In 2024, just about all modern computers use SSDs as their primary data storage format (except for maybe budget Chromebooks). Maybe you’ve done research to get the best SSDs worth your money, equipping your desktops and laptops for utmost performance. Sadly, SSDs don’t last forever. Sure, their performance and durability have improved over the years, but even the ones with impressive terabytes written (TBW) ratings and long warranties still die eventually. You’ll know it’s coming before it happens, too. Here are some key warning signs that your SSD is at the end of its life and what you can do about it—if you can do anything at all. First things first: Read this! If you have even the slightest suspicion that your SSD might be dying, the first thing you should do—even before finishing the rest of this article—is go and back up your important data right now. Yes, it’s possible to recover data from dead SSDs. But it’s not always easy, it’s never guaranteed, it will take a lot of time, and it can cost you a hefty chunk of change. Don’t risk losing your vital works files, photos, videos, game saves, etc. Backups are worth it. 1. Your PC freezes or crashes Joshua Hoehne / Unsplash Joshua Hoehne / Unsplash Joshua Hoehne / Unsplash System freezes, crashes, random reboots, and blue screen errors. These can all be symptoms of all sorts of problems with your PC, which means they can also be signs that there’s something wrong with your SSD. If you don’t find any problems with your CPU or RAM, and you’ve updated all your drivers and Windows updates, and if you can’t pinpoint the issue elsewhere, then there’s a chance these random crashes are caused by an SSD that’s going bad. Keep reading for more warning signs that may help corroborate whether the issue is due to your SSD or something else. 2. Your PC feels slower than usual SSDs slow down as they fill up with data, but they also slow down over time due to memory cells wearing out. While modern SSDs use a technique called wear leveling to make sure the write/erase cycles are spread across the SSD cells as evenly as possible, some cells will inevitably wear out faster than others. As that happens, performance across the drive can diminish because the controller has to work harder and harder to manage the data, causing slowdowns when write/erase commands are performed. New SSDs also come with additional “overprovision” space that can be used to maintain performance and capacity as cells wear out. However, as this overprovisioned space is used up and those cells in turn wear down, the overall drive’s performance will again suffer. If your SSD’s performance hit is recent, try moving big files off to another drive and see if that helps. Maybe freeing up some space—especially if your SSD is near capacity—is all you need to reclaim speed. But if your SSD is far from full and performance is noticeably slower, there’s a good chance it’s dying. While death likely isn’t imminent, it may not have that much life left. 3. Your files are inaccessible or corrupted If an active memory cell degrades to the point of being completely inaccessible, it’s possible for the files on the drive to become corrupted or entirely inaccessible. For example, when you try to access certain files on your SSD, Windows may give you a “The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable” error. This error may be intermittent at first, but if it keeps happening—especially with the same files—you may have a dying SSD on your hands. In the meantime, run chkdsk to see if Windows can repair drive errors. Sometimes it could be all you need to fix the issue. 4. You get file system repair errors If you get a specific blue screen of death saying that the file system needs a repair, that’s a sign that major data corruption has occurred within Windows files themselves and they need fixing. Sometimes this data corruption can be caused by software, but if it happens multiple times and/or the file damage is particularly bad, then it’s likely to be caused by a failing SSD. You might be able to fix this with Windows’ own repair service (which will automatically start when Windows fails to boot properly after an error like this), but it’s a clear sign that your drive could be in trouble and, at the very least, warrants further investigation. 6. You see bad blocks in Event Viewer If you’re worried that recent crashes, blue screens, or falling performance might be caused by a failing SSD, you might be able to use the Windows Event Viewer to see what may be behind them. Check the Windows Event Viewer to see if the reasons for recent crashes have anything to do with your SSD. You want to particularly look out for any hint of “bad blocks,” as that’s a surefire sign that your SSD is struggling and may need replacing soon. If these “bad block” references are occurring for your main boot drive, or a drive that contains important data like work files, then get them off the drive ASAP before performing a drive health check. 7. Your SSD has a poor health score Jon Martindale / IDG Jon Martindale / IDG Jon Martindale / IDG One of the clearest signs that your SSD might be dying is that it gets a poor health score in drive health check apps, like CrystalDiskInfo. Apps like this will assess your drive and give it a health rating. For more modern drives, you may even get a health percentage, which represents how much life that particular drive has remaining. What’s an acceptable drive health percentage? Well, that’s sort of up to you. But if the health check app says your drive is in “Good” condition, then you should have nothing to worry about. Note: In the above image, my main SSD is “Good” but its temperature isn’t. That doesn’t mean it’s going to fail on me, but it’s something I should consider addressing to improve the drive’s longevity. For more general advice on monitoring the health of a drive, check out our guide to monitoring your SSD health. 8. You can’t write to the SSD anymore If a drive goes read-only, it’s on its way out. You might bump into this issue when trying to install a program or move files onto the SSD. If it refuses to do it, if you get some kind of error that stops you from writing data, or if you’re told that the drive is in read-only mode, good chance the drive is about to die. SSDs do this as a protective measure, affording you a little bit of extra time to get your data backed up immediately. When this happens, you should remove the SSD from your PC and put it in an enclosure of some kind—effectively making it an external SSD—so that it isn’t being read from constantly by the system. 9. Windows fails to boot properly If Windows won’t boot from an SSD, that drive may well be about to die. It’s possible that there’s some kind of issue with Windows files or maybe a driver conflict, but if you suspect your SSD may be to blame, it’s time to back up whatever data you can from it. Follow our guide on Windows boot problems first. If that doesn’t fix it, treat the SSD as dying and act fast to make sure your data is backed up and safe before it’s too late. 10. Your SSD is no longer recognized If you can’t see the drive in Windows (or worse, the BIOS), then the drive may already be dead. If it’s a brand-new drive, it could just be that you need to initialize it or add a partition—but if it’s an older drive that’s suddenly disappeared, it’s not a good sign. You could try putting the SSD in an enclosure and seeing if it’ll show up when connected to another PC. If that works, you should back up whatever data you can. Even if the drive starts working again, there’s a good chance this second wind is just temporary. If you’ve gotten to this point and your SSD is completely inaccessible, follow our guide on how to recover your data from a drive. It might have what you need to save your most important files. Storage Read...

