Give your computer some personality with these great tips and tricks for Windows 10, plus find out how you can bring back classic games such as Solitaire, Hearts and Minesweeper.
Customise your Start menu
The Windows 10 Start menu bridges the gap between the simplistic menus of Windows XP–7 and the cluttered menu of Windows 8.
The Start menu now shows some default locations and recently used apps on the left-hand side, while the right-hand side is populated by ‘Live Tiles’. By right-clicking on a Live Tile you can adjust the size of the tile, turn the tile off, or uninstall the program to which the tile opens.
You can also resize the Start menu by clicking on the top edge of the menu and dragging the mouse up or down.
Change your wallpaper
If you find the standard Windows wallpaper a little dull, you can change it to your own picture. To do this, right-click on your desktop and click Display settings. From here you can choose from some other Windows supplied backgrounds or click Browse to select your own image.
Bring back the games
Upon upgrading, you may have been shocked to discover that some classic games, such as Solitaire, Hearts and Minesweeper, were missing from your computer.
Those looking for Solitaire, FreeCell or Spider Solitaire can find these games by clicking on the Start menu and entering ‘solitaire’ into the search bar. These games have been bundled together into one program called Microsoft Solitaire Collection. (Note: classic Solitaire is now called Klondike.
Minesweeper addicts can visit the Microsoft store to start sweeping again.
Unfortunately fans of the classic Hearts game are out of luck, as Microsoft has not yet made an official version of the game available. However, you can mend that broken heart by downloading an unofficial remake.
Change your theme
Give your personal computer some individual flair by changing your theme. To do this right-click on your desktop and click Personalise. Now click Themes on the left-hand side, then click Classic themes settings. From here you can adjust your themes, get more themes online, or activate high-contrast themes if you have trouble reading text or identifying items on your computer.
Brand new keyboard shortcuts
Every new version of Windows brings some nifty keyboard shortcuts with it, to see the newest additions, have a look at our Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts.
If you’re new to the world of keyboard shortcuts, you can check out our top 10 classic keyboard shortcuts, all of which will still work for Windows 10.
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