FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO CHECK NOW
Pyour version of Windows
Microsoft plans to continue rolling out two Feature updates every year for Windows 10. However, if recent updates are anything to go by, these will become increasingly smaller as the company prioritises Windows 11. These are still worth installing, however, because they will improve existing security features and fix bugs. The latest Windows Feature update, for example, strengthened Microsoft Defender Application Guard, which runs software safely in a quarantined environment (like a sandbox).
To check which version of Windows your computer is running, open the Settings app (press the Windows key+i), select System, then About (bottom of the menu on the left). In the ‘Windows specifications’ section, look under Version. On our computer, this says 21H1 (see screenshot above right), which means we’re running the latest Feature update released in May this year.
If yours is still running an older version (such as 20H2, released in October last year), there might be a problem that’s preventing Windows Update from downloading the latest 21H1 version. To fix this, bypass Windows Update and instead download the Windows Update Assistant tool ( www.snipca.com/39001) and click Update Now.
Ppotential memory damage
If Windows 10 occasionally crashes, your computer’s memory modules could be faulty. There are plenty of memorychecking tools you can download, but we recommend sticking with the one built into Windows.
To run it, click Start, type memory diagnostic, then press Enter and select ‘Restart now…’. The tool will then run a series of tests. If it shows a warning message such as ‘Hardware problems were detected’, your computer’s memory is probably damaged. The good news is that replacement memory is relatively cheap (£29 for 8GB from www.snipca. com/39003), but you must ensure you buy memory that’s compatible with your computer. Download Crucial’s Memory Advisor tool ( www.snipca.com/39002) to find out what you need.
Pstorage space
Two years ago, Microsoft added a feature to Windows called Reserved Storage, which kept around 10GB of hard-drive space free to ensure smoother Windows updates. However, this feature is only on computers that have had a clean install of Windows. On older computers, you need to manage the free space yourself, and we recommend a minimum of 15GB. This not only ensures updates run more smoothly, but will make use of this free space to store data when your computer’s memory is full.
To check how much free space your hard drive has, open Settings, select System, then Storage – your free space will be listed at the end of the blue bar. If you’re running low, click ‘Configure Storage Sense or run it now’ at the top, make sure you’re happy with the settings for deleting items in your recycle bin and Downloads folder, then click ‘Clean now’.
Phard- drive health
It’s also worth checking your hard drive – or more specifically, its SMART status (a diagnostic tool built into all hard drives that can tell you whether your drive is about to die). The quickest way to do this is via Command Prompt. Click Start, type cmd, then press Enter. Next type wmic diskdrive get model,status, press Enter and you’ll see all your hard drives listed along with their SMART status. A status of OK (see screenshot above) means your drive is performing normally. If its status is Bad or Caution, you should replace the drive immediately.
Pbattery capacity
Microsoft says Windows 11 will include “performance optimisation features” to boost battery life on laptops. Sadly, it’s unlikely Windows 10 will receive the same treatment. However, if you’re experiencing poor battery life it might not be Windows at fault, but rather the battery itself. The charge capacity of a battery deteriorates from the day it’s manufactured. After around four years’ use you can expect its capacity to have more than halved.
To find out whether your battery is the problem, open Command Prompt again and type powercfg /batteryreport, then copy the file path that’s displayed into your browser’s address bar. In the battery report that appears, scroll down to its Design Capacity (your battery’s original capacity) and Full Charge Capacity (its capacity now – see screenshot below). The difference between the two will tell you by how much your battery has deteriorated – when your battery can hold only 30 per cent of its original capacity, it’s time to look for a replacement.