Windows is full of features and tools to control almost every aspect, but it is difficult to know where to find them all and also how to use them since many of the administration screens are scattered inside numerous menus, often hidden behind the word " Advanced ".
Although in Windows 10, thanks to the application of Windows Settings that collects almost all the main configuration options, we see here what are the administration tools of Windows 10 and Windows 7 to know because they are the most important, necessary to be truly owners of the computer, control and customize it according to your needs.
READ ALSO: 10 Windows tricks that you must use and know on your PC
1) Use the Start Menu with the right button
Only on Windows 10 and Windows 8 the Start menu, which has changed a lot since Windows 7, allows access to the main administration tools.
This menu appears by clicking on the Start, the Windows flag, with the right mouse button instead of with the left one or by pressing the Windows-X keys on the keyboard.
The most useful shortcuts are certainly the one in the Control Panel, the Command Prompt, Command Prompt (as Administrator), Power Options, Run and the tool to uninstall programs.
If desired, as seen in another article, you can modify the Start Menu Win-X by adding other custom shortcuts.
2) Use command prompt (or Powershell) as administrator
The command prompt is still a fundamental tool to perform configurations that would otherwise be impossible through the menus.
We have seen in another article a guide to the command prompt and all the ways in which it can be used.
Launching the prompt as an administrator means being able to run administration commands that modify internal system settings.
To make the summary, you can launch the command prompt as an administrator, you can search for the word cmd on the Start menu and then press the right button on the command prompt found to be able to choose to run it as administrator.
In Windows 10 it is even easier, just press the right mouse button on the Start button and find it in the menu seen above.
In Windows 10 you can use both the traditional command prompt and the Powershell version.
In another article, the difference between Powershell and Windows Command Prompt
If we are the only users of the computer, instead of typing the password every time we start the computer, we can disable the password request and the Windows login screen by changing a hidden option.
Since some programs and tools require starting as an administrator to function, we have explained how to do it in the guide to always run programs as an administrator.
3) Control panel and God Mode
The control panel is an essential component of Windows with all the management menus necessary to administer the computer inside.
There are also faster ways to find and open the Control Panel: by pressing the Windows + X keys and pressing on the menu that appears, or you can press the Windows + R keys together, write control and press Enter.
Being so full and vast, in another article we looked closely at the secrets of the Windows Control Panel.
In the control panel there are many menus and sub-menus, therefore the folder called, in jargon, God Mode, which contains all the internal Windows tools with direct access, is useful.
It is like an expanded control panel, with an icon for each tool.
In another article we explained how to activate God Mode on Windows 10, 7 and 8 to access all the settings.
4) The Run command
Very often in the technical guides you are asked to execute a command from the Run box.
In Windows 7 this box is located in the Start menu, while in Windows 10 it is in the Start menu with the right key (or Windows + X menu).
In each version of Windows you can use the Run box by pressing the Windows + R keys together.
The Run command allows users to open programs, internal tools, folders or websites by writing full addresses and paths.
In another article we talked about the commands to be typed in "Run" on Windows.
5) The Task Manager
The Task Manager displays, in real time, all the processes and services that are running on the system and with the latest version of Windows it has become more complete than ever.
There are many ways to open the Task Manager (which in Italian is called "Task Manager"): the best known is to press the Ctrl + Alt + Del keys together and then press on Task Manager .
In reality, however, the fastest way to open it is the key combination Ctrl + Alt + Esc .
Other ways to open the task manager are: pressing the right mouse button on the task bar and then on Task Manager or pressing together the Windows + X keys or even pressing the Windows + R keys and running the command taskmgr .
READ ALSO: How many things does the task manager on Windows 10 and 8 PC
6) MSConfig
We all know the task manager, but few know the MSConfig tool, which is the most useful for solving computer problems.
To open MSConfig there is no direct icon, you have to look for it from the Start menu or run it from the Run box by writing msconfig .
From here you can choose to make a selective and diagnostic startup by excluding from the initial load everything that does not concern the Windows system.
You can also activate the boot in safe mode, exclude programs from the automatic start and manage the services.
It is certainly not a tool that everyone can use, but whoever administers a computer should at least know of its existence and when it can be useful.
In another article, the guide to MSConfig.
7) Registry
Generally a normal user should not need to open the registry.
However, it may happen that you read guides that advise you to do so, to change some internal settings or optimize the performance of your computer.
The Windows registry is a huge database that contains practically all the information about the system.
To access the registry, the best way is by pressing the Windows + R keys together and running the regedit command.
Always be careful when changing something in this database because every change is automatically saved and if wrong it can cause the failure of the whole system so as to not be able to start the PC anymore.
In another article, although a little dated, there are some examples of how to modify registry keys to correct errors and improve Windows performance.
8) System menu
To know what computer we have, how it is made and to configure its performance, you need to go to the System, one of the main items of the Control Panel, also accessible from the Start Win-X menu pressed with the right button (see point 1).
In addition to device management, you can configure advanced system settings and enable configuration recovery on the System screen.
