Windows Tricks to Save You | Essential Command Prompt Techniques

Once upon a time, there was a student who was diligently attending his online classes. He was concentrating and engaged in the lesson when, all of a sudden, his computer screen froze. The student was taken aback and thought, "What is happening to my computer?" He tried to fix it, but nothing was happening.

At that moment, the student realised that he knew nothing about using the commands. He was completely unaware of the power of these simple commands, which could fix his computer problem. The student was feeling helpless and did not know what to do next.

But then an idea came to his head. He decided to shut down his computer and restart it. After waiting for a while, the problem was fixed!

This experience taught the student an important lesson. He realised how important it was to learn about commands and how to use them. He decided that he would never again be in such a helpless situation and promised himself that he would know about these commands in the future.

From that day onward, whenever a problem comes in front of him, he fixes it very quickly by using these commands.

And that was me, and today I am here to teach or tell you about these special commands so that you can troubleshoot your PC problems very easily and in a fast and correct way. So let's get started.

So let's start by fixing your icon rendering issue.

Fix: Icons not rendering

This issue can be caused by several factors, including a corrupted icon cache, outdated or corrupted drivers, and issues with Windows Explorer. You can attempt the following troubleshooting methods to fix the problem:

Clear the Icon Cache: Clearing the icon cache can help resolve the issue if it's caused by a corrupted cache. You can do this by following these steps:

Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialogue box.
Type "taskmgr" and press Enter to open Task Manager.
Right-click on Windows Explorer and select "Restart".
Once Windows Explorer has restarted, close Task Manager.
Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialogue box again.
Type "shell:cache" and press Enter.
Delete all files in the cache folder.

Update your Drivers: Updating your drivers can help resolve the issue if it's caused by outdated or corrupted drivers. This can be accomplished by visiting the manufacturer's website and downloading the most recent graphics card drivers.

Run the DISM tool: The Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool can help repair Windows system files that may be causing the issue. You can run the DISM tool by following these steps:

Press Windows key + X and select "Command Prompt (Admin)".
Type the following command and press Enter: "dism.exe/online/cleanupimage/restorehealth".

Perform a system restore: If the issue started after a recent update or change to your system, you can try restoring your computer to a previous state to see if that resolves the issue. You can do this by following these steps:

Press Windows key + X and select "Control Panel".
Click "System and Security".
Click "System".
Click "System protection".
Click "System Restore".
Follow the on-screen instructions to restore your system to its previous state.

If the problem still exists after completing each step, consider resetting the PC to its factory settings.

Fix: Screen freezing

A frozen screen during the live class, browsing, etc., can be caused by a variety of factors, including software or hardware issues. Here are some troubleshooting steps you can try to resolve the issue:

Force a restart: If your screen is frozen, you can try forcing a restart by holding down the power button until the device turns off and then turning it back on.
Check your internet connection: If the screen freeze is related to an online video call or live class, it could be due to a weak or unstable internet connection. Check your connection and try to restart your router or modem.
Update your drivers: Outdated or corrupted drivers can cause your screen to freeze. You can update your drivers by visiting the manufacturer's website and downloading the latest drivers for your graphics card.
Disable unnecessary programmes and services: Running too many programmes or services at the same time can cause your screen to freeze. Try closing any unnecessary programmes or services to free up resources.
Check for malware: Malware can cause your screen to freeze. Run a full system scan with a reputable antivirus programme to check for any threats.
Disable hardware acceleration: In some cases, hardware acceleration can cause issues with online video calls or live classes. Try disabling hardware acceleration in the settings of the software you're using for the live class.
Check for software updates: Outdated software can also cause your screen to freeze. Check for any software updates and install any available updates.

If the issue persists after trying these steps, you may need to reach out to the software or hardware manufacturer for further assistance.

Fix: Check for malware

There are several ways to check for malware on a Windows 10 PC:

Windows Defender: Windows Defender is the built-in antivirus programme for Windows 10. It can detect and remove the most common forms of malware. To use Windows Defender, follow these steps:

Click on the Windows icon in the bottom left corner of the screen.
Type "Windows Security" in the search bar and click on the "Windows Security" app that appears.
Click on "Virus & threat protection" and then click on "Scan options."
Select "Full scan" and click on "Scan now."

