Miguel Leiva-Gomez, Author at Make Tech Easier

Making The Firewall More Manageable In Windows 7

We all know that Windows 7 comes with its own Firewall tool, but very few people makes good use of it to protect themselves. It is not the fault of the users. This is mainly because the Firewall tool is hidden deep in the control panel and the minimal and confusing interface make setting it […]

How to Easily Create A Portable Windows 8 On Your USB Drive (Windows to go)

If you’re on the go constantly, perhaps you’d miss having Windows 8 around, especially if you’re surrounded by computers using older versions. Here is a quick and easy way to create a portable version of Windows 8 on your USB drive.

10 Tiny Programs Under 2 MB That Get The Job Done [Windows]

It is common to have problems on your computer, but if you install a hefty application for every problem you have, very soon, your computer will have tons of applications that not only take up plenty of storage space, but also plenty of useless features that you never going to use. It’s hard to find something small and sleek, do the thing that it supposes to do and do it well. You got 10 of them below.

How to Disable Annoying Things in Windows 7

Many users love Windows 7. In fact, they might love it so much that they are ready to ignore some of its shortcomings and annoyances. What if I tell you that you can have all of Windows 7’s positive features while getting rid of some of its annoyances? It’s possible to get rid of some of the most annoying things in Windows 7 with a few simple fixes. Here’s how:

How to Add Safe Mode to The Windows 8 Boot Menu

Safe mode is present in every Windows version since Windows 95, but getting it to work in Windows 8 is not as easy as it should be. Here is how you can add the option to start in safe mode to the boot menu when you turn on your computer. Let’s see how!

6 More Tweaks To Make Life Easier In Windows 8

Are you constantly looking for ways to navigate and circumvent issues you are having with Windows 8? Here is a list of tweaks you can perform either on the Metro or desktop interface of Windows 8.

How to Resize Metro Tiles And The Metro Interface Itself [Windows 8]

The Metro UI in Windows 8 is supposed to make the navigation better and easier, but when you can’t resize the tiles and the interface, you know this is going to be a frustrating experience. Luckily, there is a way to resize the tiles and it is pretty easy to do it. Here are the steps.

How to Skip Metro And Boot Straight Into The Desktop [Windows 8]

Are you going to skip the awesome features of Windows 8 just because of the Metro UI? It is a better idea to bypass it and boot into the desktop when you turn on the PC.

7 Tricks To Fix The Metro Annoyances [Windows 8]

We’ve already covered Windows 8 to death, but I don’t think we’ve really covered the essential “tricks” you can do to better modify your experience. Today, we re going to show you several tricks you can use to improve your usage experience, and that is if you’re considering upgrading.

Restore The Start Menu In Windows 8 With These 4 Applications

Are you just as frustrated at the lack of a Start menu as I am? Do you find it inconvenient to be forced to enter the Metro UI (the one with all the little squares) every time you want to get somewhere you’d rather go through the desktop for? How about some applications that could bring the Start menu back?

Things You Must Know Before Upgrading to Windows 8

As the date for Windows 8’s release draws near, many people are starting to wonder if they should upgrade to this newer version. Today, we’re going to discuss what you should know before upgrading so you can prepare your PC beforehand.

Simple, Yet Useful Command Line Tricks For Windows

The Windows command line is loaded with features that give you plenty of control over your OS. Here are some simple and useful ones that give you a seamless desktop/cmd experience.

Windows 8 Final: The Good, Bad And The Ugly

Microsoft has announced that Windows 8 is going to be released on October 26th, We have a look into the good, bad, and ugly side of this operating system so you can decide whether you want this running on your computer.

How to Run Windows 8 on Your USB Drive

Previously, you can install Windows from your USB drive, but not run from it. This tutorial shows you how to run Windows 8 from your USB drive, much like a Linux Live CD.

5 System Info Gadgets For Windows 7

Sometimes, you want to know whether your hard drive, network, or GPU are being overused without having to deal with a ton of third-party applications that simply take up screen space. With these gadgets, you get control over the information you want while saving that screen space. Let’s have a look!

Microsoft Office 15: Is It Worth It?

Microsoft will be releasing a new version of Microsoft Office (15) that would operate seamlessly on the Metro interface. There’s just one question: Is it worth using?

8 Apps You’ll Love When Windows 8 Comes Out

Windows 8 is just around the corner, and many people are still rather wary of the new Metro UI that Microsoft intends to introduce. Today, I’m not going to try to convince you to use Windows 8. In fact, this article will just be about some Metro apps you might find enticing. Let’s have a […]

MTE Explains: How Firewall Works (Windows)

While firewalls are not particular to the Windows operating system, many Windows users feel the utter need to use a firewall. However, they don’t know enough about how it works to tell what it’s doing for them. If you’re wondering what makes a firewall tick and how it’s protecting your computer, this article is for […]

Ask MTE – Share Files With Computers In Local Network, Forward Outlook Email to Gmail And Many More (Windows, Week 23)

Welcome to another segment of Ask a Windows Expert, where we dissect our readers’ questions that arrive at our inbox and publish concise answers every week on this site! If there’s anything that bothers you or arouses your curiosity, and you’d like to ask a question about it, let us know and send it to […]

Some Common Sense Stuff You Should Do To Protect Yourselves From Virus (Other Than Installing Anti-virus)

When it comes to security, most people will think of installing anti-virus software (particularly for Windows OS). However, most people are not aware that anti-virus software does not help when you are not taking the necessary precautions.

