Computer Tips Archives - Page 2 of 233

Should you completely drain your laptop’s battery before recharging it?

Posted on August 4, 2026

Want to get my easy to follow Tech Tips in your email?

I’m often asked whether laptop batteries need to be drained completely before recharging them. My answer? Not anymore!

Early laptops used nickel-cadmium (NiCad) batteries which were subject to a “memory effect”.

If NiCad batteries weren’t allowed to discharge all the way before being recharged they would eventually “remember” the level of charge they fell to before recharging and act as if they were completely drained every time their charge decreased to that level. [Read more…]

How to get instant help with Windows CMD Commands

Posted on July 26, 2026

Want to get my easy to follow Tech Tips in your email?

These days most everyone is familiar with Windows’ sleek Graphical User Interface (i.e. GUI) and how it allows us to do most anything with a click or two of the mouse.

But those who started using computers back in the early days of home computing know that using a PC wasn’t always that easy.

Back then there was no such thing as a “GUI” interface. The “DOS” operating system that was in common use back then didn’t support the use of a mouse except for a short period before Windows 1.0 was released.

[Read more…]

How to see an aerial view of your own house with Google Earth

Posted on July 25, 2026

Want to get my easy to follow Tech Tips in your email?

Have you ever wondered what your house and property look like from the air?

Well, it’s easy to find out using Google Earth.

All you need to do is enter your street address into the Google Earth search box to see an aerial view of your home.

Just follow the steps below for the device you’re using.

If you’re using a laptop or desktop computer: [Read more…]

This is how I fixed my weak Wi-Fi signal and eliminated the dead spots in my home

Posted on July 24, 2026

Want to get my easy to follow Tech Tips in your email?

Are there areas of your home or office where your Wi-Fi network is virtually unusable due to weak signals or dead spots?

Does your streaming TV drive you batty with frequent buffering?

Well, I had those issues in my home until I found the perfect solution: a WI-FI mesh system that blankets my home with a strong and stable Wi-Fi system. [Read more…]

7 practical tips for extending the range, speed and security of your WiFi network

Posted on July 20, 2026

Want to get my easy to follow Tech Tips in your email?

Wireless routers make it very easy to share your high speed Internet connection with guests and family members.

They also make it easy to use your laptop or mobile devices in any room in the house without running cables all over the place.

But if you live in a large house and/or have multiple devices all using the Internet at the same time, chances are your WiFi connection is weaker and slower than it could be due to obstructions, distance and bandwidth limitations. [Read more…]