Windows 10

Keyboard Shortcuts

Some of these will work on earlier versions of Windows, you'll just need to try and see.

  • Win+L - lock the computer
  • Win+E - launch Windows Explorer
  • Win+P - change how multiple screens are used
  • Win+V - clipboard history
  • Win+. - insert an emoji
  • Win+Shift+Right - move Windows apps to another monitor
  • Win+Shift+Left - move Windows apps to another monitor
  • Win+Shift+S - launches the Snip & Sketch app in "grab screenshot" mode
  • Win+[1..9] - launch what is pinned to your taskbar, in order, Win+3 loads third app

However it is also well worth reading Keyboard shortcuts in Windows for even more.

Other shortcuts

You can do quite a few things with a suitable touchpad, see Touchpad gestures for Windows 10 for details.

Authentication

There is a very good Twitter thread on what happens when you login to Windows 10 at Steve Syfuhs on Twitter which can also be viewed at A thread written by @SteveSyfuhs.

Shutdown

One thing you might notice with Windows 10 is that if someone logs in to a laptop, and then does a "shutdown" and you then login, when you go to "shutdown" Windows says "someone else is logged in and might lose their work". This was constantly annoying me, and eventually I found the fix!

Open Settings and then navigate to "Accounts" -> "Sign-in options" -> "Privacy" and make sure "Use my sign-in into to automatically finish setting up my device after an update or restart" is turned off, for all users and then when you shutdown it will also sign-out the current user and the problem is solved.

Sandbox

In summary Windows Sandbox is an optional feature for Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise that allows you to quickly and easily try things out in isolation from your machine. In the past this is something a lot of technical users would have used a Virtual Machine for, however now, this is much easier, just install the Windows Feature and launch it. It is also worth noting that you need Windows 10 Version 1903 or later, as well as the right edition (Pro or Enterprise).

The documentation for Windows Sandbox is available at Windows Sandbox - Windows security | Microsoft Docs, which does include a description of the architecture. There is also details of how to install Windows Sandbox and the technical details of exactly how it works then be sure to read Windows Sandbox - Microsoft Tech Community - 301849. For a simply brief introduction then Announcing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 18305 | Windows Experience Blog is a good read, this is from when it was first released to "Insiders".

Initially I found that I needed OS Build 18362.267 or higher for Windows Sandbox to work and I also had firewall issues that blocked the sandbox from accessing the internet. I have also observed that the network adapter in Windows Sandbox keeps the same MAC Address on restart and even after the host is rebooted.

It is worth looking at Syst & Deploy : Windows_Sandbox which contains useful information on Windows Sandbox, including how to customise it, more than you expected! It also has some useful "Run in Sandbox" options.

There are alternatives sandbox options, like Sandboxie - Sandbox software for application isolation and secure Web browsing which I have never used.

Starting Sandbox

If you read the documentation referenced above you will see that it can be launched with configuration files, there is more information on this at Windows Sandbox - Config Files - Microsoft Tech Community - 354902. This turns Windows Sandbox into an even more powerful solution!

Sandbox & Firewalls

When I first started Windows Sandbox it could not see the internet, however disabling Norton's Firewall did allow access. After some exchanges with Norton Support the following changes seemed to help:

  • Device Trust: add the MAC of the NIC inside the sandbox to the trusted devices list
  • Network Trust: change the Network Connection NIC of the host to "Full Trust"

However, this did not always give a reliable fix, however disabling the firewall continues to work, not a perfect workaround.

Since early 2020 it seems that Norton has added the ability to let Windows Sandbox work, without any special configuration, which is a huge leap forwards in usability!

High CPU or Disk I/O

Windows Compatibility Telemetry

I have noticed that on a slower machine, especially with a spinning disk, that "Windows Compatibility Telemetry" can causes performance problems. Windows Task Manager should help identify this, and you will see CompatTelRunner.exe process as the problem. It is scheduled to run at 3am every day, or at least it was on a VM of mine that was running Windows 11, this is how I turned it off:

  1. Open the Task Scheduler
  2. Navigate to the following location: Task Scheduler Library\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience
  3. Locate the "Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser"
  4. Right-click and select Disable

You can avoid all this but not selecting "Join Microsoft Customer Experience Improvement Program".