Category Archives: Windows 10

How to encrypt your HDD/USB Stick/USB HDD using BitLocker (Windows 10)

<!> Important: BitLocker is not available on Windows 10 Home Edition (check here how you can upgrade)! 

1. Open My Computer and right click on the Drive (HDD, USB Stick, USB HDD) you want to Encrypt / click on Turn BitLocker on:

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2. You can either use a password or a smart card to unlock the drive. For this example we will use a password / click Next: 2

3. You have multiple options to save a recovery key. For this example I will save it to my Microsoft Account / Click Next:

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4. At this step you need to select how much of the drive you need to encrypt. If you just setup a new Computer select option #1, if you are installing on an existing computer select #2 / Click Next:

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5. If you are planning to use the Encrypted drive on other Windows Versions select Compatible. If not select New Encryption Mode / Click Next:

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6. We reached the last step. Confirm by clicking Start encrypting:

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7. The encryption process is going to start. Depending on the speed of the drive/number of files it may take a while.

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8. After reboot, when you will want to access the Encrypted drive you will be prompted for the password/smart card.

Enjoy!

How to encrypt your HDD/USB Stick/USB HDD using BitLocker (Windows 10)

<!> Important: BitLocker is not available on Windows 10 Home Edition (check here how you can upgrade)! 

1. Open My Computer and right click on the Drive (HDD, USB Stick, USB HDD) you want to Encrypt / click on Turn BitLocker on:

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2. You can either use a password or a smart card to unlock the drive. For this example we will use a password / click Next: 2

3. You have multiple options to save a recovery key. For this example I will save it to my Microsoft Account / Click Next:

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4. At this step you need to select how much of the drive you need to encrypt. If you just setup a new Computer select option #1, if you are installing on an existing computer select #2 / Click Next:

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5. If you are planning to use the Encrypted drive on other Windows Versions select Compatible. If not select New Encryption Mode / Click Next:

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6. We reached the last step. Confirm by clicking Start encrypting:

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7. The encryption process is going to start. Depending on the speed of the drive/number of files it may take a while.

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8. After reboot, when you will want to access the Encrypted drive you will be prompted for the password/smart card.

Enjoy!

Upgrade from Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro (Professional)

Microsoft improved a lot the upgrade process in Windows 10.

If you just bought a laptop with Windows 10 Home and you want to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro in order to have access to more advanced features (like the Bitlocker Drive Encryption), you need to follow just a few simple steps:

1. Go to Start / Settings

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2. Go to “Update & Security”

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3.  Go to Activation / Change Product Key*

*In order to receive the Product Key, you have to go to the Windows Store and buy a Windows 10 PRO licence. The S/N you receive you can insert here.

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4. After you insert the product Key, your Windows will prepare for the upgrade*. This is going to require a few reboots.

*All the software/files are kept on your computer! However, having a backup is always a good idea, and I recommend you to keep one either by using the a Cloud Storage solution (Google Drive, One Drive, Dropbox etc), or by keeping a backup on an external hard-drive (and constantly updating it by using different specialized software).

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5. After a few reboots you will be able to use your new Windows 10 PRO.

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Enjoy!

If you have questions please drop a line in the comments section!

Windows 10 File Explorer crashes | Solved

Recently I saw that many people have issues with the File Explorer from Windows 10.

Symptoms: When you open File Explorer it blocks / crashes / stops responding

How to fix it:

  1. Right click on File Explorer / Open a folder from the history (Example Pictures)
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  2. Go to File / Change Folder and search Options 
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  3. Un-check “Show recently used files in Quick access” and “Show frequently used folders in Quick Access“
  4. Click on Clear 
  5. Click on OK 
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  6. Enjoy!

If you still have problems drop a message!

Cheers!