PDFelement is already a well-established name when it comes to working with PDFs, thanks to its impressive range of features and affordable price. But the developers at Wondershare haven’t rested on their laurels, as a new upgrade brings a host of AI tools and enhancements that will make it even easier to edit, annotate, extract information and share the results. If you regularly deal with PDF files, the updated PDFelements version 11 release could be about to make your life a whole lot simpler. PDFs get smart The AI revolution is well underway, and the updated PDFelement brings AI-powered tools that are focussed on improving how users interact with PDF files. With these new abilities you can get work done in the least amount of time and with a minimum of fuss. One such feature is Knowledge Cards. If you are rushing to write up a report for work or have an essay due, then this could be a godsend. PDFelement can take long PDF files, read them using the built-in AI technology, then generate summaries that highlight the key points in the document. No need to plough through pages and pages of text to find the necessary information, as the software can do it in seconds, providing you the data you need to finish your task in a fraction of the time. Not only that. If you need more information or want terms and ideas in the document explained, then you can use the Chat feature to ask questions. This works across multiple PDFs and is a whole new way to interact with documents as you have an assistant to help you process and understand the content. The AI also has the ability to generate quizzes and answer sets so you can test yourself on your newly acquired knowledge. Thanks to its advanced language understanding, PDFelement can rewrite a section that you highlight, so that the same idea is phrased in a different way. This can be helpful if you are working on a presentation or document and feel an idea hasn’t been expressed in the clearest manner. It can of course also be a useful tool for understanding complicated ideas that you come across in a PDF, as seeing it written in an alternative style is a great method for unlocking a concept. These impressive AI features are also accompanied by some particularly useful tools for productivity and accessibility. The Read Aloud function will present an audible version of the PDF, which could be great if you’re taking notes or have impaired vision. There are several reading voices to choose from, as well as controls for the speed, volume and how much of the document you want read out. Wondershare One clever tool in PDFelement is being able to share documents between computers and mobile devices by simply scanning a QR code. This can avoid accidentally sending the wrong version of a file or opening an older version with a similar name on your cloud drive. There are also additional features such as instant translations from foreign languages, grammar checking, high detail scanning, file compression to save space, and much more. Flexible ways to work Wondershare, the company behind PDFelement, knows that performance and flexibility are the cornerstones of modern digital life. That’s why the software is available across a wide range of platforms and devices. You can use PDFelement on Windows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS and Android, with cloud syncing available so you can access your PDFs wherever you are and with whichever device you have to hand. The cloud service also syncs up your signatures, so you can eSign documents while on the go, retains your reading progress when moving between devices, and when sharing PDFs you can see the annotations and comments from those with whom you are collaborating. If you use the main Microsoft Office apps – Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook – then there are plugins available, so it will work seamlessly with some of the most popular productivity apps in the world. Thanks to its lightweight design, PDFelement runs fast and smooth, no matter the platform, so you can just concentrate on work without worrying about getting bogged down by the software. Power without the price One thing that hasn’t been expanded in the latest update is the price. PDFelement has always offered excellent value or money when you compare its feature-set and cost against its closest rivals. Now, you can buy a yearly subscription or a perpetual license, depending on your preference, and expect to pay 50% less than the market leaders. There’s no extra cost for the AI features either, unlike on some popular products that charge a premium for that sort of access. PDFs can be a pain when you don’t have the right tools, but PDFelement makes it quick and simple to edit, extract, annotate and share the information you need. Thanks to the AI enhancements it can also be fun, rewarding, and won’t blow a hole in your finances. Don’t waste your time battling with PDFs, instead download PDFelement today and make your life that little bit smarter. Read...

With the launch of Refresh 2024, Squarespace has made significant improvements to its web design and content management platform. The update, released at the end of September, marks a new era for the service by offering even greater design flexibility and a smoother workflow for its users. The most tangible change with Refresh 2024 is the increased freedom in how you can customize your website. Squarespace has always been known for its elegant templates and ease of use, but with this update you get even more tools to create a unique page that truly reflects your brand. The new version gives you more options to adjust layouts, color schemes, and fonts in a simple and intuitive way. Plus, you can utilize the built-in AI to create everything from engaging copy to your company’s tone of voice. This means you can customize every detail without worrying about technical limitations or code. Get a 10% discount Try Squarespace and get a discounted price by using the code PCW10 Try it now The improved interface allows you to edit your page directly on screen and see the changes in real time. For businesses that need to update their content quickly, or creatives who want to experiment with design, this saves valuable time and makes the workflow much smoother. In addition to design freedom, Squarespace has also improved its SEO tools. Refresh 2024 gives you access to updated SEO features that help you optimize each page to rank better in search engines. It’s an important upgrade for both small business owners and content creators who rely on organic visibility on Google and other search engines. Mobile-friendliness has also received a boost. In an age where more users browse on their mobiles than on computers, it’s crucial that your website works flawlessly no matter what device the visitor is using. Refresh 2024 ensures that all of your pages look and work as smoothly on mobile as on desktop, without the need for extra customization. Put content behind the paywall With Refresh 2024, Squarespace strengthens its position as a leading web design platform, and it’s easy to see why. The platform is a complete solution for anyone who wants to create a professional website, whether you’re an entrepreneur, artist, blogger, or small business owner. Everything is integrated — from e-commerce and invoicing to marketing tools that allow you to manage everything from one place. With Refresh 2024, there are also improved billing tools, more payment methods, automated marketing workflows, and opportunities to monetize content via paywalls for blogs and videos. For those who want to explore all that Refresh 2024 has to offer, there is an opportunity to get 10% off your first purchase. By using the code PCW10, you can get started with Squarespace and see how their updated platform can help you build and grow your digital presence. From $16 per month Read...

