How to Code

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Vb.net String Some Good String Functions
concat length mid
[CHAR]
'// see indexof also
Dim myString As String = "ABCDE"
Dim myChar As Char
myChar = myString.Chars(3) '//myChar = "D"

[CONCAT]
Dim aString As String = "A"
Dim bString As String = "B"
Dim cString As String = "C"
Dim dString As String = "D"
Dim myString As String
' myString = "ABCD"
myString = String.Concat(aString, bString, cString, dString)


[INDEXOF]
'// see char also
Dim myString As String = "ABCDE"
Dim myInteger As Integer
myInteger = myString.IndexOf("D") ' myInteger = 3

[instr]

[left]

[LENGTH]
Dim MyString As String = "This is my string"
Dim stringLength As Integer
' Explicitly set the string to Nothing.
MyString = Nothing
' stringLength = 0
stringLength = Len(MyString)
' This line, however, causes an exception to be thrown.
stringLength = MyString.Length

[MID]
'//see substring. first charcter is position 1
Dim aString As String = "SomeString"
Dim bString As String
bString = Mid(aString, 3, 3)


[right]

[SPLIT]
'// returns an array
Dim shoppingList As String = "Milk,Eggs,Bread"
Dim shoppingItem(2) As String
shoppingItem = shoppingList.Split(","c)



[SUBSTRING]
'//first character is position zero. See mid()
Dim aString As String = "A String"
Dim bString As String
bString = aString.SubString(2,6) '//bString = "String"
or
Dim aString As String = "Left Center Right"
Dim subString As String
' subString = "Center"
subString = aString.SubString(5,6)



Visual Basic .NET methods are used as inherent functions of the language. They may be used without qualification in your code. The following example shows typical use of a Visual Basic .NET string-manipulation command:

In this example, the Mid function performs a direct operation on aString and assigns the value to bString.

You can also manipulate strings with the methods of the String class. There are two types of methods in String: shared methods and instance methods.

A shared method is a method that stems from the String class itself and does not require an instance of that class to work. These methods can be qualified with the name of the class (String) rather than with an instance of the String class. For example:

Dim aString As String
bString = String.Copy("A literal string")

In the preceding example, the String.Copy method is a static method, which acts upon an expression it is given and assigns the resulting value to bString.

NET runtime evaluates Nothing as an empty string; that is, "". The .NET Framework, however, does not, and will throw an exception whenever an attempt is made to perform a string operation on Nothing.
Comparing Strings

You can compare two strings by using the String.Compare method. This is a static, overloaded method of the base string class. In its most common form, this method can be used to directly compare two strings based on their alphabetical sort order. This is similar to the Visual Basic StrComp Function function. The following example illustrates how this method is used:

Dim myString As String = "Alphabetical"
Dim secondString As String = "Order"
Dim result As Integer
result = String.Compare (myString, secondString)

This method returns an integer that indicates the relationship between the two compared strings based on the sorting order. A positive value for the result indicates that the first string is greater than the second string. A negative result indicates the first string is smaller, and zero indicates equality between the strings. Any string, including an empty string, evaluates to greater than a null reference.

Additional overloads of the String.Compare method allow you to indicate whether or not to take case or culture formatting into account, and to compare substrings within the supplied strings. For more information on how to compare strings, see String.Compare Method. Related methods include String.CompareOrdinal Method and String.CompareTo Method.
Searching for Strings Within Your Strings

There are times when it is useful to have data about the characters in your string and the positions of those characters within your string. A string can be thought of as an array of characters (Char instances); you can retrieve a particular character by referencing the index of that character through the Chars property. For example:


You can use the String.IndexOf method to return the index where a particular character is encountered, as in the following example:

Dim myString As String = "ABCDE"
Dim myInteger As Integer
myInteger = myString.IndexOf("D") ' myInteger = 3

In the previous example, the IndexOf method of myString was used to return the index corresponding to the first instance of the character "C" in the string. IndexOf is an overloaded method, and the other overloads provide methods to search for any of a set of characters, or to search for a string within your string, among others. The Visual Basic .NET command InStr also allows you to perform similar functions. For more information of these methods, see String.IndexOf Method and InStr Function. You can also use the String.LastIndexOf Method to search for the last occurrence of a character in your string.
Creating New Strings from Old

When using strings, you may want to modify your strings and create new ones. You may want to do something as simple as convert the entire string to uppercase, or trim off trailing spaces; or you may want to do something more complex, such as extracting a substring from your string. The System.String class provides a wide range of options for modifying, manipulating, and making new strings out of your old ones.

To combine multiple strings, you can use the concatenation operators (& or +). You can also use the String.Concat Method to concatenate a series of strings or strings contained in objects. An example of the String.Concat method follows:


You can convert your strings to all uppercase or all lowercase strings using either the Visual Basic .NET functions UCase Function and LCase Function or the String.ToUpper Method and String.ToLower Method methods. An example is shown below:

Dim myString As String = "UpPeR oR LoWeR cAsE"
Dim newString As String
' newString = "UPPER OR LOWER CASE"
newString = UCase(myString)
' newString = "upper or lower case"
newString = LCase(myString)
' newString = "UPPER OR LOWER CASE"
newString = myString.ToUpper
' newString = "upper or lower case"
newString = myString.ToLower

The String.Format method and the Visual Basic .NET Format command can generate a new string by applying formatting to a given string. For information on these commands, see Format Function or String.Format Method.

You may at times need to remove trailing or leading spaces from your string. For instance, you might be parsing a string that had spaces inserted for the purposes of alignment. You can remove these spaces using the String.Trim Method function, or the Visual Basic .NET Trim function. An example is shown:

Dim spaceString As String = _
" This string will have the spaces removed "
Dim oneString As String
Dim twoString As String
' This removes all trailing and leading spaces.
oneString = spaceString.Trim
' This also removes all trailing and leading spaces.
twoString = Trim(spaceString)

If you only want to remove trailing spaces, you can use the String.TrimEnd Method or the RTrim function, and for leading spaces you can use the String.TrimStart Method or the LTrim function. For more details, see LTrim, RTrim, and Trim Functions functions.

The String.Trim functions and related functions also allow you to remove instances of a specific character from the ends of your string. The following example trims all leading and trailing instances of the "#" character:

Dim myString As String = "#####Remove those!######"
Dim oneString As String
OneString = myString.Trim("#")

You can also add leading or trailing characters by using the String.PadLeft Method or the String.PadRight Method.

If you have excess characters within the body of your string, you can excise them by using the String.Remove Method, or you can replace them with another character using the String.Replace Method. For example:

Dim aString As String = "This is My Str@o@o@ing"
Dim myString As String
Dim anotherString As String
' myString = "This is My String"
myString = aString.Remove(14, 5)
' anotherString = "This is Another String"
anotherString = myString.Replace("My", "Another")

You can use the String.Replace method to replace either individual characters or strings of characters. The Visual Basic .NET Mid Statement can also be used to replace an interior string with another string.

