The PostMend blog
Straight-talking laptop and Windows guides from our workshop - no jargon, just the steps we'd walk a customer through ourselves.
What is BitLocker, and why is it on by default?
BitLocker quietly encrypts the drive on most modern Windows 11 laptops. Here is what it actually does, why Windows switches it on for you, and what that means if anything ever goes wrong.
How to suspend BitLocker in Windows 11 (and turn it back on)
Before a BIOS update or a hardware change, suspending BitLocker saves you from a surprise recovery-key prompt. Here is how to do it two ways, and how to re-enable protection afterwards.
How to find your BitLocker recovery key
Staring at a blue screen asking for a 48-digit recovery key? Don't panic. Here is every place that key could be saved, in order of most to least likely.
How to find your Dell service tag
The service tag is the key to drivers, warranty checks and support for any Dell laptop. Here are three ways to find it: on the chassis, in the BIOS, and from the command line.
How to install Windows 11 (clean install on a Dell laptop)
A clean install sounds intimidating but it is mostly waiting. Here is the full walk-through — building the USB, booting the Dell, the installer screens worth slowing down for, and the driver and BIOS work after.
Webcam or mic not working in Windows? How to fix it
A camera that won't turn on or a mic nobody can hear is almost always fixable without a repair. Here is the troubleshooting order we use in the workshop, step by step.