Rick's Daily Tips

Q&A: Would it be cheaper to buy a new PC or build one from scratch?

Posted on November 26, 2013

Question from Cameron G.: Rick, I have a 7 year old HP desktop PC that’s served me very well over the years, but I decided to replace it after reading your post about Microsoft ending support for Windows XP early next year.

A good friend of mine says I can save a lot of money by buying the parts and building my new computer from scratch, and he even offered to help me. But I’m skeptical about about actually saving any money that way because I looked into it a few years ago and the numbers didn’t seem to add up.

What do you think about it? Can I really save money by building a PC from scratch instead of buying one outright? And if so, do you have any tips that might help me save a few extra bucks?

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

How to convert the trial version of AVG Internet Security to AVG Free

Posted on November 25, 2013

AVG Antivirus is one of the most popular antivirus programs on the market. When you go to download the software from the AVG website, you have a choice between a free version and a paid version which comes with some extra bells and whistles.

Many users opt to download the trial version of AVG Internet Security, then decide to switch to the free version when the trial period ends. This is fine (it is actually what I recommend), but that means uninstalling the trial version and then installing the free version from scratch.

But now there’s a better way to “downgrade” from AVG Internet Security to AVG Free. Simply download the AVG Downgrader utility from the AVG website and run it. The fast and simple process explained below will make the conversion for you without having to jump through a bunch od complicated hoops. Just follow these directions: [Read more…]

How to create a System Image Backup in Windows 8.1

Posted on November 23, 2013

windows-8-1 Having a recent System Image Backup on hand is a great way to get your PC back up and running quickly if you have to replace your hard drive or a virus trashes your Windows installation.

But if you recently upgraded to Windows 8.1 or bought a new PC with it pre-installed, you won’t find it in the same place it was in when using a previous Windows version.

Here’s how to create a System Image Backup in Windows 8.1: [Read more…]

How to disable Bing Integrated Search in Windows 8.1

Posted on November 21, 2013

By default, any time you perform any kind of search from the Windows 8.1 Start Screen you will also be presented with a list of search results from the Internet – courtesy of the Bing search engine. Some people love it, others hate it.

If you’re like me and prefer having your local searches confined just to the drives on your local computer, you can easily turn Bing Search Integration off. Here’s how: [Read more…]

How to enable Battery Saving GPS mode in Android 4.4 ‘KitKat’

Posted on November 20, 2013

android-kitkat By now you probably know all too well that the GPS radio on your smart phone sucks battery juice almost as fast as ice melts in the middle of the Sahara. But if your phone is running Android 4.4 “Kitkat” there’s a simple way to keep using the GPS feature without draining your battery quite so fast.

Android 4.4 has a new “Battery Saving GPS” mode that can help extend your battery life considerably over what you’d get by enabling GPS in normal mode. In my opinion, this is one of the most useful enhancements to Android in some time.

Battery Saving GPS mode works by limiting the number of reference points the phone uses to pinpoint your location on the earth’s surface. Checking fewer reference points means the GPS radio works less, which in turn means less current is drawn from the battery. [Read more…]