How to Fix the “This Build of Windows Will Expire Soon” Error in Windows 10

The Windows Insider Preview program lets you run early versions of the upcoming Windows 10 builds. You can test new features, provide development feedback, and help shape the development of Windows 10.

However, at times, your Windows 10 Insider Preview build might expire. That is, Microsoft no longer supports the preview version of Windows you are using and then the “This build of Windows 10 will expire soon” error starts to appear.

So, how do you fix the error?

What Is the “This Build of Windows Will Expire Soon” Error?

The Windows Insider Preview program allows you to use new Windows 10 versions before general release. The user feedback and bug reporting help to shape Windows 10. As the development of Windows 10 is a constant stream of updates and tweaks, no Insider Preview build remains in circulation for long.

When an Insider Preview build is no longer supported, you’ll receive the “This build of Windows will expire soon” error message.

Your Windows Insider Preview version might expire for a few reasons:

• You opted out of Insider Preview builds
• You switched from the Dev Channel to the Beta Channel
• Your device was switched off for a long time

How to Fix the “This Build of Windows Will Expire Soon” Error

There are three methods you can use to fix the Insider Build expiring issue:

• Change your Insider Preview path settings
• Reinstall Windows with an Insider Preview Beta Channel ISO
• Switch to a clean installation of regular Windows 10

1. Change Your Insider Preview Path Settings

The easiest way to shift the expiring Insider Preview build is to switch your Insider Preview path. Windows 10 Insider Preview has three paths available for users:

• Dev Channel: Access the very latest Windows 10 builds, from the early stages of the development process
• Beta Channel: Recommended for early adopters, the Beta Channel provides more reliable builds than the Dev Channel
• Release Preview Channel: Early access for the upcoming Windows 10 release, including certain key features and minimal bugs

This fix is primarily for those stuck on the Beta Channel.

Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings window, select Update & Security, then Windows Insider Program. Here you will see your current Insider Preview options.

Select the box underneath Pick your insider settings to change your Insider Preview path. Switch from the Beta Channel to the Dev Channel.

Now, head back to the Settings window and select Windows Update from the sidebar. Press Check for updates and wait for the latest Dev Channel Insider Preview build to download. After it downloads, install the new build, then restart your system.

You don’t have to stay on the Dev Channel. Once you install the latest Dev Channel Insider Preview build, you can switch your path back to the Beta Channel and wait for the latest build. It is time-consuming, but it does stop the “This build of Windows will expire soon” error messages.

2. Reinstall Windows with an Insider Preview Beta Channel ISO

If you don’t want to switch Insider Preview paths, you can download and install the latest Insider Preview Beta Channel build. This method ensures you remain on the Beta Channel.

Plus, you can use the in-place upgrade option, which means you don’t have to wipe your system in the process. The result is a much faster upgrade with minimal data loss.

However, it is always a good idea to take a backup before making any major changes to your system. Before commencing with the reinstallation, you must backup your data.

That means important files, photos, music, games—anything you do not want to lose during the reinstallation. Wondering how to do it? Check out our ultimate Windows 10 data backup guide.

After backing up your data, head to the Windows Insider Preview Downloads page. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and select the latest Beta Channel or Release Preview Channel edition, followed by the language (make sure the language matches your existing installation, or the setup will run into trouble later).

You’ll then have to select between a 32- or 64-bit version of Windows. If you’re unsure, here’s how you find out if you have 32-bit or 64-bit Windows.

After the download completes, double-click the installation file to begin the process. Windows 10 will mount the ISO file automatically. Then, select Setup and follow the instructions.

On the Choose what to keep page, select Keep personal files and apps. On the Ready to install page, make sure that Keep personal files and apps appears.

When ready, select Install. The installation process will take a few minutes to complete, and your computer will restart several times during the process. Once complete, you can log into Windows as normal.

3. Switch to a Clean Installation of Windows 10

The final option is to leave the Windows 10 Insider Preview scheme and head back to regular Windows 10. Like the fresh installation of the Insider Preview, you can use the in-place upgrade option to move back to the standard Windows 10 installation or complete a full clean installation if you desire.

Remember, a clean installation will wipe all your files, apps, and data. If you want a clean installation, you must backup your data or face losing it permanently.

First up, you need to create installation media for the latest version of Windows 10.

Download: Windows 10 Media Creation Tool for Windows (Free)

Open the Windows 10 Media Creation tool, accept the license terms, and select Upgrade this PC now. You’ll have to wait for the Windows 10 Setup to download and prepare Windows 10, which can take a while.

After the download completes, select Change what to keep. If you want to keep your files, select Keep personal files and apps. If you want a completely clean installation, select Nothing. Wait for the Windows 10 installation to complete, after which you can set up your clean installation.

A clean installation of Windows 10 is a wonderful thing. Check out the most important things you must do after installing Windows 10, such as running Windows Update, updating your drivers, and more.

How to Leave Windows 10 Insider Preview Builds

These are the fixes for the “This build of Windows will expire soon” error. But the final option is one way you can leave the Windows 10 Insider Preview scheme for good, too. You can leave the Windows 10 Insider Preview program whenever you want, safe in the knowledge that you don’t have to wipe your data.

Once you have a clean installation ready to go, you can adjust your Windows 10 privacy settings from the get-go. Here’s our complete guide to Windows 10 privacy settings to help you get set up.

Read the full article: How to Fix the “This Build of Windows Will Expire Soon” Error in Windows 10

Plex Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows and Mac

If you have a large collection of locally-saved media, you need to be using Plex. It is the best way to keep your digital movies and TV shows organized.

Plex is available on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and all the major streaming platforms. You can use it to import artwork and other metadata, display subtitles, play multiple audio tracks, automatically organize your content into collections, and more. The app even has support for live TV, DVR, and personalized news.

Each version of the Plex app operates slightly differently. Today, we want to focus on the desktop app for Windows and Mac. Specifically, we’re going to introduce you to some of the most useful Plex keyboard shortcuts. After all, no one wants to be fiddling around with a mouse just to change the volume in the middle of a movie.

The shortcuts are split into three sections: Navigation, Playback, and Troubleshooting. Some shortcuts use the same hotkeys, depending on which mode you’re in.

(Note: Replace Control with Cmd if you’re using a macOS machine.)

