So, you finally replaced your computer’s old 80 GB hard drive with a faster, more spacious one. Great! Now, what do you do with the old drive? One option is to convert it into a handy, portable external hard drive. It’s easy, here’s how…
Bob Rankin: Make Your Own External Hard Drive Read More »
Do you trust your web browser to warn you before you stumble into a malicious Web site? A recent study of six major browsers indicates that you probably shouldn’t.
Bob Rankin: Which Browser is The Most Secure? Read More »
“I’ve purchased a bunch of music from iTunes and have enjoyed listening to them on my computer. But my portable music player is not an Apple iPod, so I can’t take my songs with me. Is there any way I can get around this unfair restriction and convert my Itunes tracks to good old MP3?”
Bob Rankin: How to Convert iTunes to MP3 Format Read More »
“I’m building my own home computer from the motherboard up, and I want the best and fastest hard drive available. But the lingo is confusing – should I be looking at RPM, seek time, transfer rate or some other combination of drive specs?”
Bob Rankin: The Fastest Hard Drive Read More »
Firefox 5 was released on June 21, 2011, just a few months after the debut of its predecessor, Firefox 4. Eventually, Firefox 5 will be pushed out to all users. But if you’re tempted to upgrade right away, you may want to read what’s new in Firefox 5 and what you may lose by upgrading…
Bob Rankin: Should You Install Firefox 5? Read More »
Unlike diamonds, hard drives are not forever. It’s very likely that someday you’ll start your computer, and instead of the familiar startup screen, you’ll see one of these ominous messages: DISK BOOT FAILURE… NO FIXED DISK PRESENT… ERROR READING FIXED DISK… or HARD DRIVE FAILURE. Don’t panic just yet, there may be hope for recovery of that damaged hard drive…
Bob Rankin: Hard Drive Data Recovery Read More »
“I’ve heard about download accelerator programs that claim to increase download speed by 300 percent or more. Are these scams, or for real? And if they can do that, how does it work? I’d like to know your advice on whether to use one or not.”
Bob Rankin: Do Download Accelerators Really Work? Read More »
“Somehow I got a virus called XP Total Security, and I can’t get rid of it. It blocks my security software, and it won’t let me download any new anti-virus tools. It’s even asking me for money… how do I get rid of this thing?”
Bob Rankin: How to Remove XP Total Security 2011 Virus Read More »
By Bob Rankin
The Microsoft Windows operating system is an incredibly complex beast. Inevitably, things go wrong and it can be difficult to track down the source of the glitch. But you can put away the sledgehammer, because there are plenty of free troubleshooters you can use to fix most problems. Here’s my recommended list of free Windows problem solvers…
Bob Rankin: Free Windows Troubleshooting Tools Read More »
By Bob Rankin
Have you ever Googled your name or phone number? In an age of powerful search engines, social media, and changing attitudes about privacy, you might be shocked to see what a casual searcher can learn about you. If you’re okay with that level of transparency, then fine. If not, read on for some tips on what you can do about it…
Bob Rankin: I Just Googled Myself, & I Feel Fine! Read More »