SSDs are now the norm in computers. With older laptops and desktop PCs, the low capacity of the original SSD is usually the main reason for an upgrade, with the old SSD replaced by one with more space. Further reading: The best SSDs However, the old SSD need not be retired completely — it can still be put to good use as external storage. Think of its repurpose as a means of storage when travelling, or as a fast temporary storage device, or for cloning other SSDs. There are customized external USB enclosures for all purposes. In all cases, installation is quick and easy. Read on to find common and perhaps even surprising solutions for your used SSD — including some points you should pay attention to in order to avoid a bad purchase. Further reading: The best external drives External enclosures for 2.5-inch SSDs One of the easiest ways to seamlessly continue using your old 2.5-inch SSD is to install it in an external hard drive enclosure. Such an enclosure is suitable for both HDDs and SSDs and can usually accommodate drive thicknesses of 7 and 9.5 millimeters. You can choose between plastic and aluminum for the enclosure material. The metal versions are generally slightly more expensive than plastic enclosures. You can invest as little as $10 to get started. As a rule, you do not need any tools to install your 2.5-inch SSD. One example is the Ugreen 2.5? Hard Drive Enclosure, which you can find on Amazon for around $10. Here you simply slide the top cover open to insert the drive. Connect the internal 2.5-inch drive to the SATA III port when inserting the drive. The external SSD is fully installed as soon as you replace the cover and slide it shut. When connecting to the computer, most external enclosures for 2.5-inch hard drives make do with USB 3.2 Gen1 (formerly USB 3.0). The theoretical transfer speed here is a maximum of 5Gbps. In purely mathematical terms, transfer rates of up to 500MBps are possible. The results you actually achieve also depend on the internal SSD drive. In our test with the Samsung 860 EVO SATA SSD, we achieved around 430- to 450MBps in sequential read and write with the CrystalDiskMark benchmark tool. More speed and features also lead to higher prices for external 2.5-inch SATA enclosures, as with this Ineo rugged waterproof and shockproof enclosure with a 10Gbps interface. More speed and features also lead to higher prices for external 2.5-inch SATA enclosures, as with this Ineo rugged waterproof and shockproof enclosure with a 10Gbps interface. Amazon More speed and features also lead to higher prices for external 2.5-inch SATA enclosures, as with this Ineo rugged waterproof and shockproof enclosure with a 10Gbps interface. Amazon Amazon You can also find some external 2.5-inch enclosures with a Type-C interface on the enclosure. They are usually specified according to USB 3.2 Gen2 and are therefore theoretically designed for 10Gbps. This allows you to almost fully utilize the SATA interface and achieve data rates of 530- to 560MBps. The enclosures start at around $20. Any extras are reflected in the purchase costs. For example, models that protect the drive from drops or the elements are correspondingly more expensive. This is shown, for example, by the Ineo 2.5 inch USB 3.1 Gen2 Type C Rugged Waterproof & Shockproof External Hard Drive Enclosure for around $20. SSD docking station – with one or two bays If you want to continue using the removed drive without any detours, you can consider a docking station for hard drives. You can access the storage via USB — similar to an external hard drive. Although the SSD is less mobile in the docking station, it can be easily stored on the desk. For starters, the hard drive accessory offers one bay and was originally intended for the reuse of magnetic hard drives. If you still have an old model that is only supposed to be compatible with HDDs, give it a try. In many cases, it also recognizes flash memory — provided it has a SATA interface. Old docking stations for HDDs can also work with SSDs – such as the Sharkoon Quickport Pro from the editorial team’s stock. Due to the USB 2.0 interface, data transfer is correspondingly slow. Old docking stations for HDDs can also work with SSDs – such as the Sharkoon Quickport Pro from the editorial team’s stock. Due to the USB 2.0 interface, data transfer is correspondingly slow. IDG Old docking stations for HDDs can also work with SSDs – such as the Sharkoon Quickport Pro from the editorial team’s stock. Due to the USB 2.0 interface, data transfer is correspondingly slow. IDG IDG For the test, insert the drive directly into the bay and thus into the SATA port. As the devices are designed for 3.5-inch HDDs, they come with an external power supply unit. Once fitted, connect the docking station to the computer via USB and only then switch it on. As a rule, Windows recognizes it without any extra driver installation. If you do not see the drive in Explorer, open the drive management and check whether the SSD is listed there. You will often have to reformat the drive before using it again. Caution: All data stored on the drive will be lost. While older docking stations also have correspondingly slow USB connections — usually USB 2.0 — current versions are keeping up with the times. Single-slot systems with a USB-C connection and data transfers up to 10Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen2) start at around $40. Models with two bays usually have an integrated cloning function that allows you to create a complete copy of one drive onto a second without a PC connection. Such docks cost a good $45 and upwards. Docking stations that work with NVMe drives as well as SATA drives are even more expensive at around $70 — such as the Sabrent USB Type-C Lay Flat Docking Station for M.2 PCIe NVMe + SATA 2.5`”/3.5? SSD & HDD. Before you buy, take a look at the maximum storage capacity that is accepted. The Sabrent example mentioned is comparatively generous at 30TB. Current docking stations (here a model from Sabrent) are suitable for both 2.5-inch SSDs and M.2 storage devices, can handle high capacities, and offer 10Gbps via USB-C. Current docking stations (here a model from Sabrent) are suitable for both 2.5-inch SSDs and M.2 storage devices, can handle high capacities, and offer 10Gbps via USB-C. Amazon Current docking stations (here a model from Sabrent) are suitable for both 2.5-inch SSDs and M.2 storage devices, can handle high capacities, and offer 10Gbps via USB-C. Amazon Amazon Simple USB adapters Adapters for SATA or PCIe to USB are intended less as a permanent solution and more for moving disks or a quick SSD function check. In the case of SSDs, you can dispense with an external power supply for the adapter. Corresponding SATA to USB adapters are available for as little as $7. The USB-A interface, which is specified according to USB 3.2 Gen1 with a maximum speed of 5Gbps, dominates in this price range. USB 3.0 or superspeed USB is also often mentioned in the respective product description. For variants with an external power supply, you can expect to pay around $20 or more. The selection of USB adapters with an M.2 slot is still relatively small. In the simplest case, they consist of a corresponding slot, the converter, and a USB port. Even for this simple version, the price starts at around $20. You plug the flash memory into the M.2 port and screw it onto the small piece of circuit board. This can usually accommodate the standard sizes from 2230 to 2280 millimeters. Screws and screwdrivers are usually included. It is particularly important to take a close look at the simple adapters, as the M.2 connection can be used for both SATA and NVMe SSDs, but not all adapters automatically support both connection types. M.2 adapters with a stand make it easier for you. Ideally, they are compatible with SATA and NVMe SSDs and enable connections to both Type A and Type C interfaces. These dual adapters offer USB 3.2 Gen2 speed and start at around $30. You can find an example of this in the M.2 NVMe & SATA to USB C Docking Station. The adapter is even visually enhanced with RGB lighting. Dual adapters for the M.2 slot accept SATA and NVMe SSDs — here, for example, the M.2 NVMe & SATA to USB C Docking Station. Thanks to the stand, all common storage devices with the usual width of 22 millimeters fit. Dual adapters for the M.2 slot accept SATA and NVMe SSDs — here, for example, the M.2 NVMe & SATA to USB C Docking Station. Thanks to the stand, all common storage devices with the usual width of 22 millimeters fit.Foundry Dual adapters for the M.2 slot accept SATA and NVMe SSDs — here, for example, the M.2 NVMe & SATA to USB C Docking Station. Thanks to the stand, all common storage devices with the usual width of 22 millimeters fit.Foundry Foundry SSD enclosure with M.2 As the storage latches for the M.2 slot are very small, most external housings are also compact. This makes them a good solution if you want to convert an internal M.2 SSD into a drive for travelling that takes up little space. You will now find the largest selection of enclosures with a Type-C connection, which is specified for USB 3.2 Gen2. The