FREE DOWNLOAD: This cheat sheet is available as a downloadable PDF from our distribution partner, TradePub. You will have to complete a short form to access it for the first time only. Download Plex Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows and Mac.

Plex Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows and Mac

Shortcut	Action
App Navigation
Left Arrow	Navigate left
Right Arrow	Navigate right
Up Arrow	Navigate up
Down Arrow	Navigate down
Enter	Select
Space	Select
Esc	Back
Backspace	Back
Delete	Back
P	Start playback off highlighted item
W	Toggle played/unplayed status
Shift + F11	Enter/exit fullscreen mode (Windows)
Cmd + Control + F	Enter/exit fullscreen mode (Mac)
Win + Down Arrow	Minimize Plex (Windows)
Cmd + M	Minimize Plex (Mac)
Alt + F4	Quit app
Control + Q	Quit app
Playback
Enter	Access menu
+	Volume up
-	Volume down
P	Pause/play
Right Arrow	Skip back 10 seconds
Left Arrow	Jump forward 10 seconds
Up Arrow	Jump forward 10 minutes
Down arrow	Skip back 10 minutes
X	Cancel playback
B	Back
H	Stop playback and return to home screen
Home	Play previous item in queue
End	Play next item in queue
Z	Cycle though aspect ratios
A	Switch to next audio stream
Control + A	Return to previous audio stream
L	Switch to next subtitles
Control + L	Switch to previous subtitles
S	Toggle subtitles on/off
Alt + A	Increase audio delay
Alt + Shift + A	Decrease audio delay
Alt + S	Increase subtitle delay
Alt + Shift + S	Decrease subtitle delay
Troubleshooting
Control + Shift + R	Reload app
Control + Shift + D	Show debug information

How to Do More With Plex

If you’re still not sure about the benefits of using Plex, check out some of our other content, like how to watch live TV on Plex and the best Plex clients.

Read the full article: Plex Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows and Mac

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CrowPi 2 Is The Raspberry Pi Laptop and Electronics STEAM Workshop You’ve Dreamed Of

Our verdict of the CrowPi 2:
Simply the best STEAM learning package we've seen yet. It's packed full of electronics sensors that are easy to start programming with in Scratch or Python. Jump on this one quick before the price goes up at retail (though even then, it'll be great value). 910

The Raspberry Pi is a fantastic development board, great for getting young minds into all manner of STEAM projects. But once you get to the electronics side of things, it can be a little fiddly to connect components. You’ll soon find yourself lost in a mass of wires and cabling.

The CrowPi 2 is an incredibly elegant solution that builds on the successes of the original. It isn’t just a Raspberry Pi laptop (though it is a pretty great one of those). Hidden underneath the keyboard is an extensive electronics workshop. It’s a self-contained all-in-one STEAM learning system. This is the Pi workshop everyone wishes they had.

It’s available on Kickstarter for the next few days, but be quick, as the price will go up after that.

What’s In The Box?

Inside the rather large CrowPi2 box, you’ll find:

• The CrowPi 2 laptop consisting of case, electronics workshop board and integrated 11.6″ screen
• Power supply
• Raspberry Pi 4B 4GB
• Two USB game controllers
• Wireless Keyboard and Mouse, which require a dongle to be plugged in Power supply Getting started manual Printed Minecraft cubes on card stock
• Additional electronic components (see later section)

That’s a lot of stuff.

Our test sample had the Raspberry Pi hardware pre-installed, but you may need to do that yourself given the procedure detailed in the Getting Started guide. It’s easy enough: a panel at the back slides off. Slot in the Pi, secure with some screws, then connect some cabling for power and screen.

To use the webcam, you’ll need to plug a short USB cable into one of the four external ports. Once the Pi is installed, the only clue is this tell-tale arrangement of ports.

Weighing 2.8 pounds (1.3kg) and measuring 11.4×7.5×1.8 inches (291x190x46mm), the laptop itself is a cheap-feeling plastic design. Without opening the clamshell, it looks like a netbook from 2005. This is in stark contrast to the metal-clad rugged toolbox design of the original CrowPi model. Realistically, it was likely a design decision to avoid the accusations that it’s a bomb. Which happened often with the original CrowPi. Because it did look like a bomb.

The keyboard too is a somewhat natty, thin plastic design. It’s functional and fits neatly inside the case, but the soft-touch keys feel as bad as expected. With a standby time of 120 hours and simple to recharge over micro-USB, at least you shouldn’t have to worry about the battery. I would have preferred something more solid, and wired–perhaps a coiled wire that would fit neatly back into the rear of the case.

Around the rear of the CrowPi 2 is a pull-out drawer. The manual references a battery that can slot in here, so I assume that’s an optional extra to come at a later date. There’s no mention of it on the Kickstarter though, so the idea may have just been shelved.

The Pi 4 that powers the system is hidden away at the back, only really visible through the fan on the mainboard. This is good as it saves space for even more pushbuttons, toggle switches, and flashy LED things on the front.

Your New Electronics Workshop

The beauty of the CrowPi is the integrated electronics workshop kit, built right into the case itself, underneath the keyboard.

Built-in components include:

• LCD screen
• 8×8 RGB LED matrix display
• 4 digit LED segment display
• Relay
• Rocker style joystick
• 16 buttons (labeled as a calculator)
• PIR sensor
• Light sensor
• Microphone
• Vibration sensor
• Ultrasonic distance sensor
• Tilt sensor
• Servo driver (Servo motor is separate)
• Stepper driver (Stepper motor is separate)
• Touch sensor
• RFID reader/writer
• Mini breadboard
• GPIO breakout and state LEDs for each port

Then there’s a number of additional components that are supplied separately, and can be connected either through dedicated ports (such as the servo and stepper), or via the generic GPIO breakouts. You can also breadboard some of the components for small circuits. These bits consist of various motors, LEDs, a moisture sensor, resistors, RFID cards, and more.

CrowPi 2 Software

By default, the system launches in a customized version of Raspian. You’ll need to create an offline account before you can use it though. Thankfully the CrowPi 2 supports multiple offline accounts, which is great for school or family use.

The “Projects” button introduces you to most of the integrated electronics capabilities, though seemingly with no way to edit the code or find out more, it’s really just a hardware overview, which was a little off-putting to me. Natural curiosity will mean young minds want to start tinkering. It turns out you can learn and modify these basic programs, but need to do so from a different menu item.

