If you’ve got a computer that has yet to upgrade to Windows 10, you don’t have to rush out and buy a new computer to start using it; there’s the Media Creation tool that you can download free of charge directly from Microsoft that’ll allow you to get up and running with Windows 10 within […]
About Mathew
Mathew Diekhake is a Systems Administrator from Australia who started ConsumingTech back in 2011. On this site, Mathew provides unique tips, tricks, how-to guides, and news for Windows, Android, and other popular consumer software.
Posts by Mathew Diekhake:
Remotely Lock Windows 10 Device with Find My Device
By Mathew
Lots of people aren’t too chirpy about giving away privacy to Microsoft when it comes to using their operating systems such as Windows 10. However, if ever there was a time those people might be willing to look the other way, it may be knowing that allowing location services to operate can help retrieve a […]
Add/Remove Default Items on Power User Menu in Windows 10
By Mathew
If you want to use Windows as efficiently as possible, then you’ll need to get to know the Power User menu. Included in Windows 8 and Windows 10, the Power User menu is the quickest way you can get access to many of the main management, configuration and other tools that a Windows power user […]
Hide/Show Windows Security Notification Area Icon in Windows 10
By Mathew
Windows Defender started off as spyware protection in Windows XP. By Windows 8 it had turned into reliable full-fledged antivirus for your computer. In Windows 10 many people regard Windows Defender to be up there with the best protection your Windows operating system can have. Not long after the release of Windows 10, Windows Defender […]
Open Windows Security in Windows 10
By Mathew
Windows Defender has been developed by Windows ever since Windows XP. Back in those days, it wasn’t anything more than a spyware solution, and you had no choice but to look for alternatives for an antivirus that would keep your computer safe from all malware threats. As good an operating system as XP was, it […]
Flush DNS Cache in Windows 10
By Mathew
The DNS (Domain Name Resolver) cache, or sometimes called DNS resolver cache, is a record of all visits and attempted visits to websites from a computer that runs on a computer’s operating system. All commonly used operating systems—Windows, Mac, Linux distros, et cetera—have a DNS cache working by default. Like all operating systems, Windows stores […]
Download QPST Flash Tool
By Mathew
The Qualcomm Product Support Tool, otherwise known as the QPST flash tool for short, is an application you can use to install firmware files onto smartphones that come with a Qualcomm chipset. Numerous flashing tools are designed to work for Qualcomm chipsets, and it shouldn’t matter which one you use. However, if you try using one and […]
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Disable Google Chrome Software Reporter Tool
By Mathew
If you’ve been reading about tech for a while now, then you’re probably familiar with how to get into the Task Manager and take a look at how your hardware is performing. Most people think that keeping the statistics as low as possible across the board for all categories at the top of the columns […]
Mute Audio for Tab in Google Chrome
By Mathew
Whether you’re using a desktop computer or a laptop, if you’re sharing a house with someone, you’ll want to know how to control your audio. The simplest method is to mute everything by using the Sound icon in the system tray of the taskbar, but the Google Chrome web browser also offers some more specific […]
Permanently Mute Site in Google Chrome
By Mathew
Whether you’re using a desktop computer or a laptop, if you’re sharing a house with someone, you’ll want to know how to control your audio. The simplest method is to mute everything by using the Sound icon in the system tray of the taskbar, but the Google Chrome web browser also offers some more specific […]
Remove Individual Autocomplete Suggestions in Google Chrome
By Mathew
Google Chrome is now ten years old. Google has marked this anniversary with a huge release called Chrome 69. It’s been a while since we’ve seen a Chrome release with as many features as this. The one that everyone notices first is the new material design, or what people commonly refer to as the feature […]
Disable New Rounded UI in Chrome 69
By Mathew
Google Chrome is now ten years old. Google has marked this anniversary with a massive release called Chrome 69. It’s been a while since we’ve seen a Chrome release with as many features as this. The one that everyone notices first is the new material design, or what people commonly refer to as the feature […]
Disable Password Saving in Google Chrome
By Mathew
To help make your time on the Web more efficient, Google Chrome will ask if you would like for the browser to save your passwords when you’ve entered them for a website. Most people love the idea of Chrome remembering passwords because it means the next time they go back to that same site, it […]
Apply Dark Incognito Theme to Google Chrome Regular Mode
By Mathew
Google Chrome is now ten years old. Google has marked this anniversary with a huge release called Chrome 69. It’s been a while since we’ve seen a Chrome release with as many features as this. The one that everyone notices first is the new material design, or what people commonly refer to as the feature […]
Choose What Control Panel Applets Get Shown in Windows 10
By Mathew
The Control Panel is still around in Windows 10, and it has some features that you won’t find available from the new Settings application. For the most part, you’ll find many of the same features between the Control Panel and the Settings app, and at times you can begin your journey in the Settings app […]
What is Windows Registry Editor and How Do I Use It?
