https://dontaskdavid.com/A new practical tech tip every Sunday.https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-10-18https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-10-18Sun, 18 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTBefore buying a used or refurbished laptop, open a blank document and test every letter, number, arrow, function, Shift, Ctrl, Alt, and Enter key, then confirm the touchpad tracks, clicks, and scrolls smoothly. Sticky, repeated, or unresponsive inputs can point to wear or liquid damage, and a keyboard or top-case replacement can quickly erase the savings.https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-10-11https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-10-11Sun, 11 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTBefore buying a used or refurbished laptop, display solid white, black, red, green, and blue images in full screen. Look closely for dots that never change color, dark patches, bright pressure marks, flickering, or uneven backlighting. These problems are easy to miss on a busy desktop and may require an expensive screen replacement.https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-10-04https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-10-04Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTBefore buying a used or refurbished computer, ask to see its BIOS or UEFI settings open without requesting an unknown administrator or supervisor password. That low-level lock can block drive changes, booting from a repair USB, or reinstalling Windows, and it may be difficult or impossible to remove without the previous owner. Checking now helps ensure you will have full control of the computer.https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-09-27https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-09-27Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTBefore buying a used or refurbished computer, test every connection you expect to use. Plug a known-working device into each USB port, connect headphones to the audio jack, confirm the charger fits securely, and test the video output when possible. A dead or loose port can be expensive to repair—especially on a laptop—and is much easier to spot before you take the computer home.https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-09-20https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-09-20Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTBefore buying a used or refurbished Windows laptop, ask to see its battery health instead of relying only on the percentage shown. Open Command Prompt, run powercfg /batteryreport, and compare Full Charge Capacity with Design Capacity in the saved report; a much lower full-charge figure means shorter unplugged use and a battery replacement may be needed soon.https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-09-13https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-09-13Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTA basic power strip only gives you more outlets; it does not necessarily protect your computer from electrical spikes. For desktops, monitors, and other important electronics, use a quality surge protector with a protection rating clearly listed. It is a small investment that can help prevent expensive damage during power fluctuations or storms.https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-09-06https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-09-06Sun, 06 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTUsing the same password on multiple websites means one compromised account can put several others at risk. Use a unique password for each important account and store them in a trusted password manager. That way, if one site is breached, the damage is much easier to contain.https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-08-30https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-08-30Sun, 30 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTHaving a backup is only useful if it is actually working. Every so often, open your backup software or cloud backup service and confirm that recent files are being protected successfully. A quick check now can prevent a very unpleasant surprise later.https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-08-23https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-08-23Sun, 23 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhen Windows or one of your major applications installs updates and asks for a restart, do not keep putting it off. A restart finishes the update process, clears temporary files, and can prevent odd problems caused by partially applied changes. If your computer starts acting strange after updates, a proper restart should be one of the first things you try.https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-08-16https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-08-16Sun, 16 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTBrowser extensions can be useful, but too many can slow down your browser, create pop-ups, or even introduce security risks. Every so often, review your installed extensions and remove anything you no longer use or do not recognize. Keeping only the extensions you trust helps your browser stay faster, cleaner, and safer.https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-08-09https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-08-09Sun, 09 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTBefore installing a major Windows update, replacing hardware, or making significant system changes, make sure your important files are backed up first. Most upgrades go smoothly, but having a current backup means a bad update or unexpected failure does not become a data-loss emergency.https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-08-02https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-08-02Sun, 02 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTIf your computer reports that your hard drive or SSD may be failing, do not ignore the warning. These alerts may be your only chance to back up important files before the drive stops working completely. Even if the computer still seems normal, back up your data as soon as possible and consider replacing the drive.https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-07-26https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-07-26Sun, 26 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTBefore signing in to a website, take a quick look at the address bar to make sure you're on the correct site. Cybercriminals often create look-alike websites with slightly misspelled addresses to trick people into entering passwords. A few seconds of checking can help protect your accounts.https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-07-19https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-07-19Sun, 19 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTCreate a recovery USB drive while your computer is working properly. If Windows ever has trouble starting, having a recovery drive can make troubleshooting and repairs much easier.https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-07-12https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-07-12Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTBefore installing free software, choose the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' installation option when available. This lets you decline extra toolbars or bundled apps you don't want and helps keep your computer clean.https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-07-05https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-07-05Sun, 05 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTCreate a folder called 'Important Documents' and keep copies of things like tax files, receipts, and other important records in one place. Staying organized makes backups easier and helps you find what you need quickly.https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-06-28https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-06-28Sun, 28 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTTake a few minutes to install Windows Updates when they're offered. Security updates help protect your computer, and installing them regularly usually prevents bigger problems later.https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-06-21https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-06-21Sun, 21 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTIf you use a laptop, avoid leaving it on blankets or couches. Soft surfaces block airflow and excess heat can shorten battery life and reduce performance.https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-06-14https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-06-14Sun, 14 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTBefore deleting files because you're low on space, check the Downloads folder. Many computers accumulate gigabytes of old installers, PDFs, and ZIP files there. A quick cleanup can free up a surprising amount of storage.https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-06-07https://dontaskdavid.com/tips.html#tip-2026-06-07Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTA restart once every week or two is a good habit, even if your computer seems to be working fine. Regular restarts clear temporary issues, finish pending updates, and help keep Windows running smoothly.