The real meat of the package can be found under “Learning”, which consists of 32 guided Python tutorials for working with the on-board sensors and components, as well as 16 Scratch tutorials. As a novice Python programmer, I certainly found myself engaged by the lessons and seamless integration with the onboard hardware.

You’ll also find 12 speech recognition and AI face detection lessons, though these were a little harder to follow.

“Minecraft” launches the educational version of Minecraft along with a Python interpreter and a step-by-step guide book to programming using the Minecraft API.

“Game” whisks you away to a selection of somewhat boring Python games, curiously none of which can actually be played with the included gamepads. Nor is there the option to view or modify the code, which again seems like a lost opportunity.

“Microbit”, “Arduino”, and “Scratch” all launch you straight into the respective IDEs.

Overall, the interface could certainly use some refinement, at least the ability to launch a code editor for the included projects so you can begin modifying them off-the-bat. But taken as a whole, the amount of electronics programming learning material here is incredible and I can’t wait to get my 6-year-old onto this.

RetroPie

When you’re done learning, a version of RetroPie is included on a separate micro-SD card. It’s here where the gamepads can be used. Of course, there are no ROMs included, so you’ll need to use a USB stick and follow the RetroPie wiki to get some installed. The image included in our set was designed for the Raspberry Pi 3, but this was easily remedied by burning a fresh copy of the latest beta.

It’s also worth mentioning that other OSes are available. The CrowPi 2 is essentially just a Raspberry Pi 4B with a ton of extra sensors and built-in bits, so it should run any standard Raspberry Pi software. If you plan on using different OSes, you should buy additional SD cards and not overwrite the one that comes with the system, as it is heavily modified with the custom software and learning journey.

Is The CrowPi 2 Worth It?

Aside from the more “normal” laptop design, the CrowPi 2 is a big step up from the original, with potential for both home users and the educational sector alike. It blows away other competitors like the Piper in terms of sheer value. The Raspberry Pi 4 ensures a smooth desktop operation, and the customized software is a brilliant resource for learners from elementary school age and up.

Someone will inevitably comment that paying close to $300 for a glorified Raspberry Pi is mad–that you could buy the individual components of the CrowPi 2 for less than the overall selling price. At the Kickstarter pricing of $260, I’m not even sure that assertion is true–but moreover, it’s entirely missing the point. The CrowPi 2 is a complete Pi laptop and STEAM learning package. It’s neat, integrated, and includes an extensive learning journey. Nothing else on the market comes close to providing such an integrated course of study. There are certainly other Raspberry Pi laptop kits out there, but they’re not dissimilar in price and lack nearly all the additional sensors you’ll find here. And if $260 is too much, you can buy a basic kit for even cheaper without some of the added extras like additional components.

The CrowPi 2 isn’t aimed at the sort of person who just wants a screen and case for their Raspberry Pi. Nor is it aimed at the seasoned hardware programmer who’s putting together their latest smart home sensor array. They likely know exactly what components they need, and wouldn’t want a neatly packaged Pi laptop anyway. But for children or adults of all ages, there’s no better way to learn hardware, electronics, Python programming, and Scratch. The CrowPi 2 the best overall STEAM learning package we’ve seen yet.

Be quick though: the CrowPi 2 Kickstarter ends in a few days.

Enter the Competition!

CrowPi 2 Raspberry Pi Laptop Giveaway

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How to Fix the “This Build of Windows Will Expire Soon” Error in Windows 10

The Windows Insider Preview program lets you run early versions of the upcoming Windows 10 builds. You can test new features, provide development feedback, and help shape the development of Windows 10.

However, at times, your Windows 10 Insider Preview build might expire. That is, Microsoft no longer supports the preview version of Windows you are using and then the “This build of Windows 10 will expire soon” error starts to appear.

So, how do you fix the error?

What Is the “This Build of Windows Will Expire Soon” Error?

The Windows Insider Preview program allows you to use new Windows 10 versions before general release. The user feedback and bug reporting help to shape Windows 10. As the development of Windows 10 is a constant stream of updates and tweaks, no Insider Preview build remains in circulation for long.

When an Insider Preview build is no longer supported, you’ll receive the “This build of Windows will expire soon” error message.

Your Windows Insider Preview version might expire for a few reasons:

• You opted out of Insider Preview builds
• You switched from the Dev Channel to the Beta Channel
• Your device was switched off for a long time

How to Fix the “This Build of Windows Will Expire Soon” Error

There are three methods you can use to fix the Insider Build expiring issue:

• Change your Insider Preview path settings
• Reinstall Windows with an Insider Preview Beta Channel ISO
• Switch to a clean installation of regular Windows 10

1. Change Your Insider Preview Path Settings

The easiest way to shift the expiring Insider Preview build is to switch your Insider Preview path. Windows 10 Insider Preview has three paths available for users:

• Dev Channel: Access the very latest Windows 10 builds, from the early stages of the development process
• Beta Channel: Recommended for early adopters, the Beta Channel provides more reliable builds than the Dev Channel
• Release Preview Channel: Early access for the upcoming Windows 10 release, including certain key features and minimal bugs

This fix is primarily for those stuck on the Beta Channel.

Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings window, select Update & Security, then Windows Insider Program. Here you will see your current Insider Preview options.

Select the box underneath Pick your insider settings to change your Insider Preview path. Switch from the Beta Channel to the Dev Channel.

Now, head back to the Settings window and select Windows Update from the sidebar. Press Check for updates and wait for the latest Dev Channel Insider Preview build to download. After it downloads, install the new build, then restart your system.

You don’t have to stay on the Dev Channel. Once you install the latest Dev Channel Insider Preview build, you can switch your path back to the Beta Channel and wait for the latest build. It is time-consuming, but it does stop the “This build of Windows will expire soon” error messages.

2. Reinstall Windows with an Insider Preview Beta Channel ISO

If you don’t want to switch Insider Preview paths, you can download and install the latest Insider Preview Beta Channel build. This method ensures you remain on the Beta Channel.

Plus, you can use the in-place upgrade option, which means you don’t have to wipe your system in the process. The result is a much faster upgrade with minimal data loss.

However, it is always a good idea to take a backup before making any major changes to your system. Before commencing with the reinstallation, you must backup your data.

