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Easy way to Disable the Login Screen In Windows 10

In Windows 8/8.1 and the upcoming Windows 10, if you want to log into your PC, you use your associated Live account. This is a rather large change from using a password that only works on your PC or device. It’s a way for Microsoft to tie all of their products together so you use a single username and password for both Hotmail, Live mail, and actually signing into your computer. If you’re confident that you are the only one who will ever use and access your device running these newer versions of Windows, you can disable the login screen with a few clicks. Follow these steps to disable the need to enter your name and password with each login.

1. Right click the Start button, then select Run.

2. In the dialog box, type in ‘netplwiz‘ and click OK or hit Enter.

3. The User Accounts windows will open. (You can also get to User Accounts through the Control Panel)

4. Select the account you don’t want to use a password for.

5. Uncheck the box called ‘Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer‘. Then click Apply.

6. Restart your system.

When Windows restarts, you’ll find that it’s no longer necessary to enter a password on the account with login disabled. Be aware that now anyone who starts your device will be able to use your account freely with no login password protection which can be a bit of a security risk. For some who feel that constantly entering a password to log into their computer is too much of a hassle, this trick can save you some precious time each day. If you do decide that you’d like the password capability restored temporarily, you can easily reverse the process and enable it once again.

List of Features You’ll Lose When Upgrading to Windows 10

Though Microsoft is kindly supplying a free upgrade to Windows 10 for users of Windows 7 and 8/8.1, there are some features that were scrapped for the sake of the future of Windows. If you’re particularly fond of some of these features you might be disappointed to hear that they won’t be making their way to Windows 10. However, for the most part they’re either somewhat dated relics of the past or have newer and more flexible replacements entirely. Without further ado, here is the list of features that you may have grown to love in Windows 7/8/8.1 that will be removed in Windows 10.

1. Windows Media Center

Chances are you’ve come across Windows Media Center in some form or another. It’s a great app for streaming media stored on a PC to various devices including other PCs, game consoles and TVs. With the rise of streaming on nearly every platform however, there is really no reason nor need to use Windows Media Center to stream any type of media. Microsoft realized that it wasn’t necessary to continue supporting the platform when there are so many other alternatives to streaming.

2. DVD Playback

Reliable old DVDs are starting to show their age, again from the rise of faster downloading and streaming capabilities. Microsoft has decided to stop supporting DVD playback altogether and will not include a DVD video playback app in Windows 10. Luckily alternatives like VLC exist that can do the job just fine.

3. Desktop Gadgets

These are either a love it or hate it deal, but Microsoft has decided to abandon their official Desktop Gadgets. If you absolutely loved that analog clock or weather gadget, you can still download third-party apps that support live tiles for the same thing.

4. Opt Out of Automatic Updates

If you have the base free version of Windows 10, you will no longer be able to opt out of future updates and will need to download and install them whenever they are released. Windows Pro and Enterprise versions can still opt out temporarily if they choose.

5. Solitaire, Minesweeper, Hearts

This is perhaps the biggest heartbreaker. Windows 10 will not only not ship with these glorious time wasters, they will actually be removed from your PC if you upgrade! Luckily, there are still official Microsoft versions of all of these games in the Microsoft App Store. It would have been nice to include them by default for nostalgia’s sake.

6. Floppy Drive Support

What’s a floppy drive? Some younger folks might honestly not know what a floppy drive is and Microsoft has decided not to support them any longer officially. If you still need to use one on Windows 10 for some reason, you’ll need to download a driver or get a separate Windows Update.

7. Windows Essentials OneDrive

Microsoft’s cloud storage app will be replaced with an inbox version OneDrive but will still be accessible.

Overall, many of these removals are not that surprising and shouldn’t make much of an impact on the average user. These all have replacements ready for day one so the upgrade from Windows 10 shouldn’t be too painful other than those few minutes without Solitaire.

Source: Microsoft

Asus announced ZenWatch 2 Smartwatch with curved Gorilla

Asus recently unveiled the latest version of its ZenWatch smartwatch line, not surprisingly named the ZenWatch 2. It features many improvements over the original model and hopes to compete with the Apple Watch. Unlike the original ZenWatch that only came in one size, the ZenWatch 2 will accommodate wrists of varying size and be made available in both 37mm and 41mm versions with bands that are 18mm and 22mm. The bands will come in several different materials from plastic, to leather, to metal depending on your preference.

The ZenWatch 2 has a 1.6 inch AMOLED screen with curved Gorilla Glass and will run the current version of Android Wear. Because it will run Android Wear, it will have access to numerous apps specifically written for the wearable platform. Asus also plans to run a customized interface on the ZenWatch 2, the Zen UI, which will supplement the Android Wear interface. Like the Apple Watch, there are plans for the ZenWatch 2 to be able to remotely view your smartphone’s camera and take photos using only the watch. Of course the ZenWatch 2 will also be able to fully interact with your smartphone to receive notifications and send messages.

The ZenWatch 2 will also feature a side button much like the Digital Crown on the Apple Watch. It isn’t currently known exactly how this will work because the smartwatch hasn’t been made fully available yet, though it will likely be similar in function to the one on the Apple Watch. Unlike the Apple Watch, there is no additional side button, only the similar Digital Crown apparatus.

