Computer – eFriend Magazine

How to Restart Your Windows Computer Using the Keyboard

efriend — Sun, 01 Sep 2024 15:51:31 +0000

If your computer behaves sluggish, blank windows shown app when running some applications, freezes from time to tile, restarting might be the final option before you. Restarting a computer can also resolve issues with different drivers. It is only when you restart your PC that the PC truly shuts down and flushes the RAM. Restarting your computer helps to freeing up memory, reducing energy consumption and also helps in software updates. Sometimes you need to restart only through your computer keyboard.

You can restart your Windows computer using just the keyboard using different techniques.

Restart using the Power User Menu
You can restart the computer using power user menu,
Press Win + X to open the Power User menu.
Press U to open the Shut down or sign out menu.
Press R to restart your computer.

Restart using the Ctrl + Alt + Delete
Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete simultaneously.
Press the Tab key until the Power button is selected.
Press Enter button to open the Power menu.
Use the arrow keys to select Restart and press Enter button on the keyboard.

Restart using the Alt + F4 shortcut
You can close all the opened applications by pressing Alt + F4 repeatedly.
Once all applications are closed, press Alt + F4 again to open the Shut Down Windows dialog.
Use the arrow keys to select Restart and press Enter button on the keyboard.

Using any of the methods helps you to restart your Windows computer without touching the mouse. Do it yourself to experience the keyboard combinations to perform a smooth restart. It may help you when your computer freezes or in a moment you couldn’t use your mouse to restart your computer or do anything on your computer screen with your mouse.

How To Connect Your Laptop to a Monitor

efriend — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 16:44:08 +0000

Do you want to work in a big screen with your laptop. Don’t want to buy a laptop with a big screen. You can see things bigger even in your small laptop, if it has a video output port. Luckily, most laptops comes with an HDMI or VGA port to extend the display. You can connect your Windows laptop or a Macbook using an external monitor. Adding a second monitor makes more productive in a working environment. You can simply connect an additional monitor your laptop and extend the displays using simple settings.

Depending on the type of laptop and monitor that you are using, you can choose USB, HDMI or VGA cables. In Windows laptop there is HDMI, VGA or USB connections, in Macbooks, it have USB and thunderbolt. After connecting the appropriate cable you can choose to extend the display to the second monitor or to duplicate display on both screens.

Before connecting to external monitor check the type monitor connections available on your laptop. If you are having a monitor check the available display connection port in it. The new monitors have HDMI display port in it, old monitors have VGA or D-Sub display ports. If you are planning to buy a monitor, check the display connection port available on your laptop to avoid any mismatching in cable connection.

Connect your laptop to monitor

Step 1 : Turn off the monitor and laptop, connect the laptop with appropriate cable.

Step 2: Connect the power cable of the monitor to a wall socket.

Step 3: Turn on the laptop and monitor.

Step 4: In Windows, search for Settings, then click Display. Under multiple displays, click ‘Detect other display‘.

How to Boot into Safe Mode on Windows 10

efriend — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 17:14:20 +0000

If your computer exhibits some problems and denied to open, you can start your Windows in safe mode. If you have the first time to heard of it, Safe mode starts Windows in a basic state, using a limited set of files and drivers. Opening Windows in safe mode enables you to find the problem, and can help you troubleshoot problems on your computer.

You can use safe mode in two ways. Safe Mode and Safe Mode with Networking. The Safe Mode with Networking allows the network drivers and services to access the Internet and other computers on your network.

To boot into safe mode, from settings, press Windows logo key+I on your keyboard to open Settings. You can also select the Start button, then select Settings. Select Update & Security then Recovery. Under Advanced startup, select Restart now. After your PC restarts to the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot, then Advanced options, then Startup Settings, then Restart. You may be asked to enter your BitLocker recovery key. After your PC restarts, you’ll see a list of options. Select 4 or press F4 to start your PC in Safe Mode. Or if you’ll need to use the Internet, select 5 or press F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.

If you need to exit safe mode, simply restart your device.

Keyboard Key Names and Functions of Every Key

efriend — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 05:16:17 +0000

When using your computer you may get confused to find the keys for tilde, caret, backslash, backquote, etc. It becomes difficult to use a mouse when editing documents or photos. You can do everything fast using a pair of keys. Keyboard shortcuts are keys or combinations of keys for doing something that you’d typically do with a mouse. It saves time and speeds up your workflow.

