Your daily dose of practical, easy to follow tech tips!
As you probably know by now, Microsoft designed Windows 10 and Windows 11 to be quite intrusive when it comes to your privacy.
By default, the operating system collects all sorts of sensitive user data and stores it on your PC’s hard drive and/or sends it back to Microsoft via the Internet.
Luckily, most of Windows’ “spying” can be either mitigated somewhat or disabled completely if you know where to look for the various settings. [Read more…]
Want to get my easy to follow Tech Tips in your email?
Sign up for my daily Rick’s Tech Tips Newsletter!
Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.
Question from Sheila: I’m currently shopping for a Windows laptop and most of the cheaper ones say they come with Windows 11 S or Windows 11 in S mode.
The ads don’t really give any details about this version of Windows 11. What exactly does the “S”? I’ve never seen that before.
I really need to buy a new laptop because the one I have is getting pretty long in the tooth, but I’m confused about whether I should buy one with Windows 11 S on it or not.
What’s your opinion about this? I really like the low prices of the “S” machines but I want to know what I’ll be getting before I order one. [Read more…]
Want to get my easy to follow Tech Tips in your email?
Sign up for my daily Rick’s Tech Tips Newsletter!
Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.
Question from Amber: After my Windows computer has been sitting idle for a few minutes the hard drive just shuts down.
When I get back on the computer and press a key or move my mouse I can hear the drive starting back up again and I have to wait several seconds before I can do anything.
This is extremely irritating. I guess I’m just impatient and want my computer to respond as quickly as possible. [Read more…]
Want to get my easy to follow Tech Tips in your email?
Sign up for my daily Rick’s Tech Tips Newsletter!
Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.
Question from Julienne: Hello, Rick. I’m a long time reader of your blog and I’ve read your posts about making System Image backups with Windows.
Your instructions are very good and easy to follow.
I’ve made three backups so far for my laptop but I just noticed that there’s only one backup on my external hard drive. I’m assuming it’s the last one I made?
My question is can I store more than one backup on the same drive? [Read more…]
Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.
You’ve probably heard by now that Microsoft was going to stop supplying updates of any kind for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, and that includes the all-important security updates.
Well, that infamous day has arrived.
How this change will affect you will depend on the type of PC that you own right now, your personally acceptable level of risk and how you typically use your computer. [Read more…]