Our Dell XPS laptop
running Windows 10 has a hidden problem that has
led to blue screens, slow performance and
freezing. I'm forced to reboot at least once a
day. Dell Support suggested that I reinstall
Windows 10, but I know that's tricky and I'd
rather not risk losing our important files and
photos and our many applications. Is there a way I
safely identify and fix this issue, plus improve
performance without having to reinstall Windows
10?
- Terry T., Williamsburg, VA
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Whether you need to repair
Windows, find and remove a hidden virus or
malware, fix corrupt files or improve your PC
performance, we recommend Reimage. This
simple yet powerful app saves the hassle and risk
of reinstalling Windows. Reimage's free scan
will quickly and securely test your system for all
sorts of problems. Next, Reimage will repair
your damaged PC with patented technology that
repairs your Windows OS with a robust database of
replacement files. Reimage's patented
technology actually reverses the damage done to
your Windows operating system.
» Download Reimage
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Please stop following
me!!!! Why do I see the same ads regardless of the
website I visit? How am I being tracked? How can I
protect my online identity to stop such invasive
behavior?
- Kathleen L., Amesbury, MA
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The ads are just the tip of the
iceberg, there's a much bigger and invisible
threat you can't see. The fact is companies have
been secretly watching nearly everything you do
online for years. They then sell and share YOUR
personal whereabouts and activity to others in
order to influence your daily life and decisions.
This activity is also called "Digital
Fingerprinting". These online ID thieves know
where the information is stored, and they want it.
To protect yourself, we strongly recommend
TrackOFF. In no time, TrackOFF prevents nasty data
miners from obtaining and stealing information
about your family (age, religion, work and
school), your finances (income, debt, credit,
loans, bank accounts) and web history (articles,
videos, shopping). Try TrackOFF's free online scan
to see the tracks you leave behind.
» Download
TrackOFF |
Why is the total space of
the hard available on a hard drive less than what
it is supposed to be?
- Peter C., St. Louis, MO |
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The biggest difference comes in
the way that drive space is measured in the first
place. Drive manufacturers measure drive space in
decimal terms. For example, they call one gigabyte
1,000,000,000 bytes. Operating systems use binary
terms, so Windows considers one gigabyte
1,073,741,824 bytes. So when Windows reports
available space on a drive, the resulting
calculation suggests that the drive is smaller
than what is advertised. Another issue is that
drive manufacturers measure the size of the drives
in terms of TOTAL space, meaning every single bit
on the disk. The problem is that you cannot store
date on every single bit on the disk. Formatting
the drive takes up some space and Windows takes up
space as well.
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Driver Tip: Stop
Automatic Driver Updates In Windows 10
One of the Windows 10 related
complaints we hear regularly is the mandatory
delivery of universal drivers through Windows
Update.
Well it turns out you can actually
disable the downloading of these universal drivers
in Windows 10 and avoid this issue all together
plus it is very easy to do.
a. Click the
Start Button and search for
System. Click the Control
Panel result - it should be the top
one.
b. When
System Properties opens up click
on Advanced System
Settings.
c. Click on the
Hardware Tab (#1) and then click
Device Installation
Settings.
d. Click on
No, let me choose what to do to
expand your other options.
Once you click on No, let me
choose what to do (Option #1) there are three
other options to set. Option #2 continues to
download and install the best driver software from
Windows Update. Option #3 prevents the automatic
install of driver software from Windows Update and
Option #4 toggles the ability for Windows Update
to download hardware related apps and other info
from Windows Update.
If you opt to turn off automatic
driver updates for your hardware that means you
must manually find those updated drivers yourself
from the manufacturer. DriverAgent is the perfect
program to help you do just that.
» Perform a driver scan
now!
PC Performance
Tip: Clean Up Windows Fast
When computer settings are changed
or when you install and uninstall software
programs the Windows registry is altered. Such
changes to Windows can negatively impact the
performance of your computer due to old and
corrupted files. If you ignore these problems,
your system begins to bog down, run slow, possibly
crash and become increasingly unstable. Take a
minute to prevent this common PC problem
today.
» Perform
a PC performance scan now!
BIOS Tip - How to
Set a BIOS or UEFI Password
A Windows, Linux, or
Mac password just prevents people from logging
into your operating system. It doesn't prevent
people from booting other operating systems,
wiping your drive, or using a live CD to access
your files.
Your computer's BIOS or UEFI
firmware offers the ability to set lower-level
passwords. These passwords allow you to restrict
people from booting the computer, booting from
removable devices, and changing BIOS or UEFI
settings without your permission.
These passwords are set in your
BIOS or UEFI settings screen. On pre-Windows 8
computers, you'll need to reboot your computer and
press the appropriate key during the boot-up
process to bring up the BIOS settings screen. This
key varies from computer to computer, but is often
F2, Delete, Esc, F1, or F10. If you need help,
look at your computer's documentation or Google
its model number and "BIOS key" for more
information. (If you built your own computer, look
for your motherboard model's BIOS key.)
In the BIOS settings screen,
locate the password option, configure your
password settings however you like, and enter a
password. You may be able to set different
passwords -- for example, one password that allows
the computer to boot and one that controls access
to BIOS settings.
You'll also want to visit the Boot
Order section and ensure the boot order is locked
down so people can't boot from removable devices
without your permission.
On post-Windows 8 computers,
you'll have to enter the UEFI firmware settings
screen through Windows 8´s boot options. Your
computer's UEFI settings screen will hopefully
provide you with a password option that works
similarly to a BIOS password.
» Perform
a BIOS scan now!
Schedule Windows 10
Updates |
Instead of
getting blindsided whenever Microsoft decides to
push out a patch, you can schedule timed restarts
to install updates by going to Start >
Settings > Update and Security > Windows
Update.
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"If you don't like something, change it. If
you can't change it, change the way you think
about it."
- Mary Engelbreit |
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| Mental
Floss |
Mental Floss is a cool website which tells you the
hidden stories behind the popular happenings
around the globe.
|
 |
| Uncrate
|
This
hot site hosts over 9000 products only for men.
The products range from vintage motorcycles to
jackets to Bluetooth earbuds. A very cool site to
check out before your next shopping
spree. |
North Korea and Finland are
separated by only one single country.
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Tittynope
A small quantity of something left
over.
|
Disconnect
Disconnect (Firefox, Chrome, IE,
Safari) is a very powerful tool to prevent
tracking cookies. This handy extension allows you
to see, in real time, tracking requests sent by
web sites. |
Hopper
Hopper tells you the
exact right time to book a airline flight.
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