connection type provides enough bandwidth for fast data transfers and is supported by almost all current computers with USB-C ports. The actual transfer speed you achieve depends on the interaction between the SSD built into the housing, the converter chip, and the external interface. An example: An NVMe SSD for PCIe 3.0 (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express), which is connected in the computer slot with ideally four lanes (x4), achieves a transfer speed of around 1GBps via each lane. In computer terms, it is therefore slowed down in the external housing by the USB 3.2 Gen2 interface alone. In our tests of external NVMe SSDs, sequential transfer rates of a good 900- to over 1,000MBps are quite realistic in the benchmark. With SATA M.2 SSDs, they are significantly lower due to the interface. Hard drive housings for the M.2 SSD form factor are compact. If they are suitable for SATA and NVMe flash memory (as here with the Orico PWDM2), they are more expensive than models that can only accommodate one type of SSD. Hard drive housings for the M.2 SSD form factor are compact. If they are suitable for SATA and NVMe flash memory (as here with the Orico PWDM2), they are more expensive than models that can only accommodate one type of SSD. Orico Hard drive housings for the M.2 SSD form factor are compact. If they are suitable for SATA and NVMe flash memory (as here with the Orico PWDM2), they are more expensive than models that can only accommodate one type of SSD. Orico Orico When buying an enclosure, start with your used M.2 SSD. Enclosures for M.2 SATA SSDs are currently available from 16 euros. Enclosures that fit both M.2 SSD types are more expensive. Expect to pay around $25 and upwards — such as for the Orico PWDM2. This model also has the advantage that you can install the SSD without tools. As a rule, you place a silicone cooling pad on the internal flash drive. This ensures that the heat can be dissipated better. As the transfer speed of the Type-C interface increases, so does the price of the external housing. You can expect to pay over $45 for a model with a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 connection and therefore a speed of 2GBps. These enclosures are only suitable for NVMe SSDs and often come with ribs to effectively dissipate the heat that increases with the operating speed from the inside to the outside. The design makes perfect sense, but comes at the expense of compactness. Enclosures for Thunderbolt and USB 4 The most expensive enclosures currently available include models with Type-C interfaces for Thunderbolt 3 and 4 or USB 4, which are designed for up to 40Gbps. As the high speed also increases the heat inside, these housings are made of aluminum, have cooling fins, and some are even equipped with a mini fan. USB 4 enclosures such as the GiGimundo GAM2-U4 USB4 NVMe Enclosure with built-in mini fan are relatively new and can be expensive. USB 4 enclosures such as the GiGimundo GAM2-U4 USB4 NVMe Enclosure with built-in mini fan are relatively new and can be expensive. Foundry USB 4 enclosures such as the GiGimundo GAM2-U4 USB4 NVMe Enclosure with built-in mini fan are relatively new and can be expensive. Foundry Foundry The more is built in, the higher the prices. Passively cooled cases start at around $80. Variants with an integrated fan, such as the GAM2-U4 USB4 NVMe Enclosure, cost more, sometimes as much as $140. In our tests with a NVMe SSD Kingston SNV2S/1000G and a Ugreen CM642 with PCIe 4.0 on a USB 4 port with 40Gbps, the external drive delivered a good 2,500MBps in read and a good 2,050MBps in write in the benchmark — that’s quite an achievement. SSD enclosures like these are worthwhile if you regularly want to back up extremely large amounts of data, such as those used for video editing. Special solution: USB-C hub Ultra-mobile notebooks are increasingly focusing on USB-C as an external interface. There is therefore no way around a docking station or a Type-C hub if you want to continue using your usual devices such as monitors or USB sticks. If the Type-C hub needs to be a little larger, you can even find models with an M.2 slot for a SATA and/or NVMe SSD. Once again, you should check carefully whether the SSD slot is suitable for your flash memory. If you need a USB-C docking station anyway, you can opt for a model with an M.2 slot for an SSD — like the Wavlink USB-C Docking Station shown here. The flash memory is quickly inserted and behaves in practice exactly as you would expect from an external SSD. If you need a USB-C docking station anyway, you can opt for a model with an M.2 slot for an SSD — like the Wavlink USB-C Docking Station shown here. The flash memory is quickly inserted and behaves in practice exactly as you would expect from an external SSD.Amazon If you need a USB-C docking station anyway, you can opt for a model with an M.2 slot for an SSD — like the Wavlink USB-C Docking Station shown here. The flash memory is quickly inserted and behaves in practice exactly as you would expect from an external SSD.Amazon Amazon Multi-connectors with a combo slot for both M.2 SSD types make things easier for you. In addition to the integrated disc slot, the number and capabilities of the connections determine the price. On average, USB-C hubs with an M.2 SSD slot start at around $50. Corresponding docking stations start at a good $80. We recommend checking the product description for the connections carefully to avoid making the wrong purchase. In the case of NVMe SSDs, USB-C with 10 Gbps is the predominant speed — for example with the Wavlink USB C Docking Station for a good $110. The SSD slot (NVMe and SATA) is located under the top cover. You do not need any tools to insert the SSD. The SSD fixation can be turned into the correct position by hand. As usual, place a cooling pad on the SSD to dissipate heat. When connected to the computer, the SSD in the adapter behaves in the same way as an external storage device connected to the USB port. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Good gaming performance Low price High 144Hz display refresh Design doesn’t scream “gaming PC” Cons Dim display All plastic build Runs older 12th Gen Intel CPU Only one USB-C with 5Gbps limit Our Verdict The 2024 HP Victus 15 is a great budget gaming machine, but it’s not ideal for much else. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today PC gaming is still thriving after the pandemic-era GPU drought and the crypto mining hysteria, but GPUs are only a little bit cheaper. You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to get a solid gaming experience, though. HP claims its newest Victus 15 laptop offers desktop power without breaking the bank. And, if playing games is all you care about, this notebook won’t disappoint. The mid-range components will keep your frame rates tolerable and the Victus 15 is attractive without obnoxious gamer styling. And you can’t argue with the price—the 2024 HP Victus 15 offers modest but consistent gaming power for under a grand. In fact, you could pick up the Victus 15 for less than the price of a mid-range desktop GPU. Further reading: Best gaming laptops under $1,000: Expert picks that won’t break the bank HP Victus 15: Specs and features If this package looks familiar, that’s because HP has used the same chassis in the past. The company updated a few components for the 2024 refresh, most importantly the GPU. The Victus has an RTX 4050 laptop GPU with 6GB of VRAM, which is a step down from the 4060 we see in a lot of mid-range gaming notebooks. The CPU is an oddball for a 2024 laptop—a 12th Gen Intel Core i7. This is a 10-core chip with four efficiency cores and six performance cores. The maximum clock speed is 4.7GHz. So, it’s certainly no slouch, but CPUs in the last few generations have emphasized efficiency and AI processing, which you won’t get with this machine. There’s no NPU at all in this chip and there isn’t even a Copilot key on the keyboard. While 16GB of DDR4 RAM can sometimes feel a bit thin in 2024, it’s sufficient if gaming is your primary use case. The 512GB SSD is similarly fine. Although, with games constantly ballooning in size, a 1TB option would have been nice. This laptop is available from Best Buy along with a similar machine running a 12th Gen Core i5 and the older RTX 3050 GPU, but the newer model is a better option. However, it’s not a good value at the $1,100 MSRP. This device has been on sale since it debuted, chopping at least a few hundred dollars off the price. At the current $799.99 sale price, it’s a great value. Model number: 15-fb2063dx CPU: Intel Core i7-12650H Memory: 16GB DDR4 Graphics/GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 (6GB) Display: 15.6-inch diagonal IPS, 1920 x 1080 @ 144 Hz Storage: 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD Webcam: 720p Connectivity: 1x USB-C (5Gbps), 2 x USB-A (5 Gbps), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x Ethernet, 1x 3.5mm audio jack Networking: WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 Battery capacity: 70Whr, 200W adapter Dimensions: 14.09 x 10.04 x 0.93  inches Weight: 5.06 lbs