Computer Tips Archives - Page 197 of 232

New computer? Prepare for having it serviced by creating an info packet!

Posted on January 27, 2015

pc-data-card Does this scenario sound familiar? You buy a new computer, take it home, set it up and begin using it.

Everything works just fine for several months, but then one morning it just refuses to boot into Windows. Try as you might, you can’t get the system to come up. Oh well, time to send it on for repair, right?

But then a question pops into your mind: Is the computer still under warranty? You know you’ve had it close to a year, but is the warranty still in effect? Did you spring for the extended warranty when you bought it? No problem, you’ll just get that information right off of the receipt.

Uh-oh, you can’t find the receipt! What to do now? [Read more…]

How to view hidden files and folders in Windows 8.1

Posted on January 23, 2015

windows-8-1 By default, Microsoft Windows hides certain system files and folders from the user’s view in order to keep us from accidentally altering, moving or deleting a file and end up crippling our PCs.

But there are times when it’s necessary to be able to see the hidden files and folders (such as while we’re troubleshooting Windows problems and removing malware).

It has always been possible to temporarily turn off the “Hidden Files an Folders” setting, but the way we do so has changed in Windows 8.1 (and in Windows 8 which preceded it). Follow these steps to display hidden files and folders in Windows 8 and 8.1: [Read more…]

How to create a System Image Backup in Windows 8.1

Posted on January 17, 2015

windows-8-1 One of the first things we should do after getting a new PC or upgrading to a new version of Windows is create a System Image Backup in case a hard drive failure or some other disaster makes it necessary to re-install Windows.

The process of creating a System Image in Windows 8.1 is a bit different than creating one in Windows 7, but it’s actually quite easy to do.

Without a System Image backup, re-installing Windows and all of your settings, programs, and user created data onto a newly installed replacement drive will be impossible unless you have previously created a backup in some other way.

Follow the steps below to create a System Image Backup in Windows 8.1: [Read more…]

StartPage – Search the web without being tracked

Posted on January 12, 2015

Google is by far the most used search engine on the web, but it’s far from the only one. In fact, there are many excellent search engines out there.

If you value your privacy, I suggest giving StartPage by ixquick a try.

Unlike Google and the other popular search engines, StartPage doesn’t track your searches in any way.

No storing cookies, no retaining your search history in a database. They don’t log your IP address or use any other tracking method whatsoever.

In a nutshell, once you’ve completed your search with StartPage and clicked on your chosen result, your search session is over and StartPage doesn’t even “remember” that you were ever there.

Why not visit StartPage right now and give it a try?

Bonus tip: Google has removed the “View Image” button from their image search results, but StartPage still has it on theirs!

Like this tip? If so, I invite you to share it on social media. Just click one the handy buttons below.

Force Windows to use a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi

Posted on December 31, 2014

microsoft-windows There are times when it is best to use a wired Ethernet connection instead of Wi-Fi even if a Wi-Fi connection is available, but most Windows installations will default to connecting via Wi-Fi even when the PC is plugged into a router or modem via an Ethernet cable.

This defaulting to Wi-Fi is quite an annoyance, but it’s one that is easily remedied. Here’s how: [Read more…]