That means important files, photos, music, games—anything you do not want to lose during the reinstallation. Wondering how to do it? Check out our ultimate Windows 10 data backup guide.

After backing up your data, head to the Windows Insider Preview Downloads page. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and select the latest Beta Channel or Release Preview Channel edition, followed by the language (make sure the language matches your existing installation, or the setup will run into trouble later).

You’ll then have to select between a 32- or 64-bit version of Windows. If you’re unsure, here’s how you find out if you have 32-bit or 64-bit Windows.

After the download completes, double-click the installation file to begin the process. Windows 10 will mount the ISO file automatically. Then, select Setup and follow the instructions.

On the Choose what to keep page, select Keep personal files and apps. On the Ready to install page, make sure that Keep personal files and apps appears.

When ready, select Install. The installation process will take a few minutes to complete, and your computer will restart several times during the process. Once complete, you can log into Windows as normal.

3. Switch to a Clean Installation of Windows 10

The final option is to leave the Windows 10 Insider Preview scheme and head back to regular Windows 10. Like the fresh installation of the Insider Preview, you can use the in-place upgrade option to move back to the standard Windows 10 installation or complete a full clean installation if you desire.

Remember, a clean installation will wipe all your files, apps, and data. If you want a clean installation, you must backup your data or face losing it permanently.

First up, you need to create installation media for the latest version of Windows 10.

Download: Windows 10 Media Creation Tool for Windows (Free)

Open the Windows 10 Media Creation tool, accept the license terms, and select Upgrade this PC now. You’ll have to wait for the Windows 10 Setup to download and prepare Windows 10, which can take a while.

After the download completes, select Change what to keep. If you want to keep your files, select Keep personal files and apps. If you want a completely clean installation, select Nothing. Wait for the Windows 10 installation to complete, after which you can set up your clean installation.

A clean installation of Windows 10 is a wonderful thing. Check out the most important things you must do after installing Windows 10, such as running Windows Update, updating your drivers, and more.

How to Leave Windows 10 Insider Preview Builds

These are the fixes for the “This build of Windows will expire soon” error. But the final option is one way you can leave the Windows 10 Insider Preview scheme for good, too. You can leave the Windows 10 Insider Preview program whenever you want, safe in the knowledge that you don’t have to wipe your data.

Once you have a clean installation ready to go, you can adjust your Windows 10 privacy settings from the get-go. Here’s our complete guide to Windows 10 privacy settings to help you get set up.

Read the full article: How to Fix the “This Build of Windows Will Expire Soon” Error in Windows 10

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Is It Time to Trust CCleaner Again?

CCleaner has been around longer than most Windows utility cleaners, and was a go-to recommendation for some time. However, starting in 2017, the software ran into several problems that tarnished its reputation.

This led to many, including us, to recommend that you stop using CCleaner. But that was years ago—how has the app changed, and is it worth using now? Let’s take a fresh look.

A Brief History of CCleaner’s Problems

In case you’re not familiar, CCleaner’s issues started in 2017 shortly after developer Piriform was bought by Avast. The 32-bit app version on CCleaner’s website was hacked, adding a Trojan to the download, which the company thankfully caught before it became widespread.

Later, the company introduced an “Active Monitoring” feature that collected anonymized data about your usage. This is fairly standard, but the problem was that when you turned the setting off, it re-enabled itself upon a reboot. That update also made CCleaner difficult to close through standard methods.

Finally, in 2018 the app also started ignoring users’ preference to disable automatic updates. On top of this, CCleaner’s free version regularly nags you to upgrade to the paid version. Have a look at our guide to replacing CCleaner for more history and information.

All of these factors made it feel more like an unwanted program than something that benefits your computer. But now, are these problems cleaned up? And further, is CCleaner even worth using?

What Does CCleaner Offer?

You probably know CCleaner primarily for its PC cleaning capabilities, which is still the core of the software. However, it has several other features and has picked up a new trick or two in the last few years.

CCleaner’s Health Check

The new Health Check is what you see upon opening CCleaner. This runs a scan on your PC to show “issues” in four areas:

• Privacy
• Space
• Speed
• Security

The final two categories are only fixable with a Pro subscription to CCleaner, which we’ll discuss later.

Privacy cleans up cookies, browser history, and temporary internet files from the various browsers on your PC. Space cleans out the Recycle Bin, temporary app files, and temporary Windows system files.

Moving on, Speed analyzes startup programs and recommends you disable ones that make a big impact on startup speed. Finally, in Security, CCleaner will detect outdated apps on your system and update them to the latest versions.

You can uncheck specific actions in a category on its respective page if you want to exclude something. Hit Make it better when you’re satisfied and CCleaner will process what you requested.

Custom Clean

If you’re a CCleaner veteran, the Custom Clean tab will look familiar. This lets you pick and choose exactly what you want to clean up.

The Windows section has Edge and internet Explorer browser data, as well as Windows files like log data, thumbnail caches, and emptying the Recycle Bin. On Applications, you can clear temporary data for other browsers as well as apps like Steam, VLC, and TeamViewer.

Check everything you’re interested in cleaning and hit Analyze to see how much space your action will save. If you’re satisfied, click Run Cleaner.

The Registry Cleaner

This section is simple: you don’t need to use Registry cleaners. While orphaned entries and other minor problems do occur in the Registry over time, there is no good evidence that cleaning the Registry will speed up your computer. In fact, if a Registry cleaner is too zealous, it can actually cause more problems than it solves.

While most people regard CCleaner’s Registry cleaner as better than other random ones online, you still don’t need to use it. Microsoft’s official statement on Registry cleaners recommends staying away from them; don’t even bother with this feature of CCleaner.

CCleaner Tools

Rounding out CCleaner’s feature set is the Tools tab. Here you’ll find several additional utilities of varying usefulness.

The Uninstall tab duplicates the methods for uninstalling provided in Windows, though it does make it easy to save all your installed programs to a text file. Software Updater is another panel for accessing the function mentioned above.

On Startup you can manage your startup items, though it doesn’t recommend disabling specific entries like Health Check does. The highlight here is Context Menu, which lets you disable entries from the right-click menu in File Explorer.

Browser Plugins lets you manage extensions in each browser, which is something you can do in your browser already. Disk Analyzer is a basic tool to show where your computer’s space is being used, while Duplicate Finder does just what it says.