Refurbished products directly from the manufacturer can be an excellent option. These items undergo meticulous testing and certification processes to ensure they meet quality standards, and they’re usually as good and reliable as new models. But the best part? How much cash you end up saving! Dell Refurbished is currently running a massive sale where you can save up to $400 extra on offerings, including Grade A products in excellent condition with at most a few cosmetic blemishes. There are also Grade B products that may have some cosmetic blemishes or other imperfections, but still work just as well as new. Use coupon code HOT24JULYDEALS to get $400 off any item priced $800 and up, plus free ground shipping. Use coupon code HOT24JULYDEALS to get $300 off any item priced $600 to $799, plus free ground shipping. Use coupon code HOT24JULYDEALS to get $200 off any item priced $400 to $599, plus free shipping. Use coupon code DELLHOT35DEALS to get 35% off any item. You can use any of these coupons until July 9, 11:59 PM CT. All coupons exclude products available in the Hot Deals section. Here are some of my hot finds from Dell Refurbished, with what you’d pay after applying the best coupon: Dell Latitude 7310 Touch (Grade A, 13.3-inch display, Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $349 (save $440) Dell Latitude 7410 (Grade A, 14-inch display, Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $319 (save $310) Dell OptiPlex 7470 AIO (Grade A, 24-inch display, Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $469 (save $240) Dell OptiPlex 7090 (Grade A, Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, AMD Radeon RX 640) — $419 (save $520) Dell Precision 7750 (Grade A, 17.3-inch display, Intel Core i7, 64GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Nvidia RTX 3000) — $649 (save $520) If you want to save big on laptops and computers, this is an amazing opportunity. If you want to dig through more Dell Refurbished products, just make sure to apply a coupon before you check out! Save up to $400 at Dell Refurbished todayCheck out the sale now Laptops Read...

This past June 29 marked the 30th anniversary of FreeDOS, the text-based operating system by American developer Jim Hall that carries on the tradition of the classic and iconic MS-DOS. In fact, development of FreeDOS continues to this day, although the latest version (1.3) is two years old at this point. TechSpot reports that version 1.4 is currently in the works, though, and will primarily focus on bug fixes and updated tools. Looking beyond that, Jim Hall says that full support for Windows 3.1 and Windows 3.11 may be on the horizon for FreeDOS, as this has been the number one request from users for a while. FreeDOS works well on most older computers, so if you want to play around with old programs and classic games, give it a try. But if you want to install FreeDOS on a modern computer, the most convenient solution—and Jim Hall’s own recommendation—is to use virtualization software. Personal Software Read...

Laptops may be practical tools for work and play, but like any electronics device, they can also exude that luxury feel. The kind that makes you think, “Ooh. Yeah, that’s nice.” They don’t have to—and they often don’t—but if you’re willing to pay a little extra for the privilege, there are several high-class laptops that can deliver such luxury vibes… and a bit of premium quality will take any laptop from useful device to one that’s a true pleasure to use. Here are some of the most gorgeous, most stylish, and most luxurious laptops of 2024 that’ll make your eyes sparkle. HP Spectre Fold Dominic Bayley / IDG Dominic Bayley / IDG Dominic Bayley / IDG Ushering in a foldable future When we got our hands on the HP Spectre Fold at the start of this year, it turned more than a few heads. The folding design is ingenious, making it possible to use the laptop in ways that you just couldn’t with a more traditional design. Even 2-in-1s feel limited by comparison. HP Spectre Foldable Read our review The OLED display is stunning to look at, and despite the keyboard’s super-slim profile, it still has travel and feels good to type on. The touchpad isn’t bad, either. Its shocking price is a high barrier for entry, but if you’re looking for a laptop that just feels like the future, the HP Spectre Fold is it. Dell XPS 14 IDG / Mark Knapp IDG / Mark Knapp IDG / Mark Knapp A premium worth paying Dell’s XPS range of laptops have always been aimed at a more luxury-oriented audience, but not all of its latest models have been worth the cost. With the Dell XPS 14, though? The argument is there. Dell XPS 14 (2024) Read our review It offers great performance, extensive battery life, and a bright and vibrant OLED touchscreen. Its slim, lightweight design feels modern and elegant, giving off the same vibes of XPS Plus laptops from a generation ago but without the added moniker. It does come at a steep cost that makes it less of a bang-for-your-buck kind of buy, but if you’re in for a luxurious looking and feeling laptop, you can’t go wrong with the Dell XPS 14. Lenovo Yoga Book 9i IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman A multi-monitor solution on the go Who said a portable laptop has to have a small screen? Or even a single screen? The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i is a brilliantly designed laptop that gives you a pair of 13.3-inch touchscreens at near 3K resolution with HDR. They’re OLED, too, so they have inky blacks and bright, vibrant colors. Lenovo Yoga Book 9i Read our review This is the kind of laptop that’s perfect for photo editing while traveling or mastering video with the second screen there to help expand your timeline for added room and functionality. It has strong battery life, above average performance, and is just stunning to look at. It has a compact design despite the bonkers amount of screen space in such a lightweight chassis, and it’s so much more convenient than carrying a portable monitor with your standard laptop. Framework Laptop 16 IDG / Matthew Smith IDG / Matthew Smith IDG / Matthew Smith One for us nerds Do you love digging into the latest PC hardware? I do, which is why I build and configure desktop computers for work and for fun. You can’t usually do that with a laptop, but with the Framework Laptop 16, you can! Framework Laptop 16 (2024) Read our review This is one laptop that’s easy to customize, upgrade, and repair yourself, all thanks to its smart modular design. It can deliver fantastic performance if you configure it that way, and its battery life is strong despite its power. The display isn’t quite as impressive as some OLED designs, but this is the only laptop you can take apart and configure like this. It’s not just a cool feature—this is only laptop where this is even a feature. It’s the very definition of exclusive, premium luxury. Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra Mark Hachman / IDG Mark Hachman / IDG Mark Hachman / IDG Stunning with top-notch performance Samsung threw its hat in the luxury ring with the latest edition of its Galaxy Book4 Ultra, a stunning laptop with incredible performance, top-tier features, and some of the longest battery life in a Windows laptop we’ve ever seen. Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra Read our review Best Prices Today: $2999.99 at Best Buy It lasted close to 20 hours in our testing and recharges super fast, too. It has impressive audio, a gorgeous OLED screen, and it has a powerful graphics chip that offers a stellar gaming experience. This is a laptop that’s truly luxurious all around. You don’t need to miss out on battery life, performance, connectivity, or features. It’s a do-it-all laptop that’s well worth it—if you can afford it. HP Dragonfly G4 Thomas Rau Thomas Rau Thomas Rau A traveling professional’s dream laptop When you think of professional laptops meant for traveling businesspeople, the word “luxury” might be far from your mind. But it doesn’t have to be. The HP Dragonfly G4 is a sizzling-hot laptop that ticks so many boxes. If it weren’t for its high price tag, it would have a real shot competing with some of our favorite consumer-focused laptops. HP Dragonfly G4 Read our review This one offers outstanding battery life at close to 18 hours in our testing, yet weighs a svelte 2.6 pounds, making it easy to carry around all day. It also has Thunderbolt 4 connections, Wi-Fi 6E, and a 5G module so you can connect over cellular data. OK, so its 1080p display isn’t quite so luxurious, but this is a work machine. You shouldn’t be watching UHD movies on it anyway! When you’re working, though, you’ll feel the difference—especially the comfortable keyboard that’s functional and fast to type on. Asus Zenbook Duo 2024 Mattias Inghe Mattias Inghe Mattias Inghe Double up for added productivity The Asus Zenbook Duo is a model laptop that has really stood out over the last several years. With its dual-OLED displays, it offers more screen space than most other laptops—and the 2024 edition is no different. Asus Zenbook Duo UX8406MA-PURE19 Read our review It looks absolutely gorgeous and has loads of extra screen space for work and play, with the option of touchscreen controls making it easier to interact with your favorite apps and get stuff done. Despite its impressive display, the Zenbook Duo doesn’t sacrifice battery life or performance, so you get a truly premium device in every sense of the word. And it’s a head-turner, for sure! Apple MacBook Pro M3 Foundry Foundry Foundry Apple’s most impressive design yet Apple’s MacBook Pro M3 is the latest and greatest of their MacBook range, offering fantastic performance and battery life in a sturdy, well-built chassis, complete with a gorgeous display. Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M3 Max, 2023) Best Prices Today: $3299 at Adorama | $3349 at Best Buy | $3499 at Apple The keyboard is excellent (which still feels like a treat considering Apple’s pedigree in that space) and it supports some of the latest connectivity technologies, including Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and Thunderbolt 4. While the base model’s performance isn’t anything to write home about, the M3 Pro and M3 Max models are stupendously fast and can have a staggering amount of memory—up to 128GB. That makes it an absolute productivity powerhouse while looking like a thin and light ultrabook. Its price is high if you load it up with tons of storage space, but for the laptop owner who wants it all, the MacBook Pro M3 is the one. Further reading: The absolute best laptops to get right now Laptops Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating ProsAmazing battery lifeBeautiful OLED screenGreat pricing on RAM and storage upgradesConsNo headphone jack or USB-A portWindows on Arm app compatibility isn’t perfect“Yoga” name is misleading as this isn’t a 2-in-1Copilot+ PC AI features are half-bakedOur VerdictThis Snapdragon X Elite-powered laptop combines a beautiful 14.5-inch OLED display with long battery life. But Snapdragon laptops without an OLED screen will get even longer battery life, and application compatibility still isn’t perfect on these new Arm PCs. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x is one of the first Copilot+ PCs. While Microsoft is talking up AI features, the real story here is the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite hardware inside this PC. Microsoft has been releasing Arm-based Windows PCs since the Surface RT, but this is the first time that Arm-based Windows PCs have finally become seriously competitive. Yes, this Snapdragon X Elite-powered 14.5-inch laptop delivers extremely long battery life with snappy performance and cool and quiet operation in day-to-day use. The experience with day-to-day productivity applications is beautiful – just like the OLED display this machine has. (Despite the “Yoga” name, however, this is not a 2-in-1 laptop). Of course, the Windows on Arm experience isn’t perfect. Microsoft’s Prism translation software offers much improved compatibility with traditional x86 apps. Most existing x86 applications “just work,” but not everything “just works” at the moment. And, while gaming performance is decent thanks to both the Prism translation layer and the impressive integrated GPU, this can’t deliver as much graphical horsepower as a discrete Nvidia or AMD GPU in a more traditional gaming laptop. Looking for more options? Check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best laptops available today. Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x: Specs The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x is part of the first wave of Copilot+ PCs, and it includes an Arm-based Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip. All Snapdragon X Elite chips include a neural processing unit (NPU) capable of 40 trillion operations per second (TOPS) as well as a Qualcomm Adreno GPU. This particular machine has Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100 hardware. There are four Snapdragon X packages at launch, from lowest-end to highest-end: The Snapdragon X Plus X1P-64-100 avoids the “Elite” name and only has 10 cores. The Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100 in this machine includes 12 cores. The Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100 has 12 cores as well, but it gains a “Dual Core Boost” feature that can go up to 4.0 GHz for extra power when the CPU needs it. The Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 has 12 cores, but its Dual Core boost goes up to 4.2 GHz. It also offers faster multi-threaded CPU performance and a high-performance Qualcomm Adreno GPU. It’s unclear how much the differences between these chips will matter in the real world until we see more reviews and have a chance to benchmark more laptops with the different models ourselves. Qualcomm Qualcomm Qualcomm There aren’t a lot of other hardware options when configuring this $1,199 machine. Our review model came with 16 GB of LPDDR5X-8448MHz RAM, but you can get this machine with 32 GB of RAM for an extra $69. Like many modern PCs, the RAM is soldered. You have to make your decision when buying the machine — you can’t upgrade it later. Additionally, our system included a 512 GB PCIe Gen4 SSD for storage. You can upgrade to a 1 TB SSD for an extra $45. Those are very reasonable prices for the upgrades. At that price, I’d recommend it. This machine has a neural processing unit (NPU) that can deliver 45 TOPS (trillion operations per second) of performance. That means it gets access to a variety of Copilot+ PC AI features. Unfortunately, with the splashy and controversial Recall feature delayed, the AI features on Copilot+ PCs aren’t particularly compelling at launch. They may become compelling in the future, especially when Recall launches, or if third-party application developers start using the NPU to power AI features in their Windows applications. CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100 Memory: 16 GB LPDDR5X-8448MHz Graphics/GPU: Qualcomm Adreno Display: 2944×1840 OLED with 90Hz refresh rate and touch screen Storage: 512GB PCIe Gen4 SSD Webcam: 1080p camera with shutter switch Connectivity: 3x USB-C Full-Function ports (USB4 Gen 3, Power Delivery 3.1, DisplayPort 1.4) Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3 (with Bluetooth 5.4 capable hardware) Biometrics: IR camera for Windows Hello Battery capacity: 70 Watt-hours Dimensions: 12.8 x 8.86 