Malwarebytes: Malwarebytes is a free, third-party antivirus programme that can detect and remove malware. You can download and install Malwarebytes from the official website. Once installed, run a full system scan to check for malware.

Use the Windows Command Prompt: You can also check for malware using the command prompt. Follow these steps:

Press Windows key + X and select "Command Prompt (Admin)".
Type the following command and press Enter: "sfc /scannow". This command will scan your system files for corruption and repair any issues it finds.

To keep your system safe, it's crucial to frequently check your computer for malware. Additionally, you should use a reliable antivirus product, keep your operating system and software updated, and exercise caution when downloading files and visiting websites.

Remove: unwanted, corrupt, duplicate, junk and empty files and folder

In Windows 10, you can delete unnecessary, damaged, duplicate, garbage, and empty files and directories using the Command Prompt. You can use the following commands:

Remove empty folders: To remove empty folders, you can use the following command:

Open the Command Prompt as an administrator.
Type the following command and press Enter: "for /f %i in ('dir /ad/b/s ^| sort /r') do rd "%i"

Remove duplicate files: To remove duplicate files, you can use the following command:

Open the Command Prompt as an administrator.
Type the following command and press Enter: "for /f %i in ('dir /b/s ^| sort') do @echo %i & type "%i" & echo. & echo."

Remove unwanted file types: To remove unwanted file types, such as temporary files or log files, you can use the following command:

Open the Command Prompt as an administrator.
Type the following command and press Enter: "del /f /s /q *.tmp". Replace ".tmp" with the file extension of the type of files you want to delete.

Remove junk files: To remove junk files, you can use the following command:

Open the Command Prompt as an administrator.
Type the following command and press Enter: "for /f %i in ('dir /s/b ^| sort/r') do del "%i"

Remove corrupt files: To remove corrupt files, you can use the following command:

Open the Command Prompt as an administrator.
Type the following command and press Enter: "for /f %i in ('dir /s/b ^| sort/r') do if not exist "%i" echo deleting corrupt file "%i" & del "%i"

You should exercise caution while executing these commands because they have the potential to permanently erase files and folders from your computer. Before using these commands, take precautions to make a backup of your important data.

Performance: Speed up your PC

The following guidelines can be applied to the Windows 10 Command Prompt to enhance your computer's performance:

Disable unnecessary services: To disable unnecessary services, you can use the following command:
- Open the Command Prompt as an administrator.
- Type the following command and press Enter: "sc config [service name] start= disabled". Replace "[service name]" with the name of the service you want to disable.
Disable visual effects: To disable visual effects, you can use the following command:
- Open the Command Prompt as an administrator.
- Type the following command and press Enter: "SystemPropertiesPerformance.exe /NOBLACKBOX".
Disable startup programs: To disable startup programs, you can use the following command:
- Open the Command Prompt as an administrator.
- Type the following command and press Enter: "msconfig". This will open the System Configuration utility.
- Go to the Startup tab and uncheck the boxes next to the programs you don't want to run at startup.
Optimize your hard drive: To optimize your hard drive, you can use the following command:
- Open the Command Prompt as an administrator.
- Type the following command and press Enter: "defrag C: /v". Replace "C:" with the drive letter of your hard drive.
Clear temporary files: To clear temporary files, you can use the following command:
- Open the Command Prompt as an administrator.
- Type the following command and press Enter: "temp". This will open the temporary files folder.
- Type the following command and press Enter: "del . /s /f /q".

You can assist in enhancing the efficiency of your Windows 10 computer by implementing these suggestions. Please take note that these pointers are intended for experienced users and may not apply to all users. Use caution and these commands only if you are aware of the possible repercussions when using the Command Prompt.

Summary

This article offers a thorough tutorial on how to use the Command Prompt to enhance your Windows 10 PC's effectiveness and performance. It offers a range of hints and techniques, including optimising your hard disc and deleting temporary files, as well as turning off extraneous services and aesthetic effects. These techniques are intended to assist every Windows user, from resolving typical issues to enhancing efficiency. You can use the Command Prompt to make the most of your Windows 10 computer if you have the correct information and resources.

I hope you found it informative and helpful. If you did, I would greatly appreciate it if you could leave a like or share your thoughts and feedback in the comments section below. If you have any further questions or need clarification, don't hesitate to reach out to me on Twitter. I look forward to bringing you more informative articles in the future, so stay tuned! 🤞

Windows tricks that might just save you

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