System Restore simply lets you erase System Restore points. While this is potentially useful for reclaiming space, it’s better to just let Windows handle them. And finally, Drive Wiper gives you options to fully erase everything on any drive connected to your PC.

Issues With CCleaner in 2020

After a look around, and a statement from CCleaner’s general manager about the company taking cybercrime seriously, we don’t have any serious objections to CCleaner’s behavior in the latest release. However, there are a few annoyances worth mentioning.

First, when we installed CCleaner’s free version, it prompted us to also install AVG Antivirus. While not a malicious program, it’s unsavory to have software foisted on you like this. This is especially odd to see since a lot of free software has stopped offering bundled crapware in recent years.

In fact, Microsoft now categorizes CCleaner as a PUA (Potentially Unwanted Application) because of this behavior. Microsoft says that bundling software from other companies “can result in unexpected software activity that can negatively impact user experiences.”

While the software updater is one of the best features of CCleaner Professional, it isn’t perfect. Because it’s not fully automated, you have to click Next in a bunch of dialog boxes to install updates. Also, when we ran the software updater, it worked on WireShark, but upon trying to update Speccy (another product by Piriform) Windows Security blocked CCleaner’s action.

The Smart Cleaning feature in CCleaner Professional cleans up files for you at a certain threshold. While convenient, this feature by default also displays a popup box when you close any browser, offering to automatically clean its data. This goes away when you choose an action for the browser at Options > Smart Cleaning, but it’s still annoying to see from premium software.

CCleaner Free vs. Professional

We had access to the Professional version of CCleaner for testing, and compared it to the free edition installed on another PC. CCleaner Professional usually costs $24.95 and unlocks several of the features mentioned above.

You need Pro for the following:

• Disabling startup programs and using the auto-app updater in Health Check
• Using the Software Updater tool
• Running CCleaner on a schedule
• Changing Smart Cleaning options, including automatic browser cleaning
• Changing what users CCleaner manages
• Automatically applying product updates
• Unchecking the Show offers for our other products option in Privacy

In summary, CCleaner Pro’s two biggest draws are automated cleaning and software updating. But do you need those?

Is CCleaner Worth Using?

Aside from the privacy and security issues, most of what we said about CCleaner in 2018 (in the article mentioned earlier) still stands. The only all-new feature, Health Check, is just a more convenient way to clean up data you can select manually in Custom Clean.

To be fair, there is some use to CCleaner. For instance, if you use multiple browsers, it’s convenient to remove temporary files from all of them at once. And the Drive Wiper and Software Updater (if you pay for Pro) are useful.

However, you can access a lot of CCleaner’s features in other utilities and software. Many of these are free and often do a better job than CCleaner.

For example, Windows’s Disk Cleanup handles a lot of what CCleaner’s cleaning tools do. TreeSize is a much better disk analyzer and Patch My PC is better at updating software. And some CCleaner tools, like Uninstall and Startup, just duplicate Windows functionality and are thus of little use.

So whether you should use CCleaner depends on your needs. If you rarely run low on disk space, only use one browser, and don’t mind updating software manually, then there’s really no need for you to use it. You can use Windows cleaning options and other third-party tools that do a better job at tasks like finding duplicate files.

In short: CCleaner isn’t worthless, but most users probably don’t need it. We don’t plan to keep it on our system after this review.

Keep Your PC Clean

We’ve evaluated CCleaner for use in 2020, but keep in mind it’s far from the only tool for PC cleanup. If you insist on using an all-in-one utility, BleachBit is a solid alternative that’s completely free.

Otherwise, follow our step-by-step guide to cleaning Windows 10 and you should have no problem keeping your PC free of unnecessary files.

Image Credit: focal point/Shutterstock

Read the full article: Is It Time to Trust CCleaner Again?

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No Algorithms! 5 Ways to Discover Music Recommended by Real People

Tired of bots and algorithms recommending “popular” songs you don’t like? Music makes a human connection, so it’s best to hear song recommendations from real humans.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like AI is terrible at recommending music based on your tastes. But your ‘guilty pleasure’ track suddenly can mess up your algorithm, as can an earworm. There’s nothing like a friend who tells you, “Hey, you might enjoy this, try it out.”

So forget about bots, and check out these real people recommending really good songs.

1. Auditory Musings and Song Per Day (Web): Daily Song or Album Recommendation

Two music curators are sharing their picks worth listening to on the internet. Song Per Day sends a newsletter to your inbox with a cool track that you probably haven’t heard before. Auditory Musings recommends full albums to stream. Along with the pick of the day, both also write a short blurb about why you should listen to it.

Auditory Musings tends to dive into music history and context, which is often important when you’re listening to a full album. Heck, how often do you listen to a full album these days anyway, and for that matter, how many artists put out albums instead of singles? Click the album cover to find a link for your preferred music streaming service.

One Song Day focuses on the style of the song, and a few things to watch out for, like the vocals or an instrumental section. You’ll find links to stream it on Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube. You can browse the entire catalog of past recommendations on the website, and even suggest songs to the creators.

2. Electronic Music for People Who Don’t Like Electronic Music (Web)

The name is a mouthful, but it’s self-explanatory too. For those who never found electronic music to be to your taste, this website promises to change your mind if you give it a shot.

Electronic Music for People Who Don’t Like Electronic Music (EMFPWDLEM) sports a Tron-like design, tipping their hat at Daft Punk. You’ll find buttons for your taste: rock, hip-hop, metal, or if you like Daft Punk itself. Click any one to get a recommendation.

This recommendation screen will have a full album by an artist on Spotify, along with a few more buttons based on the songs. For example, buttons might say “I like the beats” or “I like guitars in electronic music, more like that!” Listen to the songs or song previews if you don’t have Spotify, and click a button to refine your discovery.

The whole website comes from a popular flowchart on Reddit, but it’s so masterfully executed that the music discovery itself is fun. The simple, normal-language captions for the buttons make it feel more natural to pinpoint what you like and don’t like.

3. Music Genre Tree (Web): 1,111 Essential Recordings of Every Genre

This is one of the most comprehensive and exhaustive musical charts you’ll ever see. Music Genre Tree tries to include the original quintessential album of every musical genre, and they mean every genre. It includes medieval, renaissance, baroque, jazz, hip-hop, R’n’B, rock, classical, and much more. Genres also include regions like Sub-Saharan African, South Asian, etc. In total, it adds up to 1,111 essential recordings for every musical genre out there.