You can also use the String.Insert Method to insert a string within another string, as in the following example:

Dim aString As String = "This is My Stng"
Dim myString As String
' Results in a value of "This is My String".
myString = aString.Insert(13, "ri")

The first parameter that the String.Insert method takes is the index of the character the string is to be inserted after, and the second parameter is the string to be inserted.

You can concatenate an array of strings together with a separator string by using the String.Join Method. Here is an example:

Dim shoppingItem(2) As String
Dim shoppingList As String
shoppingItem(0) = "Milk"
shoppingItem(1) = "Eggs"
shoppingItem(2) = "Bread"
shoppingList = String.Join(",", shoppingItem)

The value of shoppingList after running this code is "Milk,Eggs,Bread". Note that if your array has empty members, the method still adds a separator string between all the empty instances in your array.

You can also create an array of strings from a single string by using the String.Split Method. The following example demonstrates the reverse of the previous example: it takes a shopping list and turns it into an array of shopping items. The separator in this case is an instance of the Char data type; thus it is appended with the literal type character c.

The Visual Basic .NET Mid Function can be used to generate substrings of your string. The following example shows this functions in use:

Dim aString As String = "Left Center Right"
Dim rString, lString, mString As String
' rString = "Right"
rString = Mid(aString, 13)
' lString = "Left"
lString = Mid(aString, 1, 4)
' mString = "Center"
mString = Mid(aString, 6,6)

Substrings of your string can also be generated using the String.Substring Method. This method takes two arguments: the character index where the substring is to start, and the length of the substring. The String.Substring method operates much like the Mid function. An example is shown below:


There is one very important difference between the String.SubString method and the Mid function. The Mid function takes an argument that indicates the character position for the substring to start, starting with position 1. The String.SubString method takes an index of the character in the string at which the substring is to start, starting with position 0. Thus, if you have a string "ABCDE", the individual characters are numbered 1,2,3,4,5 for use with the Mid function, but 0,1,2,3,4 for use with the System.String function.
 Vb.net
1037
05/05/2026
Vb.net String Using String Keys In Arrays
array list key string dictionary
Email App Lists
It sounds like you want to use a VB.NET ArrayList to populate rows in something like a DataGridView or DataTable using .Rows.Add().
The important thing to know is:

.Rows.Add() expects either individual column values or an array of values (e.g., Object()), not an ArrayList directly.
If you have an ArrayList, you must convert it to an Object() array before passing it to .Rows.Add().


Example: Using ArrayList with DataGridView.Rows.Add()
VbnetImports System.Collections

Public Class Form1
Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
' Create columns in DataGridView
DataGridView1.Columns.Add("ID", "ID")
DataGridView1.Columns.Add("Name", "Name")
DataGridView1.Columns.Add("Age", "Age")

' Create an ArrayList with row data
Dim rowData As New ArrayList()
rowData.Add(1)
rowData.Add("Alice")
rowData.Add(30)

' Convert ArrayList to Object() and add as a row
DataGridView1.Rows.Add(rowData.ToArray())

' Another example with different data
Dim rowData2 As New ArrayList() From {2, "Bob", 25}
DataGridView1.Rows.Add(rowData2.ToArray())
End Sub
End Class


Example: Using ArrayList with DataTable.Rows.Add()
VbnetImports System.Collections
Imports System.Data

Module Module1
Sub Main()
' Create DataTable with columns
Dim dt As New DataTable()
dt.Columns.Add("ID", GetType(Integer))
dt.Columns.Add("Name", GetType(String))
dt.Columns.Add("Age", GetType(Integer))

' Create ArrayList with row data
Dim rowData As New ArrayList() From {1, "Alice", 30}

' Add row by converting ArrayList to Object()
dt.Rows.Add(rowData.ToArray())

' Display results
For Each row As DataRow In dt.Rows
Console.WriteLine($"{row("ID")} - {row("Name")} - {row("Age")}")
Next
End Sub
End Module


Key Points

ArrayList is non-generic and stores Object values.
.Rows.Add() cannot take an ArrayList directly — you must call .ToArray() to convert it to an Object() array.
If you know the type of data, consider using List(Of T) instead of ArrayList for type safety.


If you want, I can also show you how to loop through an ArrayList of multiple rows and add them all to a DataGridView in one go.
Do you want me to prepare that example?

vb.net

' Import the necessary namespace
Imports System.Collections

Module Module1
Sub Main()
' 1. Create and instantiate the ArrayList
Dim myArrayList As New ArrayList()

' 2. Add elements (can be different data types)
myArrayList.Add("Hello World")
myArrayList.Add(42)
myArrayList.Add(True)

' 3. Access an element by index
Console.WriteLine("First item: " & myArrayList(0))

' 4. Iterate through the list
For Each item In myArrayList
Console.WriteLine(item)
Next
End Sub
End Module


AI Overview
In VB.NET, standard
Array objects are indexed by integers, starting from 0, and do not support string keys. To use string keys (also known as an associative array), you should use the System.Collections.Generic.Dictionary(Of TKey, TValue) class, which is designed for this purpose.
Using a Dictionary for String Keys
The Dictionary collection allows you to store and retrieve values using a unique string key, which provides the functionality of a string-keyed array.
1. Declaration and Initialization
You can declare and initialize a Dictionary(Of String, String) (where both the key and the value are strings) as follows:
vb.net

Dim fruitColors As New Dictionary(Of String, String) From {
{"Apple", "Red"},
{"Pear", "Green"},
{"Banana", "Yellow"}
}


2. Adding Items
Use the .Add() method to add items to the dictionary:
vb.net

fruitColors.Add("Grape", "Purple")


3. Accessing Values by Key
You can access values directly using the key in parentheses, similar to an array index:
vb.net

Dim colorOfApple As String = fruitColors("Apple")
Console.WriteLine($"The color of an Apple is {colorOfApple}") ' Output: The color of an Apple is Red


4. Checking for Key Existence
Use the .ContainsKey() method before accessing a value to avoid errors if the key does not exist:
vb.net

Dim input As String = "Kiwi"
If fruitColors.ContainsKey(input) Then
Console.WriteLine($"The color of a {input} is {fruitColors(input)}")
Else
Console.WriteLine($"Color for {input} not found.")
End If


5. Retrieving All Keys
You can get all the keys from the dictionary into a string array or a List(Of String):

Using a List:
vb.net

Dim keyList As New List(Of String)()
For Each kvp As KeyValuePair(Of String, String) In fruitColors
keyList.Add(kvp.Key)
Next
' Convert the List to an array if needed:
Dim keyArray() As String = keyList.ToArray()



For more details, refer to the official Microsoft documentation on the Dictionary class.
 Vb.net
3
05/05/2026
Vb.net Variables Create New Arrays
array null dimension optional textbox control
Arrays
Private Sub PrepareControl(FindIt As String, CTRLtype As String, Optional Ar As String() = Nothing, Optional BoxPos As Int16 = 0)
For i As Integer = 1 To 10
Dim key = FindIt & i
Dim hits = Me.Controls.Find(key, True)
If hits.Length > 0 Then
Select Case CTRLtype
Case "labelClear"
Dim la = TryCast(hits(0), Label)
If la IsNot Nothing Then la.Visible = False
Case "textboxClear"
Dim tb = TryCast(hits(0), TextBox)
If tb IsNot Nothing Then tb.Visible = False
Case "textboxDataEntry"
Dim tb = TryCast(hits(0), TextBox)
If tb IsNot Nothing Then
With tb
.Visible = False
End With
End If
End Select
End If
Next
End Sub

PrepareControl("LAField", "labelClear") : PrepareControl("TXField", "textboxClear")
OR
PrepareControl("TXField", "textboxDataEntry", tboxSize, BoxPos)

In VB.NET, arrays are fixed-size once created, but you can make them dynamic by using ReDim (and optionally Preserve to keep existing data).
If you need a truly dynamic structure, you might use List(Of T) instead.

