Tech Questions & Answers Archives - Page 18 of 258

Q&A: Is it safe to ‘Undervolt’ a PC to make it run cooler?

Posted on April 8, 2024

Question from Cory: I have a laptop with Windows 10 on it and it always runs hot. And it’s been that way since day one.

I’ve researched things I can do to make it run cooler but nothing I’ve tried has really helped.

The fan still runs constantly and the CPU temperature is running higher than it should according to the Core Temp app.

A guy I know who does IT work for our local hospital said I should try “Undervolting” the laptop to make it run cooler. He said it’s safe but I’m a little leery because I’ve heard that overclocking a computer can damage it.

I have several questions about this: [Read more…]

Q&A: Aren’t smartphones really just small computers?

Posted on April 4, 2024

Question from Kevin: Can you settle an argument between me an my cousin?

I told him that smart phones are really just small computers that are designed to make phone calls.

He said that since you can’t install programs on them or hook them to printers and stuff they can’t really be considered computers.

I think I’m right, but so does he. In your opinion, which one of us is right? [Read more…]

Thursday, April 4, 2024 – Handling Two-Factor Authentication when switching phones – The best computer upgrade you can make for the money

Posted on April 4, 2024

Hello, and welcome…

Rick’s Daily Tech Tips Update for Thursday, April 4, 2024

Topics covered in this issue…

• My bi-annual gadget cleaning and maintenance routine

• Q&A: What happens with Two-Factor Authentication if I switch phones?

• This is the best computer upgrade you can make for the money

• Bananas are berries, but strawberries aren’t? Are you kidding me???

• April’s Tech Tips Giveaway: Anker 521 300W Portable Power Station

[Read more…]

Q&A: What happens with Two-Factor Authentication if I switch phones?

Posted on April 3, 2024

Question from Tina: I currently use the Google Authenticator app on my phone to retrieve the Two-Factor Authentication codes for logging into my online accounts.

I’m getting ready to buy a new phone and I want to make sure I won’t do something that gets me logged out of my accounts with no way to retrieve the codes to log back in.

Is there a simple way to transfer the Google Authenticator app to a new phone without messing everything up in the process? [Read more…]

Q&A: Can a bad Ethernet port on a laptop be replaced?

Posted on April 1, 2024

Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

Question from Ken: Our church has a 2 year old Dell laptop in the church office that the pastor and deacons use to access the Internet for research and church business activities.

The laptop connects directly to the modem via Ethernet. For various reasons they don’t want to have a WiFi network in the church, so the only option is to connect via a wired Ethernet connection.

Our problem is the laptop’s Ethernet port no longer works and we’re wondering if it can be replaced?

[Read more…]