Windows how-to guides
Step-by-step fixes for everyday Windows 10 and 11 problems. Each guide starts with what Windows can do by itself, then shows the RSDWare app that does it in one place.
Mapped drives not showing in programs run as administratorWhen you run a program as administrator, Windows starts it in a separate, elevated session, and the drive letters you mapped in your normal session don’t exist there. Microsoft’s fix is one registry value, EnableLinkedConnections. You can also map the drive again inside the elevated program.
How to password protect a folder in Windows 10 and 11Windows has no option to put a password on a single folder. You can encrypt it with EFS (Pro editions), encrypt the whole drive with BitLocker, put the files in a password-protected 7-Zip archive, or use a folder lock app that locks the folder where it is.
How to find which program is locking a file in WindowsWhen Windows says a file is open in another program but doesn’t say which one, Resource Monitor (built into Windows) can find it in a minute. PowerToys File Locksmith, Process Explorer and TaskPilot can find it too, and close it.
How to see all devices on your network from WindowsYour router’s list of connected devices is the most complete view of your network. From a Windows PC you can also use arp -a after pinging every address, or a network scanner such as R Pinger, which adds names, makers and open services.
File too large to upload? Make PDFs and photos smaller on WindowsMost upload forms limit each file to a few megabytes. Photos get small enough when you resize them and save them as JPEG, which Photos or Paint in Windows can do. Scanned PDFs shrink when you scan at a lower resolution or split them. Your files never have to leave your PC.