1. Dynamic Array with ReDim
VbnetModule Module1
Sub Main()
' Declare a dynamic array (no size yet)
Dim numbers() As Integer

' Set initial size (5 elements, index 0–4)
ReDim numbers(4)

' Assign values
For i As Integer = 0 To numbers.Length - 1
numbers(i) = i * 10
Next

' Resize array to hold more elements (keep old values)
ReDim Preserve numbers(9)

' Add new values
For i As Integer = 5 To numbers.Length - 1
numbers(i) = i * 10
Next

' Display all values
For Each num In numbers
Console.WriteLine(num)
Next
End Sub
End Module

Key points:

ReDim changes the size of the array.
Preserve keeps existing data; without it, the array is cleared.
Only the last dimension can be resized with Preserve.


2. Dynamic Multi-Dimensional Array
VbnetModule Module1
Sub Main()
' Declare a 2D array
Dim matrix(,) As Integer

' Initial size: 2 rows × 3 columns
ReDim matrix(1, 2)

' Fill values
For r As Integer = 0 To 1
For c As Integer = 0 To 2
matrix(r, c) = (r + 1) * (c + 1)
Next
Next

' Resize: only last dimension can be preserved
ReDim Preserve matrix(1, 4) ' Now 2 rows × 5 columns

' Display
For r As Integer = 0 To matrix.GetUpperBound(0)
For c As Integer = 0 To matrix.GetUpperBound(1)
Console.Write(matrix(r, c) & vbTab)
Next
Console.WriteLine()
Next
End Sub
End Module

? Limitation: You cannot Preserve more than the last dimension in a multi-dimensional array.

3. Recommended Alternative — List(Of T)
For truly dynamic resizing without ReDim limitations:
VbnetImports System.Collections.Generic

Module Module1
Sub Main()
Dim numbers As New List(Of Integer)

' Add elements dynamically
numbers.Add(10)
numbers.Add(20)
numbers.Add(30)

' Insert at specific position
numbers.Insert(1, 15)

' Remove element
numbers.Remove(20)

' Display
For Each num In numbers
Console.WriteLine(num)
Next
End Sub
End Module

? List(Of T) is more efficient and flexible than resizing arrays repeatedly.

If you want, I can show you a dynamic jagged array in VB.NET, which allows resizing each row independently — this avoids the Preserve limitation for multi-dimensional arrays.
Do you want me to prepare that example?


Read through entire array
For Each fruit As String In MV
Console.WriteLine(fruit)
Next

max number of elements array.length
For L = 0 To MV.GetUpperBound(0) elements stored



Either

Dim strings = New String() {"a", "b", "c"}
or

Dim strings() As String = {"a", "b", "c"}
or strings() As String = {}
should work
 Vb.net
3
05/05/2026
VBscript Function Open An Application Like Notepad And File Using Your Browser
load application
VBscript
1549
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Customizing Making Changes To Your Computer
auto dim pc settings control panel
Like windows 7 you can use the control panel to adjust the power management and hardware settings. Windows 8 has the PC Settings in the right bar under "SETTINGS" that also has options. My Samsung computer would dim every time it would boot up and I would take it to the place I bought and could not create it. After several hours of frustration I found an auto dim setting that I unchecked. Make sure you look here also
 Windows <=8
1918
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Customizing Updating To Windows 10
windows 10 update
Windows <=8
890
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Customizing Creating Your Own Menu Using The Windows Toolbar
toolbar too bar desktop desk top right click folder task bar
Windows <=8
1298
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Customizing To Increase Virtual Memory In Windows 8.1
virtual memory performance
Windows
To increase virtual memory in Windows 8.1,
open System Properties, go to the Advanced tab, click Settings under Performance, then click Change under Virtual Memory. Uncheck Automatically manage paging file size for all drives, select your desired drive, choose Custom size, and input an Initial size (MB) and Maximum size (MB). A common recommendation is an initial size of 1.5 times your RAM and a maximum size of 3 times your RAM, converted to MB (1 GB = 1024 MB). Click Set, then OK, and restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
Step-by-step guide to increase virtual memory in Windows 8.1:

1. Access System Properties: Press the Windows key + X and select System, or right-click on "Computer" (or "This PC") and select Properties.
2. Navigate to Advanced System Settings: In the System window, click on Advanced system settings on the left-hand side.
3. Open Advanced -> Performance -> Settings: In the System Properties dialog box, go to the Advanced tab and click the Settings button under the Performance section.
Access Virtual Memory Settings: In the Performance Options window, go to the Advanced tab, then click the Change button under the Virtual memory section.
Disable Automatic Management: Uncheck the box that says "Automatically manage paging file size for all drives".
Set Custom Size: Select your desired drive (usually the C: drive) and choose the "Custom size" option.
Enter Initial and Maximum Sizes: In the Initial size (MB) and Maximum size (MB) fields, enter your desired values.
-- Recommendation: Set the initial size to 1.5 times your installed RAM and the maximum size to 3 times your installed RAM.
-- Conversion: Remember that 1 GB is equal to 1024 MB.

Apply and Confirm: Click Set, then OK to close the Performance Options window, and click OK again to close the System Properties window.
Restart Your Computer: A restart is required for the new virtual memory settings to take effect.
 Windows <=8
3
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Files How To Put The "encrypt" Command On The Right Context Menu
encrypt files
Windows <=8
1928
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Files Removing Admin Rights Protects Against Most Vulnerabilities
administrator privilages
Windows <=8
2164
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Files FOLDER PATHS
folder paths onedrive dropbox one drive drop box
Windows <=8
4
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Files Register Ocx
register ocx dll
Windows <=8
1652
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Files How To View The Contents Of The Clipboard
clipboard
Windows <=8
1857
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Files Short Filenames
dos short file names
Windows <=8
2445
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Files System Restore Points Are Deleted When You Restart Your Windows 7 Comp
system restore points delete
Windows <=8
5198
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Files How To Remove Programs From The "open With" Menu
extensions remove programs
Windows <=8
2074
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Files How To Change File Sorting Order Of Numbered Files
sort number files
Windows <=8
1880
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Files Where Are My Folders?
recycle bin contro; panel
Windows <=8
1722
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Files How To Make A Program Always Start In Administrator Mode
run as administrator privilages
Windows <=8
2051
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Files How To Delete Shadow Copies
system restore shadow copies
Windows <=8
1505
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Files How To Disable The Automatic Desktop Cleanup Wizard
desktop wizard
Windows <=8
2132
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Files How To Change The Sort Order Of Files And Folders In Window Apps
windows applications sort order
Windows <=8
2192
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Formatting New Theme Changed My Icons
themes icons desktop
QUESTION:
I don't know if there's a way to have what I want but here goes. I had some custom icons on my desktop that I really liked. I changed to a different theme and it changed those icons too. Is there a way to apply the new theme but keep my custom icons? Just curious. - Elton D.