Keyboard Key	Name and usage
Esc	Escape key-to abort or close an operation, to stop action, leave a program, return to a previous menu.
F1-F12	Function keys-special keys used to perform operations defined by the operating system (example F1 for help)
Prtsc	Print screen key-when pressed the key captures and sends the current desktop screen (screenshot) to clipboard. Use a paint/image editing software to paste the screen from the clipboard.
Delete	Delete key- to remove text, file, or object from the computer. In Windows, the deleted files are sent to the Recycle bin. Shift+Delete shortcuts will permanently delete the file from the computer.
Home	Home key-moves the cursor to beginning of the document or webpage.
End	End key-moves the cursor to the end of the document or webpage
pg up	Page up key- to move up one page when viewing a multipage document or webpage
pg dn	Page down key- to move down one page when viewing a multipage document or webpage
backspace	Backspace- to move the cursor to move backward
num lock	Numeric lock-it is a lock key like caps lock or scroll lock, the key allows to use only numbers. The number keyboard contains numbers and function, Numlock allows you to use only the numbers.
tab	Tab key- to switch between documents or webpages.
caps lock	Caps lock-to enable uppercase until disabled. When Caps Lock has enabled the letters appears in capital letter.
Scroll lock	Scroll lock key- to stop the scrolling of the text, when scroll lock is on the arrow keys would scroll the contents of a text window instead of moving the cursor.
enter	Enter key- to perform an action, or to start a new line of writing.
shift	Shift key is a modifier key to type single capital letters, or to type symbols on the top number keys. two-shift key on the left and right side of the computer keyboard.
pause	Pause key- to temporarily halt a computer process
ctrl	Control key is a modifier key to perform a special operation when pressed in conjunction with another key. Ctrl+Alt+Del will open up the task manager or reboot your system.
fn	Function key found on laptops due to keyboard size restriction. To perform an action press the Fn key and the relevant F key (F1-F12).
windows	Windows logo key-press it with another key to access a shortcut. Pressing the Windows key by itself opens the start menu, and pressing Win+E will open up Windows Explorer.
alt	Alt key/Alternate key-to change the functions of other pressed keys.
spacebar	Spacebar- a long key on the computer keyboard for making space between words.
arrows	Arrow keys-fro moving the cursor or insertion point right, left, up, or down.
insert	Insert key- to insert text in front of other text.
break	Break key- to stop a running program. Pressing Ctrl+break terminates a DOS application.

The computer keyboard has 104 keys, with 12 function keys, one numeric keypad with 17 keys, ten number keys, 26 alphabetic keys, 40 symbols on 28 keys, and four arrow keys in six rows. Read this article Know Names of Keyboard Symbols in Computer Keyboard to know the name of different keyboard symbols. Read do more with Function keys and Modifier keys to learn more about function keys.

How to Monitor Internet and Wi-Fi Usage

efriend — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 15:18:52 +0000

Nowadays broadband service providers offer unlimited broadband plans at an affordable rate. There are several plans based on speed or data usage. But things may change if you have crossed your allowed usage limit, even the unlimited internet pack may slow down to a slower speed. You need to monitor your internet data consumption to avoid speed limiting or data capping. Do you want to monitor your internet usage? Here are some tools and methods to monitor your internet usage.

NetBalancer
(https://netbalancer.com/)
Net Balancer is a Windows application for local network traffic control and monitoring. You can see the real-time traffic data and can build advanced traffic statistics and charts over any period of time. It can display network traffic and other info in a system tray icon or taskbar toolbar.

Bandwidth Monitor
(http://www.bwmonitor.com/)
Bandwidth Monitor, monitors bandwidth usage displays real-time download and upload speeds in graphical and numerical forms, logs bandwidth usage, and provides daily weekly or monthly bandwidth usage reports. Bandwidth Monitor can monitor all network connections on a computer, such as LAN network connection, Internet network connection, and VPN connection.

DU Meter
(https://www.hageltech.com/dumeter/)
Du meter is a tiny Internet usage monitor that shows real-time graphs and can create reports and alerts based on your downloads and uploads.

Data Usage on Android Phone
Even though the Mobile operators offering tons of data, but there is a chance to get surprise bills if you exceed the data usage limits. Don’t worry, your Android device has built-in tools to monitor data usage. To monitor your internet usage, go to Android Settings, then go to Network & Internet, tap Mobile Network, at the top of the screen you can see the current month’s data usage.

Do you want to know which apps are eating most o/your data package? To know the usage by apps, tap App Data Usage. You will see the list of apps ranked based on the use of data. You can see some apps use data even it is in the background. You can turn off background data usage by switching off the Background Data slider button. If you have a limited mobile data pack on your mobile phone you need to make sure you don’t go over a specific amount. You can set up a Mobile data usage limit in your Android mobile device. The Data warning & Limit allows you to set up a data limit, so the device sends a warning notification when you reach your data limit. Go to Android Settings, then Connections, then select Data usage, Tap on Billing cycle and data warning, toggle on Set data limit. Tap on Data limit to change the new cut off-limit. You can choose MB or GB limit, apply the changes by hitting the Set button. connections.jpgDo you want to know which apps are eating most o/your data package? To know the usage by apps, tap App Data Usage. You will see the list of apps ranked based on the use of data. You can see some apps use data even it is in the background. You can turn off background data usage by switching off the Background Data slider button. If you have a limited mobile data pack on your mobile phone you need to make sure you don’t go over a specific amount. You can set up a Mobile data usage limit in your Android mobile device. The Data warning & Limit allows you to set up a data limit, so the device sends a warning notification when you reach your data limit. Go to Android Settings, then Connections, then select Data usage, Tap on Billing cycle and data warning, toggle on Set data limit. Tap on Data limit to change the new cut off-limit. You can choose MB or GB limit, apply the changes by hitting the Set button.