Windows 8 vs. RT: What Should You Use?

Although Windows RT isn’t available for PC models, we have the luxury of speculating whether you should get a device with either operating system because Windows 8 Professional is going to come pre-installed in one of Microsoft’s Surface tablets. We’ve gotten a few more details on how the two OS versions work. Now, we’re going […]

Ask MTE: Checking Hard Drive Health, Configuring TOR, And Many More… (Windows, Week 22)

Whether your computer is giving you weird errors or you simply have a curiosity about the Windows operating system, we’re here to answer any questions you may have at “Ask a Windows Expert.” Today, we start the 22nd edition of the Q&A we’ve been posting weekly, answering questions by readers like you. If you have […]

How to Skip the Windows 7 Welcome Screen And Login Automatically On Bootup

The most annoying phenomenon in any person’s day is probably when they notice that, all of a sudden, Windows has decided to show a Welcome screen and make you click on your username to log in. Not only is it annoying, but it’s yet another obstacle to your day especially when you’re in a hurry. […]

Ask MTE: Run Android Apps on Windows, Limit Internet Access to Kids, Connect PCs to Hotspot And Many More… (Windows, Week 21)

Hello there and welcome back to another segment of Ask a Windows Expert, where MTE’s readers freely ask any question they want about Windows and its operating hardware and a resident expert puts the question under a microscope until an answer pops out of it. We’re literally working around the clock to make sure every […]

Really Cool Things You’ll Find Useful in Windows 8’s Task Manager

One of the best changes made in Windows 8’s desktop platform is its task manager. With the new task manager, you can easily diagnose problems and close applications that don’t respond with much more fluency than you have had with the old one that’s stuck around since the Cambrian era. This new and improved window […]

Microsoft Surface: Is It Worth Your Money?

We’ve already written a review of Windows 8 Consumer Preview, and also thrown in a word on the Release Preview. Microsoft just debuted its “Surface” tablet (not to be confused with the Surface table) and it seems like there are some points I should get across regarding this new device. The material is to be […]

Ask MTE: Backing Up Email Address Book, Disable Password Display and Autologin, Movie Maker Missing dll File And Many More…

Welcome to another segment of Ask a Windows Expert, where we gather your questions about Windows and the hardware running it from our inbox and answer them all in our weekly digest. If you feel like applications are too confusing, got a curiosity about something Windows-based, or have problems with the operating system, why not […]

5 Interesting and Useful Applications For Windows 7

There are a ton of series on this site with apps you can use for windows. For example, here’s a list of alternative applications you can use in Windows 7. How about applications that let you modify your operating system? We have reported on those too. However, there are also applications that allow you to […]

Windows 8 Release Preview Brings Better Performance, Prepping For the Final Release

Not too long ago, we’ve reviewed Windows 8 Consumer Preview, a view of what’s to come in Windows 8 when Microsoft will finally release it. We’ve made some points on how the design was elegant, yet there were a few things that might disappoint some users. This time, Microsoft released the Windows 8 Release Preview […]

Ask MTE – Dual Boot Windows 7 and 8, Move a WMC Window In NoChrome Mode, And Many More… (Windows, Week 19)

Welcome to the 19th week of Ask a Windows Expert, where you have questions and we get a resident expert right here at Make Tech Easier to get you the most concise and comprehensive answer possible. The instant you send an inquiry through our “Questions” form, you can rest assured that your answer is being […]

How to Restore The Start Menu in Windows 8

So far, all I’ve been seeing is a bunch of people complaining about the missing Start button and the Metro UI. While I might like Metro, the Start button has to come back! So far, Microsoft is decided on keeping the Start button out of Windows 8. A lot of mouse and keyboard users were […]

Ask MTE: Delete Other Administrators, Delay Startup Applications, Backing Up Windows 7 And Many More… (Windows, Week 18)

Hello everyone and welcome back to “Ask a Windows Expert”, where you ask the questions and we get a Windows expert to investigate your inquiry and give you the best answer possible. We’re proud to announce that we’re on our 18th week running and have had our inbox full since we’ve started this series. Let’s […]

Alternative Freeware Applications That Work in Windows 7

Why buy a piece of software when other developers make similar software for free? We’re living in a world where altruistic developers make software for the sake of progressing technology, and we should learn to support these people who attempt to help us save some cash while using a program that can easily cater to […]

5 Cool Ways to Customize Windows Media Center

Windows Media Center is a great source of entertainment for some of Windows’ users, especially those that love to record their TV shows to watch later. Did you know that there are some ways to change the application to enhance your experience? Practically everything in Windows can be modified, and we’re going to talk about […]

Ask MTE: Windows Update Doesn’t Work, PC Crashes While Playing Games And Many More… (Windows, Week 17)