x 0.51 inches Weight: 2.82 pounds MSRP: $1,199 as tested Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x: Design and build quality IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman While there are transformational changes under the hood, Lenovo didn’t reinvent the wheel with the Lenovo Slim 7x’s design. The chassis is a spitting image of the Lenovo Slim 7 14 we reviewed just a few months ago. Like that laptop, this machine is made of aluminum and has a nice smooth metallic finish with lots of rounded edges and a small bezel around the display. Lenovo calls this laptop’s color scheme “Cosmic Blue.” It’s a nice, dark, professional-looking metallic finish. It has the “communications bar” at the top of the laptop’s display. That bar gives the webcam and IR camera a place to live, letting Lenovo shrink the bezel around the screen – and giving you a convenient handhold when opening the laptop. While this machine bears the “Yoga” name, it doesn’t have a 360-degree hinge. This laptop does have a touch screen, but it’s not a convertible “2 in 1.” In fact, the screen doesn’t even lie flat. That’s fine, but I do think it’s a little confusing considering what the Yoga name has meant in the past. I showed this machine to another person who expected it to be a 2-in-1 thanks to the “Yoga” name. Lenovo says that it’s moving forward with using the “Yoga” name for more laptops in the US and that it’s already been using the name in this way internationally. Once again, that’s fine – just don’t be misled by the name. At 2.82 pounds, this is a nice light laptop. The build quality feels nice and premium – the laptop is solid and doesn’t flex in any strange ways. The hinge action feels great. Lenovo says this “durable aluminum design” is tested to MIL-STD 810H military-grade standards, and it feels solid and sturdy while remaining lightweight. Software-wise, this is a familiar Lenovo laptop experience. Bloatware is very restrained, but Lenovo does install a trial of McAfee antivirus, which will show you popups with a “welcome offer.” Unlike Microsoft’s Surface Laptop, however, which omits the stickers below the keyboard, Lenovo chose to stick a variety of stickers to the left of the touchpad. It would be nice to see manufacturers move on from those stickers, but maybe we’ll be stuck with them going forward. Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x: Keyboard and trackpad IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x’s keyboard feels very nice to type on. The specs sheet says it has 1.5mm of key travel, which is nice for a laptop – especially one this thin. With plenty of travel, the keys are enjoyable to type on. They’re pleasantly snappy. This is no surprise as we spoke positively about this keyboard in our Lenovo Slim 7 14 review, too. The keyboard also has a nice white backlight. The touchpad here is good. It’s a fairly standard touchpad with a reasonable size, accurate tracking, a good click, and solid palm rejection. These days, a standard touchpad on a PC laptop is pretty good. Lenovo hasn’t gone above and beyond the average ultrabook when it comes to the touchpad – but that makes sense, as this is a pretty good price. In addition to the touchpad, this machine also has a touch screen. Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x: Display and speakers IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x’s display is the star here. Lenovo included a 14.5-inch 2944×1840 OLED display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, 90Hz refresh rate, and a touch screen. It’s a bright, beautiful display. An OLED display means deep dark blacks and vivid colors, and you’re getting that here. Really, it bears repeating: That display is one of the big reasons you’d pick this machine out of the first Copilot+ PC lineup. Microsoft’s Surface Laptop isn’t available with an OLED display, so you have to go for a Surface Pro tablet or a laptop from another manufacturer. In our review of the Intel Core Ultra-powered Lenovo Slim 7 14 from earlier this year, we noted that its 1920×1200 OLED display was a step behind the competition. The upgraded display is awesome. And, thanks to the Snapdragon X Elite hardware here, Lenovo managed to deliver a higher-resolution OLED display and longer battery life versus than the Intel-powered Lenovo Slim 7 14. The OLED display is a little on the glossy side and can pick up reflections, as you’ll notice in some of the photos in this review. But it’s bright enough that it was plenty readable even in the direct sunlight outdoors, which is a worst-case scenario for any laptop. The speakers here are similar to that Intel-powered model. There are upward-firing speakers on each side of the keyboard. In our review of the Slim 7 14, we said that the speakers were typical for a laptop of this size and price range, saying that they “provide acceptable audio with good volume and clarity, but they lack the depth and complexity available in Lenovo’s more expensive laptops and 2-in-1s.” That’s a spot-on description of this laptop’s speakers, too. Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x: Webcam, microphone, biometrics The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x includes a 1080p webcam, which is on the “communications bar” that juts out a tiny bit above the display. It’s a nice webcam, and the quality seems a touch better than some other 1080p webcams I’ve used recently. It’ll be great for video meetings. This machine has a physical webcam switch on its right side. Flip the switch and the webcam will be cut off. You might prefer a physical shutter that covers the laptop’s webcam if you’re a fan of webcam privacy tricks, but that’s often a more expensive feature for higher-end business laptops. This machine has an IR camera for Windows Hello logins. It works very well: You can open your laptop, and it sees your face and signs you in. But this machine goes beyond that with an interesting presence sensor. If you activate the presence sensor, it will notice when you get up and walk away from your laptop, locking the laptop – which is great for both security and battery life. And, when you sit down in front of the laptop, the presence sensor will activate the laptop and sign you back in with Windows Hello. It’s a nice feature, and it’s something Microsoft’s Surface Laptop doesn’t offer. Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x: Connectivity IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x’s selection of ports feels simultaneously generous and skimpy. If you’re looking for USB-C ports, it’s generous: You’re getting three USB-C ports, two on the left side of the laptop and one on the right side. They’re all “USB-C Full-Function ports” with USB4 Gen 3, Power Delivery 3.1, and DisplayPort 1.4. You will have to plug the charger into one of them to charge this machine, but you still have two USB-C ports to play with while it’s charging before you even have to think about a dongle. That’s it, though. There are no other ports here: Not even a traditional audio jack or single USB-A port, and certainly not a microSD card reader or an HDMI port. That’s fine if you’re willing to go all-in on USB-C! But it’s worth noting that some of these Snapdragon X Elite-powered Copilot+ laptops do offer more ports, so you do have the option of getting them along with this new Arm hardware. Asus’s larger Asus Vivobook S 15, for example, includes USB Type-A, an audio jack, HDMI out, and a microSD card reader. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x includes Wi-Fi 7 support along with Bluetooth 5.4-capable hardware. The laptop’s Wi-Fi performed well, although I don’t have a Wi-Fi 7 network to test the latest standard on yet. Lenovo lists Bluetooth 5.3 on this laptop’s spec sheet, but a Lenovo representative tells me that the company is a little conservative – other companies may list Bluetooth 5.4 as the hardware is capable of it, even though Windows doesn’t yet deliver it. Rest assured this laptop has just as much Bluetooth 5.4 capability as any other Snapdragon X Elite-powered laptop. What about application compatibility? Windows on Arm’s application compatibility is now very good — but not perfect. Remember: We’re talking about a major architectural shift for Windows here. These Snapdragon X Elite-powered laptops are Windows on Arm PCs that can run traditional x86 Windows applications through a Prism translation layer. For the most part, applications “just work” — either because they have a native Arm version already available or because the x86 version runs through Prism. If it does “just work,” you don’t have to think about it. But not everything works. Some applications will show errors and refuse to install. For example, the official Google Drive sync tool doesn’t work on these machines. It has to integrate with File Explorer, and it can’t do that through the Prism translation layer. Google hasn’t ported it to Windows on Arm yet. Applications that need low-level access will be a problem in general. If you have a very old printer lying around that needs a manufacturer printer driver, for example, that traditional printer driver was likely created only for x86 versions of Windows. It likely won’t work on an Arm-powered laptop. While PC gaming has been a focus of Qualcomm’s marketing, Microsoft says productivity applications will work better than PC games. The Windows on Arm Ready Software website attempts to catalog PC game compatibility, and it notes that Fortnite doesn’t run at all on these machines thanks to anti-cheat support. That’s just one example: Wide game compatibility isn’t here yet. Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x: Performance The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x delivered very snappy day-to-day performance while running on battery power in typical desktop applications, including web browsers like Edge, Chrome, and Firefox, as well as popular productivity applications like the Microsoft Office suite and Slack. While this laptop has fans for active cooling, it stayed cool and quiet in normal use. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x is a great laptop for day-to-day use with typical desktop applications. We ran the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x through our standard benchmarks to see how it performs. IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman First, we ran a CPU benchmark with Geekbench 6. We normally run PCMark 10, but it doesn’t run on Arm computers like this one. Geekbench 6 runs natively on ARM, so we can get an idea of this machine’s CPU performance when running native Arm code without Microsoft’s Prism translation layer involved. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x delivered an excellent score of 14013 in the multi-threaded CPU benchmark, beating both the Snapdragon X Elite-powered Microsoft Surface laptop and the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED with its Ryzen hardware. You can see the huge improvement from the older Arm-based Microsoft SQ3 processors in the Microsoft Surface Pro 9. The fans stayed nice and quiet while this benchmark was running. IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman Next, we run Cinebench R24. Cinebench R24 has a native Arm version, which means it isn’t running through the Prism translation layer. This is a heavily multithreaded benchmark that focuses on overall CPU performance. It’s a quick benchmark, so cooling under extended workloads isn’t a factor. But, since it’s heavily multithreaded, CPUs with more cores have a huge advantage. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x delivered a score of 1023 in the multi-threaded benchmark, beating all the older machines we compared it to. It’s faster than recent Intel Meteor Lake CPUs here — in fact, it’s even noticeably faster than Microsoft’s Surface Pro 2-in-1. The fans spun up while this multi-threaded benchmark was running — they kick in to provide extra cooling for intensive workloads like this one. (I didn’t notice them running much at all during day-to-day application use.) While Snapdragon X Elite laptops deliver cool and quiet operation in day-to-day use, they will run hotter and louder while performing CPU-intensive tasks. IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman Next, we run a graphical benchmark. Despite Qualcomm talking a lot about gaming performance, this isn’t really a gaming laptop. It’s a laptop that can run some games in a pinch, but Microsoft says compatibility will be better with productivity applications than games. As always, we run 3DMark Time Spy, a graphical benchmark that focuses on GPU performance. We also run 3DMark Night Raid. Time Spy is running through the Prism translation layer, while Night Raid is running natively on Arm. The pair of results shows the difference between x86 code translated with Prism and native Arm code. The Yoga Slim 7x delivered a score of 1902 in the Time Spy benchmark. That’s faster than the Surface Laptop, once again. It’s noticeably slower than recent Intel and AMD chips. While Qualcomm is talking up gaming performance of existing PC games that haven’t been ported to ARM, one of the tricks it depends on is Auto Super Resolution, which uses the NPU to upgrade the image. That trick isn’t available to this laptop in this benchmark. IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman When we ran the Night Raid benchmark, which runs natively on Arm, the Qualcomm Adreno GPU shot past the Intel Arc graphics in the Lenovo Slim 7 14, coming a close second to the AMD Radeon 780M graphics. While Prism works well, it’s clear these machines will perform best when running native Arm code. While these graphical benchmarks hit the Yoga Slim 7x’s Qualcomm Adreno GPU hard, the laptop’s fans weren’t especially loud while they were running. The GPU can deliver its performance without a lot of noise or heat. Overall, the performance was impressive. It’s exactly what I’d hoped to see: Nice snappy performance in desktop applications with competitive performance in traditional x86 applications running through the Prism translation layer. This machine also delivered slightly better performance than the Surface Laptop and Surface Pro across our benchmarks. However, despite all the hype about gaming performance, I wouldn’t buy a Snapdragon X Elite with gaming in mind. Not all games run — and I was surprised to see that even Microsoft’s own Game Pass service for PCs won’t let you install PC games on these computers. It only offers the ability to stream Xbox games from the cloud. If these machines are great at running games, Microsoft’s Xbox team certainly hasn’t gotten the message yet. For now, you’ll want a more traditional gaming laptop for maximum compatibility and maximum performance. Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x: Battery life The entire industry has been talking up the battery life of these Snapdragon X Elite-powered laptops. Lenovo says the Yoga Slim 7x has “multiday battery life,” which the company describes as two 8-hour workdays of mixed workloads. Additionally, Lenovo says this machine has “Rapid Charge Express” technology and can get up to 3 hours of runtime in 15 minutes of charging time, and it seemed to charge nice and fast. With a battery-sipping Snapdragon X Elite chip and a 70 Watt-hour battery, it should get pretty good battery life. We saw incredible battery life for a laptop with an OLED screen, although it’s not as much battery life as Microsoft’s Surface Laptop with its more energy-efficient display.  IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman To benchmark the battery life, we play a 4K copy of Tears of Steel on repeat in the Media Player app on Windows 11 with airplane mode enabled until the laptop suspends itself. We set the screen to 250 nits of brightness for our battery benchmarks, and it’s worth noting that OLED laptops have a bit of an advantage, as OLED screens use less power to display the black bars around the video. This is a best-case scenario for any laptop since local video playback is so efficient, and real battery life in day-to-day use is always going to be less than this. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x lasted for an average of 951 minutes, which is a tad under 16 hours. That’s a truly incredible number for a laptop with an OLED display. In real use, too, the laptop delivered snappy performance in day-to-day computer usage — applications like Chrome, Edge, video meetings, Microsoft Office, and Slack  — while the battery level dropped much slower than it would on the typical Intel or AMD laptop I’ve been reviewing. Of course, that 14.5-inch OLED display is draining the battery a bit faster. Microsoft’s Surface Laptop beat this laptop in our benchmarks with an extra four hours of battery life — all while having a smaller 54 Watt-hour battery. If you’re looking for the longest possible battery life, you’ll likely want to look elsewhere. But you’ll be getting a less vibrant display. The trade-off is up to you — but, with battery life this good, sacrificing a little bit of it for a more beautiful OLED display feels like a reasonable move. Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x: Conclusion The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x is a great laptop for day-to-day use with typical desktop applications. It offers nice, snappy performance even on battery power. Thanks to the incredible energy efficiency of the Snapdragon X Elite hardware and the reasonably large 70 Watt-hour battery in this machine, this PC gets great battery life – even though it has a high-resolution OLED display. If you’re interested in this machine, you’re likely in one of two situations: First, you may be curious about Snapdragon X Elite PCs in general. If so, you should probably do some research to see whether the applications you depend on run on Snapdragon X Elite PCs in general. The lack of Google Drive will be a big deal for some people — and that’s just one example. PC game compatibility isn’t perfect, either. Intel’s Lunar Lake may deliver an experience more like this one with full x86 compatibility later this year. But, if the applications you do rely on work on this hardware and you’re interested in the excellent day-to-day performance with long battery life without waiting to see Intel’s next hardware release, I think you’ll be happy with one. Second, you might be comparing the various Snapdragon X Elite Copilot+ PCs available now. Compared to a Surface Laptop, for example, this machine trades some of that battery life for a big and beautiful OLED display. And it offers a good deal if you want more RAM and storage, too. If maximum battery life is all that’s important to you, look elsewhere — like the Surface Laptop. If you want more ports (like a USB-A port, HDMI port, or headphone jack, this also isn’t the machine for you. Ultimately, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x is a beautiful machine. Its main problems are with software: Windows on Arm still doesn’t have perfect software compatibility, and these Copilot+ PC AI features aren’t all they’re hyped up to be at launch. But I can’t help but love this kind of performance and battery life combined with a vivid OLED display. Laptops Read...

If you’re looking to boost your productivity with an extra screen, especially when you’re on the go, the Arzopa S1 Table Portable Monitor is now just $64 at Amazon, down from $130. While this price is technically a Prime deal—big savings that are only for Amazon Prime members—non-Prime shoppers can still get this awesome portable laptop monitor for $90. The Arzopa S1 Table serves as an excellent portable monitor since you can easily slip it into your bag right next to your laptop. Whether you’re multitasking with multiple applications or just need a bigger screen for your spreadsheets, this monitor helps you stay productive. Featuring a 15.6-inch 1080p IPS screen, this monitor delivers vibrant colors and crystal-clear image quality. The anti-glare display ensures you can work comfortably even in brightly lit environments, such as under fluorescent lighting or outdoors. The display’s 60Hz refresh rate isn’t the best for gaming, but it’s all you need for reasonably smooth visuals while working on presentations, streaming videos, or just browsing the web. This portable monitor is lightweight (1.7 pounds) and slim (0.3 inches thick), so you won’t have any trouble carrying it around. The Arzopa S1 Table features dual USB-C ports, so it can easily connect to smartphones, computers, and gaming consoles. The mini HDMI port further extends compatibility to most modern laptops, ensuring you have a way to use the monitor with any device. This is a fantastic opportunity to get this 15.6-inch Arzopa portable monitor for just $64 if you’re a Prime member. If you aren’t one, sign up for a 30-day free trial of Prime and you’ll be able to join in on this plus all the upcoming Prime Day deals, too! This 15.6-inch portable laptop monitor is only $64Get it now at Amazon Monitors Read...

Microsoft has stopped delivery of June 25th’s KB5039302 update. While the update had some interesting stuff in it, it turns out that it can cause Windows 11 PCs to restart in a continuous loop. Specifically, Windows 11 version 23H2 and Windows 11 version 22H2 are affected by this bug. Windows servers are not affected. Fortunately, KB5039302 isn’t installed on all Windows 11 computers because it’s an optional update. (It’s a preview of the standard update for all Windows 11 machines that will be released on Patchday in July 2024.) In other words, KB5039302 will only be on your Windows 11 computer if you explicitly installed it. Get Windows 11 Pro for cheap Windows 11 Pro Microsoft wrote the following: After installing updates released on 26 June 2024 (KB5039302), some devices may not restart. Affected systems may restart repeatedly and require recovery operations to restore normal use. The Redmond software company continues: This issue is more likely to affect devices that use virtual machine tools and nested virtualization features, such as CloudPC, DevBox, Azure Virtual Desktop. We are investigating to determine the exact conditions under which this issue may be triggered. Windows Home Edition users are less likely to experience this issue as virtualization is less prevalent in private environments. And further: While our investigation is ongoing, this update is not being offered through Windows Update and Windows Update for Business. For this reason, this update may not be offered for your device at this time. Microsoft is working on a solution to the problem and plans to release it with one of the upcoming updates. What to do if you’re stuck restarting If you’ve installed the update on your computer and it enters the never-ending reboot loop, you’ll have to wait until Windows 11 begins the Windows 11 recovery environment by itself. When it does, select Troubleshoot, then Advanced Options, then Uninstall Updates, and finally click on Uninstall latest quality update. Then confirm removal of the update. It will take some time for KB5039302 to be removed. Once it’s done, restart your computer and it should work properly again. Windows Read...