9) Computer management, disk management and user management
The voice of the administration tools in every version of Windows has always been, in the Control Panel, the one that leads to the Computer management.
Computer management has always remained the same from Windows 7 to Windows 10 and contains user management, event viewer, shared folders on the network, performance monitoring and device management.
We talked in another article about Computer Management administration tools which also contains a section called Disk Management, very important.
As explained in another guide, disk management is used to create partitions, resize volumes, format disks in Windows and is the first thing to look at when adding a new hard disk or SSD to your computer.
The User Management is used to create several protected PC accounts, so that everyone can log in with their own account, in order to customize the desktop to their liking and install the programs they need.
In another guide we saw how to create and manage user accounts on Windows, but using the simplest tool that is accessed from the Control Panel.
10) Windows reset and reset
Administering a computer also means knowing how to correct errors that can arise, often suddenly and without apparent explanations.
We therefore saw how easy it is to reset Windows 10 and how to use the options to restore Windows 8 or how to reinstall Windows without losing personal data and settings.
You can also use the tools included by the PC manufacturer to factory reset your computer
11) Computer security
In Windows 7 you can open Windows Control Panel, go to System and Security and then to Security and Maintenance to find the computer protection options.
Expand the Security section and make sure everything is enabled: Firewall, Windows Defender, User Account Control, smartscreen filter.
In Windows 10, however, there is a powerful antivirus already integrated and a PC Security center that contains numerous tools for checking the integrity of the system.
We therefore saw how to use the Windows 10 antivirus and especially the guide to the Windows 10 Security Settings
12) Computer maintenance
To make a Windows PC work for a long time without ever slowing down, it is necessary to take care of its maintenance.
In another article, all the steps to be done regularly for the maintenance of the computer and to affix Windows.
13) Network management center
Network management is essential for a computer, to choose which Wifi network to connect to and to know how to solve any problems.
There is no fast way to access the active networks management screen.
The best way is to open the Control Panel and, under the Network and Internet section, open the Network Connection Center .
You can also right-click on the network icon near the clock inside the notification area to open the network connection center .
From the connection center, press the Change adapter settings link to open the list of network cards present on the PC.
14) Uninstalling programs
Uninstalling programs on Windows has never been the simplest.
The removal tool is hidden inside the Control Panel and in the latest versions of Windows, it is called in an explanatory way: " Programs and Features ".
To open the tool to uninstall and remove programs from your PC, the fastest way is to open a Run box with the Windows + R keys and run the appwiz.cpl command.
15) Other Windows administration tools to know were then explained in the guide on how to configure Windows with the most important menus and options and are: Device management, the services screen and the local group editor.
READ ALSO: 10 things that everyone must know how to do with the computer
Although in Windows 10, thanks to the application of Windows Settings that collects almost all the main configuration options, we see here what are the administration tools of Windows 10 and Windows 7 to know because they are the most important, necessary to be truly owners of the computer, control and customize it according to your needs.
READ ALSO: 10 Windows tricks that you must use and know on your PC
1) Use the Start Menu with the right button
Only on Windows 10 and Windows 8 the Start menu, which has changed a lot since Windows 7, allows access to the main administration tools.
This menu appears by clicking on the Start, the Windows flag, with the right mouse button instead of with the left one or by pressing the Windows-X keys on the keyboard.
The most useful shortcuts are certainly the one in the Control Panel, the Command Prompt, Command Prompt (as Administrator), Power Options, Run and the tool to uninstall programs.
If desired, as seen in another article, you can modify the Start Menu Win-X by adding other custom shortcuts.
2) Use command prompt (or Powershell) as administrator
The command prompt is still a fundamental tool to perform configurations that would otherwise be impossible through the menus.
We have seen in another article a guide to the command prompt and all the ways in which it can be used.
Launching the prompt as an administrator means being able to run administration commands that modify internal system settings.
To make the summary, you can launch the command prompt as an administrator, you can search for the word cmd on the Start menu and then press the right button on the command prompt found to be able to choose to run it as administrator.
In Windows 10 it is even easier, just press the right mouse button on the Start button and find it in the menu seen above.
In Windows 10 you can use both the traditional command prompt and the Powershell version.
In another article, the difference between Powershell and Windows Command Prompt
If we are the only users of the computer, instead of typing the password every time we start the computer, we can disable the password request and the Windows login screen by changing a hidden option.
Since some programs and tools require starting as an administrator to function, we have explained how to do it in the guide to always run programs as an administrator.
3) Control panel and God Mode
The control panel is an essential component of Windows with all the management menus necessary to administer the computer inside.
There are also faster ways to find and open the Control Panel: by pressing the Windows + X keys and pressing on the menu that appears, or you can press the Windows + R keys together, write control and press Enter.
Being so full and vast, in another article we looked closely at the secrets of the Windows Control Panel.
In the control panel there are many menus and sub-menus, therefore the folder called, in jargon, God Mode, which contains all the internal Windows tools with direct access, is useful.
It is like an expanded control panel, with an icon for each tool.
In another article we explained how to activate God Mode on Windows 10, 7 and 8 to access all the settings.
