Rick's Daily Tips

Scam alert: Beware fake ‘Domain Name Renewal’ notices

Posted on August 14, 2023

Do you have a blog or other type of website that you’ve registered a domain name for?

If so, you need to know about a scam targeting domain owners that’s making the rounds yet again.

3 reasons why you need an external USB hard drive

Posted on August 14, 2023

Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

External hard drives used to be expensive luxuries that transferred data between the PC and the drive at a relative snail’s pace.

But thankfully, that has all changed thanks to the proliferation of incredibly fast, yet very inexpensive external USB hard drives.

In fact, prices have now dropped to where you can pick one up starting at around $50.

I now believe that every computer user should own at least one external USB hard drive, for the following reasons: [Read more…]

Q&A: Did I damage my new laptop’s battery by using it too soon?

Posted on August 13, 2023

Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

Question from Freida: Hi, Rick. I hope you can answer a question for me.

I recently ordered a new laptop from Amazon. When it arrived I took it out of the box and immediately started using it like I normally do.

This morning I read an article that said you’re supposed to charge the battery in a new laptop for at least 8 hours before you start using the laptop. [Read more…]

7 tips for extending your Android phone’s battery life

Posted on August 12, 2023

Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

If it seems like the battery in your Android phone lasts about as long as a bowl of ice cream on a hot summer day, you aren’t alone.

Short battery life is one of the most common issues that we’re likely to encounter with our smart phones.

As phones have gotten thinner, faster, brighter and more powerful, their ability to drain a battery dry has increased right along with their technological advances.

If you know you’re going to be in a situation where your phone’s battery charge is likely to run low and shut off your phone before you’ll have a chance to plug it into a charger, here are a few tips for keeping your phone up and running as long as possible: [Read more…]

Q&A: Is my computer’s hard drive going bad?

Posted on August 11, 2023

Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

Question from Brad: I have a really old Dell Optiplex 745 desktop computer that I absolutely love.

This machine has an 80 Gig hard drive and it’s recently started giving me problems.

These past few days when I turn on the PC the hard drive makes clicking sounds for about 5-10 seconds, then it finally starts booting up.

I know it’s the hard drive that’s doing the clicking because I removed the cover and listened to it. [Read more…]