ANSWER:
Luckily, this is an easy fix. Right click an empty space on the desktop and select Personalize. Over in the left pane of the dialog box, click Change Desktop Icons. Now down at the bottom of that dialog box, uncheck the box that says "Allow themes to change desktop icons."
 Windows <=8
1767
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Formatting How To Change The Categories Arrangement In Control Panel
classic view control panel
Windows <=8
1603
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Formatting Unable To Change Desktop Background In Windows 7
background wallpaper
Windows <=8
1258
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Function USB Port May Stop Working After You Remove Or Insert A USB Device
usb port inactive
Windows <=8
1754
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Hardware Laptop Battery Calibration For Windows:
battery calibration
Windows <=8
241
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Hardware Why Bluetooth Mouse Keeps On Disconnecting In Windows 8?
Bluetooth mouse disconnect device manager power setting manual automatic
When I start win8, my bluetooth mouse works perfectly but after awhile, in stop working. I turn the power of the mouse off and turn it on again to make it work again. But after awhile, it stop working again, so I turn the mouse off and on again to make it work. When the mouse stop working, the light of the mouse is still on therefore I know the mouse is still working but the notebook stops responding to the mouse. The touch pad doesn't have any problem. I don't have this problem in win7.

option 1
Check Device Manager and expanded the Bluetooth menu. I right clicked on each item and selected Properties until I found the one that had a Power Management. Mine happened to be Bluetooth Module. Once I got into the Power Management setting I unchecked 'Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power'.

Option2:
Some exotic things can cause Bluetooth interruption. Check the physical space for any device that puts off a large amount of electromagnetic radiation, such as a big microwave or certain kinds of industrial equipment. These devices actually corrupt the radio waves that Bluetooth devices use to communicate. Battery failure is another common cause of patchy reception. If the batteries are fine, check the power settings as Windows 8 sometimes turns off devices that aren’t in use. The power settings are available from the Settings charm, or by pressing Windows+I.

Some devices may simply not have a fix yet and a bit of time and patience may be required while new problems with Windows 8 are discovered and fixed. Tech support should be notified of any devices that do not yet have an available fix, so that Microsoft can begin work on a patch. Calling the device’s manufacturer for a fix may also be necessary, as there are some things Microsoft cannot fix from their end.
http://windows7themes.net/fix-windows-8-bluetooth-problems-mouse-disconnects.html

Option3:
Bluetooth Problem In Windows 8.1

There are unusual Bluetooth problem in windows 8.1. In Windows 8.1 my Bluetooth mouse, keyboard and headphones were already paired but not able to connect. The blue tooth device connect my wireless Bluetooth devices for few Seconds and then disconnect and searching again and again. My Bluetooth device disconnect again and again and Shows a Error “The btvstack could not be started”. So follow below steps to solve this problem. [tested in dell inspiron and working for all dell laptops].
FIX: Bluetooth Not Working In Windows 8.1
Step 1:

→ Go to RUN (Windows Logo + R) and type “services.msc” and Enter.
Step 2:

→ Now find “Bluetooth Support Service” and double click on it.
Step 3:

→ In General Tab change startup type Manual to Automatic.
Step 4:

→ Now click on Log On Tab and mark on “This Account” and type your account name or browse to find your account name.
Step 5:

→ Now remove both hidden password and restart your PC.

Step 6:

→ Now Re install your Bluetooth drivers. You can download latest Bluetooth drivers from your PC official website.
Step 7:

→ If Bluetooth drivers not compatible with Windows 8.1 then follow simple steps.
Step 7a:

→ Go to RUN(Windows logo + R) and type “regedit” to open registry editor.
Step 7b:

→ In registry editor go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows NT/CurrentVersion
Step 7c:

→ In Current Version find Current version and change the value 6.3 to 6.2.

→ Now check your Bluetooth device, If you have any question about this problem please comment below.
http://www.wiknix.com/solved-bluetooth-device-not-working-in-windows-8-1/
 Windows <=8
1502
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Keyboard How To Display Shortcut Key Info Without Pressing ALT
Shortcut keys
Windows <=8
1584
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Keyboard How To Add Google Docs Shortcut To Windows 7 Desktop
shortcut google desktop
Windows <=8
1216
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Keyboard To View Or To Remove The Read-only Or The System Attributes Of Folders
readonly attribute
Windows <=8
1384
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Keyboard Lost My Recycle Bin
restore recycle bin
Windows <=8
1434
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Network How To Link Your Windows 7 User Account With Your Windows Live ID
file sharing network

You can make your various Windows 7 computers (such as a desktop and a laptop) work better together by linking them all to your Windows Live ID. Here's how you do it:


  1. On each Windows 7 computer, click Start | Control Panel
  2. Click the User Accounts applet
  3. In the left pane, click "Link online IDs"
  4. Click "Add on online ID provider" at the bottom of the page
  5. In the web page that opens in your web browser, select the "Windows Live" logo
  6. In the new web page that opens, download and install the Windows Live ID Sign-in Assistant
  7. Back in the Control Panel | User Accounts | Link Online IDs dialog box, click "Add linked ID" and provide your logon credentials in the box that appears
  8. Click the "Sign in" button

This will allow others in a homegroup to share files with you, without creating a user account for you on their computers, and it will enable you to use the online ID to access files on your computer from another computer.

 Windows <=8
1613
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Network How Do I Add My XP Computer To A Windows 7 Homegroup?
homegroup network
QUESTION:
I have two Windows 7 computers, a desktop and a laptop, that belong to our home network. We used the Homegroup wizard to set it up. We want to add my wife's old XP laptop to the network but can't figure out how. Can you help? - Todd L.

ANSWER:
The homegroup is a new feature in Windows 7 designed to make it easy to share information on a home network. However, only computers running Windows 7 can join a homegroup. If you want to join XP (or Vista) computers to the network, you'll need to create a workgroup instead. All the computers on the network will need to have the same workgroup name configured so they can "find" each other.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/help/sharing-files-and-printers-with-different-versions-of-windows

This step by step tutorial shows you how to set up a home network and join Windows 7, Vista and XP computers to it.