MSRP as tested: $1,099.99 The HP Victus 15 will play most of today’s AAA games at medium settings and the 1080p screen is fast enough to satisfy fans of fast-paced shooters. HP Victus 15: Design and build quality IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam The Victus 15 is all-plastic, but it looks surprisingly nice for a cheap gaming laptop. It comes in a dark blue color—you don’t see a lot of blue computers, so this is a nice change of pace. The plastic is matte and it looks nice until you touch it. The finish attracts and holds skin oils, so you’ll have to wipe the machine down regularly if you don’t want it to look like a mess. There’s very little branding on the machine—HP’s logo doesn’t appear anywhere. There’s a large reflective Victus “V” in the middle of the top cover, along with two smaller Victus logos inside. This is not a particularly thin or light machine, at about an inch thick and five pounds. The chassis flexes a bit when you pick it up, and you can tell the plastic housing isn’t very thick. However, I’ve hauled this machine around a few times, not being particularly careful about safeguarding from bumps or scuffs, and the body hasn’t picked up any noticeable damage. I also like the bumpons on the bottom that run the entire width of the machine, giving it a stable footprint. Since this machine inherits some older design elements, you don’t get a forward-looking port setup. On the right edge, you’ve got an HDMI, Ethernet, a USB-A, and the laptop’s lone USB-C. I like to see multiple USB-C ports in 2024, and this one barely counts. It’s limited to 5Gbps, and you cannot use it to charge the machine. On the left side, you get another USB-A port, the 3.5mm jack, and a DC barrel power connector. Because you can’t use the USB-C port for power, you’ll have to carry around the clunky 200W DC power adapter. The hinge opens smoothly with one hand, but it’s not as stable as I’d like—the screen might wobble around if you’re pounding on the keyboard. There’s also a large bezel below the display, which is a traditional 16:9 panel instead of the taller screens we see on many newer laptops. Again, this is fine for gaming. The bezel on the other three sides is much smaller, though. We’ll talk about performance later, but the machine doesn’t get too hot or loud while playing games. The fan pulls air from the bottom and pushes it out the rear-facing vents. That ensures the hot air is directed away from you—some laptops have vents on the side, which can roast your mousing hand. HP Victus 15: Display and speakers IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam The 15.6-inch 1080p LCD is a hallmark of budget gaming notebooks, but there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s a good size and resolution for casual gaming. At typical viewing distances, the Victus 15’s IPS panel looks plenty sharp. There’s no discernible backlight bleed and the viewing angles are solid, both of which are issues on some budget gaming laptops. Part of the reason for that may be that the screen just can’t get very bright. It maxes out at 250 nits, which is a bit below average even for budget laptops. You’ll be fine as long as you do your gaming in a subterranean lair like any self-respecting nerd. However, taking this computer into the outdoors or a well-lit room could be a problem. Thankfully, the display is matte, which will help limit reflections. Like most laptops, the Victus 15 has downward-firing stereo speakers tucked under the left and right edges. The audio quality will be fine for games, but there’s next to no bass. Volume is good—the speakers can get so loud you won’t want to sit near the laptop. However, the audio gets distorted at about 75 percent volume. HP Victus 15: Keyboard and trackpad IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam HP managed to fit a full keyboard layout on the Victus 15, complete with a number pad. Unlike the pad on the slightly larger Acer Nitro V 16, the number pad keys are full-size. The pad does bump right up against the rest of the keys, which will make it hard to find by feel. All the keys on this machine are squared off with a similarly angular font for the shine-through legends. There’s no RGB, but the white LEDs will ensure you can read the legends in the dark. The chiclet-style keys have good tactility when pressed, but they wobble a bit too much. The bottom out is also soft and unappealing. You can see the plastic keyboard deck flexing if you get even a little aggressive with the keys. Despite the lack of a Copilot key taking up space on the bottom row, HP equipped the Victus 15 with tiny, shrunken-down arrows. I also continue to object to HP’s decision to put the power button right next to backspace—that’s very perilous, although I managed not to shut this machine down accidentally during testing as I have with previous HP laptops. The trackpad is a good size, shifted slightly left from center but not so far that it’s hard to use with your right hand. It’s plastic like the rest of the build, and the physical click mechanism is on the mushy side. The default sensitivity also felt too sluggish, but it’s much more usable after bumping that up a few notches. It’s not the best trackpad experience, but the hardware is reasonable for the price. HP Victus 15: Performance I’ve tested this machine with games like Baldur’s Gate 3, Dragon’s Dogma 2, and Cyberpunk 2077. It can handle all these games at 1080p at medium or better settings. Frame rates are more than playable, but you don’t get to take advantage of the high 144Hz refresh rate in most newer games. If you’re into twitchy games like Fortnite or Counter-Strike, you’ll be able to enjoy a smoother gameplay experience. However, even those games won’t hit 144 fps very easily on this hardware. Before you get down to fragging noobs, you’ll probably want to make a few system tweaks. HP has preloaded three different settings programs, a common issue with its PCs. Most of the important performance settings are in the Omen app, for which there is a shortcut key on the keyboard. HP also added some annoying bloatware, including McAfee and WildTangent Games. HP’s own apps pop up frequently early on to get you to register your warranty and provide feedback. Once you take care of those things, it’s a pretty streamlined build of Windows 11 Home. IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam PCMark 10 is designed to test a machine across a variety of metrics like web browsing, video chat, and photo editing. The HP Victus 15 doesn’t quite keep up with laptops running newer CPUs, but it’s not left in the dust either. At 6,855, the Victus score is in line with gaming notebooks from a year or two ago. Some newer Intel Core Ultra chips will perform just a bit better in this test, but AMD’s current lineup is adept at multithreaded tests like this. However, HP’s default system mode is geared more toward efficiency than many of its competitors. Switching to Performance mode boosted this score about one hundred points, bringing it closer to other machines we’ve tested. IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam Cinebench is a CPU-focused test that shows how a PC handles heavy but brief multi-core workloads. More CPU cores grant higher scores in Cinebench and cooling doesn’t matter very much. Again, the Victus trails other current gaming notebooks, but it’s not particularly slow—it lands right where I’d expect a 12th Gen Intel Core i7 to land. IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam The Handbrake test is similar to Cinebench in that it shows how a computer handles multithreaded tasks, but this is a longer-duration test where thermals matter more. We see a bigger gap in this benchmark, which makes sense given the CPU. Newer chips have markedly better encoding performance. IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam Our first gaming test is 3DMark Time Spy, a graphical benchmark that focuses on GPU performance. The HP Victus 15 is still trailing, but the gap is relatively small. The RTX 4050 is a capable GPU and this test is not as heavily affected by the older CPU. IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam Game benchmarks like the one included with Shadow of the Tomb Raider can help us understand a system’s real world gaming experience. The Victus shows its gaming chops here, putting up an average frame rate of 113. The Victus and its RTX 4050 actually beat the HP Omen Transcend 14, which has an RTX 4060 GPU inside. IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam The Metro Exodus benchmark is a bit more demanding, giving higher-specced machines a chance to shine. The Victus doesn’t get a very high score, managing just 32 fps on average. Still, that’s a smidge better than the Omen Transcend 14 and within spitting distance of other RTX 4060 laptops. HP Victus 15: Battery life Gaming laptops are not exactly famous for their longevity—it’s actually quite the opposite, with some high-power laptops running dry in under three hours. The Victus 15 does a little better than that with its 77Wh battery. IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam Our