroll bars in Windows. You can also personalize your background and other colors through this tab.
Related settings include additional display settings, background settings, color settings, and theme settings.
Cursor & pointer
These settings make the cursor, pointer, and touch feedback easier to see. Use the respective sliders to change the size of the pointer and the cursor thickness. You can choose the pointer color from the given options. This tab also allows you to show and make the visual feedback for touch points darker and larger. Related settings include additional mouse settings and touch-pad settings.
Magnifier
Turning on the Magnifier settings lets you zoom in to the screen. Magnifier can run into full screen, in a separate window, or as a lens that follows your mouse pointer around the screen. Adjust zoom level and zoom increments as preferred.
Further, as you can see, you can select the checkboxes where you wish to start magnifier after sign-in, before sign-in for everyone, smooth edges of images and text, invert colors, etc. You can choose a Magnifier view to docked, full screen or lens.
Additionally, you can choose to keep the mouse cursor within the edges of the screen or centered on the screen.
Color filters
Turn on the color filters to make the photos and colors easier to see. From the given options, you can select a color filter to see the elements on the screen better; or you can select a colorblindness filter from the options mentioned out there.
Related settings will take you color settings and theme settings.
Read: How to enable and use Color Filters for Colorblind users in Windows 10.
High contrast
The high-contrast theme uses a more distinct and vibrant scheme of colors to make the apps and texts easier to see.
You can choose a high contrast theme from the drop-down menu and customize high contrast colors for text, hyperlinks, background, etc. Related settings include theme settings.
Narrator
It is possible to personalize the Narrator’s voice by choosing a voice of your preference, and changing voice speed, voice pitch, voice volume by dragging the respective sliders. Next is to change the level of detail the Narrator provides about text and controls from the drop-down menu – whether you would prefer text only, some control details, all control details, some text details, or all text details.
Similarly, there are additional settings that allow you to change the level of context Narrator provides for buttons and other controls, and adjust when the Narrator provides details about buttons and other controls.
Make necessary changes to the Narrator settings under Change what you hear when typing.
Further, select the keyboard layout, the Narrator modifier key, and the Narrator cursor settings.
Select the Narrator cursor mode.
You can also sync your settings and give feedback about the Narrator.
TIP: You can choose your Narrator from Microsoft David (male voice) or Microsoft Zira (female voice).
2. HearingThis section of settings allows the users to make their device easier to hear and easier to use without sound by displaying audio as text.
Audio
The Audio tab consists of settings that make your device easier to hear or use without sound. You will find the settings here to change device volume, app volume, and other such sound settings. Audio alerts for notifications can be displayed visually. Related settings include sound settings.
Closed captions
Closed captions make your device easier to use without sound by displaying audio as text.
Use the drop-down menus to change the caption color, caption transparency, caption style, caption size, and caption effects.
Further, select the desired options from the drop-down menus to change caption background color, caption background transparency, window color, and window transparency. Related settings include video playback settings.
TIP: You can also make the Notifications last longer by adjusting the Show notifications for the setting. Change the notification time from 5 seconds to 5 minutes. You can also control the thickness setting for your cursor.
3. InteractionThis section of settings allows the users to improve the speech, use the on-screen keyboard, control the mouse, and more.
Speech
You will learn that by pressing the Windows logo key + H, you can start dictation by turning on speech recognition. You can learn more about Cortana and make the necessary changes at how you talk to Cortana.
Related settings includes Cortana settings and additional speech settings.
Keyboard
Turn on the Keyboard settings for the ones you wish to use the on-screen keyboard, sticky keys, toggle keys, and filter keys.
You can allow the shortcut key to start sticky keys, toggle keys, and Filter Keys.
You can underline access keys when available and use the print screen shortcut. Under Make it easier to type, you can check the boxes if you wish to show a warning message or make a sound by turning on various keys from the keyboard. Related settings include typing settings and language and keyboard settings.
You can also change the Accessibility tool that launches when you use Win+Vol keyboard shortcut.
Read more about Windows Onscreen Keyboard Options and Settings.
Mouse
Read: Windows 10 Ease of Access and Settings keyboard shortcuts.
Eye control
To use the Eye control feature in Windows 10, you need to connect to a supporting eye-tracking device. Eye control supports the following eye-tracking devices –
• Selected laptops and monitors that include eye-tracking integrations
• TM5 Mini
This gets us to the end of the post. All the Ease of Access Settings in Windows 10 related to vision, hearing, and interaction have been covered. Hope you had an interesting read!
How To Reset Windows Update Components On Windows 10
Windows Update is an essential component of Windows 10, as it allows downloading and installing the latest updates with bug fixes, security patches, and drivers. Also, it is the mechanism to download new feature updates and preview builds. However, there will be times when your device may not download or install updates because of a specific error message, Windows Update not connecting to the Microsoft servers, and other problems.