Prepare your computers that are running Windows XP
Follow these steps on each of your computers running Windows XP.

Top of page1. Run the Network Setup Wizard
1.Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Network and Internet Connections.

2.Click Network Setup Wizard, and then follow the instructions on your screen.

3.On the Name your network page, type the same workgroup name used by your other computers.

4.On the File and printer sharing page, select Turn on file and printer sharing.

Note
If your network includes computers running Windows XP, it’s important to use the same workgroup name for all of the computers on your network. This makes it possible for computers running different versions of Windows to detect and access each other. Remember that the default workgroup name is not the same in all versions of Windows.
Top of page2. Specify what you want to share
1.Right-click the folder that you want to share, and then click Sharing and Security.

2.If you are sharing a drive, on the Sharing tab, click If you understand the risk but still want to share the root of the drive, click here.

3.Select the Share this folder on the network check box.

Note
To share individual files in Windows XP, either put them in a folder and share the folder, or share them using the Public folder.
 Windows <=8
2085
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Network Access Skydrive Like You Would A Hard Drive
skydrive sky drive map network cid windows live account

Windows 7 may differ the Windows 8 procedure.


  1. Log in to your skydrive account to get your cid:

    First you need to get your cid= number after logging into your Microsoft Skydrive account using your browser. It will have a format like https://skydrive.live.com/?mkt=en-US&v=FirstRunView#cid=8aca12345b98765. Yours may be slightly different since this was the first time I logged in to my account, but the number at the end.

  2. This is the url to map: https://d.docs.live.net/8aca12345b98765/

  3. Open Windows File Explorer

  4. Highlight the word "Computer" on the left hand side.

  5. The network drive Icon will appear at the top middle. Click it.

  6. Use one of the higher drive letters and copy and past the new url into the folder box. Then save.

  7. Windows will try to connect if it can and prompt you for your windows live account user name and password


Now you can copy and save files to your new drive. Just remember the files will only write and read based on your internet connection and speed.



Similar to windows 8 http://rashedtalukder.com/how-to-map-skydrive-folder-on-windows-rt-desktop-mode/
 Windows <=8
1138
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Security How To Change The Wireless Network Priority
wireless network wi-fi
Many folks these days have more than one wi-fi network set up. You might have one that's connected to your Ethernet network and another that's entirely separate. That way, guests, the kids or others who don't need access to the wired network can connect to the second wi-fi network, which allows them to access the Internet. Your Windows 7 based wireless laptop will try to connect to those networks in the order in which they appear in its list of networks - which might or might not be the priority you prefer. The good news is that you can change the order of the wireless networks in your computer's wi-fi properties. Here's how:

Click Start | Control Panel
Click Network and Sharing Center
In the left pane, click Manage Wireless Networks
In the list of wi-fi networks, right click the one that you want Windows to try first, and select Move Up
Move it up to the top of the list
Click OK to close the dialog box

Now Windows will try your top priority network first, which should make connection a tad faster.
 Windows <=8
1439
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Security The One Security Tool Every Windows User Should Know About
tools applications
Windows <=8
1640
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Server Event Viewer
events log
Windows <=8
1916
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Server Services That Can Be Killed
administration speed up
Windows <=8
1747
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Server How To Create A New Network Place
network
Windows <=8
1417
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Server How To Shut Down All Running Programs With One Click
shutdown applications programs
Windows <=8
1939
05/05/2026
Windows <=8 Video How To Configure And Use Text-to-Speech In Windows XP And Vista
speech text
Windows <=8
2196
05/05/2026
Windows >=10 Controls Essential Shortcuts
shortcuts keyboard desktop cmd command prompt
Windows 11
win 11 tested
Ctrl - Shift - ESC = task manager
WKEY+ "system properties" -> View advance settings -> |Computer Name | Hardware | System Protection | Remote

These are the essential keyboard shortcuts that every Windows 10 user has to know.
2. Use the Keyboard Shortcut
For the fastest way to minimize everything, simply press “Windows Logo + D” keyboard shortcut. This shortcut toggles all your open windows – the first press minimizes them and the second restores them. This is perfect for quick access without reaching for your mouse.

2.1. Use “Windows + M” Keys (Minimize Only)
There’s also another keyboard shortcut “Windows Logo + M” to minimize all open windows. However, there’s a subtle difference between “Windows + D” and “Windows + M”. While pressing “Windows + M” keys will minimize all open app windows, pressing second time will not restore all minimized windows again.

So, if you want a one-way minimize (without the toggle), this shortcut works great. Ideal if you don’t plan on reopening the windows immediately.

Windows key + CMD command prompt
Windows key + Tab switch desktops
To swap between desktops using a keyboard shortcut, press either Win + Ctrl + Left Arrow or Win + Ctrl + Right Arrow. By default, your desktops are arranged with the oldest at the far left and the newest at the far right.

Keyboard shortcut Action
Ctrl + A Select all content.
Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert) Copy selected items to clipboard.
Ctrl + X Cut selected items to clipboard.
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert) Paste content from clipboard.
Ctrl + Z Undo an action, including undelete files (limited).
Ctrl + Y Redo an action.
Ctrl + Shift + N Create new folder on desktop or File Explorer.
Alt + F4 Close active window. (If no active window is present, a shutdown box appears.)
Ctrl + D (Del) Delete selected item to the Recycle Bin.
Shift + Delete Delete the selected item permanently, skipping Recycle Bin.
F2 Rename selected item.
Esc Close current task.
Alt + Tab Switch between open apps.
PrtScn Take a screenshot and stores it in the clipboard.
Windows key + I Open Settings app.
Windows key + E Open File Explorer.
Windows key + A Open Action center.
Windows key + D Display and hide the desktop.
Windows key + L Lock device.
Windows key + V Open Clipboard bin.
Windows key + Period (.) or Semicolon (;) Open emoji panel.
Windows key + PrtScn Capture a full screenshot in the "Screenshots" folder.
Windows key + Shift + S Capture part of the screen with Snip & Sketch.
Windows key + Left arrow key Snap app or window left.
Windows key + Right arrow key Snap app or window right.
Image
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Desktop shortcuts
On Windows 10, you can use these keyboard shortcuts to open, close, navigate, and perform tasks more quickly throughout the desktop experience, including the Start menu, Taskbar, Settings, and more.

Keyboard shortcut Action
Windows key (or Ctrl + Esc) Open Start menu.
Ctrl + Arrow keys Change Start menu size.
Ctrl + Shift + Esc Open Task Manager.
======================

Ctrl + Shift Switch keyboard layout.


