Computer Tips Archives - Page 215 of 231

Why you should buy a laptop with both an SSD and a hard drive

Posted on June 4, 2013

laptop If you’ve been shopping around for a new laptop recently, chances are you’ve seen several models that come with both a small solid state drive (SSD) and a traditional hard drive. If so, you might be wondering if it’s worth paying extra to buy a model that has both. In my opinion, it is.

Although relatively small, the SSD in a dual drive laptop will hold the operating system at the very least, providing boot-up times that are up to three times faster than what you’re used to seeing, and any programs that are stored on the SSD will load at lightning speed. [Read more…]

How to take a screenshot on a Microsoft Surface tablet

Posted on May 24, 2013

microsoft-surface Do you have a Microsoft Surface tablet? They are becoming quite popular, especially in the corporate world where more companies are actually purchasing Surface tablets than iPads these days.

One of the most basic tasks while using any tablet is capturing a screenshot, and it’s extremely easy to do on a Microsoft Surface running Windows 8. Here’s how: [Read more…]

Q&A: What exactly does the System File Checker do?

Posted on May 21, 2013

Question from Landra G: Hi Rick. I bought an ebook on using Windows 7 and there was a passing reference to something called a System File Checker.

The ebook didn’t give any details except to say that you can use it to fix problems with your computer. Can you tell me what it is and how to use it. Thanks.

Rick’s answer: Landra, the System File Checker is a very useful Windows utility that will scan your critical Windows files and attempt to repair any damaged files that it finds. It often comes in handy for those times when Windows is acting quirky, something isn’t working as it should or you receive an error message saying that there is a damaged Windows system file.

Using the System File Checker is very easy in Windows 7. Here’s how: [Read more…]

Add the Administrative Tools to the Windows 7 Start menu

Posted on May 17, 2013

windows-7 Windows 7 contains a suite of powerful Administrative Tools that are useful to System Administrators and advanced users. Previous versions of Windows had a direct link to these Administrative tools right on the Start menu, but Windows 7 has them hidden from view by default.

These tools are easily found if you know where to look (most people don’t) or by simply searching for them by name via the Search box, but I prefer having them linked from the Start menu as they had been in the past.

It’s very easy to add the Administrative Tools back to the Windows 7 Start menu. Here’s how: [Read more…]