If you set the so-called Active Hours in Windows 10, you won’t be interrupted by annoying update messages. We’ll tell you how to tailor the feature perfectly to your needs.

Set Active Hours in Windows 10

Active Hours, or hours of use, is when all notifications and restarts due to Windows updates are disabled. New updates are also not installed during these times. For example, you can spend the entire workday undisturbed at the PC.

1. To set Active Hours, first open Windows Settings with the key combination [Windows] + [I].
2. In the new window, click on the „Update and Security“ category.
3. In the „Windows Update“ tab, select the „Change time of use“ entry in the „Update settings“ section.
4. Finally, set the start and end time of your quiet time and close the settings window. Note, however, that the usage time must not exceed 18 hours.

Windows 10: Set usage time

Video: 10 tips for getting started with Windows 10

We’ll also tell you how to prevent reboots after Windows updates in another practical tip.

If you want to install updates under Windows 10, you will search in vain for them in the good old Control Panel. Find out where you should look instead in this practical tip.

If you want to install updates in Windows 10, you will search in vain for them in the good old Control Panel. Find out where you should look instead in this practical tip.

Find and install updates on Windows 10

1. Open the Windows 10 Start menu and select „Settings“ from the gear icon.
2. Select the „Update and Security“ category at the bottom, it will take you directly to the Update feature.
3. Click the „Check for updates“ button here, and they will be automatically downloaded and installed.
4. For larger updates, Windows will then alert you that you need to restart your PC.

Windows 10: Check for updates

Expert tip: The best notebooks for Windows 10

Windows 10 is already much more performance-efficient than its predecessors, but there are still problems on many notebooks. Yet you can already get strong laptops for under 500 euros, on which Windows 10 runs smoothly. The best thing is that the system is already pre-installed on most computers and you can use it without further settings.

The best laptops for Windows 10

Video: Windows 10 in the big CHIP check

In the next practical tip we show you how to open multiple desktops under Windows 10.(Tip originally written by: Tim Aschermann )

How to deactivate the autostart programs completely, you can read in this practical tip.

How to completely disable the autostart programs, read this practical tip.

Windows – Completely remove autostart programs via regedit

In Windows 7, go to the Windows logo on the bottom left and type „regedit“ (without quotes) in the search box. Click on the program you find. On Windows 8, type „regedit“ in the app menu and also select the program found.

1. In the left display, click on „HKEY_CURRENT_USER“ -> „Software“ -> „Microsoft“ -> „Windows“ -> „Current Version“ and then click on „Run“.
2. In the right display you will see Autostart programs.
3. Right-click on a program’s entry and click „Delete“.
4. Confirm by clicking „Yes“.

Windows – Manage startup programs with msconfig

If you search for „msconfig“ instead of „regedit“ and click on the found program, you can also manage your autostart programs.

1. Under the „Startup“ tab, uncheck the boxes next to the programs you do not want to run at system startup.
2. Save the changes via „OK“.

Video tutorial: Windows 7 – Log on user automatically

If only you have access to your computer, you can disable the password prompt at login. In our video we show you how to do it.By the way, you can also turn off sending problem and error reports to Microsoft in Windows.

If the error 0x80070570 is displayed under Windows, there is usually a problem with a USB stick or an external hard drive. We show you in this practical tip, how to fix the error.

Remedy error 0x80070570 in Windows – here's how

Error 0x80070570 often occurs when you pull the USB flash drive out of the computer even though it was still accessed. To avoid the occurrence of the error in the future, you can safely remove your hardware:

1. Press the [Windows] and [E] keys simultaneously so that Explorer opens.
2. Switch to the „This PC“ category on the left, find the USB flash drive or external hard drive there.
3. Right-click the device and select the „Properties“.
4. Switch to the „Tools“ tab at the top and click the „Check“ button on the error check.
5. Use the „Scan and Repair Drive“ option to start the process.
6. When the scan is complete, the 0x80070570 error should no longer occur.

Windows: fix error 0x80070570.

In the next practical tip, we’ll show you how to start Windows 10 without logging in.

If you want to use your computer under Windows 10 with more people, you should add more users in the settings. We will show you step by step exactly how to do this.

Add users on Windows 10

1. Open the Start menu of Windows 10 and select the „Settings“ there via the gear icon.
2. Open the „Accounts“ category, here you can set up a Microsoft account or a local account.
3. To do this, go to the „Family & Other Contacts“ category on the left and click „Add another person to this PC.“
4. Microsoft wants you to add the new user using a Microsoft account. Click the options at the bottom of each, a local account is also possible.