========================
Alt + F4 Close active window. (If no active window is present, a shutdown box appears.)
Ctrl + F5 (or Ctrl + R) Refresh current window.
Ctrl + Alt + Tab View open apps.
Ctrl + Arrow keys (to select) + Spacebar Select multiple items on desktop or File Explorer.
Alt + Underlined letter Runs command for the underlined letter in apps.
Alt + Tab Switch between open apps while pressing Tab multiple times.
Alt + Left arrow key Go back.
Alt + Right arrow key Go forward.
Alt + Page Up Move up one screen.
Alt + Page Down Move down one screen.
Alt + Esc Cycle through open windows.
Alt + Spacebar Open context menu for the active window.
Alt + F8 Reveals typed password in Sign-in screen.
Shift + Click app button Open another instance of an app from the Taskbar.
Ctrl + Shift + Click app button Run app as administrator from the Taskbar.
Shift + Right-click app button Show window menu for the app from the Taskbar.
Ctrl + Click a grouped app button Cycle through windows in the group from the Taskbar.
Shift + Right-click grouped app button Show window menu for the group from the Taskbar.
Ctrl + Left arrow key Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word.
Ctrl + Right arrow key Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word.
Ctrl + Up arrow key Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph
Ctrl + Down arrow key Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph.
Ctrl + Shift + Arrow key Select block of text.
Ctrl + Spacebar Enable or disable Chinese IME.
Shift + F10 Open context menu for selected item.
F10 Enable app menu bar.
Shift + Arrow keys Select multiple items.
Windows key + X Open Quick Link menu.
Windows key + Number (0-9) Open the app in number position from the Taskbar.
Windows key + T Cycle through apps in the Taskbar.
Windows key + Alt + Number (0-9) Open Jump List of the app in number position from the Taskbar.
Windows key + D Display and hide the desktop.
Windows key + M Minimize all windows.
Windows key + Shift + M Restore minimized windows on the desktop.
Windows key + Home Minimize or maximize all but the active desktop window.
Windows key + Shift + Up arrow key Stretch desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen.
Windows key + Shift + Down arrow key Maximize or minimize active desktop windows vertically while maintaining width.
Windows key + Shift + Left arrow key Move active window to monitor on the left.
Windows key + Shift + Right arrow key Move active window to monitor on the right.
Windows key + Left arrow key Snap app or window left.
Windows key + Right arrow key Snap app or window right.
Windows key + S (or Q) Open Search.
Windows key + Alt + D Open date and time in the Taskbar.
Windows key + Tab Open Task View.
Windows key + Ctrl + D Create new virtual desktop.
Windows key + Ctrl + F4 Close active virtual desktop.
Windows key + Ctrl + Right arrow Switch to the virtual desktop on the right.
Windows key + Ctrl + Left arrow Switch to the virtual desktop on the left.
Windows key + P Open Project settings.
Windows key + A Open Action center.
Windows key + I Open Settings app.
Backspace Return to the Settings app home page.
File Explorer shortcuts
File Explorer includes keyboard shortcuts to help you get things done a little quicker.

These are the most useful shortcuts for the default file manager on Windows 10.

Keyboard shortcut Action
Windows key + E Open File Explorer.
Alt + D Select address bar.
Ctrl + E (or F) Select search box.
Ctrl + N Open new window.
Ctrl + W Close active window.
Ctrl + F (or F3) Start search.
Ctrl + Mouse scroll wheel Change view file and folder.
Ctrl + Shift + E Expands all folders from the tree in the navigation pane.
Ctrl + Shift + N Creates a new folder on desktop or File Explorer.
Ctrl + L Focus on the address bar.
Ctrl + Shift + Number (1-8) Changes folder view.
Alt + P Display preview panel.
Alt + Enter Open Properties settings for the selected item.
Alt + Right arrow key View next folder.
Alt + Left arrow key (or Backspace) View previous folder.
Alt + Up arrow Move up a level in the folder path.
F11 Switch active window full-screen mode.
F2 Rename selected item.
F4 Switch focus to address bar.
F5 Refresh File Explorer's current view.
F6 Cycle through elements on the screen.
Home Scroll to the top of the window.
End Scroll to the bottom of the window.
Settings page shortcuts
This list includes the keyboard shortcuts for the dialog box legacy settings pages (for example, Folder Options).

Keyboard shortcut Action
Ctrl + Tab Cycles forward through the tabs.
Ctrl + Shift + Tab Cycles back through the tabs.
Ctrl + number of tab Jumps to tab position.
Tab Moves forward through the settings.
Shift + Tab Moves back through the settings.
Alt + underline letter Actions the setting identified by the letter.
Spacebar Checks or clears the option in focus.
Backspace Opens the folder one-level app in the Open or Save As dialog.
Arrow keys Select a button of the active setting.
Command Prompt shortcuts
If you use Command Prompt, these keyboard shortcuts will help to work a little more efficiently.

Keyboard shortcut Action
Ctrl + A Select all content of the current line.
Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert) Copy selected items to clipboard.
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert) Paste content from clipboard.
Ctrl + M Starts mark mode.
Ctrl + Up arrow key Move the screen up one line.
Ctrl + Down arrow key Move screen down one line.
Ctrl + F Open search for Command Prompt.
Left or right arrow keys Move the cursor left or right in the current line.
Up or down arrow keys Cycle through the command history of the current session.
Page Up Move cursor one page up.
Page Down Move cursor one page down.
Ctrl + Home Scroll to the top of the console.
Ctrl + End Scroll to the bottom of the console.
 Windows >=10
5
05/05/2026
Windows >=10 Customizing How Do I Change My Windows 11 Wallpaper?
wallpaper customize
Windows 11		 Windows >=10
6
05/05/2026
Windows >=10 Customizing How To Stop Apps Running In Background In Windows 11
services background disable
Windows 11 -> 8.1
How to Disable Services:

Open the Services Manager: Type "services.msc" in the Run dialog (Windows Key + R).

Locate the Service: Find the service you want to disable in the list.
Stop the Service (if running): Right-click the service and select "Stop".
Disable the Service: Right-click the service, select "Properties," and change the "Startup type" to "Disabled".
Apply Changes: Click "Apply" and then "OK".
Restart (if needed): Some services may require a restart to fully apply the changes.

Several Windows services can be safely disabled to potentially improve performance or reduce attack surface, especially if they are not used. Some of these services include Windows Update Delivery Optimization, Windows Search, Remote Desktop Services, and SysMain. Other services that are commonly disabled include Windows Insider Service, Parental Controls, Windows Image Acquisition, and the Print Spooler if you don't use a physical printer, according to XDA Developers and IT Pro.

Press Windows key + I to open Settings.

Click on the Apps option on the sidebar.
Older version require going to programs

Click on the Installed Apps option on the right panel.

Ezoic

Find the app and click the Menu (…) icon on the right side of the app name.

Choose “Advanced options.”

Choose “Never” from the “Let this app run in background” dropdown.

Do the same for other background apps and you are done. Remember that if you don’t see the Advanced Options option for an app, it doesn’t support disabling background permission.

disable background apps from settings
Disable Background Apps From Power & Battery Settings
On laptops, Windows 11 keeps track of apps running in the background and drains the battery on the Power & Battery settings page. You can stop these background apps directly from here. Here’s how:

Open the Settings app by pressing the Windows key + I shortcut.