Also keeping in line with the latest smartwatches, the ZenWatch 2 will have internal motion and activity sensors for health and fitness applications. These will run in tandem with various activity apps so you can track your work, progress, and exercise history. Asus has stated that their Wellness app will allow users to conveniently visualize all of their health and fitness data in one place.

To make sure the ZenWatch 2 is always fully charged, Asus has also implemented a new magnetic charger that snaps into the back of the smartwatch. Asus claims that it’s a dramatic improvement over the original charger and should make keeping the watch powered less of a chore.

It’s easy to mock the ZenWatch 2 for taking elements from the Apple Watch but competition is good and why not use a feature if it’s a useful one?

What If You Can’t See the Windows 10 Upgrade App?

For some users, a previous Windows update installed a small app that can check your device compatibility as well as reserve your free upgrade to Windows 10. This app should appear as a Windows icon in the system tray when it is running. Not all users report seeing this app however, and Microsoft may not have enabled it for some users or you might be missing the required update. Follow these steps to check if you have the update and if you do, how to run the app so you can reserve your free upgrade.

1. Click the Windows button, go to Control Panel.

2. Click System and Security, then click Windows Update.

3. Check to see if you have automatic updates enabled. If not, enable them.

4. Click View Update History.

5. Look for an update entry called ‘KB3035583‘. This is the update to run the Windows 10 upgrade app. If it doesn’t appear, check for updates so that it can be downloaded and installed.

6. If the update is there but you don’t see the icon yet, try restarting your device.

You may also have the update already applied but the Windows 10 upgrade app is still invisible. When it is running, the app is called GWX.exe. You can run it directly by going to the C:\Windows\System32\GWX folder. Inside is GWX.exe which you can run. Once GWX.exe is running, the system tray icon should appear and you can continue with the Windows 10 upgrade program to reserve your copy.

Of course you could also just wait a little while for the icon to appear but if you just have to get it reserved as quickly as possible, checking the above might not hurt. It’s always nice to be sure that you’re all set for the upgrade when it drops. So, if the icon hasn’t appeared for you yet, don’t fret and think Microsoft doesn’t like you anymore. It’s probably just that the upgrade program has only begun in the past few days and is still rolling out to users.

How to Reserve Your Free Upgrade to Windows 10 & Check Device Compatibility

Windows 10 is set to be released on July 29th, which is less than two months away. Microsoft has said that for a limited time, all Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1 users will receive a free upgrade to Windows 10 if they choose to. It’s a nice gesture and a great way to entice many users to start using the latest version of Windows. If you just can’t wait to get Windows 10 at the first possible moment, you can now reserve your upgrade if your device is compatible with it. Once Windows 10 is released, it will automatically be downloaded and applied to your device provided you’ve registered for the free upgrade. You can’t get it much quicker than that.

Previously Microsoft pushed out an update that enables a new Windows icon in the system tray that leads you to the free upgrade program. These notifications are just starting to show up so yours might not have appeared yet, but should be visible in the near future. Before you submit to the upgrade program, you might want to check if your device is fully compatible. Follow these steps to do so.

1. Click the new Windows notification icon in the system tray.

2. Click the menu icon on the top right, then click ‘Check your PC‘.

The upgrade app will run a check on your device to make sure all components are compatible with Windows 10 so the upgrade will go smoothly. If a component is not compatible, it will show which device will not work with Windows 10. Even if a device isn’t compatible right now, it is likely that Microsoft will continue to work on updates for compatibility with as many devices as possible.

If everything is compatible and you want to continue reserving your upgrade, simply click through and follow the directions through the new Windows notification screen. You’ll need to enter an e-mail address for confirmation and then you’re all set. You can also directly choose the ‘Reserve Now‘ option in the menu. If for some reason you wish to cancel your reservation, go back to the menu and click ‘Cancel Reservation‘.

What If You Can’t See the Windows 10 Upgrade App?

Windows 10 is coming soon, so make sure to check your device and reserve your free upgrade.

-> Force Upgrade to Windows 10

Windows 10 Release Date and Pricing Rumors

Windows fans that have been looking out for the next version, you’re in luck. Recently, listings were spotted for online retailers that indicated Windows 10 would be available to order and ship at the end of August. After these rumors spread, Microsoft officially announced that Windows 10 would be released on July 29th for the downloadable version. It’s not yet known if that coincides with the physical release though it’s likely that the physical version will be released a little bit later than the digital one.

Along with this information, online retailers revealed the price for a Windows 10 Home edition and the Windows 10 Premium edition. Windows 10 Home will apparently run $109 while Windows 10 Premium will retail for $149. This is keeping in line with prices for current versions of Windows 8.1 so no surprises there.

If you’re not aware, Windows 10 will be offered as a free upgrade for Windows 7 and Windows 8 users within the first year. This is great for people who might want to upgrade from Windows 7 or who weren’t completely satisfied with the troubled Windows 8. As long as you claim the upgrade within a year of Windows 10 being launched, you’ll receive it for free as well as all future updates. It’s a generous and clever move on the part of Microsoft since Apple has begun giving away OS updates as well and mobile continues to grow.

The wait for the next version of Windows is almost over. In less than two months, we can all try out the latest and greatest from Microsoft. It’s designed to be cleaner and lighter than ever to run on both mobile and desktop devices. It should be interesting to see how Microsoft ties everything together and if Windows 10 is truly the upgrade everyone has been waiting for. They decided to skip the number 9 entirely, so here’s hoping that it was worth the wait.