By Mathew
If you want to make changes to the Windows operating system, one of the places you’ll venture into the most is the Registry, and the way you can do that is by using the Registry Editor application. The good thing about the Registry is that you don’t need to have a particular edition of Windows […]
Create Ubuntu Virtual Machines with Hyper-V Quick Create
By Mathew
For years Microsoft has offered a reasonably easy way for people to run more than one operating system. Since the birth of Windows 10, users have been able to turn on an optional feature from the settings called Hyper-V that allows you to run another operating system on your Windows 10 computer in a virtual […]
Cumulative Updates for .NET Framework for Windows 10
By Mathew
Up until now, Microsoft has delivered .NET Framework updates every month or so via the Windows Update service and other distribution channels. That’s all about to change. The new .NET Framework updates will roll out as Cumulative Updates, alongside the regular Windows 10 Cumulative software updates. As of the Windows 10 October 2018 Update and Windows Server 2019, you can […]
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Apply Default User Picture For All Users in Windows 10
By Mathew
Windows 10 comes with a default avatar for all users. As far as default avatars go, this one isn’t too bad to look at, being just white lines representing the outline of a human body and then a gray background to go with it. Windows 10’s default profile picture is better than some other famous […]
Windows Admin Center 1809 and SDK now Generally Available
By Mathew
Earlier this year, Microsoft announced the Windows Admin Center, a new feature that helps organize the activities of IT administrators managing Windows Server and Windows. Administrators were having to deal with tasks like Event Viewer, Server Manager, Device Manager, Disk Management, so forth, separately and now they can find all these tasks bundled together much more easily. So far […]
in News, Windows
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Enable or Disable Tabs (Sets) in Windows 10
By Mathew
Windows 10’s April 2018 Update, codenamed and known as the Redstone 4 update for the months leading up to its release, brought about heaps of new features. Some of the highlights include the Timeline feature for showing activity lists, Nearby sharing for easy wireless file sharing, a diagnostic data viewer for seeing what your operating […]
Reset Folder View for All Folders in Windows 10
By Mathew
Those who have been using Windows for many years will appreciate the simplified version of File Explorer that comes in Windows 10. Things are certainly easier to sort through in File Explorer now, but there are also ample ways that you can customize what you see coming from File Explorer as well that most wouldn’t […]
Change File Attributes in Windows 10
By Mathew
For years now you’ve been able to change the file attributes from the Command Prompt in Windows by using the “Attrib” command. You can now change the file attributes directly from File Explorer and getting access to the file’s Properties dialog. File attributes are bits of metadata associated with the files your PC that get […]
Create a WiFi History Report in Windows 10 (Wlan Report)
By Mathew
If you’ve ever wondered if your network has been letting you down or pondered how the other people who share your connections with are connecting to your network, you don’t have to look past the Windows operating system to find that out anymore. You can use Windows 10 to create a WiFi report. With it […]
Set Static IP Address in Windows 10
By Mathew
If you’re online, your computer will have either a static or dynamic IP address assigned to it. The IP address is how people can identify where your computer is located, just like your letterbox is helping people discover your physical address. This IP address will keep you in check because if you step out of […]