Rick's Daily Tips

Rick’s Daily Pick: Amicool External USB 3.0 CD/DVD +/-RW Drive

Posted on June 12, 2026

Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

My “Pick” for today is this super-handy Amicool External USB 3.0 CD/DVD +/-RW Drive.

So you have a new computer that didn’t come with an optical drive? No problem – just plug this little gem into one your computer’s USB ports and you’ll be playing and burning CDs and DVDs in no time!

Click here to check out the Amicool External USB 3.0 CD/DVD +/-RW Drive at Amazon.

Did you miss (or want to revisit) one of my earlier picks? You might find it right here.

Picture of the Day: “Horse and Canola”

Posted on June 12, 2026

Today’s POTD features a horse that’s apparently just hanging out in a canola field in the rural Canadian province of Saskatchewan. I hope you like it.

Have lots of treasured photos of your own that you’d love to display in your home but you have limited wall space? A digital picture frame (#ad) is an excellent solution. Check them out!

Enjoy these Pictures of the Day? Sign up for my free Rick’s Tech Tips Newsletter and you’ll never miss one (or any of my tech tips either)!

Monthly Tech Giveaway – June 2026

Posted on May 31, 2026

Note: The links on this page are affiliate links.

June’s winner will receive a fantastic Goldenmate 1000VA/600W Sinewave UPS System w/ LiFePO4 Battery & Surge Protection.

Unlike most regular battery backup devices, this true sinewave UPS comes with an advanced LifePo4 battery and built-in surge protection. It will keep your essential gear running longer while also protecting it against strong power surges.

All subscribers to the Standard edition of my Rick’s Tech Tips Newsletter have an equal chance to win.

Premium subscribers have two chances to win (their email addresses are added to the “pot” twice).

Not a subscriber? Just enter your email address in the sign-up form on this page.

Once subscribed you’ll be eligible to win each month’s drawing – starting with this month. Better yet, opt for a Premium subscription for double the chance to win!

The drawing for this month’s prize will be held on June 30 and the winner will be notified by email. The winner will be selected at random.

Good luck!

How to force a Windows Desktop shortcut to always ‘Run as Administrator’ by default

Posted on June 12, 2026

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One of the things I like most about Microsoft Windows is the ability to create shortcuts on the Windows Desktop that simplify the execution of common tasks.

For example, I find myself creating a lot of System Restore Points on my PC so I created a handy desktop shortcut that creates a new Restore Point every time I click on it.

This particular shortcut makes it easy for me to quickly create a Restore Point at any time without having to wade through a series of menus. [Read more…]

Simple tips and tricks for passing most any written test

Posted on June 11, 2026

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Back in my school days I usually did quite well at taking tests. I guess I was blessed with that gift.

Some people are just better at taking tests than others, and it really has little, if anything, to do with intelligence (or even preparation).

I remember several major tests and exams on which I ended up receiving higher scores than friends who I thought to be a lot “smarter” and better prepared than I was.

All of the above being said, the results of a research study headed by a Mr. William Poundstone indicates that there are tricks (statistical and otherwise) that can help anyone do better on most any test. [Read more…]

Q&A: How can I completely remove Norton antivirus from my PC?

Posted on June 10, 2026

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Question from Dagan: I’ve been using Norton 360 for years, but it recently let a bunch of viruses slip through and get installed on my computer.

Norton removes a bunch of viruses every time I run it but they just keep coming right back.

I want to ditch Norton and install Malwarebytes Premium but I know you’re only supposed to run one antivirus app at a time.

The problem I’m having is I can’t seem to get all the Norton 360 files uninstalled so that I can install Malwarebytes. The Windows thingy that uninstalls programs gets rid of some of the Norton files but some of them come right back when I reboot the computer.

How can I completely uninstall ALL the Norton files from my hard drive? [Read more…]