posted 2 weeks ago
To maybe get your Windows back up to speed, try to revert to earlier Restore Points. If those fail, bite the bullet and do a re-installation - after making sure you have backed up your personal files to external storage, either a USB or an external hard drive, or if you have it, use cloud storage.
As for changing settings, try Tereza's advice. My wife is blind in one eye and has slightly distorted vision in the good eye so her settings are critical for her comfort in front of the screen, but be aware, Microsoft quite often reverts settings to their default after each major update and I'd have to get back into the Desktop settings and reset for her; low contrast and enlarged fonts. I got fed up with Microsoft's shenanigans nearly every week and switched her PC to Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE). Linux respects your settings and doesn't change them, ever. I set her up with a dual-boot; Linux alongside Windows giving her the option to boot into whichever OS she wanted and time to get used to the minor differences. After about two months she asked me if she needed to keep Windows and I said no. She hadn't used Windows in weeks - and I noticed that I hadn't had to reset her desktop settings! I removed the Windows partition after moving her personal files to the Linux partition. That was in 2007 and she hasn't looked back! We both perfer Linux over MS.
We've both used Linux for nearly 20 years without any Microsoft. We were both officers in the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind and using LibreOffice instead of Microsoft Office gave us no trouble performing our duties with others using Microsoft Office. Back then we used Skype for conferencing and Skype worked great on Linux, even for blind folks. Today, there's Zoom mainly. We stear clear of Teams, just don't care for Microsoft products.
"Linux is too hard to use." - Bull! The Linux desktop appearance is very similar to MS, only the names have been changed. "You have to know how to use the Command Line." Again, Bull! In nearly 20 years my wife hasn't opened a command terminal. She was a medical secretary her whole life. She's retired but got a part time gig as a photographer in a Driver License Renewal center. She's one of the ones that tell you to look at the blue dot and don't smile! Once you get used to different program names and slightly different program menus you'll be hooked. Your PC will also run much faster, unless your hardware is failing. I just retired a 15 year old Asus laptop for hardware slowly dying.
Installing Linux may not be easy depending on your PC's BIOS (UEFI). Some PC brands are easy to work with, some aren't. Once your BIOS is properly set the rest is very smooth sailing. Anyone can walk through the self-explanitory installation instructions. Whether your PC is a Desktop or a Laptop I recommend using both System and Home file encryption when you install, that way, if your PC is stolen or lost no one can access your personal files.
Oh! Accessibility in Linux has come a long way in the last 30 years. Go to System Settings > Font Settings and adjust font for every aspect of your desktop. You can set high or low contrast and play to your heart's content with Themes to fine tune even more visual effects. Keyboard settings are great as are mouse and touchpad settings. We're both in our 70s and our eyes and fingers aren't what they used to be!
Try Linux on your computer, free, stable and maintenance free. Distributions I recommend are Linux-Mint and Debian. Better than throwing your PC away when Windows rejects you.
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