But what does “essential” mean? Well, the chart prioritizes the earliest classic instead of the “best ever” or “most popular” from each genre. The idea is to listen to the album that first popularized a genre, to really understand how it impacted that style of music.

Genres further branch out into styles, like rock having psychedelic, metal, punk, alternative, etc. Click any album cover to launch a YouTube search for it. You could always search for it on your favorite streaming service too.

The main Music Genre Tree homepage has a few more links if you like this. You’ll find places to discuss the choices on different online forums, where you can also suggest changes. There are a few outdated Spotify playlists as well, and you can download posters too.

4. Rate Your Music (Web): Active and Passionate Community of Music Lovers

Rate Your Music, popularly abbreviated to RYM on the web, is the closest alternative to Rotten Tomatoes for music. It’s a strong community of music aficionados who put their passion into words, reviewing every song and album. If you’re looking for a forum to discuss music and get recommendations, you can’t do better than this.

While you can use RYM without registering, it’s best to sign up and get involved. Browse the topics, contribute your thoughts, and make friends, because that is where it truly shines. RYM starts giving you both a general rating as well as “friends’ rating” to see what people with similar tastes thought about a song or album.

Apart from that, dive into the many curated lists made by the RYM moderators and members. For example, there are the decade-by-decade charts, or the massive RYM guide to everything and the Ultimate Box Set. No AI and algorithms here, these are real people discussing and voting to form lists of the best music recommendations.

If you love your music, it’s hard not to fall in love with RYM. And the homepage is a great way to track and discover new music releases.

5. Song Exploder (Podcast): Find a Song and Learn How the Musician Made it

Song Exploder is a unique combination of song recommendations and music appreciation. Each episode is only 15 minutes long on average, so it’s easy to get into. And it embraces all genres, so it’s great for anyone.

Host Hrishikesh Hirway speaks to a new musician in each episode to talk about one of their greatest hits. The musician picks apart the song piece by piece, talking about the composition, the lyrics, the production, and other fascinating insights into how a song is made. It’s an easy, well-edited conversation that values your time, after which you can go listen to the song they talked about, and perhaps others by the same artist.

How do you get into Song Exploder? Hirway recommends you listen to one episode about a song you love. And then listen to one episode about a song you have never heard before. Between those you, you’ll get what the podcast is all about, and probably be hooked for life.

More Goodies for Spotify Users

None of the websites in this article make you switch to a particular streaming service. But given the global popularity of Spotify, users of that streaming music app have an advantage. There are a host of websites to discover music through Spotify accounts, including the fantastic Moodify. It’ll auto-create playlists based on musical features, and you must try it out to discover new tunes.

Read the full article: No Algorithms! 5 Ways to Discover Music Recommended by Real People

No Algorithms! 5 Ways to Discover Music Recommended by Real People

Tired of bots and algorithms recommending “popular” songs you don’t like? Music makes a human connection, so it’s best to hear song recommendations from real humans.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like AI is terrible at recommending music based on your tastes. But your ‘guilty pleasure’ track suddenly can mess up your algorithm, as can an earworm. There’s nothing like a friend who tells you, “Hey, you might enjoy this, try it out.”

So forget about bots, and check out these real people recommending really good songs.

1. Auditory Musings and Song Per Day (Web): Daily Song or Album Recommendation

Two music curators are sharing their picks worth listening to on the internet. Song Per Day sends a newsletter to your inbox with a cool track that you probably haven’t heard before. Auditory Musings recommends full albums to stream. Along with the pick of the day, both also write a short blurb about why you should listen to it.

Auditory Musings tends to dive into music history and context, which is often important when you’re listening to a full album. Heck, how often do you listen to a full album these days anyway, and for that matter, how many artists put out albums instead of singles? Click the album cover to find a link for your preferred music streaming service.

One Song Day focuses on the style of the song, and a few things to watch out for, like the vocals or an instrumental section. You’ll find links to stream it on Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube. You can browse the entire catalog of past recommendations on the website, and even suggest songs to the creators.

2. Electronic Music for People Who Don’t Like Electronic Music (Web)

The name is a mouthful, but it’s self-explanatory too. For those who never found electronic music to be to your taste, this website promises to change your mind if you give it a shot.

Electronic Music for People Who Don’t Like Electronic Music (EMFPWDLEM) sports a Tron-like design, tipping their hat at Daft Punk. You’ll find buttons for your taste: rock, hip-hop, metal, or if you like Daft Punk itself. Click any one to get a recommendation.

This recommendation screen will have a full album by an artist on Spotify, along with a few more buttons based on the songs. For example, buttons might say “I like the beats” or “I like guitars in electronic music, more like that!” Listen to the songs or song previews if you don’t have Spotify, and click a button to refine your discovery.

The whole website comes from a popular flowchart on Reddit, but it’s so masterfully executed that the music discovery itself is fun. The simple, normal-language captions for the buttons make it feel more natural to pinpoint what you like and don’t like.

3. Music Genre Tree (Web): 1,111 Essential Recordings of Every Genre

This is one of the most comprehensive and exhaustive musical charts you’ll ever see. Music Genre Tree tries to include the original quintessential album of every musical genre, and they mean every genre. It includes medieval, renaissance, baroque, jazz, hip-hop, R’n’B, rock, classical, and much more. Genres also include regions like Sub-Saharan African, South Asian, etc. In total, it adds up to 1,111 essential recordings for every musical genre out there.

But what does “essential” mean? Well, the chart prioritizes the earliest classic instead of the “best ever” or “most popular” from each genre. The idea is to listen to the album that first popularized a genre, to really understand how it impacted that style of music.

Genres further branch out into styles, like rock having psychedelic, metal, punk, alternative, etc. Click any album cover to launch a YouTube search for it. You could always search for it on your favorite streaming service too.

The main Music Genre Tree homepage has a few more links if you like this. You’ll find places to discuss the choices on different online forums, where you can also suggest changes. There are a few outdated Spotify playlists as well, and you can download posters too.

