Why my laptops are so slow

 Yesterday, I wasted so much time converting files. This morning I wanted to start fresh and figure out what was wrong, before seeing a technician.

So I'll list in here some search results:

And here is a great article which I will read and take notes:

How-To

How to speed up your laptop without spending a dime

There's nothing more disappointing than an agonizingly slow laptop. If you're looking to speed things up, here's how to do it without spending your hard-earned cash.

By Mark Knapp5 months ago

while at it, I saw this article:

How-To

Is your laptop slow? Try these 9 things before you give up

Don't ditch that aging laptop until you try these speed-boosting tricks first.

By Matthew S. Smith1 year ago

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Help from Microsoft

https://support.microsoft.com/article/c6e820b5-ef98-3b0e-0b95-d4f60f1b0468

Improve my PC performance in Windows

If your Windows PC is running slowly, there are some solutions you can try to help make it run better. Here are the tips in order of what you should try to fix the problem. To get more information about each tip, use the Tips to improve PC performance link at the bottom of this topic.

1. Make sure you have the latest updates for Windows and device drivers.

2. Restart your PC and open only the apps you need.

3. Use ReadyBoost to help improve performance.

4. Make sure the system is managing the page file size.

5. Check for low disk space and free up space.

6. Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows.

7. Pause OneDrive syncing.

8. Disable unnecessary startup programs.

9. Check for and remove viruses and malware.

10. Restore your PC from a system restore point.

Tips to improve performance in Windows

Steps I took: I checked my windows 10 and it was up to date. Then as usual I am offered to switch to windows 11. I searched once again about that and what would be different. I love PCWorld (was it used to be PC Magazine?) and I trust their opinion

5 reasons to switch to Windows 11 (and 5 reasons not to)

We have four good reasons to upgrade to Windows 11 -- and five more that say you should stick with Windows 10.

By Mark Hachman

Senior Editor, PCWorld May 24, 2023 9:00 am PDT

    Few takes from the article for my use: " 

Will your PC even run Windows 11?

Quite frankly, the transition to Windows 11 has always been surrounded by a “will they or won’t they approach” to Windows 11’s hardware requirements. For a while, the restrictions that Microsoft put on the available supported processors made Windows 11 desirable; no one likes being told that they can’t upgrade, especially when they’ve paid good money for an existing PC. Then there were the exceptions, and the workarounds. In the end, the hassle of upgrading an older PC to Windows 11 might make some people ride out Windows 10 until they get a new PC.

No one, least of all Microsoft, wants PC users to be hacked. But it’s to Microsoft’s credit that no major exploit really plagued Windows 10 or Windows 11.

My take: so it's not necessary to upgrade to Windows 11, until I buy a new one.

Is Windows 11 faster than Windows 10? No

"  ... In fairness, Windows 11 is a little faster, but just not that much to be significant.

"... Do I really need to upgrade? The answer, simply put, is no—not yet. Windows 10 ends support on October 14, 2025, 

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While scrolling PCMag - I came upon this very interesting article. Wait, what??? No USB flash drive???? We just got used to seeing new laptops not having DVD or CD players and had to buy external ones!!! And now USBs???

So here is the article:

How-To

This Windows feature eliminates the need for a USB flash drive

If you have handfuls of smaller files to get from one PC to another, this method is very simple and quick.

By Alaina Yee

Senior Editor, PCWorld Jul 12, 2024 6:00 am PDT

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"... Step 1: Enable Nearby Sharing

From the taskbar, open search or the Start Menu, then type nearby sharing. Choose Nearby Sharing settings from the search results that appear.

A window will appear for the Shared Experiences settings. Look for Nearby Sharing, then flip on the toggle for Share content with a nearby device using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi."

• Can I use Nearby Sharing to transfer files between PCs and mobile devices?
• Can I use Nearby Sharing to transfer files between PCs with different hardware configurations?
• How do I use Nearby Sharing to transfer files between PCs in a home network?
• How do I troubleshoot issues with Nearby Sharing on my Windows PC?
• What are the limitations of using Nearby Sharing for file transfer?

This didn't really answer what I was looking for .... 

But I'm including this information here.

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Technology hacks in the news - July 2024

 Some of the latest technology news in July 2024

R A W S A L E R T S

@rawsalerts

·

38m

#BREAKING: Hackers have stolen and leaked internal documents stolen from Leidos Holdings one of the largest IT services providers to the Pentagon, Homeland Security, NASA, and other U.S. government agencies, according to Bloomberg.

