Reader Support
Your tech problems fixed
How can I make a program load at startup? Qrecently (Issue 489, page 56) you recommended Screenwings. It ran fine and I could switch it off and on, but could you advise me how to set it up to run at startup, which stops hackers taking screenshots of your PC? Ian Watkins Ayou
can use Windows’ Startup folder to make any program load when your PC boots. To open the Startup folder, press Windows key+r to open the Run box, type shell:startup then press Enter. Next, copy the desktop shortcut of the program (Screenwings in your case) into the Startup folder by right-clicking the program’s shortcut, selecting Copy, right-clicking within the Startup folder and selecting Paste. To reverse the effect, delete the shortcut from the Startup folder. Where has Start Menu X put the Settings app? QI
tried the Start Menu X Workshop (Issue 492, page 35) and it works fine, except for one thing. When you go to Settings you only see the ordinary settings rather than the ones you really want to check – camera, location, updates etc. Where will I find those? Martin Fletcher Ayou’re right, Start Menu X does change the Settings shortcut in the Start menu so that it opens the Control Panel instead. Thankfully, you can still access the Windows 10 Settings app. Press the Windows key+i keys, or rightclick the Start button then click Settings. Alternatively, click the Notifications icon (speech bubble at the bottom-right of the desktop) to open the Action Center, then click ‘All settings’ (see screenshot below left).
Why is Edge refusing to open? Qafter using ‘about:flags’ in the Edge browser (Issue 490, page 55), the browser refuses to load. Instead it tells me ‘Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart’. Edge is unuseable. Help! Graham Hall Aunfortunately,
it sounds like Edge’s ‘about:flags’ feature isn’t compatible with your PC and has corrupted the browser. To fix this uninstall and reinstall Edge. Before you do, we suggest you create a Windows 10 restore point. Click Start and type restore, then press Enter. When the System Properties box opens click Create then follow the instructions. If Create is greyed out, click Configure, ‘Turn on system protection’, Apply, then OK.
To uninstall Edge, press the Windows key+r to open the Run box and type the following: C:\users\%username%\ Appdata\local\packages\, then press Enter (or copy and paste from www. pastebin.com/xeszynvm). Right-click the ‘Microsoft.microsoftedge_ 8wek yb3d8bbwe’ folder in the list, then click Delete (see screenshot above). Click Yes if you see messages about certain files being too large to be deleted, or click Skip when they say files can’t be deleted. Once the folder has been deleted restart your PC.
When your PC reboots right-click the Start menu and click Windows Powershell (Admin). Type the following command: Get-appxpackage -Allusers -Name Microsoft.microsoftedge | Foreach {Add-appxpackage-disabledevelopment Mode -Register “$($_.Installlocation)\ Appxmanifest.xml” -Verbose} (paste it from www.pastebin.com/nbfz7dzk).
Press the Enter key and wait for the process to complete – you’ll see a message that starts ‘Verbose: Operation completed…’. Restart your computer and you’ll find Edge is back to its old self. Why won’t Chrome stream to my Chromecast? QI
followed your Chromecast Secret Tips page (Issue 493, page 48), but try as I might I can’t get the Chrome browser on my laptop to display on my TV screen. Is my Virgin router not up to it or am I missing something? Andrea Britton Athe
problem is probably your Virgin router. Virgin Media Super Hub routers broadcast both 2G and 5G Wi-fi bands (2G covers a larger distance, while 5G is faster but only works at short distances). You should try connecting your Chromecast to the 2G band and then do likewise with your laptop.
Open the Google Home app on your laptop, tap the Devices icon at the top right, then tap your Chromecast. Once the Chromecast pairs, tap Wi-fi, then Wi-fi again, and choose the 2G version of your home Wi-fi network from the list (the password is the same for 2G and 5G), then tap OK. Now return to your laptop and click the Wi-fi icon in the notification area of the taskbar (bottom right). Select the 2G option of your Wi-fi network (it will say 2G in its name), click Connect then enter your password. Chrome should now appear your TV.