Rick's Daily Tips

Q&A: Can you recommend a good external enclosure for an older hard drive?

Posted on June 20, 2021

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Question from Alvin T.: My mom’s (really) old desktop computer won’t come on so she bought herself a new laptop to replace it.

Now she wants me to get the files off her old hard drive for her, but I don’t have a desktop PC to install it in.

I read your post about converting a spare internal hard drive into an external USB hard drive, and it’s very informative.

But when I click the link to see the external drive enclosures there are so many that I don’t know which one I need to buy for her hard drive (160GB Seagate Barracuda ST3160023AS).

Can you recommend a good (but cheap) external USB enclosure that will work with that drive?

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

Q&A: Is a 6 digit PIN really that much better than 4 digits?

Posted on June 20, 2021

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Question from Andy: My girlfriend and I have a bet that’s riding on your answer to this question:

Is a six digit PIN really all that more secure than a four digit PIN?

It don’t seem like just two digits could make that much of a difference. She says it makes a big difference if someone ever tries to break into my phone.

So who’s right?

If you agree with me she has to take me out to dinner. If you agree with her I have to cook her a steak dinner with all the fixin’s. We both subscribe to your blog and we’ll trust your opinion.

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

Q&A: Should I choose ‘Credit’ or ‘Debit’ when I use my debit card?

Posted on June 19, 2021

Question from Felicia: I use my debit card to pay for almost everything, and I have a question about it.

When I pay for something with my debit card the card reader usually gives me a choice between “Credit” and “Debit”.

I usually choose debit because it’s a debit card, not a credit card.

My question is which should I choose? And what’s the difference between the two?

By the way, I’m almost ashamed to ask you this because I really should know the difference, but I don’t.

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

Q&A: Are WiFi and the Internet the same thing?

Posted on June 19, 2021

Question from Beverly: I’ve always thought that Internet and WiFi were just two names for the same thing, but someone told me they were different.

Is that true? If it is, what’s the difference?

Rick’s answer: What that person told you is accurate, Beverly.

While WiFi and the Internet are frequently used together, they are in fact completely different technologies that serve two very different purposes. [Read more…]