Rick's Daily Tips

Q&A: Can you use two cable modems in the same house?

Posted on May 8, 2023

Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

Question from Michael: I’ve rented a room in a private home and I’ll be moving in next week. I have a question about my options concerning Internet access.

The room I’m moving into is already wired for cable and they have Internet through Comcast/Xfinity.

The thing is, my landlord won’t let me use his Wi-Fi connection. He said I’ll have to have to sign up for an account with Comcast and get my own cable modem.

Which brings me to my question: Is that even possible to have two cable modems in the same house? [Read more…]

How to customize the Start Menu in Windows 11

Posted on May 7, 2023

If you’ve recently started using Windows 11 for the first time you’ve probably noticed that Microsoft has drastically changed the look and layout of the Start Menu.

Personally, I’m not a huge fan of the changes, but they are what they are.

This post discusses some of the changes Microsoft has made to the Start Menu. It also offers tips for personalizing it to make it easier to use and a generally more efficient tool.

[Read more…]

Q&A: Is it safe to completely disable Windows updates?

Posted on May 7, 2023

Question from Michael: I recently bought a new desktop computer with to replace the one I’ve been using for the past six years.

It seems like the updates I’ve been installing on this new machine have all been filled with bugs because almost every time I install them something goes wrong.

The last time it happened my nephew had to completely reinstall Windows for me.

I’d like to completely disable the installation of updates on the new PC. Is it safe to do that? [Read more…]

FYI: Windows 10 isn’t going away any time soon

Posted on May 6, 2023

Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

As you probably know, Windows 11 has been out for a while now and it’s quickly gaining traction in the marketplace.

But here’s a little secret…

Windows 10 is still very much alive and well.

[Read more…]

Q&A: Will light bulbs make solar panels work at night?

Posted on May 6, 2023

Question from Mark: I saw your video on YouTube about how you took your home office off the grid and switched it to solar power.

I too have a small solar power setup (about 400 watts) that’s powering the lights and the TV in the small off-grid cabin I built for weekend getaways.

I tried running a portable refrigerator and a couple of other small appliances off the solar and they work fine during the day, but my 12V/100Ah battery is dead by morning when I leave everything running overnight.

My question is will solar panels work with artificial light? [Read more…]