Kevin Wilson's Blog

August 28, 2025

Hidden Windows 11 Command That Shows All Installed Apps

Windows 11 includes a hidden command that opens a folder showing every app installed. Unlike the Start menu, this view lets you create proper desktop shortcuts (including for Store apps), pin or uninstall programs directly, and access tools that don’t normally appear in Start — making it useful for both everyday customization and troubleshooting. The quickest way to open this folder is with the Run command. Press Windows + R on your keyboard to bring up the Run dialog, type:


shell:appsfolder

P...

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Published on August 28, 2025 01:43

How to Enable God Mode in Windows 11: The Hidden Master Control Panel

God Mode is not really a “mode” but a special folder that acts as a master control panel. By creating a folder with a specific name, Windows recognizes it as a special system view and fills it with shortcuts to hundreds of configuration options and administrative tools. The name “God Mode” comes from the fact that it places nearly every Windows setting in one place, giving you a sense of total control over the operating system. Instead of searching separately through the Settings app or the olde...

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Published on August 28, 2025 00:39

August 14, 2025

Manually Configuring IMAP & SMTP in macOS Mail

By default, the macOS Mail app tries to set up your email account automatically. For major services such as iCloud, Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and Microsoft 365, there are built-in configuration profiles that contain the correct IMAP, SMTP, port, and encryption settings. For other providers, the Mail app attempts to retrieve these settings from the server. If your hosting company supports one of these protocols and it’s set up correctly, the process works without any manual steps. However, some host...

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Published on August 14, 2025 07:19

July 19, 2025

Why Is My PC So Slow? 10 Fixes for Windows 10 & Windows 11

A slow computer can be incredibly frustrating—especially when you’re just trying to get something done. Whether it’s taking ages to start, freezing randomly, or dragging through everyday tasks, poor performance is a common problem for Windows users. The good news is that you don’t necessarily need to replace your PC. Most speed issues can be resolved with a few practical adjustments. Here are a few ways to speed up a sluggish Windows computer.


Restart Your Computer

Restarting your PC might se...

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Published on July 19, 2025 03:35

April 26, 2025

Manual Bed Leveling on a 3D Printer

When it comes to 3D printing, achieving a perfectly leveled bed is crucial. Proper bed leveling ensures strong first-layer adhesion, minimizes the risk of warping, and helps prevent potential hardware damage over time. While many modern 3D printers now feature automatic bed leveling systems, a large number of entry-level and older machines still require manual adjustment.

You’ll need a clean piece of standard printer paper (~0.1 mm thick) and on some machines a hex wrench for adjusting leveling ...

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Published on April 26, 2025 03:59

April 12, 2025

How to Create a Bootable Windows 11 USB Flash Drive with Rufus

Creating a bootable USB installer is the most efficient way to install or upgrade to Windows 11, especially on systems without a DVD drive or on unsupported hardware. Rufus, a free, open-source tool, is widely regarded as one of the best solutions for this task. First, download the ISO image of Windows 11. Go to the official Microsoft site – https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11. Under ‘Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO)’, select Windows 11 (multi-edition ISO). Then click ‘Down...

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Published on April 12, 2025 01:56

April 11, 2025

How to Upgrade to Windows 11 on Unsupported Hardware

Many Windows 10 users, especially those with custom-built desktops or systems manufactured before 2017, face upgrade barriers due to hardware components that are not compatible with Windows 11. Common issues include the lack of a TPM 2.0 module, an unsupported CPU, or Secure Boot being disabled by default in the system firmware. As a result, when attempting to install or upgrade to Windows 11, users may encounter the error message: “This PC can’t run Windows 11.”


Despite these challenges, it’s ...

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Published on April 11, 2025 04:44

How to Install Windows 11 Without TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot

Windows 11 brings a sleek new interface, productivity enhancements, and next-generation security features. However, many users hit a roadblock when attempting to install it on older hardware. Microsoft mandates TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module) and Secure Boot as part of the minimum system requirements. These requirements were introduced to boost system integrity and security.



TPM 2.0 is a hardware security module used for BitLocker encryption, Windows Hello, Credential Guard, and measured bo...
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Published on April 11, 2025 04:44

How to Close Apps on a Mac

On macOS, closing apps isn’t always as straightforward as it seems. Many new users are surprised to find that clicking the red button in the top left corner of an app window doesn’t fully close the app — it simply closes the window. The app itself often keeps running in the background. For example, here I have Safari running. If I click the red button on the top left corner, the window closes, but the app is still running.


safari on macos


The app remains active in the background and stays in the Dock with a ...

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Published on April 11, 2025 03:01

March 29, 2025

How to Crop a Screenshot on Mac

macOS includes a suite of native screenshot tools that support both immediate region selection and post-capture editing. Once captured, you can crop screenshots using the built-in Markup tools. Cropping is useful for eliminating sensitive information, focusing on specific areas, or preparing visuals for documentation or presentations.


Crop screenshot on mac


Best way to crop while taking a screenshot


Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 4.




Your cursor turns into a crosshair — drag to select the area to capture.



...
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Published on March 29, 2025 03:31