Windows 10: Add a user

In the next practice tip, we’ll show you how to start Windows 10 without logging in.(Tip originally written by: Tim Aschermann )

RDP is a protocol that allows you to control Windows computers over the Internet or a network. In this practical tip, you will learn everything you need to know about it.

What is RDP? – You need to know

• RDP – short for Remote Desktop – lets you control computers remotely over the Internet. Mouse and keyboard inputs are transferred to the target device and the screen is mirrored.
• Frequently RDP is used in larger companies. For example, the administrator can install software on other computers from his desk.
• You can only control your PC remotely via RDP if you have Windows 7, 8, 8.1 or 10 in Pro edition. Otherwise, you’ll have to resort to alternatives like TeamViewer. On Linux, VNC is most commonly used.
• To control your computer remotely via RDP, open the Control Panel and click on „System and Security“. Then press „System“ and then „Remote Settings“. Here, activate the item „Allow remote connections to this computer“.
• Now you can access this computer network-wide. For a connection from the Internet, you still need to release the port TCP 3389 and set port forwarding on a case-by-case basis.
• If you want to control your computer remotely using RPD, it is recommended to set up Wake on LAN so that you can turn on your computer remotely.

What is RDP? Simply explained

In the next practical tip, you will learn how to share a folder on the network under Windows.

If Windows 10 cannot be installed on your PC, the causes are often manifold. In this practical tip, we provide various tips so that the installation works without problems.

What you can do if Windows 10 won’t install

First check whether Windows 10 works on your PC before you start the installation.

• If your PC does not meet the requirements , you should refrain from installing it, otherwise you may experience errors and problems.
• In order to install Windows 10, you should have around 300 MB of free hard drive space .
• If you are upgrading from a previous version of Windows, you should first update all drivers to the latest.
• In some cases, bootable USB sticks may not be recognized. Install Windows 10 then over an existing system. Simply open the USB stick there and start the file „setup.exe“.
• For this process, you must be logged into Windows as an administrator, as User Account Control will become active. During this installation method, turn off your firewall as well as your antivirus program.
• In addition, disconnect all devices that are connected to the PC and are not needed during the installation of Windows 10.
• If these tips are not successful, you can try installing Windows 10 on a blank hard drive or partition. To do this, insert the DVD and boot from it. After that, the installation process should begin.

Video Tip: Hidden Windows 10 Features

In our next practice tip, we’ll tell you what to do if Windows 10 is slow.

You can also start Windows 10 without entering your login information, i.e. without a password or PIN. How to set up the login accordingly, we show you in our guide.

Without Login WIndows 10 start: without password and without PIN

Normally, you’ll be asked for your user account password when you start Windows 10. However, if you are the only one using the computer, you can disable this security prompt to speed up the login process. To do this, simply follow these steps:

1. Press the key combination [Win] + [R] to open the Run dialog.
2. Now type the command „netplwiz“ (without quotes). After that, click „OK.“ The „User Accounts“ window will open.
3. In the „Users“ tab, uncheck „Users must enter username and password“. After clicking „OK“, another window should open.
4. Now enter the password of your user account in each of the corresponding fields. Confirm your entry with „OK“.

Windows 10: Launch without login.

Windows 10: System reactivation without password

In addition, to disable the password prompt when reactivating the system (such as from power-save or standby mode), do the following:

1. Open the Start menu and select Settings. Alternatively, press the key combination [Win] + [i].
2. Select „Accounts“ and from the menu on the left, select „Login Options.“
3. Change the selection at „When should Windows request a logon again after an absence?“ to „Never“.

Logging in after reactivation

Tip: Speed up system startup even further

Without a login, Windows 10 already boots noticeably faster. For even shorter boot times, you need the appropriate hardware with a powerful CPU and, above all, an SSD hard drive.

• To get the most out of your PC or notebook. You can find the fastest and most cost-effective SSDs in our always up-to-date best list. It starts already from under 50 euros.
• Who does not want to screw around himself, finds alternatively in our laptop best list numerous fast notebooks for under 500 euros.

An SSD hard drive speeds up Windows 10 startup Screenshot: CHIP

Change the background of the login screen in Windows 10 with the free Windows 10 Login Background Changer.

More questions about Microsoft Windows 10 are answered by the experts in the CHIP Forum.