Typically, users may encounter this type of problem when the Windows Update agent-related services stop working, Windows 10 has an issue with the update cache, or some components get corrupted. You can reset Windows Update on Windows 10 to fix most problems in these situations.
This guide will teach you how to reset the Windows Update components using the “Windows Update Troubleshooter” utility. Also, you will learn the instructions to use Command Prompt to fix Windows Update manually to get security patches, drivers, and features downloaded again on your computer. However, before using the Command Prompt option, use the instructions to manually install the most recent update, Service Stack Update (SSU), and repair system files.
To reset Windows Update using the troubleshooter tool on Windows 10, use these steps:
Under the “Get up and running” section, select the Windows Update option.
Continue with the on-screen directions.
Once the computer restarts, try to update Windows 10 one more time, and now it should work as expected.
To install an update manually to fix problems with Windows Update on Windows 10, use these steps:
Open the Windows 10 update history website.
Browse to the latest update information for your version of Windows 10 and note the “KB” number from the left pane.
Open the Microsoft Update Catalog website.
Search for the knowledge base (KB) number of the update.
Restart the computer.
To ensure that Windows 10 has the most recent Servicing Stack Update to fix Windows Update problems, use these steps:
Open Settings.
Under the “System type” section, check whether you have the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows 10.
Open the Microsoft Update Catalog website.
Download the most recent Servicing Stack Update for the version you have (32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64)).
Restart your computer.
After you restart the computer, you should now be able to download and install the update using the Settings app.
To fix the system files using the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) and System File Checker (SFC) tools to fix Windows Update problems on Windows 10, use these steps:
Open Start.
Type the following DISM command to repair corrupted system files and press Enter:
dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
Type the following SFC command to repair system files and press Enter:
sfc /scannowAfter completing the steps, the Windows Update components should start working again, and you can check for updates to verify.
To reset Windows Update manually from Command Prompt on Windows 10, use these steps:
Open Start.
Type the following commands to stop the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS), Windows Update service, and Cryptographic service, and press Enter on each line:
net stop bits net stop wuauserv net stop appidsvc net stop cryptsvcQuick tip: You may need to run the command more than once until you see the message that the service has stopped successfully.
Type the following command to delete all the qmgr*.dat files created by BITS from your PC. and press Enter:
Del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%Application DataMicrosoftNetworkDownloader*.*"
Type Y to confirm the deletion.
Type the following commands to clear the Windows Update cache to allow Windows 10 to re-download the updates instead of using the files already downloaded on the system that might be damaged, and press Enter on each line:
rmdir %systemroot%SoftwareDistribution /S /Q rmdir %systemroot%system32catroot2 /S /QQuick tip: We use the remove directory rmdir command with the /S option to delete the specified directory and all subdirectories within the main folder, and the /Q option deletes directories quietly without confirmation. If you get the message “The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process,” repeat step 1 and try again, as one of the services might have restarted unexpectedly.
Type the following commands to reset the BITS and Windows Update services to their default security descriptor, and press Enter on each line:
sc.exe sdset bits D:(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;SY)(A;;CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO;;;BA)(A;;CCLCSWLOCRRC;;;AU)(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;PU) sc.exe sdset wuauserv D:(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;SY)(A;;CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO;;;BA)(A;;CCLCSWLOCRRC;;;AU)(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;PU)
Type the following command to move to the System32 folder and press Enter:
cd /d %windir%system32
Type the following commands to register all the corresponding BITS and Windows Update DLL files on the Registry and press Enter on each line:
regsvr32.exe /s atl.dll regsvr32.exe /s urlmon.dll regsvr32.exe /s mshtml.dll regsvr32.exe /s shdocvw.dll regsvr32.exe /s browseui.dll regsvr32.exe /s jscript.dll regsvr32.exe /s vbscript.dll regsvr32.exe /s scrrun.dll regsvr32.exe /s msxml.dll regsvr32.exe /s msxml3.dll regsvr32.exe /s msxml6.dll regsvr32.exe /s actxprxy.dll regsvr32.exe /s softpub.dll regsvr32.exe /s wintrust.dll regsvr32.exe /s dssenh.dll regsvr32.exe /s rsaenh.dll regsvr32.exe /s gpkcsp.dll regsvr32.exe /s sccbase.dll regsvr32.exe /s slbcsp.dll regsvr32.exe /s cryptdlg.dll regsvr32.exe /s oleaut32.dll regsvr32.exe /s ole32.dll regsvr32.exe /s shell32.dll regsvr32.exe /s initpki.dll regsvr32.exe /s wuapi.dll regsvr32.exe /s wuaueng.dll regsvr32.exe /s wuaueng1.dll regsvr32.exe /s wucltui.dll regsvr32.exe /s wups.dll regsvr32.exe /s wups2.dll regsvr32.exe /s wuweb.dll regsvr32.exe /s qmgr.dll regsvr32.exe /s qmgrprxy.dll regsvr32.exe /s wucltux.dll regsvr32.exe /s muweb.dll regsvr32.exe /s wuwebv.dllQuick note: The regsvr32 helps to register “.DLL” files as command components in the Registry, and we use the /S option to specify the tool to run the command silently without prompting additional messages.