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Technology and the self-checkout debate

 

The Scourge of Self-Checkout

The technology promised to make shopping easier. It has done the opposite

by David Moscrop Updated 8:09, Jun. 17, 2024 | Published 6:30, Jun. 17, 2024

 

For detailed information check out this article: https://thewalrus.ca/the-scourge-of-self-checkout/?utm_source=pocket-newtab-en-us  

What's your opinion? I prefer the cashier to do it's job and avoid any issues that sometimes come up which on self checkout lane. 

 

 "... Despite the odds being stacked against shoppers and labourers, there’s been a recent self-checkout consumer backlash, even a decline in consumer loyalty, but it’s been modest. Still, the overall frustration has led to small wins. In April, posters encouraging shoppers to steal from Loblaws on May 12 began popping up. Later, May became the “boycott Loblaws month”—a temporary protest that, for some, is set to stretch on indefinitely even as the company met with one of the boycott organizers. At that meeting, according to Yahoo Canada, Loblaw CEO Per Bank shared the company was ditching its multi-buy promotions, which forced shoppers at No Frills locations to buy multiples of an item to get a discount. In another concession, the company finally signed the voluntary federal grocery code of conduct, which is meant to formalize and govern the relationship between food retailers and their suppliers. But it looks like Loblaws is keeping self-checkout. ..."

How to get rid of cable TV and have wifi access

 Information via social media posts regarding TV and wifi access

Internet access and Wifi aren’t the same thing. Access to the Internet is the service provided by the provider to your home. How you access the service once it's in your home can be via a hardwire connection (usually ethernet) or via wireless (aka wifi). Typically, the Internet provider will give you a modem-router. The modem-router creates a network within your home. On one side, it connects to the Internet. On the other side is the network (and connections) within your home. The modem-router has ports for hardwire connections _and_ has wireless features for wireless (wifi) connections. A desktop computer might connect via either method. A printer might connect via either method. A smart TV might connect via either method. A laptop will likely connect via wireless. A tablet or phone will connect via wireless. Most streaming media devices will connect via wireless. You don’t need a cable TV package to get access to the Internet for your phone and/or other devices. You can order an Internet only package from the cable provider(s) in your area, i.e. Optimum, Verizon FIOS, AT&T Fiber, Spectrum, etc. Internet via a provider like Optimum, Verizon FIOS, or Spectrum is not the same as Internet access as provided by a cellular provider. Access via a regular provider tends to be faster and more flexible. Many of the cellular providers like AT&T Wireless, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile also offer cellular based access to the Internet for the home. It isn’t the same as Internet access as provided by a provider like Optimum or Verizon. Typically, it’s a box that connects to the provider’s cellular network and in turns provides access to the Internet via the cellular-based data connection. It’s slower and may lack some of the flexibility of a standard broadband connection. In your home, the box will provide wifi connection and, possibly, one or more ethernet connections. How well cellular based Internet works is 100% dependent on the cellular provider and how it is in general in the area. It still might be sufficient for your purposes, depending what you want to do with the Internet. Additional Information: Modern TVs can get a significant amount of free programming via an over the air (OTA) antenna. However, it won’t get you programming from providers that you need to pay for via a cable programming package or via most streaming services. It’ll be local channels like CBS, NBC, ABC, PIX11 and a bunch free channels. How much you get via an antenna depends on your location, the antenna and the tuner in your TV. Lots of free programming including content from providers available via cable TV can be had via streaming services. It could be via an app from the provider itself. It could via an app that combines content from various providers. You can watch the content via the app on a tablet or phone, on a computer via the web and/or on a TV via an app on the TV or a streaming media device like an AppleTV, Roku or Amazon Fire device. You’ll need access to the Internet to watch content via streaming services. Although there is a tremendous amount of free content available, many of the popular streaming services require a subscription. Be prepared to cough up the bucks for one or more subscriptions if you want content that is available via the free services or free from the subscription services.

Why it's best to use CASH - cash is king

 Via social media post, here is a very interesting explanation as to why pay with cash whenever possible, when you are shopping.

I copied this from someone else. Very interesting and it really made me stop and think about using cash more often.

I have really never thought of this has anyone else?

Please understand what NOT

using cash is doing.

Cash is important.

Why should we pay cash everywhere we can

with banknotes instead of a credit card?

