Tag Archives: Windows 11

Formatting USB Flash Drive

File Explorer, Settings, the dated Disk Management, PowerShell, and the Command Prompt are all available in Windows 11 to clean and format external storage devices like USB flash drives.

Here’s how to format USB flash drives in File Explorer:

  1. Start up the file explorer.
  2. To the left, choose This Computer.
  3. Right-click the USB drive under “Devices and drives,” then choose “Format.”
  4. From the pull-down option labeled “File system,” select NTFS.
  5. Select “Allocation unit size” and leave it at its default.
  6. Verify the drive’s name as it will appear in File Explorer in the “Volume label” box.
  7. To quickly format your document, choose “Quick format” from the drop-down menu.
  8. Activate the “Start” button.
  9. Pick “Yes”.

You can format and re-format the USB drive so it can store data again.

Friendly reminder: A backup copy of your data should be created first.


If you’re needing help with USB drives, call us at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you by our staff at the Boulder Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Boulder, CO please call or text the local office at (720) 441-6460.

Pausing Windows OS Updates (10 & 11)

Updates to the Windows operating system have been blamed by several customers for slowing down or even breaking their computers completely. In the OS, most updates are automatically downloaded and installed without warning, which can be a hassle and aggravating. Some updates are optional.

Fortunately, Windows 10 allows you to pause any updates that are downloading or being installed. For those who aren’t quite ready for the process to begin:

  1. Go to Start Menu
  2. Type in Settings
  3. Click on Update & Security
  4. Find Windows Update
  5. Advanced Options -or- Pause updates for 7 days
  6. Select the drop-down menu and pick a date

You can halt Windows 11 updates for up to five weeks by selecting “Pause” from the “Windows Update” selection in the Settings app.


For help with Windows 10 updates, call us at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you from our staff at the Denver Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Denver, CO please call or text the local office at (720) 441-6460.

How to Force Quit

Apps that stop functioning and refuse to quit even after tapping the close or X button are a common problem. Force quitting the app is the only option for users at this stage. There are several possible causes for applications or programs to become stalled. A shortage of hardware resources (such as RAM), software faults, or a breakdown in app-to-OS communication can all be blamed for these issues.

You may lose data if you force quit, but that may be a risk you’ll have to take.

To keep tabs on the programs running in the background, utilize Task Manager. Using it to terminate unresponsive applications is also an option.

Here’s how to do that:

Launch Task Manager with the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Then, select the program that you want to force quit and click on the Force Quit button.
When you’re done, click “Complete Task.”

Also, pressing Alt+F4 on your keyboard will close the current application. This is the most straightforward approach.


If you’re experiencing any Windows 11 or computer issues, call us at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you from our staff at the Lakewood Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Lakewood, CO please call or text the local office at (720) 441-6460

3 year Major Updates with Windows 11, Microsoft Says

Microsoft is reorganizing its Windows engineering team and moving to a new timetable. A three-year release cycle for major Windows client versions will be restored, and new features can be added to the present version of Windows more easily.

Every three years, Microsoft intends to provide significant changes to the Windows desktop. Windows 11 was released in 2021, and the next version is scheduled to be published in 2024, three years after that.

According to Thurrott, “Last year, Microsoft announced that Windows 11 would receive major updates once a year, and so would Windows 10 until its end of support in 2025. However, Microsoft already released the first feature update for Windows 11 back in February, which brought the Amazon Android App Store in the US, a new Media Player app, as well minor improvements for the Windows 11 taskbar.”


If you need help with computer issues, please give us a call at 1-800-620-5285. Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you by our staff at the Grand Prairie Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Grand Prairie, TX, please call our local office at (469) 299-9005.

What’s the Best Windows OS Anti-Virus Software?

Despite the fact that some people disagree with the assessment, it’s been said Windows Defender is the most effective piece of antivirus software for Windows OS.

Windows Defender is far superior to any other antivirus software that is currently available. It’s important to remember that Windows Defender is efficient when it is not connected to the internet but is ineffective when it is.

In contrast to what most people believe, installing an additional anti-virus tool on your computer might really cause it harm. Do not make the purchase if it is not required.

What about Safeguard Hold?

Let’s break down what Safeguard Hold is, when it comes to Windows OS:

When it is first put into use, an operating system that has been recently upgraded can have bugs or other vulnerabilities. Thankfully, Microsoft will continue the rollout despite the fact that a security hold has been put in place.

This is due to the fact that only a very tiny percentage of computers are affected. Windows Update will be able to successfully download and install the latest version once the underlying issue has been located and resolved. Microsoft explains it more, below:

The lifespan of safeguard holds varies depending on the time required to investigate and fix an issue. During this time, Microsoft works diligently to procure, develop, and validate a fix and then offer it to affected devices. We monitor quality and compatibility data to confirm that a fix is complete before releasing the safeguard hold. Once we release the safeguard hold, Windows Update will resume offering new operating system versions to devices.

