Rick's Daily Tips

How to use Emergency Restart to reboot a frozen Windows PC

Posted on January 24, 2024

If you’ve been using Microsoft Windows for a while you know it’s famous for occasionally “freezing up”.

And unfortunately, when that happens it can be difficult to get the system to respond to your mouse clicks and key presses.

[Read more…]

Simplifying the property buying process for international non-residents

Posted on January 24, 2024

In the glittering landscape of New York residential property, the dream of owning a piece of the Big Apple knows no borders. But for non-residents, navigating the legal maze of buying property in New York can feel like an intimidating journey.

Fear not, for this article is your compass. Join us as we demystify the intricacies, unravel the paperwork, and simplify the legal process of buying property in New York. Whether you’re an investor or seeking a permanent residence, this guide is your key to unlocking the doors of opportunity in this vibrant city. Welcome to the path of informed property ownership. [Read more…]

Q&A: Can I completely disable my laptop’s camera?

Posted on January 22, 2024

Question from Callie: I bought a new Windows laptop (an Acer) that has a camera built into it.

I don’t ever plan to use the camera for anything and I’d like to completely disable it.

I don’t want to just prevent apps from accessing the camera. I want to disable it completely.

Is it possible to do that? If it is, can you tell me how to do it? [Read more…]

How (and when) to boot your Mac into Safe Mode

Posted on January 22, 2024

Safe Mode is a powerful tool that can help resolve software and hardware issues that are often difficult to identify while a full-blown Windows installation is running.

In a nutshell, booting a machine into Safe Mode typically loads only the operating system kernel plus just a few basic hardware device drivers.

This is basically a stripped down version of the operating system that isn’t affected by any auto-loading programs or advanced device drivers. [Read more…]

Q&A: Should I add more RAM to my PC or install an SSD?

Posted on January 21, 2024

Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

Question from Thomas: I have a little cash to spend to upgrade my desktop computer and I need your advice on how best to spend it.

Right now it has 16GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive (which is close to being full).

My question is should I use the money to double the RAM on this machine by adding another 16GB or would I be better off replacing the hard drive with a 1TB SSD? [Read more…]