Your daily dose of practical, easy to follow tech tips!
Rick’s Daily Tech Tips Update for Saturday, June 1, 2024
• This one settings change blocks 99% of all hacking attempts
• Q&A: How can protect my important work files from accidental deletion?
• Stop your PC from exchanging updates with other PCs via the Internet
• Time-lapse video: Watch a powerful lightning storm develop in just 78 seconds
• May’s Tech Tips Giveaway: TP-Link Deco AXE4900 Tri-Band WiFi 6E Mesh WiFi System
Question from Danita.: I bought a used laptop from a friend a while back and it had Microsoft Office on it.
When I asked him if he had the installation disk he said he had downloaded it from a site that gives away programs for free.
The hard drive in the laptop stopped working a few days ago and I had to have it replaced.
Can you give me the link to the page where I can download MS Office for free? [Read more…]
Question from Luisa: I’m hoping you can clear something up for me.
I’ve heard some people say we need to stop using Windows 7 now that Microsoft has stopped updating it because it’s no longer safe.
Others are saying it’s perfectly fine to keep using it as long as the computer has an antivirus on it.
This is really confusing to me.
My HP laptop is old but it still works fine even though it has Windows 7 on it. I really hate the thought of having to replace it, but I will if it’s really unsafe to use.
Rick’s answer: [Read more…]
Most households these days have stacks of unused and/or obsolete computer equipment collecting dust in the basement or tucked away in a closet, doing little more than taking up valuable storage space.
Many people are unaware that there is a booming market for used tech items on ebay.
As I mentioned in this post, as long as it still works (and sometimes even if it doesn’t) there are most likely a number of buyers who are eager to bid on your old gear regardless of its “age” in either years or technology.
Here are seven tips for selling your unused/obsolete computer items for top dollar on ebay: [Read more…]
Most laptops come with built-in webcams these days, but some older models don’t. And unless the monitor has one built-in, desktop PCs don’t typically come with them either.
If you ever find yourself in need of a webcam but you don’t happen to own one, a nifty free download called DroidCam will let you use an most any smartphone or tablet as a webcam for your Windows or Linux PC.