4. Rate Your Music (Web): Active and Passionate Community of Music Lovers

Rate Your Music, popularly abbreviated to RYM on the web, is the closest alternative to Rotten Tomatoes for music. It’s a strong community of music aficionados who put their passion into words, reviewing every song and album. If you’re looking for a forum to discuss music and get recommendations, you can’t do better than this.

While you can use RYM without registering, it’s best to sign up and get involved. Browse the topics, contribute your thoughts, and make friends, because that is where it truly shines. RYM starts giving you both a general rating as well as “friends’ rating” to see what people with similar tastes thought about a song or album.

Apart from that, dive into the many curated lists made by the RYM moderators and members. For example, there are the decade-by-decade charts, or the massive RYM guide to everything and the Ultimate Box Set. No AI and algorithms here, these are real people discussing and voting to form lists of the best music recommendations.

If you love your music, it’s hard not to fall in love with RYM. And the homepage is a great way to track and discover new music releases.

5. Song Exploder (Podcast): Find a Song and Learn How the Musician Made it

Song Exploder is a unique combination of song recommendations and music appreciation. Each episode is only 15 minutes long on average, so it’s easy to get into. And it embraces all genres, so it’s great for anyone.

Host Hrishikesh Hirway speaks to a new musician in each episode to talk about one of their greatest hits. The musician picks apart the song piece by piece, talking about the composition, the lyrics, the production, and other fascinating insights into how a song is made. It’s an easy, well-edited conversation that values your time, after which you can go listen to the song they talked about, and perhaps others by the same artist.

How do you get into Song Exploder? Hirway recommends you listen to one episode about a song you love. And then listen to one episode about a song you have never heard before. Between those you, you’ll get what the podcast is all about, and probably be hooked for life.

More Goodies for Spotify Users

None of the websites in this article make you switch to a particular streaming service. But given the global popularity of Spotify, users of that streaming music app have an advantage. There are a host of websites to discover music through Spotify accounts, including the fantastic Moodify. It’ll auto-create playlists based on musical features, and you must try it out to discover new tunes.

Read the full article: No Algorithms! 5 Ways to Discover Music Recommended by Real People

Read Full Article

You’ll No Longer Get YouTube Email Notifications Soon

YouTube email notifications are changing in a big way. Google has announced that, from next week, it won’t email subscribers when a new video goes live from a creator they follow.

This sounds like a significant change, but it actually might not make a difference for content creators. Instead, it will just remove an annoyance from YouTube users.

YouTube Email Notifications Are Going Away

This might sound like something that could hurt content creators. After all, any method they can use to let their subscribers know they’ve released a new video should be a good thing. However, Google claims that only almost no users actually open these emails.

In fact, many users claim that these emails only contribute to inbox overload, which means they’re really just annoying them.

The company posted on its YouTube Help site about the change, saying:

“Less than 0.1% of these emails are opened, and people have told us that these emails contribute to inbox overload – we hope this change helps you more easily spot and pay attention to the important emails YouTube sends about your account, mandatory service announcements, etc. as no other types of emails are going away.”

In fact, Google claims that it “didn’t see any impact to watch time when we experimented with turning off these emails.”

While one form of notification is going away, Google will still provide users with web and mobile notifications of new videos. That means there are plenty of ways for fans to know when their favorite creator posts a new video or goes live on their channel.

The company even claims that removing these emails caused users to interact with other forms of notifications more frequently. Google states, “tests showed that when we don’t send these emails, more people engage with mobile push notifications and their Subscriptions feed.”

How to Manage Your YouTube Notifications

If you’re an avid YouTube user, you probably have notifications turned on for your favorite channels. You’ve also probably heard your favorite YouTube creators ask you to turn on notifications so that they can let you know when they’ve made something new.

While notifications can be a Godsend, you might accidentally leave some on that you don’t want. Thankfully, YouTube makes it easy to manage your notifications.

On your computer, click your profile picture, then Settings, then Notifications. On Android or iOS, open the YouTube app, tap your profile picture, tap Settings, then Notifications.

If you can’t get enough of Google’s video service, here are some ways to watch YouTube without even going to YouTube.

Read the full article: You’ll No Longer Get YouTube Email Notifications Soon

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Google’s New Safe Folder Feature Keeps Your Files Secure

Google is rolling out an important new privacy feature for users of its Files app. Called Safe Folder, the feature will you keep your files secure and locked down at all times.

The company announced the new feature in a post on The Keyword. It’s called Safe Folder, and it makes it so that if someone else grabs your phone, they won’t be able to access any of the files you’ve tucked away in this specific folder.

What Does Safe Folder Do?

With the new Safe Folder feature, you can create a 4-digit PIN-encrypted folder. It will lock as soon as you navigate away from it. You can use it to store documents, images, videos, and audio files in a place where only you can view them.

Anytime you move away from the folder and come back, the app will prompt you to enter your PIN. That makes it a perfect feature for anyone who frequently lets others use their phone.

Introducing the Safe Folder, a new feature in Files by Google. Here’s how it works ? https://t.co/5pPuhFIgpP

— Google (@Google) August 5, 2020

You can use this to hide embarrassing files from friends. However, it could also be useful for hiding work files and folders from your kids, for example.

Even if you don’t regularly let others use your phone, an extra layer of security on specific files could be useful. If you store private work files in the cloud, locking them down with an extra layer could be a big deal.

How to Try the New Safe Folder Feature

Google’s Safe Folder is available right now for Files by Google users. You just need to make sure you’ve updated to the latest version of Files from Google Play.

Once you’ve updated the app, you need to launch it. Then, tap Browse, go to Collections, tap Safe Folder, enter your PIN, tap Next, re-enter your PIN, tap Next, and tap Got it.

From there, you’ll need to add files to your new Safe Folder, and you’ll have your data locked down and secure.

If you’re worried about security, make sure to check out our list of the most secure cloud storage services.

Read the full article: Google’s New Safe Folder Feature Keeps Your Files Secure

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How to Organize Windows Files Using Both an SSD and HDD

You probably know that a solid-state drive (SSD) is a huge upgrade for your computer because it runs much faster than a mechanical hard disk drive (HDD). However, since SSDs are more expensive, you might not be able to afford a large enough SSD to store all your data on.

In that case, what’s the best way to use an SSD and HDD combo? We’ll show you how to use an SSD and HDD together for best results.

