Windows 10 All-in-One For Dummies, 3rd Edition
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Many people drive themselves insane when they're adjusting to a new machine or new operating system like Windows 10. Here are five tips to avoid the insanity:
  1. If there's no mouse cursor on the screen or the cursor won't move no matter how much you move the mouse, check the batteries.

    If that doesn't work, shut the computer down, make sure the mouse is plugged in, and restart the computer. If that doesn't work, flip the mouse over and use your fingernail to scrape off built-up gunk, or wipe off the laser hatch with a Q-tip dipped in isopropyl alcohol. If the cursor still won't move, throw the stupid thing away. Mice are cheap. Sheesh.

  2. If you suddenly can't get at your email or get on the web even though you could get to it yesterday and you haven't changed anything at all, chill.

    Chances are good that your Internet service provider (the place your computer connects to) is having problems. Come back in a few hours. Don't change your settings.

  3. If you can't find a file that was sitting around yesterday, chances are good it's either in the Recycle Bin or you dragged it somewhere weird.

    Double-click the Recycle Bin icon. If your file is there, double-click it and then click Restore. If your file isn't there, click Start, type anything you can remember about the file into the Start Search box, and press Enter. If it was in OneDrive, Dropbox, or some other cloud storage system, it's still there.

  4. If you spend the money to buy an expensive piece of hardware — a new video card, fancy camera, a second hard drive, or a different router/modem — spend a little bit more money and have the retailer install it.

    Life's too short.

  5. If the stupid computer won't work right, turn it off.

    Go read a book or watch a movie. Get some sleep. Come back when you're not so tied up in knots. Few pursuits in the history of humanity are as frustrating as trying to get a recalcitrant computer to behave itself.

About This Article

This article is from the book:

About the book author:

Woody Leonhard is a bestselling author and has been a Microsoft beta tester since Word for Windows 1.1. He covers Windows and Office topics on his popular Web site, AskWoody.com.

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