Windows 10 FAQ

Updated: 4 Mar 2021

Installing Programs

1. How do I install Programs?

To install programs or software, you need to have administrator rights in most cases. You can install programs by either inserting the CD or disc and allow it to auto run, follow the instructions on screen. Otherwise, you need to run the Setup.exe or other setup program name to install the program. If the software is archived, like a Zip file, you will need to open or extract the files to another folder on your hard disk and then run the setup program. Other types of install programs include MSIs (Microsoft Installer) packaged files which are installed via the Windows Installer service or MSIEXEC.exe tool, also MSU (Microsoft Update) files for installing updates to existing programs.

On Windows 10, you can install Windows Runtime apps via the Windows Store icon.

For Windows Features, you can use Settings, Apps, Apps & Features or use PowerShell commands such as Get-WindowsOptionalFeature and Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature.

In a domain, you can use Microsoft Deployment Toolkit to deploy machines with some apps included in the image, or use AppV to for application virtualisation and stream them to the machine as and when required.

For ad-hoc install of apps from a central location you can use System Center Endpoint Manager.

For single machines, you can deploy multiple apps at once using the Chocolatey or Ninite tools.

2. How do I uninstall programs?

To remove a program from your hard disk, either open the Control panel, select Programs, Uninstall a Program, select the program entry from the list, and select Uninstall/Change at the top and follow the instructions on screen. In some cases the program may supply an Uninstall program on the Start Menu shortcut list. You may be asked to remove shared files, in most cases, selecting Yes will remove them.

To remove programs manually, you may find a program in the c:\Program files\<Program name> folder called uninstall.exe, uninst.exe or unins000.exe which you can run to remove the program. Other programs may have more complex commands to remove itself.

For MSI programs, you can use the MsiExec /uninstall {hex-string} to remove software. Open Regedit and browse to HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall and look for the key for the program
to remove, use the DisplayName value to locate the program, then find the UninstallString for the command to uninstall the program. You can use the Reg Query command to search for the registry key for the program.
E.g. Reg Query HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall /s /f "programname*" /d

On Windows 10, to remove Windows Runtime apps, you can right click the appropiate app and click on 'Uninstall' button at the bottom of the screen.
Alternatively, open Settings, Apps, select the app from the list and select Uninstall.
To remove windows features via Powershell, run Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature.

3. How do I uninstall or install a program as a User?

Right click on the Setup program (or any other program that requires Admin privileges) and from the pop up menu, select Run As and enter name and password of an Administrator user and then continue installation as normal.
You can also uninstall programs from the command line using the RunAs command. E.g. RunAs /user:pcname\Administrator "setup.exe /uninstall" or use msiexec.exe /uninstall {string}.

4. I have a problem running some built in software such as IE, Mail, DirectX, Windows Media Player and other accessorites?

Best thing to do is run SFC /SCANNOW to check your system files match the correct XP files supplied on your XP CD. This will replace the old files with the correct new ones. Some old installations never check DLL versions and cause 'DLL Hell' situations. Like with drivers you can revert back to previous Restore Point using the System Restore Accessory. If you can find the INF file for the application, you can select Install from right clicking it.

5. How do I access hidden features of Windows 10?

Additional features can be installed via the Control Panel, Programs, Turn Windows features on or off.

6. How do I enable or disable AutoRun for the CD Rom Drives?

You can change the settings for removable disks such as CD/DVD drives in Start, Default Programs, Autoplay (or Control Panel, Hardware and Sound, Autoplay).

7. How do I disable auto-decompression of ZIP files?

To disable Windows Zip file decompression especially when searching for files. Enter REGSVR32 /U ZIPFLDR.DLL. To re-enable it
repeat the command but without the /U switch. To get full Zip (de)compression, download an Archiver program such as 7zip.

8. How do I access files in the Image.wim file on the Windows 10 DVD?

Windows 10 is supplied now in a format called WIM (Windows Image) which stores a disc image into a file. You can create/modify and mount wim files using the Dism tool which is supplied with Windows or with the ADK (Automated Deployment Kit). For example to mount it on a empty folder on your hard disk and copy files into it, use the commands:

C:> md d:\winmount
C:> cd \Windows\System32
C:> Dism.exe /mount-image /Image-File:Z:\sources\image.wim /Index:1 /Mountdir:D:\winmount
C:> xcopy d:/files/*.* "d:\winmount\Program files" /s/e
C:> dir d:\winmount

You can then copy files from the image to the correct locations on your C: drive. To dismount the image:
C:> Dismexe /unmount-Image /MountDir:d:\winmount [/Commit | /Discard]

Windows ADK can also be used to create a bootable Windows PE DVD which can be used to diagnose problems with your Windows 10 installation.

9. I cannot install or run some software, how do I check if its compatible?

Check the application's web site and Microsoft Answers for hardware and software compatibility.

10. How do I check for updates for my programs?

Many programs use different ways to check for updates:
* An option with in the program itself can be selected to check for any updates. For example,

• Mozilla Firefox. See Help menu, then Check for Updates. If you have automatic updates enabled (Tools, Options, Advanced, Update) then it will check every time you start Firefox.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader. See Help menu, then Check for Updates. If you have automatic updates enabled (Edit, Preferences, Updater) then it will check regularly for you.
• Nero 11. Load Nero Control Center, select Update button on the left and then click on Update Now.
• Paint.Net. Select Utilities menu and then Check for Updates.
• Microsoft Office. Select File, Account, Update Options, Update Now.
• Adobe CC. Use the Creative Cloud tool to check and download updates.

* Run a program using Schedules tasks to check for updates. See All Programs, Administrative Tools, Task Scheduler.

• For Apple software. It will run Apple Software Updater every week to check for updates for things like iTunes, Quicktime and Bootcamp.

* Run a Service in the background to check for software updates.See All Programs, Administrative Tools, Services.

• Google Software. This runs a service called Google Update Service (gupdate) which will check for updates.
• Microsoft. This runs a service called Windows Update to find, download and install updates for Windows and Office etc.

* An Email notification may be sent by the company or author of the program E.g. Piriform CCleaner.

* Visiting the home page of the software in question and check the Support or Download pages for any new versions of the software.

11. How do I turn off app or program notifications, update reminders etc?

You can control notifications for programs via the Settings, System, Notifications & actions settings and turn off any notifications for specific programs.
Also, you can turn off any regular update tasks via the Task Scheduler (see All Apps, Windows Administrative Tools) to disable any update tasks.
Other regular update notifications can be turned off via the program's control panel (e.g. Java) or with the program's settings or preferences.

Patches and Updates