Articles in Category: Hardware
Computers, computer systems and the physical components and accessories that make them what they are.
First, Do No Harm: Another Tale of Data Loss
You’d like to be able to trust your local computer repair folks to do the right thing. You’d like to. But that trust isn’t always warranted.
Can Using the Wrong Charger Damage My Device?
Will a specific power supply or charger damage a device? I’ll look at what’s safe and what’s not.
What Does “CHKDSK Is Not Available for RAW Drives” Mean?
CHKDSK can’t check an empty drive, and Windows considers RAW to mean empty.
Five Options to Speed Up Your Older Computer
Here are five common options to speed up and extend the life of an older computer.
How Do I Create a New Partition in Windows 10 or 11?
Multiple partitions of a hard drive can be useful. I’ll show you how to create a new partition by splitting an existing C: partition.
SpinRite: Repair Hard Disk Failures and Recover Your Data
SpinRite is a hard disk repair utility that can frequently recover and repair physical hard disk issues such as CRC errors.
Why Won’t My Program Use More than 25% of the CPU?
Multi-core processors add an additional layer of complexity to software design. Occasionally that can manifest as only a portion of the CPU being used.
Troubleshooting External Disk Issues
Here’s a series of steps to recover use of an external drive that’s acting up when connected to one machine but not with another.
Delete Not Freeing Up Space? Take Out the Trash!
It can be frustrating to delete something to seemingly no effect. I’ll explain why that might be and what to do.
Should I Partition My Hard Disk?
Partitioning, or splitting a single physical hard drive into multiple drives, has pros and cons. I’ll look at those and make a recommendation.
Can I Make C: Bigger by Taking Space From D:?
Changing the layout of the hard disk make the C: partition bigger requires a few steps and occasionally special tools.
What’s a Dynamic Disk?
You probably have a basic disk and don’t need the functionality offered by dynamic disk support… even if that functionality is kind of cool.
The Warning Signs of Disk Failure: An Unexpected Tale of Gradual Decline and Urgent Replacement
The reinstall of my system slowly uncovered a potential hardware issue. Here’s how I diagnosed and repaired it.
How Often Should I Wipe Hard Drive Free Space?
Free-space wiping prevents the recovery of deleted files. Whether you need to do it, or how often, depends on how interesting your data is.
What Comes After Terabytes?
Zetabytes? Petaflops? Gigahertz? Confusing terms for the ever-increasing capacity and speed of our computers.
Can I Move My Old Hard Drive to My New Computer to Transfer Data?
You can take the internal hard disk of an old computer and install it as an additional drive in a new one, or consider a more flexible alternative.
Can You Recommend a Good External Hard Drive?
Quality and features in external hard drives change over time. First, look at what you need.
What’s the Difference Between Memory and Disk Space?
The difference between the various things we could call “memory” is a fundamental computing concept. I’ll review the basics.
How to Read Phone Charger Voltage Specs
Power supply labels can be difficult to read and interpret. I’ll review what matters.
Dealing with PC Clutter
Files accumulating on your machine can result in increased PC clutter, decreased performance, and less stability.
How Do I Recover Flash Drive Files?
Flash drives are popular, convenient, and extremely useful. But they can fail. Take preventative measures right away.
My Computer Doesn’t Work — What Do I Do?
People often ask what might be broken if their computer does nothing. It’s a long list, and I’ll look at some possibilities.
Why Does My Phone Charge Slowly on Some Chargers?
Why do some chargers work faster or slower than others? We’ll take a look at some basic electrical concepts to understand what to look for in a charger.
How Can I Keep My Laptop Running With the Lid Closed?
The default configuration for most Windows laptops is to go into standby when the lid is closed. We’ll look at how to change that.
Should I Turn My Computer Off at Night?
Turning your computer off at night might be appropriate. But is it saving energy? It’s hard to say.
Why Is My External Hard Drive Not Showing in Windows?
Occasionally, attaching a drive to a computer will appear to work, but the drive’s nowhere to be found. I’ll walk through one common solution.
Why Is My Computer Hot and Loud?
Several components in your computer use power and generate heat in proportion to how they’re used. I’ll review the two biggies.
Why Don’t I Get Sound from My Computer?
No sound can happen for a variety of reasons. Here’s how to troubleshoot if your computer is inexplicably silent.
How Do I Disable the Touchpad on My Laptop?
If the touchpad is annoying, you can adjust it or turn it off completely.
Why Is 800X600 My Only Resolution Option?
Sometimes 800×600 is your only option. We’ll look at ways to work with this.
Why Does Copying Files Slow Down?
Issues with copying files are most often traceable to hard disk issues, but there are other potential causes as well.
How to Fix Windows Not Recognizing USB Device
A checklist to resolve Windows not recognizing USB devices.
No, Not Stone Tablets
Some stone tablets may have survived, but that doesn’t mean they’re something to rely on. What it does mean is perhaps you haven’t thought through all the issues.
How Do I Boot From a USB Thumb Drive?
UEFI has made booting from something other than the hard drive more complex. I’ll review why, and what steps to take.
Can I Use a Charger With the Same Voltage but Different Amperage Rating?
Chargers and power supplies come in a wide variety of configurations. Choosing the right one is important. I’ll look at a few of the parameters.
How Long Should CHKDSK Take?
Several factors affect how long CHKDSK takes to run, but a scan requiring an unusual amount of time may signal additional problems.
What Computer Should I Give?
Choosing a computer for a loved one can be very difficult. I’ll review a few areas to consider when purchasing a computer as a gift.
My Mouse is Moving On Its Own. What Can I Do?
Bizarre actions from your mouse may mean its imminent death. However there are a few less extreme causes of sensitivity and other odd actions to check.
Is It OK to Leave a Thumb Drive Inserted All the Time?
Leaving a flash drive or USB thumb drive plugged in all the time runs a small risk of prematurely wearing it out. We’ll look at why, and what to do.
What’s a NAS? How Do I Set One Up?
NAS, for Network Attached Storage, is a device that provides shared disk space on your network. You may already have one.
What is Virtual Memory?
Virtual memory is conceptually somewhere between RAM and hard disk space. It’s disk space used to maximize the amount of RAM available to programs.
How Do I Fix a CRC Error When I Try to Copy a File?
CRC errors happen when there’s a bad spot on the media of your hard disk. Data recovery and disk repair are often possible with the right tools — but you won’t need them if you have a backup.
Will Using an On-Screen Keyboard Stop Keyloggers?
Using an on-screen keyboard instead of a real keyboard might stop some keyloggers, but there’s no guarantee that other techniques aren’t also being used.
Can I Use My TV as a Second Display?
Most modern TVs and computers can be connected easily, but there are a few issues to be aware of.
How Do I Tell If My Hard Drive Is Too Old?
Age isn’t the most important factor when evaluating hard disk risk of failure. I’ll discuss what is, and what you should be doing to protect yourself.
Does My Computer Need a Memory Upgrade?
A memory upgrade can be an easy, inexpensive way to improve system performance, but how do you know if an upgrade is called for?
The First Things to Do with a New Windows Computer
The steps you should take right after unboxing your new computer will save time, frustration, effort, and data loss later.