Basics on Using an SSD and HDD Together

Just in case you’re not familiar, it helps to know the differences between an SSD and HDD. Essentially, because SSDs have no moving parts and use flash memory, they can read and write data much faster than an HDD can with its spinning platters and reading head.

This results in everything loading faster, including your operating system, app launches, file transfers, game loading times, and similar. Thus, in a perfect world, you would have all your data on an SSD to keep everything running smoothly.

However, SSDs are much more expensive than a comparable HDD. At the time of writing, you can buy a decent 1TB SSD for around $100, while that same amount would get you a 4TB HDD.

If you build a desktop, you can choose what drives to put inside it, making cost the only issue. But some prebuilt desktops and laptops come with a small SSD and larger HDD. Let’s look at how to prioritize what data goes where.

Use Your SSD as a Boot Drive

The most important item to keep on your SSD is the Windows operating system itself. Having your OS on the SSD will speed up all Windows elements, including booting up, shutting down, and launching programs.

This will make the biggest speed difference, which is why you’ll sometimes hear “boot drive” used to describe a small SSD primarily used for Windows. As of version 1903 (the May 2019 update), Windows 10 requires at least 32GB of space to run.

However, there are a few ways to shrink your Windows install size further. One of these is disabling hibernation if you don’t need it, which will save a few gigabytes.

While 32GB isn’t a whole lot, you also need to leave some additional space to have room for updates. Windows won’t run well if your drive has barely any space free.

Finally, when Windows is on your SSD, your user profile will be as well. This won’t take up a lot of space to start, unless you start adding a lot of photos, videos, and similar (which we discuss below)

Decide Which Apps to Install

After installing the Windows OS, you’ll (hopefully) have some space left over for apps. But with limited space, which ones should you install on the SSD?

All programs benefit from the speed of an SSD—long load times will be shorter, and shorter load times will become almost instant. Thus, the most important apps to keep on your SSD are ones that you use most often. Productivity apps like Office, photo editors, and your browser are all relatively small in size and will benefit from the speed.

If you use any heavy-duty software like video editors or IDEs for programming, those will run much better on an SSD too. However, those take up a lot more space, so you might not have room for them. Prioritize apps you use the most often that are small.

Another category of apps that get a huge benefit from an SSD is video games. SSD speeds drastically reduce load times, so you may want to install the games you always play to that drive. But since many modern games take up dozens of gigabytes, you may only have room for one or two.

Where to Put Files

When you install most apps, they put some necessary files in the Program Files folder, which you can’t move. But many additional files don’t need to live on your SSD.

For instance, while you might have VLC installed on your SSD, you don’t need to keep movies and videos there. They’ll still load in an acceptable time from an HDD, and once they’re open, an SSD won’t provide much additional benefit.

Pictures, documents, and downloads are all other types of content you can keep off the SSD. Unless you open something all the time, the slightly faster file load time isn’t worth the used space.

You should change your default download folder in your browser to avoid saving downloaded files to your SSD all the time. In Chrome, click the three-dot menu and choose Settings. Scroll down to the bottom and expand the Advanced section, then find Downloads.

Here, either click the Change button to pick a new folder for downloads or enable Ask where to save each file before downloading if you want to pick every time.

Organizing Your Second Drive

When you’re using a single drive, you probably don’t think much about where you install new programs or put files. But with two drives, you must be more intentional about where you put everything. We’ve talked about general ideas above, but what does this look like in practice?

Open File Explorer and navigate to This PC to see all your drives. Assuming you installed Windows on the SSD, the regular Windows folders will already be in place there. But you’re free to do whatever you’d like with the secondary drive.

Try creating folders for each type of content you put on the drive. For example, you might create both a Program Files and Games folder at the root of your HDD. Then when you install a program that you want to keep off your SSD, just select that location during the install process.

Using Libraries

If you have many files split across drives, the Windows Library feature can come in handy. This allows you to specify certain locations that contain similar types of files and view them all in one place.

Libraries are hidden by default in Windows 10. To show them, open File Explorer and go to View > Navigation pane > Show Libraries. You’ll then see Libraries in the left panel, which contains default collections for file types like Documents and Pictures.

To edit a Library, right-click it here and choose Properties. In the Library locations box, click Add and pick a folder you want to include in it. Repeat for as many folders as you want to add to that library. It’s also useful to click a folder and choose Set save location to set it as the default place when you save to that Library.

Using this, you can see all the files scattered across your two drives in one view. That way, you don’t have to remember where you put a specific file.

Moving Files Between Drives

It’s easy to move files from your SSD to HDD later, too. In File Explorer, simply select the files you want to remove from your SSD and press Ctrl + X to cut them. Then browse to a new location on your HDD and press Ctrl + V to paste the cut files.

Keep in mind that you should only do this with user data like pictures and videos. Cutting and pasting program data to a new drive usually doesn’t work (unless it’s a portable app), so you’re better off uninstalling and reinstalling to the new location.

That’s really all it takes—whenever you install a new program or download a large file, think about whether you want it to load quickly and if it’s worth using your limited SSD space. That will help you decide where to put it.

Managing Your Space Over Time

Depending on how much free space your SSD has, you’ll need to check in on your free space occasionally. Several factors can use up space on your SSD without you noticing, including the following:

• User data from programs. Even if you install apps to your secondary drive, a lot of software will save files to your AppData user folder and/or the ProgramData folder.
• The Recycle Bin. By default, deleted files go to your Recycle Bin, which lives on your boot drive. If you never empty this, the contents of the Recycle Bin could take up several gigabytes.
• Software and Windows updates. Patches to both installed apps and Windows itself may take up more of your space over time. This is why you need to keep a buffer of free space.

Using tools to free up space in Windows, such as the Disk Cleanup tool, will help you manage these leftover bits. Also take a look at TreeSize Free, which shows you the folders taking up the most space on your drive. Uninstalling apps you no longer use will help free up space too.

The Perfect SSD and HDD Combo

While SSDs are superior to HDDs in most regards, we’ve seen how to use them both in harmony. Hopefully, you can upgrade to a larger SSD before long. But until then, you know how to manage your files between drives.

If you’re moving everything to a new drive, see how to use Clonezilla to clone your drive. You might also consider partitioning your hard drive.

Read the full article: How to Organize Windows Files Using Both an SSD and HDD

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