This common electric motor is SUPER easy to fix
The name "shaded pole motor" might sound scary, but these things are REALLY simple inside. So simple that if you have one, you can probably fix it yourself in about 10 minutes with a few simple tools. DIY, save some bucks, and Bob's your uncle. When they're used, how...
How to fix “VCRUNTIME140_1.dll was not found” the right way
Well, this is a fun one. One day, you go to run some application. Instead of loading like normal, you get this weird error stating that code execution cannot proceed because VCRUNTIME140_1.dll was not found. The error message may have a slightly different name, but...
Why your tech is giving you headaches
Who doesn't love technology? Unfortunately, working and playing with our toys often results in bad, chronic headaches that just won't seem to go away. The good news is that by correcting your posture and paying more attention to your body, you CAN end the headaches....
Windows STILL won’t update? Try THIS!
These days, updating Windows is like playing Russian Roulette. Microsoft keeps breaking things, and I have to continually figure out how to fix them. I recently had ANOTHER problem with Windows Update. After trying everything, this is the solution that finally worked...
How to remove Intel VMD without reinstalling Windows
If you have an 11th generation or newer Intel processor, your system might be using Intel VMD. VMD, or Volume Management Device, is a server-ish bit of technology where your processor more or less "hijacks" the management of NVMe disk drives in your puter. When VMD is...
Android vs iOS: Which is better for privacy?
Ah, the eternal battle: iOS or Android? These days, there's a big war going on where both sides are trying to prove that their mobile OS is the safest and most privacy-friendly. So, which is it? Join me for a deep dive into the wonderful world of smartphones......
Stop recent videos from showing on your lock screen
So, this one is fun. All of a sudden, when you lock your puter, the "currently playing" video appears with playback controls on the lock screen. Now, this might be a useful feature, except that in many cases it's rather broken. Both Chrome and Firefox on my puter will...
The biggest tech company you’ve never heard of
We all know about Apple, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and so on. But there's one tech company that's utterly massive in its importance to the entire industry, and no one is talking about it. Well, to be precise, no one is talking about what MIGHT happen should the...
Thunderbird v102.0.1: You may now push the button!
In my last article, I told you NOT to push the button in order to try the new Thunderbird v102. Well, they fixed the glitch, so you can safely upgrade if you want. Keep in mind that v102 of Tbird is still in a more-or-less "release candidate" phase. They aren't...
Thunderbird v102: Don’t push the button just yet!
The other day, I heard about the new version of Thunderbird: v102.0. Naturally, being a techy nerd who loves updates, I installed it. BAD IDEA! There are a few bugs, but one in particular results in corruption of e-mails and even losing entire blocks of new messages....
Is Google’s LaMDA AI sentient, or just clever programming?
In recent news, a guy at Google claimed that one of their AIs, LaMDA, had become sentient. Well, that's quite a claim! So, I decided to read the entire transcript of a chat with LaMDA and see what all the fuss is about. Turns out, it's not so simple... YouTube:...
10 tips to speed up your PC
Who doesn't want a faster PC? Well, it's easier than you think. Most of the time, the way we use our puters is what slows them down. By making a few minor adjustments to how you work, you can get the most bang from your existing PC - without forking over bucks for a...
Windows can’t see your USB-connected Android phone or tablet
This one's a lot of fun! You connect your Android phone or tablet with a USB cable to your PC. You expect to be able to browse the files on your phone, or transfer photos/video. Nope! Nuttin'. Nada. ZILCH. It worked before, so what happened? Better yet, how do you fix...
How Big Tech Privacy actually works
A recent revelation from inside Facebook has called into question all these privacy laws we now have... Or more specifically, how companies are actually implementing (or not) these laws designed to protect our data. The truth, as usual, probably shouldn't surprise...
NVMe drive missing or not booting? There’s a simple fix!
On the one hand, NVMe drives are blazingly fast. On the other hand, getting them to work with Windows - or even your BIOS - can be a bit of a nightmare. I recently upgraded several computers that had SATA SSDs. I wanted to upgrade each one to an NVMe drive. So, I used...
The quietest gaming keyboard in the entire universe!
Despite the prevalence of touch devices these days, chances are you still have an "old fashioned" computer with a keyboard. Many keyboards are very quiet and comfortable to type on, but they don't last very long. Enter the Gaming Keyboard! It's old school durability...