Windows Tutorials

One of the benefits of being in the Windows Insider Program is getting to see and test new Windows features before they are generally available. For example, one rather prominent feature includes getting the latest Windows 11 operating system.

When you enroll in the Windows Insider Program, you can join one of three update channels. The channel you choose dictates what updates you receive and the amount of risk you are willing to take when it comes to bugs, incompatible software, unsupported hardware, or incomplete features. The three update channels are described in the table below.

Note: At the time of writing, Windows 11 is only available if enrolled in the Dev Channel. As an example of bugs and incomplete features in the Dev Channel, the taskbar currently does not stretch to multiple monitors. Windows 11 will eventually be available to all insider channels.

How to enroll in the Windows Insider Program

To enroll a device in the Windows Insider Program, select the Start Menu and pick Settings (gear icon). From the Windows Settings dialog, choose Update & Security and pick the Windows Insider Program tab.

Before you enroll in the Windows Insider Program, you need to make sure your device has optional diagnostic data enabled. Enabling this feature sends additional diagnostic data back to Microsoft for review. If it is currently disabled, you will receive the following warning.

To manage the Windows Insider Program settings for your device and allow it to stay in the Windows Insider program, you'll need to turn on optional diagnostic data.

To fix, click the link titled Go to Diagnostics & Feedback settings to turn on optional diagnostic data. Then, from the Diagnostics & feedback dialog, select the radio button Optional diagnostic data.

If you travel a lot with a laptop you may find yourself working in many different time zones. The challenge is that your laptop will display the incorrect time. This can make it particularly challenging when scheduling or attending meetings.

Rather than manually updating your time as you step foot into each new geography, one solution is to configure your time settings to update based on your location. This process is quite simple.

Let’s get started!

Note: This solution requires Windows 10

Configure Automatic Time Zone

From your Windows 10 desktop, right click on the time in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen.

From the context menu select Adjust Date/Time.

From the Date & Time settings window flip the toggle under Set Time Zone Automatically to the On position.

Your time zone (and time) will update automatically based on your location in the world.

You will also notice that once you configured your PC to use an automatic time zone, all other manual zone settings, such as the drop-down box to set the time zone are now grayed out.

A file extension is the string of characters that follows the period in a file name. For example, Finances.xlsx would indicate that the file is formatted in Excel 2007 or later. By default newer versions of Windows hide the extension of known file types. This isn’t a big deal for Excel Workbooks as the file icon is universally known. However, what happens when a file has a fairly generic or lesser-known icon? What happens when two file types possess very similar icons but provide different functions. For example, an OST versus a PST. Hard to guess which one is which by sight alone.

We wouldn’t want to accidentally manipulate the wrong file type. Deleting an OST cache file is no big deal. Accidentally deleting a PST can result in data loss. One possibility is right-clicking and checking the properties of the file. But if you are working with dozens of files it might be easier to display the file extensions in Windows Explorer.

To show file extensions in Windows 10 is a relatively straightforward task. The process is the same with Windows 8.

From Windows Explorer click View.

Select Options >> Change folder and search options.

Click View tab. Deselect Hide extensions for known file types. Click Ok.

You are all set!

To show hidden files in Windows 10 is a relatively straightforward task. The process is the same as Windows 8.

From Windows Explorer click View.

Select Options >> Change folder and search options.

Click the View tab. Select Show hidden files, folders and drives. Click Ok.

You are all set!

Do you typically show your hidden files? Drop a comment below or join the conversation on Twitter @SuperTekBoy.