battery rundown test consists of running a 4K video at 250 nits on a loop until the laptop dies. The Victus managed just shy of six hours, which is respectable for a gaming notebook. It bests high-power machines like the Gigabyte G6X, but some laptops that prioritize battery capacity alongside performance still last longer while performing better. The longevity is a bit shorter in general use. You won’t be able to use this machine for an entire work day, nor will you get much game time on the go without a power outlet. However, the battery is good enough that you can use it unplugged in a pinch. HP Victus 15: Conclusion The HP Victus 15 has a good mid-range GPU and a fast (though slightly old) CPU. It’s not the best gaming PC by a longshot, but it will play most of today’s AAA games at medium settings and the 1080p screen is fast enough to satisfy fans of fast-paced shooters. However, you won’t get high-end features like HDR or G-Sync, and the display is on the dim side. You should not get the Victus 15 if productivity and work are on the agenda. While it’s capable enough right now, the 12th Gen Intel chip is already several years out of date and the selection of ports is lacking for 2024. The RTX 4050 is still shipping in plenty of laptops, but the Victus doesn’t have as much of a future as slightly more expensive gaming machines. Overall, the HP Victus 15 is a competent and reasonably priced computer for basic gaming. However, you shouldn’t buy it for the $1,100 MSRP. You can do better for that much, but the current sale price ($799 as of this writing) is a good deal. Read...

Whether you work in an office full of people, or you have roommates, or you just don’t want anyone snooping on your computer, it’s a good idea to always lock your PC when you aren’t using it. Now, imagine how awesome it would be if your PC automatically locked itself whenever you stepped away. You wouldn’t have to remember a thing, and it would guarantee privacy and better battery life. The good news is, Windows can already do this. The OS offers a few different ways to automatically lock your PC, which may or may not be available depending on your machine’s hardware. Keep reading for why auto-locking can be so beneficial, what the different methods available are, and how to set them up. Why you should auto-lock your PC We’ve all watched spy movies or played games where characters snoop around on office computers. When someone momentarily steps away from their PC, it leaves them vulnerable to unwanted eyes. While real life isn’t exactly Cyberpunk 2077, there are obvious risks to leaving your computer unlocked. If you’re in an office setting, a passerby could access your private data or perform actions on the corporate network that trace back to your PC. Or if you’re at home, your roommates or family members could spy on your emails or browsing history. But it’s kind of a pain to do yet another thing every time you stand up to leave your PC, isn’t it? Even if you learn the keyboard shortcut for locking, there’s always the chance that you forget. Related: Useful Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts I use every day So why not have your PC automatically lock itself for you? There are no major downsides to it. You only stand to gain. I recommend using one of the two built-in features of Windows for this, which are Dynamic Lock and Presence Sensing. Keep reading to see how they differ, which is better for you, and how to use them. Using Dynamic Lock on your PC Dynamic Lock is a relatively unknown feature that’s available on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. All you need is a Bluetooth-capable PC as well as a Bluetooth-capable smartphone. (Naturally, both Android phones and iPhones can work for this.) Related: Obscure Windows features everyone should know Here’s a simple explanation of how Dynamic Lock works: Your phone pairs to your PC via Bluetooth. When you walk away with your phone, the Bluetooth signal weakens. When Windows detects a sufficiently weakened signal, it locks your PC. It’s as easy as that. Setting up Dynamic Lock To set up Dynamic Lock, navigate to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options. Scroll down to the Dynamic lock option and click to expand it, then enable the checkbox for Allow Windows to automatically lock your device when you’re away: Chris Hoffman / IDG Chris Hoffman / IDG Chris Hoffman / IDG After activating the option, Windows might say you don’t have a phone paired with your PC. If that happens, click the Bluetooth & other devices section in the left-hand navigation, then click Add device to pair a new Bluetooth device. Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your phone, too. With your phone powered on and Bluetooth enabled, it should appear as a pairable device on Windows. (In some cases, you may have to fiddle around with your phone’s Bluetooth pairing settings if it doesn’t appear.) A few caveats with Dynamic Lock Dynamic Lock works well for the most part, but it can be a little finicky. It isn’t sensing your physical presence — it’s simply going off the Bluetooth connection with your phone. So, if you pick up your laptop and walk away from your phone, it also ends up locking itself. Another quirk is that if you disable Bluetooth on your phone, your PC will interpret that as your phone no longer being nearby and will lock itself. (If this happens, you can just enter your PIN, password, or Windows Hello biometrics to unlock your PC as normal. No big deal.) The last downside of Dynamic Lock is that it only locks. There’s no Dynamic Unlock. So, even though it automatically locks your PC when you step away, it doesn’t automatically unlock when you return. (You can get around this by setting up Windows Hello with facial recognition.) Using Presence Sensing on your PC Presence Sensing is an advanced feature that can physically detect whether you’re nearby. With this, Windows can automatically lock your PC, then automatically unlock when you’re back. Combined with a Windows Hello-compatible webcam for facial recognition, your PC can wake itself up, scan your face, and sign you in right when you sit down. Yeah, it’s as cool as it sounds. A few caveats with Presence Sensing You can only use Presence Sensing if you have a modern Windows 11 laptop with a built-in presence sensor, which is what measures your presence and attention. This hardware is becoming more common in the latest laptops, but it’s not always available. While many Qualcomm Snapdragon X-powered laptops include presence sensors — the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x is one of them — Microsoft’s own Surface Laptop 7 doesn’t for some reason. If you want to use Presence Sensing, make sure you look for a presence sensor in your next laptop purchase. Presence Sensing also has advantages for laptops on battery power. When you step away from your laptop, it can quickly go to sleep; when you come back, it can automatically wake up and sign in for you. This saves power and extends your laptop’s battery life. Setting up Presence Sensing To check whether your Windows 11 PC has presence sensing hardware, navigate to Settings > System > Power & battery. Expand the Screen, sleep, & hibernate timeouts section. Then, scroll down and look for the following options: Turn off my screen when I leave Wake my device when I approach Dim my screen when I look away These are the Presence Sensing settings and you’ll only see them here if your PC has a compatible presence sensor built in: Chris Hoffman / IDG Chris Hoffman / IDG Chris Hoffman / IDG If you want your PC to auto-lock when you step away, activate the Turn off my screen when I leave option. When Windows turns off your screen, it will also lock your PC. If your PC has a Windows Hello-compatible webcam and you activate the Wake my device when I approach option, it will use Presence Sensing to wake your PC and then Windows Hello to unlock your PC when you come back — all automatically without you touching anything. Chris Hoffman / IDG Chris Hoffman / IDG Chris Hoffman / IDG Click any of the settings to see the detailed Presence Sensing settings page where you can customize everything, including the distance you need to be from your computer and how long it waits to turn off the display when you step away. Note: If you find your PC turning off its display even while you’re using it, consider tweaking the distance to be farther or set a longer away duration. Don’t forget the keyboard shortcut Whether you decide to use Dynamic Lock, Presence Sensing, or neither, it’s can also be handy to know the keyboard shortcut for instantly locking your PC on demand. You don’t have to open the Start menu or press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and go searching for the Lock option. Instead, just press Windows key + L to quickly lock your PC. This shortcut is so quick and easy that you can press it while standing up, instantly locking your PC without digging through any menus. It’s incredibly convenient — but unlike Dynamic Lock or Presence Sensing, it is possible to forget. Further reading: Must-know Windows 11 security settings Read...

