Based in rural Minnesota, Brian Burgess worked in IT for 10 years before finding his passion for writing about consumer technology. Brian earned his degree in computer and network technology in 2000.

In previous editions of Windows, you could find the Control Panel menu easily, through the Start Menu or through the File Explorer. Windows 10, however, doesn't display it in these places anymore, ...

And Microsoft’s adding your phone app notifications to the Start Menu. And Microsoft’s adding your phone app notifications to the Start Menu. is a senior editor and founding member of The Verge who ...

With Windows 8, Microsoft set out to simplify the user experience for a new touch-centric world. That meant shoving the old-school Control Panel into the background and bringing a new touch-friendly ...

The Control Panel in Windows has literally been a part of the operating system since Windows 1.0, but Microsoft decided along the way that it should be replaced with something more modern. The thing ...

Earlier, we had a classic Color and Appearance panel in Windows OS which was handy for changing the color of various UI elements (like the taskbar, Start menu, windows borders, etc.). But, now we can ...

What just happened? Microsoft is on a crusade to kill off any and all traces of "old Windows" in its latest Windows 10 operating system, and though the progress has been slow, the company took another ...

After reading last week’s post on restoring the classic All Programs menu in Windows 7, reader Bill wrote to say he has “a lot of problems with the Windows 7 Control Panel,” and wants the old XP ...

Microsoft has been hemorrhaging the Windows Control Panel for several years. More and more functions are migrating to the operating system’s “Settings.” However, some options can still only be ...