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Articles found: 39
– Bluetooth: Another Way to ConnectFor years we’ve enjoyed the convenience of connecting devices using USB: the complicated mishmash of sockets and settings you once had to navigate was replaced with a simple ‘plug-and-play’ cable. But are you happy to be stuck within a couple of feet of your PC when you use earphones on a Zoom call or to …
Categories: Basics, Multimedia
Operating Systems: 7, 8, 10, 11
Reference: B
– Bullet Points: Get Creative in WordShopping lists, ‘to do’ lists, menus, itineraries – all this information can either be simply written down as an ordinary paragraph, with one comma-separated item after another, or it can be arranged into a clear list. In this article, I’ll show you how to create neat-looking bulleted lists in Microsoft Word, how to remove Word’s …
Categories: Office & Software Programs
Operating Systems: 7, 8, 10, 11
Reference: B
BIOS Settings for an Optimal SystemOptimise Your BIOS Settings for Best Performance There is enormous tuning potential in the BIOS. Whether you have a homemade computer or a PC from a big manufacturer, the BIOS settings are usually so conservative that you actually lose valuable performance that could be used by your Windows system. However, too much tuning can damage …
Categories: Optimisation
Operating Systems: XP, Vista, 7, 8
Reference: B046
Backup to External Hard DrivesAfter a hard drive crash, theft or fire, you are faced with a ruined PC and, more seriously, your important data going missing. But a serious problem such as this isn’t the only time you might lose data: important files can also be overwritten or deleted. Despite knowing all this, most PC users still don’t …
Categories: Tips & Tricks
Operating Systems: XP, Vista, 7, 8
Reference: B080
Battery Matters: Get More from Your NotebookOn your way out of the door, you grab your notebook or tablet PC. But when you’re settled on the train and switch it on, you discover its battery has only an hour’s life left. Why so little? And more urgently, is there anything you can do about it? There certainly is, and in this …
Categories: Tips & Tricks
Operating Systems:
Reference: B085
BIOS Tuning for More PC PowerThere is enormous potential for tuning your computer in the BIOS (Basic Input Output System). Whether you have a basic model or a top of the range PC, the BIOS settings that your computer has at the moment are probably too conservative, which means that valuable power is lost. However, too much tuning can damage …
Categories: Hardware
Operating Systems: XP
Reference: B10
Repair Your Boot ConfigurationApart from the default operating system, many users install a second version of Windows on their hard drive, for example, to test out Windows 8 but still retain Windows 7 as the main operating system for day-to-day use. If you remove one of the operating systems, or install an older Windows version alongside a newer …
Categories: Installation & Setup
Operating Systems: Vista, 7, 8
Reference: B100
BcdEdit: Repair Broken Boot Configuration Files Many people have a second Windows version installed on their PC alongside their main operating system, for example, in order to test the new Windows 10 system alongside a PC that normally runs Windows 7. If the second or third operating system is deleted, the default operating system may be affected because required boot …
Categories: Installation & Setup, Optimisation
Operating Systems: 7, 8, 10
Reference: B101
BcdEdit: Boot Problem SolutionsOn Windows XP, you could change the boot menu and configure the process simply by editing the BOOT.INI file. This was especially useful if you had a multiboot system, and needed to quickly change the options displayed in the menu when you start up your PC. With the introduction of Windows 7, everything changed, and …
Categories: Troubleshooting
Operating Systems: 7, 8, 10
Reference: B102
BIOS Error Detection and TroubleshootingThe BIOS (Basic Input Output System) is an essential component of home computers, but many people are simply unaware of it, or do not investigate it. The BIOS runs before Windows even starts to load, and enables the computer to recognise hard disks, memory, the processor and any other pieces of hardware that may be …
Categories: Hardware
Operating Systems: XP, Vista, 7
Reference: B11
Backup: Secure Storage for Essential DataBacking up your PC is essential, but what if the unthinkable happens and you lost both your original data and your backup, because of a flood, for example. The safest solution is to store your backup drive somewhere else, such as a friend or relatives house, but this is not always an option, and can …
Categories: Basics
Operating Systems: XP, Vista, 7
Reference: B12
Backup Your System with RobocopyRobocopy is a high performance tool, built into Windows 10/8.1/7, which you can use to quickly copy, move, mirror or synchronise your folders and files. Robocopy performs complex file movement operations quickly and reliably. You can use it to create complete mirrored directories between one drive and another, with all files and subdirectories kept fully …
Categories: Basics, Optimisation
Operating Systems: 7, 8, 10
Reference: B120
Back Up Your Data to an External DriveIt’s only when problems strike that you realise just how important an up-to-date data backup is. If your hard drive crashes, your laptop is lost, or your PC is damaged, you can lose years of precious documents and photographs. That’s not all a backup is good for. If your PC is infected with a ransomware …
Categories: Basics
Operating Systems: 7, 8, 10
Reference: B121
BIOS Problem-solving for Optimal PerformanceThe BIOS is the key to your PCs successful operation. It takes care of the initial set-up when you turn your PC on, by checking that the hardware is working properly and then loading Windows. A problem in your BIOS will affect your entire system, leading to hardware errors and even slow performance. Usually, motherboard …
Categories: Hardware
Operating Systems: XP, Vista, 7
Reference: B13
Benchmarking Measuring Your PCs PerformanceIf you want to know whether your new graphics card really gives you better performance or how much faster your computer is now running after you have tuned its settings, you have to measure its performance. You will instantly be able to see the improvement as you use your computer for everyday tasks, but to …
Categories: Optimisation
Operating Systems: 98, XP
Reference: B15
BIOS Fixes to Eliminate Errors Even today, most PCs use a BIOS chip, although some newer systems have a UEFI chip, designed to be the successor the BIOS. The BIOS or UEFI chip is fundamental to your PC’s operation, since it configures your hardware devices and the basic PC setup. It is imperative that this initial setup is done …
Categories: Hardware
Operating Systems: Vista, 7, 8, 10
Reference: B150
BIOS Errors Solved with EaseMany new PCs come with the new type of UEFI chip, but the majority of PCs in the world come with the tried and trused BIOS chip. The BIOS or UEFI chip is fundamental to your PC’s operation, since it configures your hardware devices and the basic PC setup. It is important that this initial …
Categories: Troubleshooting
Operating Systems: 7, 8, 10
Reference: B151
BIOS and UEFI Tuning It isn’t possible to start up your PC without a BIOS or UEFI chip, which is the crucial interface between your PC’s hardware devices and Windows itself. UEFI is the more modern standard and has been around for a few years now, replacing the older BIOS. However, many older systems still have BIOS chips …
Categories: Optimisation
Operating Systems: 7, 8, 10
Reference: B155
BIOS Troubleshooting and OptimisationA fully working BIOS is essential to the smooth running of your computer. It is responsible for the initial setup of the hardware components of your PC, and for starting the Windows loading procedure from your hard drive. If you want to add a new hardware device that is not currently supported by your setup, …
Categories: Hardware
Operating Systems: XP
Reference: B2
Broadband Internet Problems SolvedA broadband Internet connection is becoming more of a necessity and less of a luxury, if you want to get the most from your PC. Your connection may work perfectly for months, but when problems do occur they can be difficult to fix. Phoning Internet Service Provider (ISP) helplines can often prove frustrating and time …
Categories: Internet & Security
Operating Systems: XP
Reference: B20