Rick's Daily Tips

Q&A: Can I delete Gmail without deleting my entire Google account?

Posted on March 7, 2026

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Question from Jennifer: I read somewhere (I think it might have been on your blog) that it’s best to close unused email accounts to prevent hackers from taking them over and using them to spread spam.

I have a Gmail email address that I rarely use and I’d like to delete it. The thing is I do use a couple of other Googly things so I need to keep my Google account open.

Is it possible to close just the Gmail and keep the Google account open? [Read more…]

Q&A: Will moving the Page File on my Windows PC make it run faster?

Posted on March 6, 2026

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Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

Question from Ethan: I was reading an article last night that discussed using part of a computer’s unused RAM as a RAM Disk, and it got me to thinking.

I have an older desktop computer that’s running Windows 10 (it can’t be upgraded to Windows 11). It has 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive.

This machine runs really slow, coming almost to a crawl at times. After doing some research I’ve determined that it’s likely sluggish because it’s doing a ton of swapping back and forth with the page file.

Do you think moving the Windows Page File to a RAM Disk would help speed it up? [Read more…]

Review: AmazonBasics Backpack for Laptops

Posted on March 6, 2026

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Laptops and notebook computers are getting thinner and lighter all the time.

And as you probably know, that makes it more important than ever to protect them from being damaged while you’re carrying them from place to place.

Laptop bags have been around as long as laptops themselves, but most people these days seem to prefer carrying their machines in laptop backpacks.

If you’ve been looking for a great laptop backpack at an affordable price, let me tell you about one that I really love.

[Read more…]

How (and when) to boot your Android device into Safe Mode

Posted on March 6, 2026

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If you’re a Windows or Mac user you probably know that restarting your computer in Safe Mode is a great way to troubleshoot software problems that are difficult to track down when everything but the kitchen sink is running on the machine.

In a nutshell, booting a device into Safe Mode ensures that only the most essential parts of the operating system and the most basic hardware drivers are loaded into memory to make it easier to track down those most stubborn issues.

Luckily, Android devices can be booted into Safe Mode as well. [Read more…]

Q&A: Will leaving the lid open 24/7 damage my laptop?

Posted on March 5, 2026

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Question from Mark: I have a four month old Acer Nitro Gaming Laptop with a 32 inch gaming monitor connected and set as the primary display.

I use the external monitor for my games. The laptop’s built-in screen is always open with my email and a few other apps open on it.

What I need to know is could leaving the lid open all the time damage the laptop in any way? [Read more…]