Broadband data caps cost me money every single year and continue to be a source of ongoing anxiety. They’re inequitable, unnecessary, and predatory. That the FCC is finally soliciting public comment and taking aim at data caps is long overdue. We’re barreling towards one of the most consequential elections of our lifetimes, but eliminating broadband data caps is nearly as important. You need to make your voice heard, and I’ll show you how to send comments directly to the FCC. But first, let’s spend a bit talking about just how terrible data caps truly are. Data caps cause stress and anxiety Broadband internet is part of modern daily life, as much as water or power is. Any tap-dancing around its legal definition just wastes time. On average, I pay over $200 each month to Comcast for a basic package of TV channels and internet speeds up to 400Mbps. (Comcast recently doubled the speeds for free. Why? I don’t know.) But there’s a catch: I have a cap on how much data I can use. If my family of four consumes more than 1.23TB per month, I’m hit with additional charges. The additional fee structure is labyrinthine and involves creating additional “data blocks” of 50GB for an additional $10, up to a maximum of $100. But wait! There’s a one-time courtesy waiver per year, where no fees are charged. But wait! That waiver disappears entirely if you exceed the cap twice a year. But wait! Comcast never charged data overage fees at all in 15 northeastern states due to competition from Verizon’s FIOS service. But wait! That agreement went away in 2020, restoring the caps. But wait! The caps vanished yet again in 2021 after officials in those northeastern states protested. The FCC has previously tried to encourage fair disclosure of fees and services through these cereal-box-like labels for ISPs. The FCC has previously tried to encourage fair disclosure of fees and services through these cereal-box-like labels for ISPs.FCC The FCC has previously tried to encourage fair disclosure of fees and services through these cereal-box-like labels for ISPs.FCC FCC Did I mention that in July, when I exceeded my data cap, I was told it was covered by my courtesy month… but Comcast went ahead and charged me anyway? That was a “mistake,” they said. I’m sure it was. My daily routine now includes checking Comcast Xfinity’s ongoing metering of my broadband internet usage. Do I have room on the cap to upgrade my family’s computers? What about my work laptops for PCWorld? Will I have enough data left to download that new game I want to play? My family of four doesn’t do that much on the internet, but our monthly data allowance disappears quickly nonetheless. “To me, the word that sticks out to me in that message is ‘stress,`” wrote FCC chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in the FCC’s Notice of Inquiry (PDF) regarding broadband data caps. “The mental toll of constantly thinking about how much you use a service that is essential for modern life is real as is the frustration of so many consumers who tell us they believe these caps are costly and unfair.” Perfectly said. Data caps are inequitable and unfair Most major US cities offer a choice between two or more broadband ISPs, and that competition helps drive prices down. But in many suburbs, and especially in gated communities or apartment complexes, residents don’t have a say in their broadband provider. That’s why I was eager to try T-Mobile’s 5G wireless home broadband in 2021: it was cheaper and without data caps. (Sadly, my home just wasn’t close enough to the tower for sufficient bandwidth at the time.) From my house, I can see the neighboring city where a local ISP (called Sonic) basically offers unlimited gigabit internet service at a fraction of the price Comcast charges — all without data caps. But I can’t personally dig those ditches and bring that fiber to my home, and I haven’t yet persuaded my town council to do so, either. So I’m stuck in a broadband monopoly I have no say over. All I can do is call Comcast every year and argue for a lower contract rate. The fact that most of the eastern seaboard doesn’t have to deal with Comcast’s data caps, while the rest of us do, is infuriating. Data caps are artificial and arbitrary Yes, I could probably pay extra for unlimited broadband, and so could you. But why should we have to? Virtually all wireless service providers provide unlimited calls and texts, and many offer unlimited wireless data, too. Overseas, I can buy a SIM card with unlimited data and tethering and use that in place of a broadband ISP, both for calls as well as my laptop’s internet needs. (I recently did just that in Taiwan and Germany.) Saily Saily Saily Surely a massive company like Comcast, who made $4 billion in profits alone last quarter, could plow some of that back into relaxing its data cap restrictions for everyone? But they haven’t. And they won’t. Which is why the government might step in — and why you should encourage them to. Here’s how. How to file a public comment at the FCC against data caps To file a public comment, go to the FCC’s Express Comment Filing System. This is a web form with a number of fields to fill out. The most important field is the first one: Proceeding(s). You’ll need to enter the specific docket number here. In this case, the docket can be found on the FCC’s Notice of Inquiry (PDF). Or I can just tell you what it is for your convenience: 23-199. In the web form, you need to enter just the docket number into the Proceeding(s) field. After you type in 23-199, you should see a small pop-up with 23-199 | Data Caps in Consumer Broadband Plans. Select it. The FCC’s electronic comment filing system. The FCC’s electronic comment filing system. The FCC’s electronic comment filing system. From there, you can fill out the remaining fields yourself. When you enter your comments, remember that this is NOT anonymous. You’re entering your comment into the federal record and whatever you write will be searchable and readable by the general public. Pay attention to the comment deadline, too. In this case, you have until November 14, 2024 to file a comment. After that, you have until December 2, 2024 to file a reply to another comment. Tell your story! For once, the government is listening. Read...

