Search Results for: create system image

AppCleaner completely uninstalls programs on your Mac

Posted on February 21, 2015

When a program is installed on a computer, bits and pieces of the installation are placed in several places on the hard drive. This is typical of the way most modern operating systems work, and for the most part it works well.

The problem with this “distributed installation” approach occurs when the programs are uninstalled and removed from the system. The built-in unistallers typically leave behind remnants of the installation that clog up the hard drive and can potentially create system instability issues. [Read more…]

Q&A: How do I get my PC to boot up after Windows Update failed?

Posted on February 17, 2015

Question from Sierra F.: Rick, I’m in trouble and I need your help!

My computer was installing Windows Updates when the power flickered off and back on. It happened so quickly that the computer didn’t even shut down, but it somehow aborted the update process and an error on the screen said the update wasn’t successful.

I tried to install the updates again, but it said no updates were available. I then tried to restart the PC, but it hangs up about half way through the boot process. Please, please, please tell me how to fix this without reinstalling Windows 7? Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

How to move the ‘My Documents’ folder to a USB flash drive

Posted on February 1, 2015

microsoft-windows A while back a local business owner asked me if there is a way to move the ‘My Documents’ folder from its default location on the hard drive to a USB flash drive.

His routine was simple, yet time-consuming. At the end of every workday he copied all of his data files from the ‘My Documents’ folder on his hard drive to a 64GB thumb drive so he can work on them some more at home. The next morning he copied them back onto the hard drive.

I told him how to make the change, and now his files are automatically saved directly to his thumb drive regardless of where he happens to be working. Since he is quite happy with the new setup, I thought some of you might be interested in doing the same. The instructions that follow will explain how to set it up, step-by-step, in either windows 7 or Windows 8. [Read more…]

New computer? Prepare for having it serviced by creating an info packet!

Posted on January 27, 2015

pc-data-card Does this scenario sound familiar? You buy a new computer, take it home, set it up and begin using it.

Everything works just fine for several months, but then one morning it just refuses to boot into Windows. Try as you might, you can’t get the system to come up. Oh well, time to send it on for repair, right?

But then a question pops into your mind: Is the computer still under warranty? You know you’ve had it close to a year, but is the warranty still in effect? Did you spring for the extended warranty when you bought it? No problem, you’ll just get that information right off of the receipt.

Uh-oh, you can’t find the receipt! What to do now? [Read more…]

Roadkil’s Disk Wipe – Securely erase all data from hard drives and flash drives

Posted on January 15, 2015

Have you ever upgraded your PC’s hard drive and sold the old one on eBay or given it to a friend to use in his/her PC? How about loaning someone a USB flash drive or memory card?

If you have ever given a used storage device to another person for any reason, chances are they could have retrieved your files from that drive, even if you had deleted them or formatted the drive before giving it to them! [Read more…]