Overview

Quick Tips

1. Restart your computer regularly! We recommend every day, but our minimum frequency is every other day. Please see the section "Restarting Your Computer" to confirm you are using the accepted method.
   
2. Please use the space bar or a single tap of the power button to wake your computer. Using the enter key can lock you out of your account.

Restarting Your Computer

It is important to restart your computer at least every other day in order to maintain peak functionality. To do this:

1. Click the Windows icon
   
2. Click "Power"
   
3. Click "Restart"

Important: "Restart" and "Shut Down" are NOT the same. Shut Down does not fully clear off the computer which is necessary to fix many common issues.

Signing into Prime IT Knowledge Base Articles

When trying to https://support.primee.com/, you may be prompted to sign in. This usually occurs once per day.

To sign in:

1. Click the small O365 symbol in the lower-right to be redirected to the Microsoft sign-in page
   
2. Enter your email address
   
3. Re-enter your email address in the new O365 sign-in screen
   
4. Enter your password
   
5. Choose your preferred authentication method (usually "Send Push")
   
6. Approve the Authentication Prompt on your phone (or enter your 6 digit code if you used "Type One-Time Password")
   
7. Select "Yes" to "Stay signed in?" to prevent having to log in again for 1 day
   
8. You will then be redirected to the KB article you are trying to access
   

                  

Saving Files

Naming Conventions

When naming files and folders, keep the following rules in mind:

1. Keep file names as short as possible:
   
1. Do not include information already available in folder names.
   
2. Abbreviate everything possible.
   
3. Only include information completely necessary for the identification of the document or folder.
   
2. Avoid most special characters, including:
   
1. . (period)
   
2. / (forward slash)
   
3. \ (backslash)
   
4. | (vertical bar)
   
5. ? (question mark)
   
6. " (double quote)
   
7. * (asterisk)
   
8. : (colon)
   
9. < (less than)
   
10. > (greater than)
    
11. Do not start or end a filename with a space

Save Locations

To understand where files should be stored, please view the KB Where Should I Save My Files?

File Explorer Basics

This section will explain the basic use of File Explorer , the Windows program to access all folders and files.

How to Access File Explorer

There are several ways to access File Explorer by default on your device.

From the Task Bar

The easiest way to access File Explorer is from the Task Bar. To do this:

1. The Task Bar is the strip at the bottom of the screen.
   
2. In the lower-left corner, there should be two icons: the Windows icon, and the File Explorer icon.
   
3. Click the File Explorer icon to open File Explorer.
   

From the Start Menu

If the File Explorer icon is not on the Task Bar, you can find any installed program in the Start Menu using the following steps:

1. Click the Windows icon in the lower-left corner of the screen.
   
2. Begin typing the name of the program you want to open, e.g. "File Explorer."
   
3. When the program appears, click the icon to open it.
   
   

How to Navigate File Explorer

Once you have File Explorer open, there are several ways to find what you're looking for.

Searching in File Explorer

To search within File Explorer:

1. Click on the search bar in the upper-right of the window.
   
2. Type the name of the file or folder you are looking for.
   
3. Wait for the results to load.
   
4. Select your file or folder.
   
   
5. If your item does not appear, select "Search" at the top of the window.
   
6. Make sure "All subfolders" is highlighted.
   
7. Select "This PC".
   
8. If you still can't find the file or folder, ask someone for the path and follow the steps below, or reach out to Prime IT.
   

Navigating by Path

The path of a file or folder is the description of where it is located within File Explorer. To find something using the path:

If you are attempting to access a file or folder that is stored on the Prime server, you will need to first connect to PE or the VPN.

1. Copy the full path to the location you are looking for (usually received from someone who is sharing the item with you).
   
2. Select the path bar at the top of the File Explorer window.
   
3. Paste the path into the bar and press "enter".
   
4. Your item will automatically open.
   
   

Monitor Configuration

Replacing the docking station, monitor(s) or cables may result in these setting being reset.

1. Connect your computer to the docking station
   
2. Minimize any open files, folders or programs
   
3. Right-click anywhere on your desktop and click Display settings
   
1. 
   