- I have a $50 banknote in my pocket.

Going to a restaurant and paying for dinner with it. The restaurant owner then uses the bill to pay for the laundry. The laundry owner then uses the bill to pay the barber. The barber will then use the bill for shopping.

After an unlimited number of payments, it will still remain a $50, which has fulfilled its purpose to everyone who used it for payment and the bank has jumped dry from every cash payment transaction made...

- But if I come to a restaurant and pay digitally - Card, and bank fees for my payment transaction charged to the seller are 3%, so around $1.50 and so will the fee $1.50 for each further payment transaction or owner re laundry or payments of the owner of the laundry shop, or payments of the barber etc.....

Therefore, after 30 transactions, the initial $50 will remain only $5 and the remaining $45 became the property of the bank thanks to all digital transactions and fees.

Small businesses need your help and this is one way to help ourselves too. Pull small draws of cash out at a time and use that instead of tap, credit, etc.

When this is put into perspective, imagine what each retailer is paying on a monthly basis in fees at 3% per transaction through their POS machine.

If they have, for example, $50,000 in sales & 90% are by Card, they are paying $1500 in fees in ONE Month. $18,000 in a year! That comes out of their income every month.

That would go a long way to helping that small business provide for its family!"

Side hustles in this digital age

 We often read about various ways to make money, side hustles, in this digital age.

Looking into some of them and the most recent feedback from users are included on this page. We see them listed on variety of blogs and many articles. Let's really look into them and see if they are worth your precious time:

1. SwagBucks Take surveys, watch videos & shop to earn real money

The reality is, feedback from users on  Trustpilot 

From the recent negatives, it looks like it's best to avoid it.

I will update this page soon with additional information

Issues with external hard drive

 Technology is great, until things go wrong.

I had instances, where external hard drives failed. Right now I am dealing with a brand new WD external hard drive, which I had bought a year ago. Therefore I cannot return. I had it as a backup in case I needed it.

Since my blue external hard drive is having issues, I figured to back all the data into the red WD.

However, there are issues and I am unable to transfer. Most of my laptop's D drive got backed up and then it started to act up! So I tried to find out information via DuckDuckGo search engine and here is some of the info I will share with you as well. I hope you will find it useful. If you have any additional suggestions, please don't hesitate to write your comments.

I have found Tom's Guide helpful in the past. Here is information and some excerpts from his website

The external hard drive not showing up is yet another issue: How to fix an external hard drive that's not showing up:

https://www.tomsguide.com/how-to/how-to-fix-an-external-hard-drive-thats-not-showing-up

Any computer users will want to know how to fix an external hard drive that’s not showing up. After all, there’s no point having one of the best laptops or best computers if you can’t access the files you need from your external drive.

Obviously, too, there’s the worry that any precious files stored on the drive will be lost — from treasured family photos to important work documents and even your favorite game files. 

Thankfully, if you have an external hard drive that’s not working, there are a few ways to try and fix it. These range from relatively minor settings tweaks to actual physical triage. 

Do remember, though, that hard drives are not meant to last forever. They have a lifespan which is certainly possible to reach during ownership. Mechanical hard drives are also notoriously susceptible to physical damage from knocks and drops, rendering them beyond saving. Both of these factors mean, we’re sorry to say, that it is possible your files are gone for good. 

How to fix an external hard drive that's not showing up

1. Check your external hard drive is powered up
2. Try a different USB port or computer
3. Check your drive is enabled and allocated/mounted
4. Check and update your drivers
5. Install your hard drive directly into your computer or a new enclosure

Read on for detailed instructions regarding each step.

Latest news and information about AI Artificial Intelligence

 I will be updating this page often, regarding the latest news about Artificial Intelligence AI

Update: July 23, 2024

Info via X/Twitter: regarding Artificial Intelligence and Voice cloning tool

Matthew Sabia

@MatthewSabia

BREAKING  The Whitehouse Gets Caught Using Popular AI Voice Cloning Tool

@ElevenLabs

To Fake Call To Vice PResident Kamala's HQ Event  #AI #JoeBiden #Kamala2024 #CoconutTree #Benghazi 

Source link: https://x.com/MatthewSabia/status/1815608731109069202

https://x.com/MatthewSabia/status/1815608731109069202

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Age of AI: Everything you need to know about artificial intelligence

Devin Coldewey@techcrunch / 2:02 PM EDT•June 9, 2023