Search Results for: create system image

Q&A: Why does my computer shut down after running for just 10 minutes?

Posted on September 21, 2018

Question from Dale J.: Rick, I have a really weird problem with my HP desktop computer. One day last week it just started shutting down on its own after running for about 10 minutes.

I researched the problem online and one of the articles I read said one of the fans might have stopped working. Per the writer’s instructions, I removed the side panel in order to check to see if any of the fans weren’t spinning.

All of the fans appeared to be operating normally, but the weird thing is the computer never shut down. I left it running like that all day, then re-installed the cover. Sure enough, it shut down after just a few minutes had passed.

I removed the cover again, and again the computer ran just fine without shutting down. Am I doomed to use this PC forever with the cover removed?

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

Q&A: Why are some computers noisier than others?

Posted on September 18, 2018

Question from Lexie H.: I was out shopping for a new computer today and I noticed that some computers make more noise than others.

The salesman I was talking to said it’s normal for some models to be louder than others but he couldn’t explain why that is.

Can you tell me why some computers are really loud while others are really quiet? Also, are the louder ones better or worse than the quiet ones?

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

Q&A: What’s the best laptop hard drive I can buy for $100 or less?

Posted on September 18, 2018

Question from Andy: The 750GB hard drive in my laptop has started making strange noises and I’m afraid it’s about to go out on me. I need to replace it ASAP but I don’t know which drive I should buy to replace it with.

I’d really like to get an SSD to make the laptop run a lot faster, but my budget for the drive is only about $100 (or preferably less).

I checked around and the largest SSD I can get for that price is way too small for my needs. I really need something that’s at least as big as the drive that’s in the laptop right now.

Can you help me find the fastest hard drive I can get for $100 that’s at least 750GB?

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

Q&A: Why is the D: drive on my refurbished computer already full?

Posted on August 20, 2018

Question from Wanda: Rick, I just bought a refurbished computer with Windows 7 Home Premium on it.

In case you’re wondering why I bought a refurbished machine, it’s because I hate Windows 8 and Windows 10 so I decided to by a refurbished PC in order to get Windows 7.

LOL You probably think I’m crazy, but that’s why.

Anyway, this machine is showing two hard drives in Windows Explorer, a C: drive and a D: drive.

When they refurbished this computer they supposedly reinstalled Windows from scratch. I haven’t put anything at all on the D: drive, yet the Windows Explorer shows it as being full with hardly any free space left.

I can’t open that D: drive to see what’s in it making be think it might have a virus.

Is it possible for the equivalent of a brand new computer to have a virus that’s filling up the hard drive? My Norton isn’t finding anything.

Any help you can provide will be much appreciated. Thanks.

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

Review: Seagate Backup Plus 4TB USB 3.0 Portable External Hard Drive

Posted on August 10, 2018

Are you frustrated by the lack of storage space on the typical external USB hard drive? Do you long for an external drive that’s super-fast, yet plugs into a standard USB 3.0 port?

Well look no further, because Seagate has both bases well-covered with their new Seagate Backup Plus 4TB USB 3.0 Portable External Hard Drive. (#ad)

Most consumer-grade USB hard drives currently max out at around 2TB, but this Seagate Backup Plus doubles that to a massive 4TB.

Of course to take full advantage of all that storage space, the drive needs to transfer data at the fastest speeds possible – and this awesome drive is lightning fast! [Read more…]