Type the following commands to reset the network configurations that might be part of the problem (but do not restart your computer just yet), and press Enter on each line:
netsh winsock reset netsh winsock reset proxy
Type the following commands to restart the BITS, Windows Update, and Cryptographic services, and press Enter on each line:
net start bits net start wuauserv net start appidsvc net start cryptsvc
Restart the computer.
Once you complete the steps, Windows Update should reset and work again on your Windows 10 device.
You can also use the above instructions to fix the update problems when Surface Pro 9, 8, Laptop 5, Studio 2, or any other Surface cannot seem to download a new firmware update.
How To Lock Microphone Settings On Windows 10.
If you are using Windows 10 and are sick and tired of your microphone sounding different in each and every app that you use. This article will show you how to lock your Microphone settings so that apps and programs can’t automatically adjust settings according to their needs. This is an important change you need to make if you are having microphone issues across different software.
Related: How to set a maximum volume for devices on Windows 10.
For a long, long time I thought setting up and using a microphone on Windows 10 was an easy process. I have always considered it a plug and play affair. Although this is the case for a lot of people, anyone chasing good quality sound that stays the same across the entire operating system is a lot more complicated than you originally thought. Apart from all the obvious things you need to consider, like interference and the quality of your microphone, you also need to consider how Windows Manages Microphones.
Recently we put together a guide about fixing microphone cracking and interference which you can find here. However, for this guide, we’ll be focusing primarily on making sure Windows stops letting software adjust microphone settings. Locking your Microphone volume to your desired volume. Before you start the steps shown below, make sure you have also done a virus/malware scan on your PC using Windows Defender and Malwarebytes or whatever program you have chosen as your defence. If everything comes back clear, jump straight into the steps shown below.
How do you lock your microphone volume settings on Windows 10?
To begin, the first thing you need to change is the level of control applications have over your Microphone. This won’t stop the software from using your Microphone entirely, but it will stop annoying changes in sound levels and quality.
After you have made this change you should have stable microphone settings moving forward. If this still doesn’t solve your Microphone issues, you can try stopping Windows adjust sound settings whenever it detects communications.
From this menu select Communications, then choose the Do nothing option at the bottom of the page.
When you have made both of these changes Windows 10 will stop trying to do what it thinks is best for your Microphone settings. However even though you have made these changes, you will still need to configure your Microphone settings within whatever app/program you are using. This time around you’ll have the added benefit of Windows not trying to intervene when it feels something isn’t going according to plan.
How To Reset Illustrator Preferences On Windows Pc
The Preferences in Adobe Illustrator allow you to make changes that will fit your needs. There are default preferences that come with Illustrator; however, the user can make changes to the panel settings and commands in Illustrator by going to Preferences. When you open Illustrator, the positioning of panels and commands are stored in the Illustrator preferences file. In addition, numerous program settings are stored in the preference file, including general display options, file-saving options, performance options, type options, and options for plug-ins and scratch disks. Most of these options are set in the Preferences dialog box. Preference settings are saved each time you quit the application.
How to Reset Illustrator Preferences on WindowsWhy would you want to reset the preferences in Illustrator, you might ask? Well, sometimes there may be unexpected behaviors in illustrator and this might indicate a problem with the Preferences. A user may have made changes or lost panels or other settings and is unsure how to get them back. This could call for a reset of the preferences. There are a few ways to reset the preference; some of the ways might depend on the version of the illustrator there are a few that will work on any version.
Using Keyboard Shortcut
Delete, Remove or Rename
1] Using the Keyboard ShortcutThe Preferences button can be found on the Options Bar at the top of the Illustrator window
2] Delete, Remove or RenameAnother way to reset Preferences in Illustrator is to locate the preferences file and delete, remove or rename it. You will need to close Illustrator to perform this. Be sure to save your work before closing. After closing Illustrator, go to C:Users “Your User Name”AppDataRoamingAdobeAdobe Illustrator “Your version” Settingsen_USx64. The path to the folder containing the preferences for Illustrator may be different based on your Operating system or your version of Illustrator.
A dialogue box will appear.
After making the hidden files visible, you may see a folder with Adobe Illustrator Preferences or a file AIPrefs. You can choose to backup the Preferences file in another location before deleting, removing, or renaming it. Backing it up will help if you need to replace it. When you reopen Illustrator, a new default preference will be created.
