Long gone, but now back… sort of. :)
Reader Troy Marcotte* asks: “Is there any way to recover data from a computer that has been factory reset?” If the device was simply reset using an ordinary factory recovery DVD/flash drive, or the like, then yes, some data may still be available. With a standard factory reset, the drive usually gets reformatted, and fresh…
First, scan the “possibly infected” system using an external, self-contained, bootable, DVD- or flashdrive-based anti-malware tool. (Examples; many are free.) Boot and run the suspect PC from the anti-malware DVD or flash drive — not from the possibly-infected hard drive. The anti-malware tool then runs, scans, and cleans all the files on the hard drive….
I hope it’s not a surprise to you: Internet Explorer 10 is in its final months; and will no longer be supported by Microsoft as of January 2020 — the same “end of life” as Windows 7. As the Microsoft TechCommunity Blog bluntly states: “You will have until January 2020 to complete the transition from…
(Question asked by reader Tevin Gotti*.) No, it’s not true. Lots of data gets permanently deleted all the time. Data that’s been fully and completely overwritten is beyond recovery. But it takes extra steps to “fully and completely” overwrite data. When that’s not done, all bets are off: It might be possible to recover old…
Uncle! OK, OK, I give in! When I recently resurrected the Langa.Com site, and started working again with the old Windows Secrets gang over at AskWoody.com, I assumed my current laptop would be up to the task. After all, it had served me well for the last few years. I was wrong. It’s not an…
By now, just about everyone knows that digital zoom is a great way to ruin a shot on a smartphone or camera. When you zoom digitally, all you’re doing is making the pixels bigger, and that soon leads to fuzzy, blocky, blurry photos. Optical zoom — some call it “lossless zoom” — is different. By…
This is way cool: New software can analyze faint light patterns on walls and other matte surfaces to reconstruct a full-color representation of objects that are out-of-frame or around corners. No special optics are required: It works with ordinary digital camera snapshots. Besides the “way cool” factor of being able to see around corners, once…
If this is a new problem — if the laptop used to charge normally — your battery is likely showing its age. It’s now requiring more power to recharge, and is overtaxing the power supply, leaving you with an either-or choice — charge the battery or run the PC. A new battery will likely restore…
First, be sure your hard drive is the true bottleneck: If you’re using Windows, open Task Manager/More Details and select the Performance tab. If your hard drive is a truly the bottleneck, you’ll see something like this: If the problem is the hard drive, you can help by giving it a tune-up. First, free up…
Reader Bernie Holladay* writes: Fred, I have a question about the USB-C port. I needed to spec a USB connection for my new PC and choose Type-C. It was for a connection to a USB powered cooling pad for a laptop. It worked fine but when I shut down I noticed the fans were still…