I didn't know that

I found out some interesting things last week.

Maybe I’m the last to know, but on the small chance I’m not, I’m passing them on to you.

There is an easy way to shut down your computer without applying Windows Updates

In general, we should apply Windows Updates when they show up.

But why do they always seem to show up just when you’re heading out the door…with your laptop? You click on that Start button to shut down your computer, the only shutdown choice you see is Update and Shutdown.

There’s a way around this and it’s beautiful.

• Press the Windows Key and the D key at the same time. This returns you to your Desktop.
• Press the ALT and F4 keys at the same time. This brings up the old style Windows Shutdown dialog box
• Click on the down arrow to display your options
• Click on Shut Down

This works in every modern version of Windows, including Windows 10.

You can hide your email address on the Windows 10 logon screen

Speaking of taking your laptop along with you, if you take have your laptop with you in a coffee shop or a business meeting, you might not want it to display your personal information on the login screen.

By default, the login information of the last person to use a computer is displayed on the Windows 10 login screen.

That’s the name and email address you use for your Microsoft Account if you’re logging in that way. (And you should be.)

No big thing if this is your home computer and you’re the only one there.

But if you take your computer to coffee shops or libraries or business meetings, or if you login to a public computer at a library or hotel, you might not want all the world to see your name and email address.

Windows 10 Anniversary Upgrade gives us an easy way to hide this information.

• Click on Start | Settings | Accounts | Sign-in options
• On the right side of the window, find Privacy (You might have to scroll down)
• Move the slider to Off

The name associated with your account will still be there, but not the email address.

Google’s I’m Feeling Lucky button has other choices

If you use Google’s search page, you’ll notice there are just two buttons underneath the Search box.

Clicking on Google Search does the obvious thing — it searches Google and returns a list of results that match your search terms.

Clicking on the I’m Feeling Lucky button takes you directly to the page Google thinks you want.

But if you leave the Search box blank and hover your cursor over that button, you’ll see that it changes from Lucky to Playful or Generous or Artistic or Hungry. Click on that and enjoy the ride.

Look for some changes in the near future

If you’re reading this column on Castanet, please keep doing that!

If you read the column on the Computer Care Kelowna website, stand by for some changes. In the next couple of weeks we’ll be overhauling the site to bring it up to date, make it easier to read, and — finally! At last! -— searchable.

I’m excited, and I think you’re going to like the new site.

There will be a brief interruption in service while the site transitions, and there will be a delay in email. Don’t worry. We’ll be back up and running and better-looking than ever. Thank you for your patience.

Cate Eales runs Computer Care Kelowna, a mobile service helping home users and businesses get along with their computers. To arrange an appointment phone her at 250-764-7043. Cate also welcomes your comments and suggestions. 

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.