Your daily dose of practical, easy to follow tech tips!
Question from Candice W.: I just bought a 23″ flat screen monitor to use with my Dell laptop.
The laptop has Windows 10 on it.
I connected the monitor to the laptop with an HDMI cable, but when I load programs they still show up on the laptop screen.
I’d like to make the external monitor the main screen. How do I set it up like that?
Rick’s answer: [Read more…]
Question from George.: I think I might have messed up big time Rick, and I’m hoping you can help me.
I ordered new RAM for my old (but beloved) Dell Inspiron 14z laptop, and when it arrived I was so excited that I absent-mindedly tried to install it without shutting the system down.
Dummy me, I removed the battery but forgot to shut the system down or unplug the charger. As soon as I inserted the first of new RAM stick I saw a spark. My heart just sank.
Now the computer won’t turn on. No lights, no sound, and the screen stays black when I press the power button. I tried re-installing the original RAM and even tried a hard reset. Nothing works.
I know the battery and charger are working because I tried them with my wife’s laptop (they are the same exact model).
Is there something else I can try, or is my laptop toast? I’m hoping it’s a simple fix because the warranty ran out a LONG time ago.
Rick’s answer: [Read more…]
Well, it’s August, and that means schools all around the country are starting back up for their fall classes.
In fact, several of the school systems in my area have already welcomed their students back into the classroom!
The start of a new school year always means shopping for items like notebooks, pencils and such, but nowadays many schools have added a notebook computer to their back-to-school shopping lists.
If you’ve been shopping for a new computer for the student(s) in your family, you’ve no doubt noticed that there are a ton of laptops to choose from.
Picking the perfect student laptop can be a daunting task, but I hope to make it a little easier for you by recommending three of my favorites. [Read more…]
Question from Keenan D.: Hi Rick. I hope you can answer a question I have about using my computer.
I have a 15.6″ Acer Aspire laptop and I usually rest it on my lap when I’m using it because it’s more convenient that way.
My roommate is constantly harping on me to stop holding the laptop on my lap because (according to him) it can cause serious health problems. Is he right?
Rick’s answer: [Read more…]
These days most people seem to be looking for the thinnest, lightest and most powerful laptop they can find.
If you happen to be one of them, the sleek new Dell XPS9360-5000SLV-PUS Laptop (#ad) just might be exactly what you’ve been looking for.
Thanks to its virtually borderless super-thin bezel, this attractive ultrabook has one of the smallest footprints you’re likely to find in a laptop with a 13.3 inch screen. And it weighs in at just 2.8 pounds!
But don’t let the small size and weight of this machine fool you. This is one powerful laptop! Check out this quick run-down of the specs: [Read more…]