Hard-to-find fixes and obscure how-tos, many from forum answers by people who figured them out.
Shows how to turn on Storage Sense and set how often it runs, how long Recycle Bin and Downloads files are kept, and when unused cloud files go online-only. Also shows removing Previous Windows Installation files under Temporary files.
An archived 2009 post showing how to reveal ghost devices left behind by old hardware: set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1 in a Command Prompt, launch Device Manager from it, and enable Show hidden devices. The variable only lasts for that window unless made a system variable. Dated, so verify on current Windows.
Helpful answer: set the LongPathsEnabled registry value to 1 under HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem and restart. A commenter points out that the application reading the files may still not support long paths. Registry edit, so back up first.
Community thread from 2022 describing running oobe\bypassnro from Shift+F10 at the network screen to get an I don't have internet option, with a fallback creating a local account via net user and msoobe.exe. This is a community workaround, not Microsoft documentation, and replies report it stopped working on at least one Insider build.
Microsoft's repair sequence: install updates and restart, run DISM RestoreHealth from an elevated Command Prompt, and only after it reports that the operation completed successfully run sfc /scannow.
Documents winget export, which writes the installed apps to a JSON file that winget import can use to reinstall them on another PC. Covers -o, --include-versions and --source, and warns that apps winget cannot match are skipped with a warning.
Reference for caffeinate, which keeps a Mac awake while a command runs or for a set time. Flags: -d display, -i idle sleep, -m disk, -s system on AC, -u user active, -t seconds, -w until a PID exits.
On Catalina, SilentKnight from Eclectic Light found problems with the Gatekeeper databases and updated them, which cleared the damaged-app message. Single-file workaround: sudo xattr -d com.apple.quarantine on the file. spctl --master-disable, LSQuarantine and replacing gkopaque.bundle did not help.
Thread from 2016 where the poster uses xattr -d -r com.apple.quarantine /Applications/APPNAME.app to strip the flag recursively. KALLT notes each download gets a unique quarantine flag, suggests right-click and Open instead, and says an app Gatekeeper reports as tampered with should be raised with its developer. Removing quarantine bypasses Gatekeeper's check, so only do it for software you trust.
Explains the different procedures for Intel notebooks with and without a T2 chip and why Intel key combinations do nothing on Apple silicon. On Apple silicon, shut down, disconnect peripherals, wait at least 30 seconds and restart. A full NVRAM reset needs a DFU restore, which wipes the SSD.
Reference for mdutil, the command-line way to check Spotlight indexing and force a rebuild. mdutil -s shows status, -i toggles indexing, and sudo mdutil -E / erases and rebuilds the index of the root volume.
User answer explaining that this error can appear when the file merely carries com.apple.quarantine. Gives a find command to locate copies of the app and a loop to print each one's xattr so you can see which is flagged. Not official Apple guidance.
A tour of what makes man pages easy to use: rsync's terse synopsis with a one-line option summary, strace's categorised options, curl's per-option examples, and the value of examples and tables of contents.
A portal of monitoring tools grouped by purpose; notably points to journalctl -b for current-boot logs and systemd-analyze (time, blame, critical-chain) for boot timing.
A curated list of newer command-line tools gathered from suggestions, grouped as modern replacements for standard utilities, tools that work differently, and JSON/CSV/grep-style helpers. Mentions ripgrep, fd, fzf, bat, direnv, jq and vidir.
Julia Evans describes adding beginner-friendly examples to the tcpdump and dig man pages, and mentions tcpdump's -v flag showing a live packet count when writing a capture to a file.
The examples section of the find manual shows safe patterns such as NUL-delimited deletion with -print0 and xargs -0, and pruning directories with -prune. Good to read before running find with rm.
Her five go-to tools for slow or broken systems: strace, dstat, tcpdump/Wireshark, perf and opensnoop. Notes that strace can noticeably slow the traced program.
Samsung's steps for unlocking the hidden Developer options menu (tap Build number seven times, then confirm your screen lock) and how to hide it again.
Shows how to assign a double or triple tap on the back of the iPhone to actions such as Control Center, screenshot or accessibility features.
The reference for adb: enabling debugging, pairing over Wi-Fi with adb pair, installing apps, port forwarding, copying files and shell commands. The package manager section documents pm list packages and pm uninstall with -k and --user, the basis for per-user removal of apps. Only remove packages you understand.
Official guide to unlocking Developer options (tap Build number seven times) and what the settings do: USB and wireless debugging, show taps, pointer location, animation scales, simulated color space and more. Menu locations vary by device.
Describes the on-device iOS Recovery screen with Recovery Assistant, Software Update from a nearby device, Diagnostics, Erase, and Recovery Mode. Erasing deletes your data.
Download page for the standalone adb and fastboot tools. fastboot is used to unlock a bootloader and flash system images, which can erase your device and void warranties, so read your maker's instructions first.
Julia Evans introduces a 24-page illustrated zine following a download across the network: packets, DNS, sockets, TCP, HTTP and TLS, plus layers and ports.
Explains when to change Wi-Fi channels, which channels do not overlap (1, 6, 11 in the US for 802.11b/g), and what to do otherwise: keep networks five channels apart, reduce transmit power, or separate access points.
Describes how a router behind an ISP gateway splits the network into two private networks, which can break gaming, VPNs, port forwarding and some SSL sites. It points to a separate article for the fixes.
Advice on band and channel choice: on 2.4 GHz use channel 1, 6 or 11, prefer the least crowded one, and note that Auto channel is not always best; use a Wi-Fi analyzer to check.
Explains that DoH wraps DNS queries in ordinary HTTPS on port 443 so they cannot be easily forged or tampered with and blend in with web traffic. The page links to separate setup guides rather than listing steps.
Explains that double NAT can hurt gaming, port forwarding and UPnP, and recommends removing the ISP router or putting it in bridge mode. Bridge mode on a single Wi-Fi device is a less-preferred fallback that disables some features.
Documents the PowerShell cmdlet that returns True or False for whether Secure Boot is on. It needs an elevated prompt and prints 'Cmdlet not supported on this platform' on legacy BIOS machines.
Dell's guide to checking and updating BIOS. Firmware flashing carries risk: stay on AC power, suspend BitLocker, remove BIOS and drive passwords first, and use Dell's BIOS Recovery if an update fails.
Three ways to clear CMOS: the CLR_CMOS button, shorting the CLRTC pins, or removing the battery. Clearing erases BIOS settings and password; always power off and unplug first.
Intel's jumper and battery methods for resetting BIOS settings on boards with boxed desktop processors. Move the jumper from pins 1-2 to 2-3 (or remove the battery) for 1 to 5 minutes. Check your board manual first.
Introduces LVFS, where hardware vendors publish firmware, and fwupd, the daemon that installs it via clients such as fwupdmgr and GNOME Software. Firmware updates carry risk, so keep power connected.
Memtest86+ boots from USB and tests RAM more thoroughly than BIOS checks. Windows uses an installer, Linux and macOS write the image to the raw device (dd or balenaEtcher); on a Secure Boot violation add its CA or temporarily disable Secure Boot. Writing an image erases the USB drive.
Gary Explains covers Ventoy in about five minutes, per the title.
Byte My Pi shows how to create a multiboot USB drive with Ventoy.
ExplainingComputers introduces Ventoy, a tool for making multi-boot USB drives.
ASUS Support shows how to update the BIOS with EZ Flash on an ASUS motherboard.
Britec09 shows how to use a USB BIOS Flashback tool.
ASUS Support explains how to use USB BIOS FlashBack. Applies to ASUS boards that support it.