6. Decide which programs will run on startup

When we turn on our computer, some applications launch along with it. Sometimes, these applications slow down the computer’s start-time, or they just might be unnecessary. To stop these applications from running on startup, do the following:

    Click on “Start” (), and then click the search-bar at the bottom.
    Type “MSConfig” in the search bar, then hit the “Enter” key.
    In the new window, go to the “Startup” tab.
    You will see a list of all applications that start along with the computer with a small checkbox on the left.
    Uncheck the boxes you don’t want to start with your computer.
    Click “OK”.

Be sure you know what you’re disabling! If you’re not sure, research it on Google or ask a friend.





Writing "msconfig" in the search-bar on the left, possible startup programs on the right

8. Get to a website without launching a web-browser

Need to save a few precious moments? You can get to a website of your choice without waiting for the web browser to load:

    Click “Start” () and go to the search bar.
    Type the site’s address, for example, www.ba-bamail.com and press “Enter”.

This will send you directly to that site.



Illustration of how to search for a website in the search bar

10. Choose a default program to run certain files

Sometimes, when you install a new program, it “takes over” certain kinds of file, making a mess of your routine. There’s a quick and simple way to resolve that:

    Find the file you want to attribute to the program.
    Right-click on that file.
    Hover with the pointer over “Open with”.
    In the new sub-menu, select “Choose default program…”
    A new window will pop up, and you’ll be able to select the program you want from a list.



Red highlights showing relevant "Open" fields