Follow these simple steps to create a system image backup of your PC, so in the event your computer fails you can use this to restore everything from the full Win 10 installation, settings, files, apps or even any additional drives you have connected.

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Click on System and Security.
3. Click on Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
4. On the left pane, click the Create a system image link.
5. Under “Where do you want to save the backup?” select the On a hard disk option. Using the “On a hard disk” drop-down menu, select the storage to save the backup.
6. Click next, then the Start backup button.

If you are tired of the standard, ordinary Windows look, the Windows dark theme could be your answer. Initially the darker theme could only be enabled through the registry, but now we can turn it on with minimal effort.

Head over to the Settings > Personalisation > Colours, scroll down and choose Dark as the app mode. You can also switch of your app colours here by choosing any colour from the palette shown.

Be sure to explore the other features of this mode and you might end up with a very different looking desktop.

The ability to have multiple desktops running at the same time is now built-in to Windows 10 and it’s great. Whether you have a lot of apps open, or several documents open all at once, virtual desktops lets you organise your space.

To set one up is very simple, tap or click on the small icon – or press Windows key + Tab – to the right of the Cortana search bar and this will bring up all of the your open windows. If you look to the bottom right hand corner you should see the option to ‘+ New desktop‘.

A simple use for this could be keeping work separate from personal stuff, or putting all items relating to one task on one desktop, so you can better focus on that project.

If you are running Windows 10 with default settings, you likely have seen ‘suggested’ apps (basically advertising) pop on the right side of your start menu (tile side). Clicking on these suggestions will open the Store App, allowing you to download and purchase them. Luckily, getting rid of these is quick and easy.

Open Settings and go to Personalization > Start. You’ll see several options, one should say “Occasionally show suggestions in Start.” Turn this toggle to Off and close the Settings menu. That’s it!

Microsoft has added a feature called Windows Hello to Windows 10: it lets you log in using facial recognition, a fingerprint or an iris scan. (If your computer has the necessary hardware attached)

To change the way you gain access to your PC, go to the Settings app, then follow the Accounts link and choose Sign-in options from the menu on the left.

The options listed will vary depending on the hardware you have attached to your PC, but new computers made specifically for Windows 10 should include at least some of the new options.