Google recently released the new Chrome versions 130.0.6723.58/59 for Windows and macOS, and 130.0.6723.58 for Linux. Google is thus closing 17 security vulnerabilities in its browser, none of which appear to have been exploited for attacks to date. Manufacturers of other Chromium-based browsers should follow suit soon. Further reading: I got sick of Chrome’s BS and switched to Vivaldi. Here’s what happened In the Chrome release blog, Daniel Yip lists 13 of the 17 security vulnerabilities that have been fixed, which were discovered by external security researchers and reported to Google. Google categorizes one of the vulnerabilities as high risk. This is a use-after-free vulnerability (CVE-2024-9954) in the AI module. Google categorizes the other vulnerabilities as medium or low risk. As always, Google does not provide any information about the vulnerabilities found internally. Last week, Google released a security update for Chrome 129 to patch four vulnerabilities. Chrome usually updates itself automatically when a new version is available. You can manually trigger the update check using the menu item Help > About Google Chrome (or Settings > About Google Chrome). Google has also released Chrome 130.0.6723.58 for Android and Chrome for iOS 130.0.6723.37. The Android version fixes the same vulnerabilities as the desktop one. New in Chrome 130 On the What’s New page in the browser, Google advertises the advantage of the password manager included in Chrome, which allows you to use passkeys on all computers and Android devices. The security check integrated in Chrome has been given new functions. It gets carried out automatically in the background. In addition, Chrome now has AI-based real-time protection against phishing and malware. Check if Advanced Safe Browsing is activated in the settings under Privacy and Security. Other Chromium-based browsers The manufacturers of other Chromium-based browsers are now once again being called upon to follow suit with updates as quickly as possible. None have yet made the switch to Chromium 130. However, Brave, Microsoft (Edge), Vivaldi, and, since Monday, Opera are up to last week’s security level. Opera 115 with Chromium 130 is not even in the beta test stage yet. As the Extended Stable Channel for Chromium version 128 ends with the release of Chrome 130 and there is none for Chromium 129, Opera must first finalize its browser version 115 in order to catch up with the main field again. Chromium-based browsers in the overview: BrowsersBrowser versionChromium versionsecured?Google Chrome130.0.6723.59130.0.6723.59??Brave1.70.126129.0.6668.100??Microsoft Edge129.0.2792.89129.0.6668.101??Opera One114.0.5282.101128.0.6613.186??Vivaldi6.9.3447.54128.0.6613.188??Chromium-based browsers – as of 15/10/2024 Read...

USB flash drives are portable data storage options that allow users to store and move files between computers and other devices. Unintentional deletions, virus assaults, formatting errors, or system crashes might occasionally result in the loss of valuable data on these devices. Don’t worry if you ever find yourself in a situation like this: USB or pen drive data recovery is not reserved for technicians; ordinary users can also employ methods to restore their data. Read on to learn more about the possible applications and methods. Why USB data recovery can be successful Before we begin explaining the USB data recovery process, we should know how USB drive data deletion happens. When you delete a file the system doesn’t instantly wipe it, rather it removes the index from the USB file system and marks the area as available for new data. The original file stays intact until fresh data replaces it. This concept forms the logic behind all data recovery procedures. With this in mind, you should stop using your USB device as soon as you discover data loss. Then, scan the USB with reliable data recovery software such as EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, which might enhance the odds of a successful recovery. The following three methods cover searching for and recovering data from a local Windows PC, but for USB data recovery the possibility of finding the target file is slight: Recycle Bin: Deleted files usually go into the Recycle Bin. To recover them, open the Recycle Bin, locate your file, right-click on it, and select “Restore.” File History: If your system has the File History backup feature enabled, you can recover your files from the backups. Connect the USB drive to your computer, navigate to the folder where you lost your data, click the “History” button, select your file from the list, and click “Restore”. Previous Versions: This is another Windows feature that allows you to restore earlier versions of files. Right-click on the file or folder you want to recover, select “Restore Previous Versions”, choose the version you want, and then click “Restore”. Method 1. Apply USB data recovery software A USB data recovery tool is more effective than other methods for recovering data when your USB drive has files missing. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is a popular third-party program explicitly made for this purpose, and you can rely on it for data recovery. This approach can restore files and folders in the previously listed instances. To recover lost files from the USB device with EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, follow the step-by-step instructions: Step 1. Locate the USB flash drive containing the lost data, plug it into the computer, and start the data recovery program. To look for lost files on it, click “Scan for Lost Data”. This software can also recover files from USB flash drives that are not recognized. Step 2. Use the Filter option to quickly search for recoverable files on missing USB drives. Click “Type” to choose a file type; options include images, movies, and audio files. Use the search box to look for particular file formats. The Preview button allows you to verify specific details about the missing file. Step 3. Select the files you wish to recover from the USB in the Preview box. Then, click “Recover” to save the data you have chosen. To prevent data overwriting, save the recovered files from the original USB drive on a local or external hard drive. This software will automatically fix corrupted data throughout the recovery process. Method 2. Recover deleted files from USB with CMD A function built into Windows that assists with USB data recovery is Command Prompt (CMD). If files are missing from your pen drive or USB flash drive but have yet to be erased, you can use this tool to recover the hidden files. How to use CMD to recover data from a USB flash drive: Step 1. Connect your USB drive to your PC. Step 2. Click on the Search bar and type cmd. To run as an administrator, right-click Command Prompt and select “Run”. Step 3. Execute the subsequent command lines sequentially. Type chkdsk X: /f in the Command Prompt window and press Enter. Remember to swap out “X” for the letter corresponding to your USB flash device. EaseUS EaseUS EaseUS Enter attrib -s -h /s /d *.* after typing. After that, let the procedure finish before closing the window. You can then check whether your files have returned. Method 3. Recover USB drives from a backup You have likely synched your files to Google Drive, Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive, or another cloud storage backup provider. If you have Windows backup enabled, you can use it to recover USB data. Step 1. Under Control Panel, click “System and Maintenance”, then choose “Backup and Restore (Windows 7)” and select “Restore my files”. Step 2. To choose a previously made backup, click “Browse for files” or “Browse for folders”. Step 3. Select where you want the backup saved: “In the original location” or “In the following location”. If there is a disagreement, select “Copy and Replace”, “Don’t copy”, or “Copy, but keep both files” based on your needs. Step 4. Wait until the restoration is complete. Your computer will display the original and new locations for all your permanently deleted files and folders. Method 4. Recover data from USB with data recovery services USB recovery software is a dependable first choice for recovering files from a USB flash drive. But if you’re looking for something more all-inclusive or your pen drive is damaged and cannot be restored using software, EaseUS data recovery services come into play, offering a professional data recovery service where experienced technicians take over. They can help you fix a corrupted USB drive, restore deleted files from a pen drive without formatting, and repair a raw USB flash disk. Contacting them will allow you to benefit from their experience, which will raise the likelihood of a successful USB data recovery. Tips: Prevention of USB data loss While it’s possible to recover lost data from USB drives, it’s always better to avoid data loss in the first place. Here are a few tips: Regularly back up important data to other devices or cloud storage. Safely remove your USB drive from the computer. Abrupt removal can lead to data corruption. Protect your USB drive from virus and malware attacks using reliable antivirus software. Keep your USB drive in a safe place to avoid physical damage. Do not save data when your USB drive’s storage capacity is almost full. Conclusion In this post, we’ve explored three dependable USB data recovery techniques, enabling you to retrieve files you previously believed were lost forever. Depending on your system, you can choose a few USB data recovery techniques. You can use the CMD tool, backups, or EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard to restore your USB in Windows 11/10/8/7. Downloading the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is highly recommended for a smooth and efficient recovery. Read...

