Your daily dose of practical, easy to follow tech tips!
Question from Angelia V.: The button for opening the DVD drive in my Gateway FX4710 desktop PC is broken. Actually, it is completely missing. I have no idea how it got broken but I suspect a certain little 6 year old lol.
The DVD drive still works just fine but I have a CD in it that I desperately want to get out so I can use it in my car’s DVD player.
Can you tell me how to remove the CD? My computer is a Gateway Desktop with Windows 7.
Rick’s answer: [Read more…]
If you use your smartphone for browsing the Internet and/or streaming music and videos, you probably have to keep a close watch on your data usage in order to avoid going over your monthly limit. That’s just a fact of life in a world where data is both expensive and limited.
A great free app called Onavo Extend automatically compresses your mobile data, allowing you to use up to 5 times more data without changing your usage habits or exceeding your monthly data limit. It’s like getting a vastly upgraded data plan without spending an extra dime!
You can download Onavo Extend for free from either iTunes (iPhone) or the Google Play Store (Android).
Are you generally happy with your cell service everywhere except within your home? If you have a broadband Internet connection you can install your very own mini “cell tower”! Well, it isn’t exactly a cell tower, but it works exactly like one.
Femtocells are small router-sized boxes that connect to your cell carrier’s network through your high speed modem/router. They radiate a strong cell signal throughout your home, and in some cases even out into your yard. And I can tell you from personal experience that they work extremely well since I’ve been using one for years!
Imagine going from a barely usable cell signal to a perfect signal simply by plugging a small electronic device into your router. That’s exactly how it works. [Read more…]
There are times when it is best to use a wired Ethernet connection instead of Wi-Fi even if a Wi-Fi connection is available, but most Windows installations will default to connecting via Wi-Fi even when the PC is plugged into a router or modem via an Ethernet cable.
This defaulting to Wi-Fi is quite an annoyance, but it’s one that is easily remedied. Here’s how: [Read more…]
Question from Carrie E.: I got a Nikon D5200 camera for my birthday a few months ago. It’s my first DSLR and I’m sort of overwhelmed with all its features and capabilities, but I love it!
I’m having a problem that I hope you can help me find a solution for. I’m reading a book on DSLR photography and it explained the advantages of shooting in RAW format. I gave it a try but none of the my RAW photos are showing up in the Windows Photo Gallery. Can you tell me how to fix that? Thanks.
Rick’s answer: [Read more…]