8 March 2019

Windows 10 - Spinning icon with blue background (lock screen issue)

Possible solutions/causes:

  • Don't have any devices (USB, HDMI, etc.) connected during boot
  • Press Enter / click left on mouse multiple times in succession until the lock screen comes back
  • Run sfc /scannow
  • Run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
    • To shrink the disk, run Dism.exe /online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup /ResetBase
    • Dism.exe /online /Cleanup-Image /SPSuperseded
  • Disable startup items - Autoruns
  • Disable Windows telemetry e.g. OO ShutUp10 or reclaimWindows10.ps1
  • Windows Event Logs
  • Antivirus logs

3 March 2019

Changing addresses (UK)

As PO boxes are not currently a cheap thing (about £300 a year through Royal Mail), it's necessary to update your details in many places so you don't lose your post. Here's a checklist of things you probably need to change your address on:

  • Government records
  • Work
  • Hygiene
    • Dentists
    • Opticians
  • Utilities
    • Internet
    • Electricity
    • Gas
    • Water
    • Insurance
  • Payments
    • Banks
    • Online banks like PayPal
    • Mobile phone or SIM contracts
    • Website and domain hosting
    • Charities
    • Boxes (Graze, Ocado etc.)
  • Online ordering
    • Amazon
    • eBay
    • Ticketmaster
    • Fundraising websites (Indiegogo, Kickstarter)
    • Takeaways (Deliveroo, Just Eat, Uber Eats)
    • iTunes, Google Play, Microsoft Store, Xbox Store, Playstation Store
  • Retail
    • Loyalty/rewards cards
    • Store credit cards
  • AI
    • Siri
    • Google Assistant