If you don’t routinely back up your data and have lost essential files from an external hard drive, external hard drive recovery can be challenging. External hard disk data recovery can be more difficult if you encounter disk corruption or formatting. But don’t worry! This article offers tried and tested methods, and can help you restore data from external hard disks. Applying a professional external hard drive recovery tool like EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard will simplify data recovery. Before we get into the how, let’s consider some common ways data is lost from external hard drives. Common types of external hard disk data loss Various causes can be behind data loss from an external hard disk, including human faults and disk errors: Physical damage: Data recovery will be difficult or impossible if the external hard disk is physically broken due to water damage, accidental falls, or other situations. Data recovery software may not help, and you’ll need to lean on professional data recovery services. Accidental deletion: For this situation, the sooner you apply a recovery program, the more data you are likely to be able to restore. The longer it is left after file deletion, the more likely it is that the data will be overwritten. Disk formatting: This is necessary when converting the file system, but the operation erases everything on the external hard drive. For this situation, first try data recovery software, and if this is unsuccessful you should try more advanced methods. File system corruption: You may encounter disk corruption while using the hard drive, which can be automatically fixed with Windows error check tools. You can repair the disk and recover your data. Operating system errors: The Windows and macOS operating systems can encounter sudden issues and unexpectedly shut down. The file you just saved, edited, downloaded, or sent may be deleted when this happens. If the OS cannot boot, try a portable data recovery tool or use another PC to access data on the external hard drive. Here are five solutions for the above data loss scenarios: Method 1. Recover data from external hard disks with data recovery software The deleted items on a computer will usually be moved to the Windows Recycle Bin. However, files accidentally deleted from an external hard drive will not be kept in the Recycle Bin. Files deleted following a virus attack, OS corruption, or disk formatting will not be found in the Recycle Bin either. In these situations, it’s recommended that you apply the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard. This external hard disk recovery tool has both Windows and Mac versions. A trial version can be easily obtained from EaseUS’ official website. This EaseUS external disk recovery tool supports the best external hard drive brands, including Seagate, Western Digital, SanDisk, Toshiba, LaCie, etc. It can quickly restore deleted files from an external HDD or SSD, even from a BitLocker encrypted drive. It’s not complicated to use this software and restore data from external disks: Step 1. Launch the EaseUS data recovery tool and locate your external hard drive. If it is not showing up, reconnect the drive and press the refresh button. Choose your external hard disk and select “Scan for lost data”. Step 2. The software will scan the whole disk, and all the missing pictures, documents, videos, zip files, and audio files will appear on the right side. Step 3. Before saving all the recoverable external hard drive files, you can preview files by double-clicking them to choose exactly what you want to restore. Method 2. Recover external hard drives from a backup After losing data on an external hard drive, you should check all the backup disks in an effort to find and restore useful data from them. If the backup files are stored in the cloud, you can re-download them on the external hard drive. But if you plan to apply data recovery software later, don’t save any new files on the disk – it may overwrite your lost data. To restore data from a backup disk, connect the disk to the PC and transfer your files using the copy-and-paste shortcut (Ctrl + C/V). Method 3. Recover data from external hard drive with data recovery services Although professional data recovery software can solve most external hard drive data loss situations, you may need an advanced recovery plan for more complex technical problems. Data recovery service is a good choice when facing external hard disk physical damage, corrupted RAID, GPT-protected disks, and other issues. External hard drive recovery experts can solve various disk errors without losing data. We highly recommend you find online recovery labs to diagnose your problem first. EaseUS data recovery services can be a wise choice, and you can contact data recovery experts anytime. You can start an online chat from the website or email support@easeus.com. Describe your issue, and the experts will respond with a free data recovery report. Method 4. Recover data from a corrupted external hard drive via error-checking tools If you need a data recovery method for a corrupted external hard drive, try to use Windows built-in disk check tools to automatically repair the disk errors. Step 1. Connect the external hard disk to the PC or laptop, open File Explorer, and locate the “This PC” page. Step 2. Right-click the corrupted external hard drive and choose “Properties”, or press the Alt + Enter shortcut to do so. Step 3. Click the Tools tab and choose “Check”. This tool can automatically scan the external hard drive’s fixed file system errors. EaseUS EaseUS EaseUS Step 4. After solving the file system corruption issues on your external hard drive, you should be able to access or recover data from the disk. Method 5. Repair external hard disk and recover data using CMD If you are familiar with Command Prompt or command lines, use the CHKDSK command to repair and clean up your external hard disk. This method relies on the same type of tools we mentioned above in Method 4. Choose a suitable tool to repair external hard disks and recover data. Step 1. Find and click the Windows search box from the Windows bar. Step 2. Type cmd and run the Command Prompt as administrator. Step 3. In the Command Prompt window, type chkdsk drive letter: /f. This should fix the external hard drive file system and directory corruption issues. If you cannot solve the corruption issues and access data from the external hard disk, request professional help. Conclusion Understanding the common data loss types will help you prevent data loss on an external hard drive. It’s always a good habit to create backups of essential files. If you want to view the files on computers and mobile phones, you can upload them to cloud storage or an external hard disk. Never feel frustrated about data loss! EaseUS data recovery tool and other professional hard drive recovery tools will help you find important files in minutes. Read...

When it comes to personal files, photos, and videos, peace of mind comes from having a reliable portable drive with enough storage space to never worry about running out. Luckily, the 2TB Crucial X9 portable SSD is now on sale for $120 on Amazon, a respectable 20 percent discount off its $150 MSRP. With read speeds of up to 1,050MB/s, you can quickly move files around, including large videos. The drive is compatible with a wide range of devices, from smartphones to computers to gaming consoles. There’s nothing to worry about when carrying this Crucial drive, either, because it comes with a small and lightweight build that’s robust, drop-proof, shock-proof, and vibration-proof. While we didn’t review this exact model, we did test the Crucial X9 Pro portable SSD, which we found to be tiny, stylish, and fast. That “Pro” model supports read and write speeds up to 1,050MB/s, but it’s also more expensive. (If you want the faster write speeds, you can snag the 2TB Crucial X9 Pro on sale for $150 instead.) Otherwise, they aren’t vastly different and you can save a non-trivial amount with the X9. Act now and grab the 2TB Crucial X9 portable SSD for $120 on Amazon if you want fast, spacious, and reliable storage. The Crucial X9 portable SSD is 20% off right nowBuy now on Amazon Read...