4) The Run command
Very often in the technical guides you are asked to execute a command from the Run box.
In Windows 7 this box is located in the Start menu, while in Windows 10 it is in the Start menu with the right key (or Windows + X menu).
In each version of Windows you can use the Run box by pressing the Windows + R keys together.
The Run command allows users to open programs, internal tools, folders or websites by writing full addresses and paths.
In another article we talked about the commands to be typed in "Run" on Windows.
5) The Task Manager
The Task Manager displays, in real time, all the processes and services that are running on the system and with the latest version of Windows it has become more complete than ever.
There are many ways to open the Task Manager (which in Italian is called "Task Manager"): the best known is to press the Ctrl + Alt + Del keys together and then press on Task Manager .
In reality, however, the fastest way to open it is the key combination Ctrl + Alt + Esc .
Other ways to open the task manager are: pressing the right mouse button on the task bar and then on Task Manager or pressing together the Windows + X keys or even pressing the Windows + R keys and running the command taskmgr .
READ ALSO: How many things does the task manager on Windows 10 and 8 PC
6) MSConfig
We all know the task manager, but few know the MSConfig tool, which is the most useful for solving computer problems.
To open MSConfig there is no direct icon, you have to look for it from the Start menu or run it from the Run box by writing msconfig .
From here you can choose to make a selective and diagnostic startup by excluding from the initial load everything that does not concern the Windows system.
You can also activate the boot in safe mode, exclude programs from the automatic start and manage the services.
It is certainly not a tool that everyone can use, but whoever administers a computer should at least know of its existence and when it can be useful.
In another article, the guide to MSConfig.
7) Registry
Generally a normal user should not need to open the registry.
However, it may happen that you read guides that advise you to do so, to change some internal settings or optimize the performance of your computer.
The Windows registry is a huge database that contains practically all the information about the system.
To access the registry, the best way is by pressing the Windows + R keys together and running the regedit command.
Always be careful when changing something in this database because every change is automatically saved and if wrong it can cause the failure of the whole system so as to not be able to start the PC anymore.
In another article, although a little dated, there are some examples of how to modify registry keys to correct errors and improve Windows performance.
8) System menu
To know what computer we have, how it is made and to configure its performance, you need to go to the System, one of the main items of the Control Panel, also accessible from the Start Win-X menu pressed with the right button (see point 1).
In addition to device management, you can configure advanced system settings and enable configuration recovery on the System screen.
9) Computer management, disk management and user management
The voice of the administration tools in every version of Windows has always been, in the Control Panel, the one that leads to the Computer management.
Computer management has always remained the same from Windows 7 to Windows 10 and contains user management, event viewer, shared folders on the network, performance monitoring and device management.
We talked in another article about Computer Management administration tools which also contains a section called Disk Management, very important.
As explained in another guide, disk management is used to create partitions, resize volumes, format disks in Windows and is the first thing to look at when adding a new hard disk or SSD to your computer.
The User Management is used to create several protected PC accounts, so that everyone can log in with their own account, in order to customize the desktop to their liking and install the programs they need.
In another guide we saw how to create and manage user accounts on Windows, but using the simplest tool that is accessed from the Control Panel.
10) Windows reset and reset
Administering a computer also means knowing how to correct errors that can arise, often suddenly and without apparent explanations.
We therefore saw how easy it is to reset Windows 10 and how to use the options to restore Windows 8 or how to reinstall Windows without losing personal data and settings.
You can also use the tools included by the PC manufacturer to factory reset your computer
11) Computer security
In Windows 7 you can open Windows Control Panel, go to System and Security and then to Security and Maintenance to find the computer protection options.
Expand the Security section and make sure everything is enabled: Firewall, Windows Defender, User Account Control, smartscreen filter.
In Windows 10, however, there is a powerful antivirus already integrated and a PC Security center that contains numerous tools for checking the integrity of the system.
We therefore saw how to use the Windows 10 antivirus and especially the guide to the Windows 10 Security Settings
12) Computer maintenance
To make a Windows PC work for a long time without ever slowing down, it is necessary to take care of its maintenance.
In another article, all the steps to be done regularly for the maintenance of the computer and to affix Windows.
13) Network management center
Network management is essential for a computer, to choose which Wifi network to connect to and to know how to solve any problems.
There is no fast way to access the active networks management screen.
The best way is to open the Control Panel and, under the Network and Internet section, open the Network Connection Center .
You can also right-click on the network icon near the clock inside the notification area to open the network connection center .
From the connection center, press the Change adapter settings link to open the list of network cards present on the PC.
14) Uninstalling programs
Uninstalling programs on Windows has never been the simplest.
The removal tool is hidden inside the Control Panel and in the latest versions of Windows, it is called in an explanatory way: " Programs and Features ".
To open the tool to uninstall and remove programs from your PC, the fastest way is to open a Run box with the Windows + R keys and run the appwiz.cpl command.
15) Other Windows administration tools to know were then explained in the guide on how to configure Windows with the most important menus and options and are: Device management, the services screen and the local group editor.
READ ALSO: 10 things that everyone must know how to do with the computer