4. The following window will open
   
1. 
   
2. When connecting to a docking station and monitor(s) setup for the first time, Windows will mirror all displays by default and show one box with "1|2"
   
5. Scroll down to the bottom of the Display window until you see Multiple displays
   
1. 
   
6. Under Multiple displays, change "Duplicate  desktop on 1 and 2" to "Extend desktop on 1 and 2"
   
1. 
   
7. You will then be prompted by a timed (15 seconds) full-screen message asking if you want to keep changes or revert changes, click Keep changes.
   
8. Scroll back to the top of the window and you will see your displays have been separated
   
1. 
   
2. Your computer screen (if open) will always be number 1, leaving you with the external monitors connected to the dock as 2 and 3.
   
9. Click Identify below where it is showing your displays and take note of what number shows up on each monitor.
   
1. In this example, my left monitor is 3, my right monitor is 2, and my computer 1 (with my computer on the left side of my monitors)
   
10. Click and drag the numbered boxes so their layout matches the physical layout of your monitors and computer
    
1. 
   
11. Once the display boxes are in place, click Apply to save the changes
    
12. Next, determine which display or monitor you would like to be your main display
    
1. This will affect where certain apps open by default, where desktop icons are, and the scaling of certain apps
   
2. It is recommended to set one of the external monitors as the main display, not the computer screen
   
1. Normally we set the left external monitor as main. In this example, it would be display 3
   
13. Click the display box you would like to have set as the main display, once clicked it will be highlighted
    
14. Scroll back down to the Multiple display section
    
1. 
   
   
15. Check the box "make this my main display"
    
1. If this box is already checked, the display is already set as the main display and nothing more needs to be done
   
16. This change will save automatically and you are all done
    

Quick-Access Shortcuts

1. Navigate to the location of the folder you are hoping to pin
   
2. Right-click on the folder
   
3. Click "Pin to Quick Access"
   
4. The folder should appear in the quick access list
   

To see some common folders you may want to pin to quick-access, check out the "Where Should I Save My Files" KB

Pinning Apps to the Taskbar

1. Open the start menu by clicking the Windows icon
   
2. Start typing the name of the app you would like to pin
   
3. When the app is shown, right-click it
   
4. Click "Pin to taskbar"
   
5. The app should now appear and remain in your taskbar

  

Creating Desktop Shortcuts

1. Minimize all windows so the desktop is visible
2. Open the start menu by clicking the Windows icon
   
3. In the right-hand list of apps, scroll down until you find the app you're looking for
4. When the app is shown, click and drag it to the desktop

Note: Your app may be in a folder that does not correspond with the name of the app, look thoroughly in all folders in the app menu

Outlook Focused Inbox Setting

The Focused Inbox setting filters your email into two sections: 'Focused', which includes emails that tend to be more important or official, and 'Other', which includes all remaining emails that would normally go to your inbox.

Focused Inbox filters email based on what the program thinks is important. This does not always work as expected and can sometimes lead to the incorrect classification of important emails.

Outlook Desktop App

1. Open Outlook
   
2. In the top ribbon, click "View" (See arrow 1 in below image)
   
3. Click "Show Focused Inbox" (See arrow 2 in below image)
   
4. This will swap the setting between enabled and disabled

Outlook Web App

1. Navigate your web-browser to https://outlook.office.com/mail/
   
2. Click "Settings" in the upper right
   
3. Click in the search bar
   
4. Search "Focused"
   
5. Click "Focused Inbox"
   
6. To turn on Focused Inbox, select "Sort messages into Focused and Other"
   
7. To turn off Focused Inbox, select "Don't sort my messages"

      

Outlook iOS App

1. Open the Outlook app on your phone
   
2. Click on your profile picture or initial in the upper left
   
3. Click the settings icon in the lower left
   
4. Scroll down to the "Focused Inbox" setting
   
5. Toggle the switch on or off depending on your preference
   

            

Outlook Mailbox Groups

Many employees are part of Microsoft Teams and O365 groups. To view the associated Outlook mailbox follow the steps below.

This will not show the mail from distribution lists as they do not have a designated mailbox associated with them.