Rick's Daily Tips

Q&A: Will an SSD go bad just sitting on a shelf?

Posted on December 3, 2023

Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

Question from Glen: A while back I read your post about replacing a computer’s hard drive with an SSD and it sounded like a pretty good idea.

I finally ended up buying a Crucial MX500 1TB SSD to replace the hard drive in my old Acer laptop, but the laptop’s screen went bad before I had a chance to make the switch.

I really didn’t want to spend a lot of money to have the Acer fixed so I just replaced it with a new Dell laptop.

The new Dell has a 1TB hard drive so I don’t really need the SSD at this time. Can I put the SSD on a shelf and keep it for a backup in case the hard drive ever fails, or will it go bad after a while if I don’t use it? [Read more…]

Review: InMotion Hosting

Posted on December 2, 2023

Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

In the spirit of full transparency, let me state up-front that I’m a long-time customer of InMotion Hosting, for reasons that will be clear to you after reading this review.

I have used several web hosting companies over the years, with various levels of satisfaction.

This review is basically a contrast between the products, service and support I received from those other companies and what I’ve received from InMotion. [Read more…]

Why it’s a bad idea to respond to ‘Feel Good Posts’ on Facebook

Posted on December 2, 2023

If you use Facebook, you have surely seen tons of “feel good posts” pop up in your newsfeed. And if you’re like most people, you probably “Like” and “Share” some of them.

I used to Like and Share them too, back before I learned how dangerous they can be.

“Feel good posts” typically consist of a cute photo (often of a puppy, a kitten or a child) looking all lovable and cuddly. The photo will usually have some text on it that makes it almost impossible not to like or share the post.

Here’s an example of a typical “feel good post”: [Read more…]

Why I love using Keyboard Shortcuts

Posted on December 1, 2023

Regular readers of this blog know that I’m a huge fan of keyboard shortcuts.

I spend several hours every day working with a variety of computers so I’m always looking for ways to work more efficiently.

Using the keyboard to accomplish common tasks saves me a ton of time because I rarely have to take my hands off the keyboard.

In a nutshell, keyboard shortcuts let you accomplish tasks that would often take several mouse clicks with just a single tap of a key (or key combination). [Read more…]

Q&A: Is it really dangerous to optimize the Windows Registry?

Posted on December 1, 2023

Question from Ellen: A couple of years ago I started using a Windows PC for the first time because my iMac died and I couldn’t afford a new one.

When I bought my new laptop the salesman told me that Windows 10 does a horrible job at keeping the system optimized and running smoothly.

He said I needed to buy a program called System Mechanic and use it to clean Windows up every few months. [Read more…]