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Make sure to check default apps and settings after the recent Windows 10 update

If you have updated Windows 10 on one of your devices to build 1511, the first big feature update of Microsoft's newest operating system, then you may want to check default apps and settings on the system as these appear to have been reset for some users of the system.

Users of the operating system complain about three main changes on sites like Reddit after they have updated Windows 10 to the latest build:

  1. That the update reset default apps on the system and reinstalled apps removed by the user.
  2. That the update installed drivers over the ones they have installed manually.
  3. And that the update reset settings, for instance Nvidia video card preferences or telemetry related preferences.

Default Apps

default apps

Default apps are programs that are associated with one or multiple file types. A basic example is a media player that is associated with different audio and video formats.

While other programs can open those file types as well, it is the app or program that gets opened when users click on a file with a matching file extension to load it.

To verify default apps, do the following:

  1. Tap on the Windows-key and select Settings from the Start Menu.
  2. Navigate to System > Default Apps.
  3. There you find listed default apps for Calendar, Email, Maps, Music, Photo, Video and Web.
  4. If you notice a change, click on the current default app to change it.

While you can modify some default apps there, you cannot associate file types with programs in the Settings app.

set default programs

This needs to be done in the "real" Control Panel.

  1. Use Windows-Pause to open the System Control Panel applet.
  2. Click on Control Panel Home, and select Default Programs from the screen that opens up.
  3. Here you have two main options: Select "set your default programs" or "associate a file type or protocol with a program".
  4. The first lets you associate all supported file types with a program. If you pick VLC for example, you may associate all video and audio formats with it.
  5. The second option gives you granular control over the process as it enables you to associate individual file types or protocols with programs.

Drivers

drivers

You may have noticed already that Windows installed default drivers for hardware overwriting drivers that you have installed manually.

Hardware may have stopped working properly afterwards or functionality may have been lost. If that is the case there is little you can do about it but to install the driver manually again that you prefer.

To find out about new installed drivers on the system, do the following:

  1. Tap on the Windows-key, type cmd and hit enter. This opens the windows command prompt.
  2. Type driverquery and hit enter.
  3. This lists all drivers, their name, type and installation date.
  4. If you want additional information, use the query driverquery /v instead.
  5. I suggest you dump the data to a text file by using the query driverquery /v >c:\temp\driver.txt
  6. Open the driver.txt file afterwards in c:\temp and use features such as search to find specific hardware quickly.

Telemetry, privacy and settings

privacy

To check privacy related preferences, do the following:

  1. Tap on the Windows-key and select Settings from the Start Menu.
  2. Select Privacy when the Settings app opens up.
  3. Go through the settings one by one and make sure they are set correctly.

As far as Telemetry data is concerned, it is suggested to use one of the privacy tools for Windows 10 and check out our in-depth privacy guide for Windows 10 for additional information.

Now You: Did you notice default apps, privacy or other changes after the update?

 

 

This article was first seen on ComTek's "TekBits" Technology News

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