Cloud backup services are the OG of online storage. Long before internet bandwidth allowed you to work online, there were services dedicated to providing that all-important third copy in the backup triad: the original data, a copy of the data, and a copy of the data in a remote location. The hallmark of these services are client apps that upload (and restore if necessary) data to from the remote server farm. Backblaze offers unlimited storage and an effective backup client. Backblaze offers unlimited storage and an effective backup client. Backblaze offers unlimited storage and an effective backup client. Most people are already using a cloud backup service, though they may not think of it that way. Google Drive, iCloud, and OneDrive all serve as backup repositories for Android, Apple, and Microsoft products, respectively. Even if you don’t use them, they’re there. What we look for in cloud backup services Our basic goal when reviewing a cloud backup service is to determine its suitability to the task, ease of use, and compatibility across platforms. As to what specific criteria we apply…. Backup and sync All services we classify as cloud backup provide local apps that handle the backup chore, often one-way sync. If they don’t, we cover them under the umbrella of online storage. Versioning and retention policies If a cloud backup service offers one-way sync for backup, it should be keeping older versions of changed files. How many, and for how long can be a major factor in our rating — it’s not always forever. Capacity Obviously, you want the most room you can get for your data, depending on the size of your stash of course. However, users such as yours truly, working with large multimedia files, may need a lot more. For instance, the unlimited storage offered by Backblaze and Sync.com. We look for tiers that will suit any data scenario, which brings the discussion to… Price We could’ve listed price as number one given that how much you pay for the amount of space you need factors heavily into our ratings. All things being equal, the cheaper the gigabyte (free being the best!), the higher the rating. Things are not always equal. Icedrive’s menu shows how to access older versions of your files. Icedrive’s menu shows how to access older versions of your files. Icedrive’s menu shows how to access older versions of your files. Online editing Storage services such as OneDrive/Microsoft 365 and Google Drive/Docs offer full-blown office suites that allow users to work online. We’re not expecting that from a dedicated cloud backup provider, but it’s nice when it occurs. Online preview With services that offer limited or no online editing, there’s usually a preview feature. How many file types are supported, and how well they display (video is often problematic) is something we check. Google Drive’s online interface. It’s the default cloud backup for Android devices but offers no true backup client for Windows. Google Drive’s online interface. It’s the default cloud backup for Android devices but offers no true backup client for Windows. Google Drive’s online interface. It’s the default cloud backup for Android devices but offers no true backup client for Windows. Operating system integration Carbonite‘s client with its Windows Explorer integration is one of our favorite cloud backup clients. So much so, we wish it could be used with other storage and services. We don’t count clients such as Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, iCloud etc. that integrate as folders or drives, but don’t provide dedicated backup functions. Of course you can still use these storage services for backup, but only by moving your data onto the integrated folder or drive. The distinction is fine, but you can find coverage of these services in our online storage reviews. Further reading: Best online backup services Carbonite provides its own handy and efficient backup client. Carbonite provides its own handy and efficient backup client. Carbonite provides its own handy and efficient backup client. Geographical location and redundancy Where a cloud backup service’s storage farms are located can effect the speed of transfers. As the internet infrastructure has matured, this is less of an issue than it once was, but it can still occasionally be a bottleneck. We also award brownie points to services that have several farms in different geographical locations to ward off data loss due to natural or unnatural disaster. Company history and story A company that’s been around for a while is more likely to garner our trust than one that just started. That said, some newer concerns actually leverage storage from older companies such as Dell EMC — much as smaller cellular companies use larger companies’ wireless infrastructure. Basically, we check to make sure a company isn’t likely to disappear overnight, along with your data. Device support With so many photos and video found on phones these days, it’s a plus if a service provides an app that will back up your phone multimedia to its servers. This isn’t a huge deal as Google Drive is integrated into Android, and iCloud into iPhones, but it’s a nice perk. pCloud’s Android app allows access to your files from your phone. pCloud’s Android app allows access to your files from your phone. pCloud’s Android app allows access to your files from your phone. Web access When it comes to computers, nearly all cloud backup services allow you to access your files via a web browser. If they don’t, that’s a major hit on the rating. That said, we’ve yet to come across one that doesn’t offer this functionality. Integration with other online storage services At least one service, FileShadow, will even connect to and back up your other online storage accounts. This is a definite plus, and generally quicker than using a cloud manager to copy from one service to another. Further reading: 5 tools that integrate your cloud storage into Windows File Explorer How we test cloud backup services During our evaluation, we test every feature a service provides: upload, downloads, sync, backup, restore, editing of files, preview of files, client software and apps, file retention, the web interface, etc. If it all works, it passes muster. However, ease of learning and use are also factored in. Internxt Drive’s backup client. Internxt Drive’s backup client. Internxt Drive’s backup client. As to speed….Generally speaking, we’re not overly concerned with performance. There are simply too many variables that can impact each user’s speed experience, such as the quality of the internet infrastructure between a user’s device and the service. We do note performance and discuss it, we just don’t put a lot of weight behind it unless something unusually great or bad happens. How we rate cloud backup services How many of the above boxes a service ticks, plus its ease of use, reliability, and performance are the primary considerations in rating a cloud backup solution. Price is always paramount as in terms of backup, all the services we’ve tested to date handle that chore just fine. Backup Software Read...

Did you know that it’s entirely possible to use Windows 11 with a local-only account, the way it worked way back when computers still used floppy drives? You’d be forgiven for not knowing, because it seems like Microsoft is going out of its way to hide this option from you, hoping to push you onto a connected Microsoft Account instead. In fact, they’re straight-up erasing information that might tell you otherwise. Microsoft keeps a pretty sizable collection of short, to-the-point guides for some of the most frequently searched functions on Windows. For example, this page tells you how to move from a local-only, non-connected user account to a full-on Microsoft Account. But that page used to say a lot more. Tom’s Hardware discovered that the most recent version of the page has deleted information on how to go in reverse, to transition from a Microsoft Account to a local account. The change was made last week, just as the newest Surface devices hit the market. The original version of the page is still visible via the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine. It’s disheartening, but not surprising. Microsoft has been incorporating more online, always-connected features into Windows for decades (including several unwelcome pushes to buy Microsoft Office or switch to the Edge browser). And this push only seems to be accelerating as Microsoft bets big on generative AI with Copilot, even going as far as offering a paid upgrade for more functionality. It’s still possible to operate Windows 11 as a local user, only logging into Microsoft services via web browser like in ye olden days. But you have to set up an account first, then manually move yourself off of it. Microsoft appears to be increasing that difficulty with intention. The recent changes to the Windows 11 setup process—and now yeeting instructions off its own support page—show that Microsoft wants every user to send over data constantly. Windows Read...

