Backup4all Pro: A Complete Solution to Windows Backup [Giveaway]
The world of backup software is very extensive and competitive on the Windows platform. Software like Backblaze, Crashplan, and Mozy are some of the most well-known proprietary titles in this area. Backup4all Pro is a different piece of software in the respect of how how much detail and control the user has over their backups and logs. After using it a bit, I'd recommend Backup4all Pro to any backup enthusiast, novice or not. Here at MakeUseOf, we're going to be giving away 25 copies of one of the best all-around Windows backup solutions on the web, totaling at a cost of near $1250!
How To Keep Your Computer Quiet On The Cheap
I doubt that anyone has ever listened to computer fan noise and thought "wow, that’s awesome. Let’s have some more of that!" At best, fan noise is simply there, an ambient whirr that be mostly ignored. At worst it can be a serious distraction. There are ways to make your computer quieter. But what can you do if you don’t want to spend much?
Get More From Your Battery With Jupiter [Linux]
Get better battery life from your Linux laptop. Jupiter Applet is a small program that helps you save energy by adjusting your CPU, tweaking the Linux kernel and your hardware. You probably won't notice a performance difference, but your battery will last longer.
The Ultimate Triple Backup Solution For Your Mac [Mac OSX]
As the developer here at MakeUseOf and as someone who earns their entire income from working online, it's fair to say my computer and data are quite important. They’re set up perfectly for productivity with my favourite apps and preferences. That’s why when my hard drive ground to a halt yesterday, I got a little bit panicky.
Should You Pay More Attention to Windows Software Error Reports? [Geeks Weigh In]
Windows tracks every application crash and freeze on your system. It records detailed information about the crashes and even tries to provide a solution to each error report, helping you fix problems. With that in mind, the question is: should you pay more attention to these error reports and solutions?
How To Make Your PC A Microsoft Signature PC Without Paying $99
Windows PCs are notoriously junk-filled out-of-the-box. Buy a Microsoft Signature PC from a Microsoft Store (yes, Microsoft has a handful of stores across the US) and you’ll find it free of the usual junk. Soon, Microsoft will offer to turn any PC into a Microsoft Signature PC with its "Signature Upgrade" service - as long as you pay $99. But here's how you can save that money.
4 Things You Absolutely Must Check Before Upgrading Your Desktop PC
Upgrading your desktop computer is an excellent idea. You can extend the lifespan of a PC indefinitely by changing out components over time. Absolutely everything can be replaced. Computers are complex, however, and this can lead to headaches when trying to upgrade. Nothing is more frustrating than finding out that you have a compatibility issue.
How To Back Up PCs To Each Other Via The Internet Using Crash Plan Personal
Backing up the data on your computer is vital. Yet not everyone does something about it. Why? Because backing up a computer remains a bit of a pain. If you own more than one computer, however, the answer may already be in your home. You could use your computers as backups for each other.
5 Ways To Give An Old Laptop A New Life
Computers seem to become slower as they age. Operating systems tend to become more resource-hungry over time, hardware ages, and the exuberance felt during the first months of laptop ownership fades. This is why some people buy new laptops frequently, but there are ways to make an older model feel new again.
3 Reasons Why You Might Want to Compile Your Own Kernel [Linux]
Linux systems are so ridiculously flexible and configurable, it's downright crazy. A huge part of why Linux is so flexible is because of its modular structure. Every single system component and program is split up into many different packages that can easily be removed, added, or replaced by something else. Absolutely no part of the operating system has an exception to that rule, including the Linux kernel itself.
Top 3 Websites To Check Whether Your Hardware Is Supported By Linux
No operating system will have support for every single piece of hardware out of the box, and it's important to know which ones have that support. There's always a driver for that piece of Windows hardware, but with Linux, you do not have that guarantee, so the overall hardware support is smaller. You can figure out, however, which pieces of hardware do have Linux support by checking hardware databases.
Optimize Your Disk Performance With Auslogics Disk Defrag Pro [Giveaway]
File system fragmentation is a major cause of sluggish performance on Windows. The default Windows Disk Defragmenter does a passable job of the basics, but Auslogics Disk Defrag Pro ($29.95) goes above and beyond. We’re giving away 25 copies of Auslogics Disk Defrag Pro for Windows worth a total of $750 to 25 lucky readers this week! Read on for your chance to win.
How To Be Warned Of Impending Hard Drive Failure
Don't let a dying hard drive on your Mac catch you by surprise. Be warned before anything happens to your precious data. SmartReporter is a free application for your Mac that can warn you of hard drives problems, thanks to S.M.A.R.T. data. This gives you a heads up, because errors on a hard drive can mean problems are coming soon.
Conveniently Patch Windows & All Programs With Patch My PC
I have to admit that when it comes to keeping a PC completely up-to-date with all of the required patches and updates, I fall far short.
A Spring Cleaning Checklist For Your PC Part 2: Delete Junk & Free Wasted Space [Windows]
Regular PC maintenance is often neglected, leading to lost hard drive space and a bloated operating system that runs increasingly slower. To avoid a dreaded Windows re-installation, you should perform a thorough cleanup at least once a year. In part 1 of this article, I took you through a physical cleaning checklist for your computer. For part 2 I have created a spring cleaning checklist for the digital environment.
A Spring Cleaning Checklist For Your PC Part 1: Hardware Cleaning
With the arrival of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere, houses across the globe get a nice cleaning to rid them of dirt and clutter that has accumulated over the past year. Dust and junk also settle on our computer. Whether your PC is suffering from a clocked up fan or an overloaded hard drive, it is time to give it a thorough spring cleaning. With the following checklist this will be a breeze.
Set Yourself Apart When Upgrading And Repairing PCs For A Living
Trying to make money by offering tech support with your own small business isn't exactly easy. In this article I'm going to cover 5 really cool tech support services you can offer to your customers that will not only offer you a regular monthly income from maintenance contracts, but it will also help you to get a leg up on the competition.
Find Out How Healthy And Fast Your Hard Drive Is With These Two Free Windows Applications
The platters of a hard disk drive are spin around at 5400 or 7200 PRM (and sometimes even faster) for countless hours. You would do well to check on their health every now and then. Even if your hard drive is perfectly healthy, it may still pose a performance bottleneck on your system. So how can you tell if your hard drive is healthy, and how can you tell how fast it is?
Bring Windows Up To Speed With Auslogics BoostSpeed 5
Is your PC running at a fraction of the speed it used to? Enter Auslogics BoostSpeed, a tried and tested method of breathing new life into an ageing Windows partition. Today we’re offering another chance for you to win one of 25 copies worth a staggering $1,248!
5 Ways To Make Linux Boot Faster
Linux users are quite proud of the fact that Linux is pretty darn fast when compared to other operating systems. Not only that, but Linux doesn't seem to suffer much of the same "bogging down" effect that Windows gets when you have hundreds of applications installed on the system. However, the speed addicts who use Linux always need to find new ways to make their system go even faster.