Navigate to the System > Power & Battery page in the Settings.

Click the expand the Battery usage section to see all the background apps.

Click the Menu (…) icon next to the app name and select the Manage background activity option.

Select Never from the Let this app run in background dropdown menu.

Do the same for other apps in the Battery Usage list to disable all the background apps.

Note: If you don’t see the Manage background activity option in the app menu, that specific app doesn’t support managing background activity via the Settings app.

disable background apps from battery settings
Disable Background Apps for All Users Using Group Policy
For those managing multiple users, Windows 11 Pro users can use the Group Policy Editor to disable the background app. Here’s how:

Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.

Enter gpedit.msc in the Run dialog box and click OK to open the Group Policy Editor.

Go to the Computer configuration > Administrative templates > Windows components > App privacy folder.

Double-click the Let Windows apps run in the background policy to open its properties.

Select Enabled and click the Apply & OK buttons.

Close the Group Policy Editor and restart your computer.

Once the computer has been restarted, background apps for all users have been disabled.

disable background apps from group policy
Disable Background Apps for the Current User Using Registry
If you are looking for a simpler way to disable all background apps for your user account at once, you can use the Registry Editor. Before proceeding with the below steps, back up the registry.

Open the Start menu, search for Registry Editor, and click on the top result to open the Registry Editor.

In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following folder.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows

Right-click on the Windows folder and select New -> Key.

Set the new folder name as AppPrivacy.

Right-click on the AppPrivacy folder and select New -> DWORD Value.

Set the new value name as LetAppsRunInBackground.

Double-click on the value you just created.

Enter 2 in the Value Data field and click OK.

Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.

With that, the background apps are disabled in Windows 11.


Home » How To » How to Stop Apps Running in Background in Windows 11
How to Disable Background Apps on Windows 11
By Bashkarla / How To

Several apps run in the background on your computer at any given time. These apps, even when not in use, can drain your battery quickly and significantly reduce your system’s performance. Thankfully, you can stop these background apps quite easily. In this article, we’ll show you four methods to disable background apps on Windows 11. Let’s get started.

Disable Background Apps from Installed Apps in Settings
You can disable background apps directly from the Windows 11 settings app. All you have to do is find the app and change its background permissions. Here’s how to do it:


Ezoic
Press Windows key + I to open Settings.

Click on the Apps option on the sidebar.

Click on the Installed Apps option on the right panel.

Ezoic

Find the app and click the Menu (…) icon on the right side of the app name.

Choose “Advanced options.”

Choose “Never” from the “Let this app run in background” dropdown.

Do the same for other background apps and you are done. Remember that if you don’t see the Advanced Options option for an app, it doesn’t support disabling background permission.

disable background apps from settings
Disable Background Apps From Power & Battery Settings
On laptops, Windows 11 keeps track of apps running in the background and drains the battery on the Power & Battery settings page. You can stop these background apps directly from here. Here’s how:

Open the Settings app by pressing the Windows key + I shortcut.

Navigate to the System > Power & Battery page in the Settings.

Click the expand the Battery usage section to see all the background apps.

Click the Menu (…) icon next to the app name and select the Manage background activity option.

Select Never from the Let this app run in background dropdown menu.

Do the same for other apps in the Battery Usage list to disable all the background apps.

Note: If you don’t see the Manage background activity option in the app menu, that specific app doesn’t support managing background activity via the Settings app.

disable background apps from battery settings
Disable Background Apps for All Users Using Group Policy
For those managing multiple users, Windows 11 Pro users can use the Group Policy Editor to disable the background app. Here’s how:

Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.

Enter gpedit.msc in the Run dialog box and click OK to open the Group Policy Editor.

Go to the Computer configuration > Administrative templates > Windows components > App privacy folder.

Double-click the Let Windows apps run in the background policy to open its properties.

Select Enabled and click the Apply & OK buttons.

Close the Group Policy Editor and restart your computer.

Once the computer has been restarted, background apps for all users have been disabled.

disable background apps from group policy
Disable Background Apps for the Current User Using Registry
If you are looking for a simpler way to disable all background apps for your user account at once, you can use the Registry Editor. Before proceeding with the below steps, back up the registry.

Open the Start menu, search for Registry Editor, and click on the top result to open the Registry Editor.

In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following folder.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows

Right-click on the Windows folder and select New -> Key.

Set the new folder name as AppPrivacy.

Right-click on the AppPrivacy folder and select New -> DWORD Value.

Set the new value name as LetAppsRunInBackground.

Double-click on the value you just created.

Enter 2 in the Value Data field and click OK.

Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.

With that, the background apps are disabled in Windows 11.

After rebooting, all the background apps are disabled for your user account.

And there you have it! It’s that simple. You can follow any of the four methods to completely stop the apps from running in the background. I also recommend you disable startup apps or delay their startup for improved startup time.

The purpose of this article is to describe how to access Windows Services, which can be used to troubleshoot issues.
Answer:
For Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows Server 2012 R2

1. Right click on the Start button and select Computer Management
2. Expand Services and Applications
3. Select Services

OR

1. Press and hold the Windows button on the keyboard, then press the R key to open the Run dialog
2. Type "Services.msc" and then press Enter

For Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012

1. Hover mouse over bottom left corner of desktop to make the Start button appear, click Start.
2. Right click on the Start button and select Computer Management
3. Expand Services and Applications
4. Select Services

OR

1. Press and hold the Windows button on the keyboard, then press the R key to open the Run dialog
2. Type "Services.msc" and then press Enter
 Windows >=10
3
05/05/2026
Windows >=10 Customizing File Sharing
file sharing
File Sharing
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Q&A
Windows 11 pro cannot connect to shared folders

Anonymous
Jun 22, 2024, 10:43 PM
I recently pulled an old Win 8.1 computer out of retirement to use as a 'sever.'

I set it up and got it up to date with Windows Updates and other updates.

Then I tried to share folders from this PC to a Windows 11 PC. I also am running a Windows 7 PC for remote desktop and testing..

When I clicked on the PC icon in Network, the shares would not be exposed from win 11 to win 8.1 as the server.

I had some success, but intermittent problems seeing Win 7 shares from Win 11.

I ensured Network Discovery was turned on and I tried toggling password protection for shares on and off.

I searched the Net for days and tonight, I found an article that describes a known and acknowledged problem withe Windows 11, Microsoft Accounts (vs local accounts) and shared folders.

It appears that when I log into a Microsoft Account on my Win 11 machine, I am not able to reliably see shares on other computers. Some shares work fine and others do not work at all. The most common problem was that I would click on a computer to expose its shares and I would be prompted to log into the share--at the computer level.

In my experimentation, I discovered that if I logged into an Admin account, shares worked. I thought it was some sort of security issue, and I wasted much time trying to discover the correct security settings.

The Admin account is and has always been a Local account, and the account I use daily is a Microsoft account. The problems I was having were NOT security issues as much as they were an acknowledged bug related to MS account logins and network shares.

