Rick's Daily Tips

Review: iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit

Posted on March 10, 2026

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Back in the golden age of technology, you really didn’t need all that many tools in order to build, upgrade or repair computers and many other tech items.

If you owned a couple of screwdrivers, an anti-static wrist strap and a nut driver or two you could work on most any tech item. But today, things are a lot more complicated.

The way modern computers, monitors and mobile devices are constructed makes it virtually impossible to work on some items without specialized tools that can “crack open” a case or extract a part without causing physical damage to the item. [Read more…]

How to quickly locate the mouse pointer on your computer screen

Posted on March 9, 2026

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A while back I wrote a post explaining how to make the mouse pointer larger in response to a reader who was having trouble tracking the pointer on her computer screen.

The solution I recommended was to simply go into Windows’ Mouse settings and turn on the “Magnified” feature.

That took care of the original question but it raised another related question in the minds of several other readers…

[Read more…]

10 reliable Portable GPS Trackers for everyday use

Posted on March 9, 2026

If you need to keep tabs on a car, a teen driver, an aging parent, or even a tool trailer, a portable GPS tracker can do the job quietly in the background. The trick is picking one that updates consistently, holds a charge, and doesn’t turn into a hassle to manage.

Some trackers focus on real-time vehicle monitoring, while others are better suited for backpacks, luggage, or equipment. Battery life, alert features, and subscription costs can vary quite a bit from one model to another.

The list below breaks down 10 reliable portable GPS trackers that are built for everyday use. Each one stands out for a specific reason, so you can quickly narrow it down to what actually fits your situation. [Read more…]

Q&A: Can I convert an old Windows laptop into a Chromebook?

Posted on March 8, 2026

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Question from Carl: I have 2 year old laptop that had Windows 10 on it before the hard drive died.

I bought a new Windows 11 desktop machine but I’d like to replace the bad hard drive in the old laptop and experiment with a different operating system.

I read your post about installing Linux in place of Windows but I’ve been reading a lot about Chromebooks lately. I stopped by Best Buy yesterday and tried one out, and I really like it.

My question is can I install ChromeOS on that laptop and use it as a Chromebook (after I replace the hard drive of course)?

[Read more…]

Q&A: Can a virus jump from one drive to another?

Posted on March 8, 2026

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Question from Kendra: Hi, Rick. I need to ask you a computer question.

I know this sounds silly, but it’s a serious question and I really need to know the answer.

Can a virus that’s on one drive jump onto another drive? [Read more…]