Your daily dose of practical, easy to follow tech tips!
Windows 8.1 is a huge improvement over Windows 8 because it fixes a number of the most despised “changes” that Microsoft made to the newly-designed Windows interface.
One of the most appreciated “fixes” is the ability to have Windows 8.1 boot directly to the Desktop instead of the Start Screen – but this isn’t the default. Follow these steps to make Windows 8.1 boot directly to the Desktop: [Read more…]
Question from Curtis: I downloaded the trial version of Nero 2015 Classic onto my Gateway computer with Windows 7, but then I decided I didn’t want to keep it.
I used the “Uninstall a Program” app in the Control Panel to remove it, but I’m still finding parts of it in at least three folders. How can I uninstall it and get rid of ALL of its files?
Rick’s answer: [Read more…]
A while back a local business owner asked me if there is a way to move the ‘My Documents’ folder from its default location on the hard drive to a USB flash drive.
His routine was simple, yet time-consuming. At the end of every workday he copied all of his data files from the ‘My Documents’ folder on his hard drive to a 64GB thumb drive so he can work on them some more at home. The next morning he copied them back onto the hard drive.
I told him how to make the change, and now his files are automatically saved directly to his thumb drive regardless of where he happens to be working. Since he is quite happy with the new setup, I thought some of you might be interested in doing the same. The instructions that follow will explain how to set it up, step-by-step, in either windows 7 or Windows 8. [Read more…]
By default, Microsoft Windows hides certain system files and folders from the user’s view in order to keep us from accidentally altering, moving or deleting a file and end up crippling our PCs.
But there are times when it’s necessary to be able to see the hidden files and folders (such as while we’re troubleshooting Windows problems and removing malware).
It has always been possible to temporarily turn off the “Hidden Files an Folders” setting, but the way we do so has changed in Windows 8.1 (and in Windows 8 which preceded it). Follow these steps to display hidden files and folders in Windows 8 and 8.1: [Read more…]
Have you ever upgraded your PC’s hard drive and sold the old one on eBay or given it to a friend to use in his/her PC? How about loaning someone a USB flash drive or memory card?
If you have ever given a used storage device to another person for any reason, chances are they could have retrieved your files from that drive, even if you had deleted them or formatted the drive before giving it to them! [Read more…]