Ricmedia PC Help

Tech Guides for Everyone

Change default email client on Windows 10

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v3On77NDT8]

Today I will show you how to set your default email client on Windows 10. There are a number of good alternatives to Outlook including Mozilla Thunderbird and Eudora so there’s no need to feel trapped into Microsoft products, the alternatives can offer better email management and features.

Note* This guide will only work if you have already installed the email client you want to make the default (ie. Thunderbird, Eudora). If you have not already done this you will likely only have one choice which is the default Windows 10 mail client.

Watch the video above or follow the text guide below.

Change the Default Email Client on Windows 10

  1. Click on the Start Menu Windows 10 Start Icon button bottom-left
  2. Now click on the Settings Windows 10 Settings menu item
  3. Then click the System Windows 10 Settings - System icon
  4. Now click on the Default apps menu item
  5. Look for the Email heading
  6. Click on the current default email client just below heading
  7. The Choose an app menu should now be in view
  8. Click on the email client you wish to make the default app
  9. Close the Settings window
  10. All done!

Show hidden files & folders in Windows

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=106uBxh0AC4]

Sometimes you need to view, edit or even delete hidden files and folders on Windows, but by default, Windows hides some system files (applications can also create hidden files). But there is a way to show these hidden files/folders and I’ll show you how in this guide.

Works for all version of Windows.

Watch the video above or follow the text guide below.

Show hidden files & folders on Windows (all versions)

  1. Depending on your version of Windows:
    1. Win XP/Vista/7: Click the Windows Start Windows 7 Start button icon
    2. Win 8/8.1: Search Windows 8 Search Icon (Metro) for "Control Panel" & click the Control Panel result
  2. Click on the Control Panel menu item
  3. Depending on your view settings:
    1. (In Category view) Click the Appearance & Personalization icon, then click the Folder Options icon
    2. (In icon view) Click on the Folder Options icon
  4. Click on the View tab
  5. Under the Hidden files & folders item, select the "Show hidden files, folders & drives"
  6. (optional) Uncheck the "Hide empty drives in the Computer folder" checkbox
  7. (optional) Uncheck the "Hide extensions of known file types" checkbox
  8. Uncheck the "Hide protected operating system files" checkbox
  9. Click Yes to Alert Warning
  10. Now click on Apply, and then OK to save settings
  11. All done!
  12. NOTE* I recommend setting the "Hide protected operating system files" back to hidden after you have finished working with hidden files/folders

Perform a Disk Check on Windows (all versions)

Perform a Disk Check on Windows (all versions)

Sometimes it’s necessary to run a Disk Check on Windows if your hard drive and/or system is throwing up errors, crashing/freezing or constantly accessing the hard drive (and therefore slowing the system down). It can take a while but it will be well worth your time and solves many issues. It’s also pretty easy and I will show you how in this guide.

Perform Disk Check on Windows – Choose Version

  1. Windows 8/8.1
  2. Windows 7
  3. Windows Vista
  4. Windows XP

Perform a Disk Check on Windows 8/8.1

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy_1eYkynAs]

Sometimes it’s necessary to run a Windows 8/8.1 Disk Check if your hard drive and/or system is throwing up errors, crashing/freezing or constantly accessing the hard drive (and therefore slowing the system down). It can take a while but it will be well worth your time and solves many issues. It’s also pretty easy and I will show you how in this guide.

Watch the video above or follow the text guide below.

Perform Disk Check on Windows 8/8.1

  1. Change to Desktop View (click/press the Desktop tile)
  2. Click/tap the File Explorer Windows 8 Explorer icon icon bottom-left
  3. Look for "Local Disk (C:)" wWindows 8 System Drive Icon under Devices and Drives
  4. Right-click on the drive icon and choose Properties
  5. Click on the Tools tab
  6. Click the Check button under Error Checking, then Scan Drive
  7. It can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours so be patient
  8. Your PC will return to Desktop when completed
  9. You may need to restart your PC
  10. All done!

Perform a Disk Check on Windows 7

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjEWlTfiq58]

Sometimes it’s necessary to run a Windows 7 Disk Check if your hard drive and/or system is throwing up errors, crashing/freezing or constantly accessing the hard drive (and therefore slowing the system down). It can take a while but it will be well worth your time and solves many issues. It’s also pretty easy and I will show you how in this guide.

Watch the video above or follow the text guide below.

Perform Disk Check on Windows 7

  1. Click on the Start Menu Windows 7 Start button icon bottom-left
  2. Click on the Computer menu item
  3. Look for "Local Disk (C:)" Windows 7 System Drive Icon under Hard Disk Drives
  4. Right-click on the drive icon and choose Properties
  5. Click on the Tools tab
  6. Click the Check Now… button under Error Checking, then Continue
  7. Check the "Automatically fix file system errors" checkbox
  8. Check the "Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors" checkbox
  9. Now click the Start button, if an alert pops up, click Schedule disk check
  10. Restart your computer (do not press any keys or "skip disk check")
  11. It can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours so be patient
  12. Your PC will return to logon screen when completed
  13. All done!