Rick's Daily Tips

Q&A: Where can I order a replacement keyless remote for my car?

Posted on April 29, 2018

Question from Elizabeth D.: Hi Rick. This isn’t really a tech question but it does involve the Internet so I hope you can help me.

The little plastic loop that holds the keyless remote onto my key ring broke off and now I have to carry it in my purse. The remote still works just fine, but not having it on my key ring is driving me batty since finding ANYTHING in my purse in a hurry is virtually impossible!

The problem is the dealer wants $160 for a new keyless remote for a 2006 Malibu!

Do you know of a website where I might be able to find one for less money (hopefully a LOT less)? Thanks so much for your help!

Rick‘s answer: [Read more…]

How to add USB 3.0 ports to your PC

Posted on April 28, 2018

Like my tips? Click here to sign up for my free Daily Tech Tips Newsletter and you’ll never miss one!

Update: You can now add some blazing-fast USB 3.1 Type-C ports to your computer.

This post explains how.

Original post continues below…

In my opinion, no innovation in computer technology has had a greater positive impact on the average computer user than the Universal Serial Bus – commonly referred to simply as USB. [Read more…]

Q&A: Why is my 512GB SSD not showing the full size in Windows 7?

Posted on April 27, 2018

Question from Alan M.: I replaced the 320GB hard drive in my Acer Aspire desktop computer with a Crucial 512GB SSD.

I was able to clone the hard drive’s contents onto the SSD with no problem and everything works great, but when I view the drive in “Computer” it shows up as a 320GB drive instead of 512GB.

What do I need to do to make Windows 7 see the entire 512GB?

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

Q&A: Is it possible to buy a Kindle Fire tablet in a store?

Posted on April 26, 2018

Question from Mona: My son has been wanting a Kindle Fire tablet for a long time and I finally decided to get him one.

My problem is I can’t order one online from Amazon because I don’t have a credit card. I’ll need to pay for it with cash.

Do you know of any stores where I might be able to buy one locally? Thanks.

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

Review: Puridea S4 6600 mAh Portable Charger

Posted on April 26, 2018

With all the mobile devices we carry around with us these days, it really pays to have an external power bank/charger on hand to keep them all powered up and running.

I’ve tested a bunch of portable chargers in recent years. Some of them were great, and others left much to be desired.

I recently had the opportunity to check out the Puridea S4 6600 mAh Portable Charger, a thin, yet powerful device that claimed to be able to charge an iPhone up to three and a half times on a single charge.

The first time I picked up this device I was struck by how thin it is. Unlike most external battery packs, this one is actually thinner than many modern smart phones.

But even with its thin profile, it still seems to be well-constructed and quite durable. [Read more…]