Welcome back to another segment of “Ask a Windows Expert,” where a resident Windows expert from MTE answers a question about any version of Microsoft’s operating system, no matter how complicated. Are you having any trouble with your computer while running Windows? Click the “Ask Our Experts Now!” button on the right-hand side of any […]

8 Nifty Windows 7 Applications

There are several applications out there that increase your productivity and enhance your experience in Windows 7. Running them would help you save time throughout your day and do things you couldn’t have imagined doing with a simple bare copy of Windows 7. Without further ado, MTE presents to you a list of nifty applications […]

Windows 8 to Shove Aero Away

For all the fans of Aero, a user interface improvement that has been introduced in Windows Vista and optimized in Windows 7, it’s a sad, sad day. Microsoft believes that Aero has taken its toll, and it’s time for a newer, cleaner interface which will be introduced in Windows 8, a new version of its […]

Ask MTE: Missing Windows Media Center, Thumbnails Missing In Explorer, Remove Games Icon And Many More (Week 16)

As with any product, certain aspects of Windows don’t come free of bugs, and third-party software can sometimes be a hassle. Here at Make Tech Easier, we recognize the need to answer questions for people who are experiencing problems or simply are curious about some of the things that Windows does. Our inbox is always […]

Microsoft Pledges to Eliminate Pre-Packaged Bloatware With ‘Signature’

If you have bought a new computer from a store, you’d know how it is to turn on the computer only to find out that it is crammed with many extra and useless software. This is one of the most frustrating complaints that people have had against computer manufacturers, and one of the reasons I […]

The Importance of Partitioning Your Hard Drive

You might have heard that many people are having issues recovering their data when some of the hard drive becomes corrupt. Having one partition is often more detrimental than you think. Your computer could benefit in multiple ways from a multi-partition system, perhaps more ways than you think. You can turn your computer into a […]

Windows Q&As: Print Screen For Current Monitor, Create Boot Menu For Dual Boot System, Can’t Detect DVD And Many More (Week 15)

We’ve come to the 15th week running of Ask a Windows Expert, where you ask a question and we get an expert on the case to give you a fully-researched and concise answer to your issues or curiosities. No matter how complex the question, our answers will always cover everything that you need to know […]

Things You Probably Didn’t Know But Really Needed in Windows 7

There comes a time in one person’s life, when he or she makes a paramount discovery of certain settings, features, or tweaks of Windows 7 that open doors to a brand new lifestyle. That moment could be now for you, depending on whether you know absolutely everything about your operating system or not. This is the […]

Windows Q&As: Unblock Hotmail, Boot Linux in Windows, PC Hangs On Startup And Many More

Welcome back to another segment of “Ask a Windows Expert,” where you ask a question and we get a Windows expert on the case to research and find an answer to your question. Today, we have an inbox a bit fuller than usual, but we’ve also gotten a lot of questions that do not relate […]

Things You Can Do to Make Windows 7 Run Like a Cheetah

Windows 7 is already a pretty fast operating system, but many things still annoy its users, such as the amount of time it takes to shut down, how it runs certain games, and its inability to use the full potential of the hard drive to transfer files. The truth is we never run out of […]

5 Awesome Ways to Tweak Windows 8

We’ve already discussed on and on about Windows 8’s features and some of the possible outcomes in the final build of the operating system. However, we haven’t really touched base with many of the possible tweaks that could be done to improve the functionality of the system, particularly when you want Windows 8 to run […]

Windows Q&As: No Wireless Connectivity, BSOD Error, Windows Stuck On Waking Up And Many More… (Week 13)

It’s been a rather busy week for us at MakeTechEasier, but we still managed to research your questions and get solid answers for them. We apologize to those whose questions we chose not to answer as they were not Windows-related. If you can rephrase your questions, we’ll get to them in the next week and […]

The Ultimate List of Shortcut Keys That Will Make Your Life Easier [Windows 7]

Your life revolves around saving time, whether you like it or not. We’ve previously discussed shortcut keys you can use in Windows 7, but didn’t cover all of them. There’s no way to do this, but we can certainly give you another large list of key combinations you can use to make your life much […]

6 Useful Tips to Help Windows 7 Run Faster

At this moment, you’re probably satisfied with how Windows 7 runs, but you probably want to squeeze as much juice as you can out of it. Despite the improvements, the operating system still takes up resources that didn’t necessarily have to be used for normal functions. Let’s have a look at a few of those […]

Windows Q&As: Remove Write Protection From USB Drive, Setup Parental Control, Blurry Screen After Update And Many More… (Week 12)

In this week “Ask the Windows Expert” , we answered questions on remove write protection from USB Drive, setting up parental control for kids who built their own PC, blurry screen after system update and many more questions.

7 Features of Windows 8 That Will Make You Consider Upgrading

Several people are getting upset at some of the changes that Microsoft made in Windows 8, especially those involving the user interface. However, while you poke around the UI, you must not forget that Windows isn’t just a UI. There are several back-end services and features that make the operating system work, some of them […]

Miguel Leiva-Gomez

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