I converted my regular user MS account to a Local account and I was able to see shares across the variety of Win 7, Win 8.1 and Win 11 computers.

I do not use MS services that require a MS account--like Office, On Drive, or the many other services that are available, so converting to a local account is expected to be painless and shares between computers if very important to me.

How to convert MS account computer login to a Local account login:

If you are using MS services, they will require some tweaking to make them work after the conversion!!

(1)Open Settings

(2)Open Accounts --on the left

(3)Under the title "Account Settings," open Your Info

(4)Under Account Settings, open Microsoft Account-->Change to Local Account

(5)Follow instructions to set the Local password.


Copy
When done setting password, you will be forced to sign out and then sign in again.
(6)Try to use you network shares !!

I hope this explanation helps others avoid problems I have experienced.

Microsoft, The article I found describing this fix was dated Sep 2023 and the root cause of the problem is still a problem for people using folder shares from older Windows versions to Windows 11 (10?) when logged into a Microsoft Account.

Make it work !!

Jim

***moved from Windows / Windows 11 / Settings***

Windows Windows Client for IT Pros Networking Network connectivity and file sharing

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question. To protect privacy, user profiles for migrated questions are anonymized.

I have the same question
10
{count} votes
Accepted answer

Anonymous
Jun 24, 2024, 11:20 PM
Hi Jim,

Thank you for sharing your detailed experience and solution regarding the issue with shared folders between Windows 11 and older Windows versions.

Summary of the Issue and Solution

You described that when using a Microsoft Account on your Windows 11 PC, you experienced intermittent problems accessing shared folders on other computers, specifically those running Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. The shares were more reliable when using a local admin account rather than a Microsoft Account.

You found that converting your Microsoft Account to a Local Account resolved the issue, allowing you to access shared folders consistently across your network. Below are the steps you followed to make this conversion:

Steps to Convert a Microsoft Account to a Local Account

Open Settings
Navigate to Accounts:
On the left panel, click on *Accounts*.
Open Your Info:
Under the title "Account Settings," select *Your Info*.
Change to Local Account:
Under "Account Settings," click on *Microsoft Account* and then select *Change to Local Account*.
Set the Local Password:
Follow the instructions to set a local password.
After setting the password, you will be prompted to sign out and then sign in again.
Test Network Shares:
After signing back in with the Local Account, try to access your network shares again.
Additional Recommendations

Network Discovery and File Sharing:
Ensure that Network Discovery and File Sharing are enabled on all your devices.
Go to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change advanced sharing settings to verify these settings.


Password Protected Sharing:
Depending on your security requirements, you might need to enable or disable password protected sharing.
This setting can be found under the same advanced sharing settings menu mentioned above.
Verify SMB Protocols:
Ensure that the SMB protocol versions required by your devices are enabled.
On the Windows 11 PC, go to Control Panel > Programs > Turn Windows features on or off and verify that the necessary SMB versions (SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support and SMB Direct) are enabled if needed.


Further Assistance

If you continue to experience issues or have any other questions, please feel free to reach out. We appreciate your feedback and will continue to work towards improving the user experience.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

Best regards,

Rosy

Forum Support Team

Please sign in to rate this answer.
1 person found this answer helpful.
2 additional answers

Anonymous
Aug 11, 2024, 7:34 AM
I also have this issue, but having followed all of the steps above it is still not solved.

I have a Windows Vista PC and a Windows 8.1 laptop.

I am able to access shared folders between these two using the HomeGroup facility in Windows 8.1

I recently added a Windows 11 pro machine. Following the advice above it has a Local account with password.

In the network section of Explorer I cannot see the Windows 8.1 machine,

I can (apparently) open it as a media library source in wmp, but there is no content found in Music, Videos or Pictures.

The Win11 PC can see the Vista PC, but when I try to open it in explorer it fails.

The Windows Network Diagnostics reports:

Your computer appears to be correctly configured, but the device or resource (XXXX-XX) is not responding

'Detected', yellow warniing triangle

The Vista PC can see the Windows 11 machine, but opening fails. The diagnostic reports:

Network diagnostics pinged the remote host but did not reeceive a response

On the Windows 8.1 laptop I can see both the Vista machine (which I can also access) and the Windows 11 machine, but opening the latter fails. The diagnostic reports:

Windows can't communicate with the device or resource (XXXX-XXXXXXXX)

'Detected', yellow warniing triangle

There is also a mouse-over hint with the message:

It is available but is not responding to the connection attempts. A firewall or network security policy on the remote computer might be blocking the connection on port 'file and print sharing resource'.

In Windows Defender

Domain network = Firewall is On

Private network (active) = Firewall is On

Public network = Firewall is On

In Windows Defender, Domain network

Active domain networks = Not connected

Microsoft Defender Firewall = On

Incoming connections = Unchecked

In Windows Defender, Private network

Active private networks = [wifi connection]

Microsoft Defender Firewall = On

Incoming connections = Unchecked

In Windows Defender, Private network

Active public networks = Not connected

Microsoft Defender Firewall = On

Incoming connections = Unchecked

In Windows Defender, Allowed Applications

There is a long list of entries, those which I thought most relevant are:

On - Core Networking

Off - Core Networking Diagnostics

On - File and Printer Sharing

On - File and Printer Sharing over SMBirect

On - Network Discovery

Off - Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol

Off - SNMP Trap

On - Wi-Fi Direct Netword Discovery

On - Windows Media Player

Off - Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service

On - WLAN Service - WFD Application Services ...

On - WLAN Service - WFD Services ...

On - Workplace or School Account

On - Your Account

Under Firewall & network protection, Advance settings

There are three sections in Overview:

Domain Profile
Private Profile is Active
Public Profile
All three have the following entries:

Windows Defender Firewall is on
Inbound connections that do not match a rule are blocked
Outbound connections that do not match a rule are allowed
Changing the 'Inbound .... blocked' entries to Unblocked appears to disable the Firewall

Under Inbound Rules and Outbound Rules there are many, many entries

There are no entries under Connection Security Rules

Temporarily disabling the Microsoft Defender Firewall does not make any difference.

There is an Apple computer on the network. The Win11 PC can log into this Apple PC using a guest username and password

There is a smart TV on the network with an external HD connected. The Win11 PC can open and edit a text file that I put on this drive.

I would be happy to provide any more data.

Regards

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Anonymous
Aug 15, 2024, 4:49 AM
ps

I also posted my reply on this forum: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_11-wintop_connect/win11-unable-to-seeconnect-to-shared-folders-on/fe2a32e8-459a-40ca-bfe2-ac979ae62599?messageId=9a6bbedc-9b37-45d1-a072-571604ad821f

And a response there led me to a solution - I installed the Client for NFS on the Win11 machine and it was then able to see and access the Win8.1 PC (everything under C;Users)

The Win81 machine was also able to acccess the Shared folders on the Win11 PC.

No change with the Vista machine but I can live with that.

(Note: the SMB protocols referred to in the answer above are being retired due to a security problem)

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2 people found this answer helpful.
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