Source: Microsoft

If you have any anti-software issues, or have any questions, call us at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you by our staff at the Lakewood Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Lakewood, CO please call or text the local office at (720) 441-6460.

Hotspot Issues in Windows 11

Users are able to share their Wi-Fi connection with other devices, such as smartphones and tablets, by making use of the hotspot function on their device. When connecting to the internet, host devices can do so using either Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or a cellular data connection.

An update for Windows was distributed by Microsoft earlier this past week. Following the installation of that update by Microsoft, a previously undiscovered issue with the Wi-Fi hotspot feature was found.

If you require a hotspot, it looks that deleting the update is the best course of action. Microsoft has not yet made available a patch for the issue, but we hope that will change shortly.


If you are needing help with hotspot issues, please give us a call at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities.  This blog post is brought to you by our staff at the Las Vegas Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Las Vegas, NV please call the local office at (702) 800-7850.

Changing Icon Size on Windows OS

It is easy to modify the size of your icons, which is useful whether they are too large and take up an excessive amount of space or are too little and difficult to see. By default, the size of the icons is fixed on medium.

Here’s an easy way to change the icon size:

  1. To open the context menu, right-click an empty area of the desktop.
  2. Select View from the menu that appears.
  3. Choose from the Large, Medium, or Small icons depending on your preference.

You can also right click on the desktop and scroll to “Display settings”. From there, text, app icons, and other elements can all have their sizes altered at your discretion. You can pick from 100, 125, 150, or 175 percent. 150% is recommended, but not required.


If you are experiencing any computer issues, please give us a call at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities.  This blog post is brought to you by our staff at the Riverview Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Riverview, FL, please call the local office at (813) 400-2865.

Recover Windows 11 Deleted Files

Having unintentionally emptied your computer’s Recycle Bin, you later discover that you truly needed something that had been in there. Fortunately, there’s no need to panic, since the situation is perfectly safe. The deleted object can be retrieved if you are running Windows Backup.

You can search for Windows Backup to bring up the options of File History, OneDrive, or Backup and Restore (Windows 7).

To do this, here’s what you need to do:

-Locate the Trash can icon on your computer’s desktop and press the right mouse button on it.
-Use the right-click menu to choose Open.
-Look for the file you wish to recover in the next window. You may also look for the file in the search menu.
-Find the file you want to restore, then right-click on it and select Restore from the option that appears.
-Simply choose all of the files you want to restore.
-Then pick Restore the chosen items or Restore all things from the Manage menu in the toolbar.


If you’re needing help with computer problems, call us at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you by our staff at the Boulder Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Boulder, CO please call or text the local office at (720) 441-6460.

New Themes to Microsoft Edge Browser

Windows 11’s Mica theme makes window borders and title bars look like they’re made of transparent material. There have been speculations that the experimental ‘Mica’ effect is about to get a bigger rollout in Microsoft Edge.

According to WindowsLatest, “Mica is now visible in the title bar, tabs stripe and even the bookmark/favourites stripe. Additionally, Microsoft Edge tabs also have rounded edges now. The Mica integration means less of a performance hit as compared to Acrylic, and the overall idea is to add some shininess to the browser.”

You’ll discover that you have the ability to alter the look of Microsoft Edge to suit your preferences under the Settings section of the browser. This has a bright mode and a dark mode, in addition to several different theme options.

It’s important to remember the browser will have to be restarted for the changes to be implemented.


For inquiries with computer issues, call us at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you by our staff at Fort Lauderdale Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Fort Lauderdale, please call or text the local office at (469) 299-9005.

The Purpose of Autopatch Feature

In business settings, Windows Autopatch is a service that ensures that all instances of Windows and Microsoft 365 products are always running the most recent version. This week, Microsoft announced that the public preview version of Windows Autopatch is now available.

“Windows Autopatch leverages Windows Update for Business and other service components to update devices. It simply provides a solution for those companies seeking a more automated and “hands off” approach to deploying updates. Those who want or need to manage and customize the update experience – using tools such as Windows Update for Business, Microsoft Endpoint Manager, and WSUS – can continue to do so.”

Source: Microsoft Community Manager

According to a tech community article on Microsoft, this free feature will make its debut in July of this year. It’s also only available to Windows 10/11 Enterprise E3.


If you have any Microsoft OS questions, call us at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you by our staff at Mansfield Computer Repair Service. If you need computer repair in Mansfield, TX, please call our local office at (817) 756-6008.