Skip ‘Add your Microsoft Account’ during upgrades or installs
Windows 11 is okay - except when it comes time to do a big update or install it from scratch. In both cases, MS has decided to force you to log in to Windows using your Microsoft account. Wouldn't it be nice if you could skip this step? Fortunately, you can! Where did...
PikaJS: Think jQuery but smaller, lighter, and just as easy to use
(Updated February 2021 for PikaJS 1.2) Introducing PikaJS: a jQuery-like JavaScript library that simplifies the client-side scripting of HTML. I had been using jQuery and PrototypeJS, and I needed to ditch PrototypeJS at long last. My colleague Michael Franzl said,...
Easily trace wires with the Voltcraft LZG-1 / Extech CT40
There are many ways to trace a bunch of wires from point A to point B. Most of them kinda suck for one reason or another. Enter the Voltcraft LZG-1 / Extech CT40! With this gizmo, you can trace up to 16 wires at once. The system uses a remote unit with 17 alligator...
The New and Improved Firefox, complete with built-in Firefox Screenshots
Back in the day, Firefox was the web browser to use. Then came Google's Chrome, and suddenly ~50% of internet users are using that, instead. There were many good reasons for this switch, including the fact that Google did a lot of work to make Chrome very fast. It's...
You’re throwing things away wrong!
Everyone likes to throw things away. But nobody likes the sight of an overflowing trash or recycling bin, and even fewer people like to take out the trash. What if I were to tell you that with a simple Life Hack, you could save bin space and time? What would you pay...
You’re using your Extension Cord Reel wrong!
Extension cord reels, or rolly cords as I like to call them, are seriously handy. Nobody likes spending 30 minutes untangling a 50m extension cord. Trouble is, usually we use them incorrectly! It turns out you have to read the fine print: You can only use the full...
Tablet Mode, or What the heck happened to my Desktop?!
You're using Windows 10, minding your own business... Suddenly, after clicking something near the system tray in the lower right corner of your screen, you are met with the weirdest desktop you've ever seen. Your Start Screen tiles are displayed on your desktop,...
DEAR GOD the circuit breaker keeps tripping – What to do?!
First, remain calm. Second, watch this video! A tripping circuit breaker or GFCI/RCD/differential breaker can be really annoying. It normally doesn't happen. When it does, the end result can be that you run around the room with your undies on your head, screaming like...
Malwarebytes for Mac is definitely worth it now
Those of you who use Windows are probably aware of Malwarebytes, which happens to be my favorite anti-malware protection app. Back in December, I wrote about the improvements in the software in Malwarebytes 3: You might need to manually upgrade. What you might not...
EEK! #5 – Breaker Panels aren’t so scary after all
I usually see people freak out when they open the door of their circuit breaker panel. No more! Note that I'm using European breakers and EU-type panel design as my example, so if you're in North America or certain other countries, you're not gonna see the same thing....
How to disable telemetry and improve your privacy in Windows – again
You may recall a post I made a couple of years ago: Another privacy fix, this time for Windows 7, 8, and 10 At some point after that a new update was released - and it's not clear when since the dates on the Windows update web pages don't seem to correspond to...
EEK! #4 – What the heck is Power Factor?
Power factor is one of those things that sounds really complicated, but it's pretty simple when you boil it down. And every now and then, knowing a little something about power factor comes in handy. In short, power factor is the ratio of the real power consumed by a...
Blank screen after upgrading graphics card: Uh-oh?
Let's say you upgrade the graphics card in your puter. You fire it up, and it appears that Windows 10 is booting. The hard drive light is blinking away, and you might even hear a startup sound, or you can see that your ethernet port light is blinking away madly. Only...
HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, VGA: Which cable should I use?
You'd think that connecting an LCD screen to your puter would be straightforward. You'd be wrong! It all gets pretty confusing. There are several types of connectors and cables, and it's difficult to know which one to use. Often, you can even use an adapter cable to...
Cryptocurrency hype and the future of blockchain technologies
Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum are the wave of the future, right? So why is all the latest news about their value in US dollars? Isn't that kind of backwards? Obviously, these new digital currencies have a ways to go... It doesn't help that the systems in...
How to customize your drive icons in Windows Explorer
People love to customize their puters. You want a certain color, a certain background wallpaper, and some people go so far as to use a theme that will even change icons. You may know about changing your removable drive icons, especially if you read my ancient article...