Read: How to Warp and Convert multiple Words to one Shape in Illustrator
In newer versions of Illustrator, there is a Reset Preferences button on the preferences dialogue window.
Press the Reset Preferences button then restart Illustrator after you have saved your work.
What are Illustrator Preferences?When you open Illustrator, the positioning of panels and commands are stored in the Illustrator preferences file. In addition, numerous program settings are stored in the preference file, including general display options, file-saving options, performance options, type options, and options for plug-ins and scratch disks. Most of these options are set in the Preferences dialog box. Preference settings are saved each time you quit the application.
How can I backup Illustrator Preferences?You can backup Illustrator preferences by finding the folder where the Illustrator Preference file is stored. You can then copy the preference file to another folder. You can then replace the preference file in the Illustrator folder if you want to use those preferences again.
12 Ways To Open Settings App In Windows 11 – Webnots
Once the Control Panel app was the heart of Windows OS allowed you to customize the appearance and its functions. Though Control Panel still exits, Microsoft moved most of its options to Windows Settings app in Windows 10. Subsequently in Windows 11, Settings app was completely redesigned with a new look and easy user interface. So, at this point opening Settings app in Windows 11 is the first thing you may need to do for changing any system settings. At least, you need to open this app frequently for using other features like accessibility or uninstalling apps.
Windows 11 Settings AppBelow picture shows the default appearance of Settings app in Windows 11. As you can see, the app has sidebar navigation to quickly go to the required sections. You can also use the search box to find the settings easily.
Settings App in Windows 11
There are at least 10 different ways you can open the Settings app in Windows 11. Though some methods are lengthier and not making sense for you, it depends on the individual. For example, some users prefer to do everything from command line (Terminal) instead of moving through different screens. So, choose one or two methods that you like to open the app.
1. Keyboard Shortcut to Open Settings AppThis is the simplest option and I love to use all times.
Press Windows Logo and I keys to open Settings app in Windows 11.
Though this method works on all Windows based machines, you may need to use different shortcut keys when running Windows 11 on other OS platforms. For example, “Command + I” may open the app when you run Windows 11 on macOS with virtual machine setup. Apps like Parallels Desktop for Mac make this kind of tasks easier allowing you to map Windows equivalent shortcuts using Mac keyboard.
2. Open Settings from Power User MenuNext method is to select Settings from the power user menu in Windows 11. You can open the menu in one of the following ways:
Press Windows Logo and X keys to open the menu.
Open Settings App from Windows 11 Power User Menu
3. Open Settings App from Start Menu 4. Search and Open Settings App in Windows 11Open Settings from Search Results in Windows 11
Note: Select “App settings” option showing in the right-pane to go the settings section of the Settings app. From where you can repair and reset to fix any problems you face with Settings app.
5. Use Cortana Search to Open Settings AppCortana is one of the confusions in Windows OS messing with default Windows Search functions. Though Microsoft removed Cortana from the visible interface of Windows 11, the app still comes with OS and available for use. Open Cortana app from the Start menu list and login with your Microsoft account. Type or use voice input as “open settings” and Cortana will instantly open Settings app in a new window. You can also find a link to Settings app appears in Cortana chat box which you can use any time.
Use Cortana to Open Settings App
6. Open Settings App from Action CenterAll Settings from Action Center
7. Open Settings App from Run PromptPress Windows Logo and R keys to open Run dialog box. Type ms-settings: in the box and press “OK” button. This is the command used in Windows 11 to open Settings app form Run.
Use Run Command to Launch Settings in Windows 11
8. Open Settings App from Windows TerminalNow that Terminal app is the default command line interface in Windows 11, you can launch Settings app from there also. When you are in Terminal app, type start ms-settings: and press enter to launch Settings app in a new window. This command will work from both Command Prompt and Windows PowerShell interfaces.
Use ms-settings: Command in Terminal App
9. Open Settings App from TaskbarOpen Taskbar Settings in Windows 11
10. Open Settings from DesktopYou can also directly go to “Personalization / Display” settings in the app from your desktop.
Open Personalization or Display Settings
11. Create a Desktop Shortcut for Settings App in Windows 11Pinned shortcut should be available in Start menu by default and you can pin the app to taskbar if needed. Other than this, you can also create a desktop shortcut if you really like that way.
Create Desktop Shortcut for Settings App in Windows 11
12. Use Task Manager to Open Settings App
The last method is to use the Task Manager app and open Setting app in Windows 11.
Press “OK” button to launch the Settings app in a new window.
Launch Settings from Task Manager
Final WordsKeyboard shortcut is the super easy way to open Settings app in Windows 11. However, you can also use the app’s shortcut from Start menu pinned list or pin it to taskbar for quicker access. If you are fond of Task Manager or Command Prompt, keep those methods as your preferred options.
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