With tweaking tools such as WingetUI or Microsoft PC Manager, you can not only improve settings in Windows 10/11, but also fix problems. This often works faster and more effectively than with manual changes to the registry or other system files. get windows 11 pro for cheap Windows 11 Pro In this article, we will show you some of the best tweaking tools currently available for Windows, which are also available free of charge. Some of the tools are portable, i.e. you do not need to install them, but can simply start them, even from USB sticks. Further reading: Supercharge Windows with Microsoft’s free PowerToys NetAdapter Repair – fix network problems If Windows can no longer communicate properly with the network or the internet, the open source tool NetAdapter Repair is an ideal tool. Once started, various buttons are available to repair individual areas in Windows that are causing problems with the network. Inexperienced users in particular can use it to fix problems that otherwise only experienced users would dare to tackle. In addition to simpler problems, such as deleting the DNS cache, retrieving a new IP address, or cleaning up the hosts file, you can also repair VPN settings, reset the Windows firewall, and much more. The routing table can also be repaired in this area. It’s also possible to select and start several tasks at once at this point. The “Run All Selected” button is available for this purpose. To be able to perform all actions, you should start NetAdapter Repair with admin rights. On the right-hand side, you can also see the external IP address of the internet access and the IP settings of the computer. Thomas Joos Thomas Joos Thomas Joos The tool therefore provides information on the network settings and the option to rectify errors at the same time. Microsoft PC Manager helps to clean up Windows With the free Microsoft PC Manager tool, users can very easily clean up and optimize their PC and search for errors. The tool can perform a health check and a deep cleanup. Autostart programs can also be cleaned up. The tool also helps to block pop-ups and much more. Thomas Joos Thomas Joos Thomas Joos PC Manager helps to clean up the system and can delete files that are no longer needed. AutoPowerOptionsOK and saving energy The small AutoPowerOptionsOK tool helps with the management and use of power options. The tool extends the standard options and integrates itself directly into the tray area of the taskbar. The tool can be used to access the Windows energy settings and further options are available via the context menu. AutoPowerOptionsOK AutoPowerOptionsOK AutoPowerOptionsOK AutoPowerOptionsOK is therefore an ideal tool for notebooks or for computers where optimum power settings are important. Winaero Tweaker is the top dog WinaeroTweaker is one of the best-known tweaking tools on the market and can change a whole host of settings in Windows. Winaero Tweaker can also be extracted as a portable version during installation. The tool supports numerous settings that can be implemented with just a few clicks. In addition to Windows 10 and Windows 11, Winaero Tweaker can also customize settings in Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. Winaero Tweaker enables the activation of complete context menus without the entry “Show more options” and the restoration of the classic taskbar and ribbon design in File Explorer. In addition, the position and size of the taskbar can be changed, all background apps can be deactivated simultaneously, and there are shortcut tools to start applications as an administrator without UAC confirmation or to open system folders and settings directly. Users can create shortcuts to the classic shutdown dialogue and remove unwanted overlay icons from shortcuts. The tool makes it possible to restore the classic search in File Explorer, use the classic Windows photo indicator and the classic volume control, and permanently deactivate Windows telemetry, Windows Defender, and Windows Update. Thomas Joos Thomas Joos Thomas Joos Adverts and unwanted apps can be blocked, the integrated administrator account can be activated, and automatic registry backups can be set up. Further adjustments relate to drag-and-drop sensitivity, deactivating notifications, and the Action Center as well as resetting the icon cache and all Group Policy options. Network options, such as changing the RDP port and making network drives accessible to elevated applications, are also available. Customization of the Windows interface includes personalizing folders in Explorer, increasing taskbar transparency, displaying seconds in the taskbar clock, and disabling blurring on the logon screen. Winaero Tweaker also allows you to add useful context menus, hide unwanted entries, and customize default apps for image editing contexts. These comprehensive functions make Winaero Tweaker an indispensable tool for in-depth customization and optimization of Windows systems. TweakPower – The Windows Cleaner Another tweaking tool for Windows is TweakPower. After installation, numerous setting options are also available here. The tool primarily helps with cleaning up Windows and optimizing the operating system. TweakPower TweakPower TweakPower TweakPower can be used to replace system and desktop icons, optimize network properties and memory, and adjust drive and security settings. The program allows you to clean the hard drive, split and encrypt files, and delete data irrevocably. Users can customize Windows to their liking by changing settings for the system, input devices, drives, and applications. They can also customize the appearance of Windows by changing colors, icons, the Start menu, and other visual elements. TweakPower tidies up your PC by removing unnecessary files, cleaning the registry, and deleting internet traces. The security features protect the PC by managing firewall settings, automatic updates, and user account control. Data can be securely deleted and encrypted to protect privacy. Economy Mode reduces power consumption and extends battery life, while Game Mode disables unnecessary processes to improve performance when gaming and streaming. System maintenance includes managing autostart programs, fixing hard drive errors and typical Windows problems, and creating restore points and backups. Add-ons such as the file splitter and the defragmentation function improve file management and system performance, while the Task Manager provides control over active programs. The performance index evaluates the computer’s hardware components and displays the overall performance. TweakPower supports multiple languages and is compatible with different versions of Windows, making it a valuable tool for system optimization. Improve data protection in Windows 10/11 Windows 10 and Windows 11 are data octopuses when it comes to data protection. The small, free tool W10Privacy puts an end to snooping with just one click. The tool can also be used as a portable version during installation. Some virus scanners report a false-positive malware infection of the tool, mainly Microsoft Defender. However, if you download W10Privacy from the developer’s website, you will not catch a virus. get windows 11 pro for cheap Windows 11 Pro Consumer Electronics Read...