l’ve always hated how file-recovery programs claim to find lost photos, but then charge you to locate them. Is there software that actually does it all for free – with no sneaky hidden charges? Simon Lindsay There are several free photo-recovery tools, but our favourite is PhotoRec. It’s open-source, so is completely free with no hidden catches. It … Read more
Portable consoles have unlocked AAA-level gaming on the go. But which handheld comes out the best, hands down? Read our Lenovo legion go vs rog ally vs CRKD nitro deck. Words: Josh Russell, Rik Henderson, Sam Cross Photography: Phil Barker Once upon a time, AAA gaming was the preserve of living-room consoles and hulking PCs. No gamer … Read more
Is it safe to use Microsoft’s new PC Manager tool? It aims to speed up your computer, but might actually make it slower. Read our Is it safe to use Microsofts new PC Manager tool. Microsoft’s PC Manager has finally launched. We first wrote about it in Issue 645, back in late 2022, after it arrived … Read more
We asked Nik Rawlinson to move out of his comfort zone and give this stripped-down version of Windows 11 a try. Read our Tiny11 Review. Tiny11 is a stripped-down version of Windows 11. Where the full-fat OS requires 4GB of RAM and 64GB of drive space, Tiny11 can manage with 2GB and 8GB respectively. It looks like the perfect … Read more
Hoping to recapture some of my lost youth, I decided to see if I remembered how to programme the ZX Spectrum (my first computer). Which is the best Spectrum emulator for Windows 11? Michael Cornell Try Spectaculator (www.spectaculator.com), available for Windows, iOS and Android. The Windows version has a free 30-day trial, after which it costs £ for the current edition, or £ to add lifetime … Read more
bit.ly/mail449 | Min requirements: Windows 7/8.1/10 File size: 10.5MB MailStore Home 11 Review – If you use a webmail service such as Gmail, you no doubt trust the provider to keep your messages safe. However, it makes sense to backup your emails from time to time, just in case disaster strikes. It’s also useful to have a … Read more
After resetting my laptop to its factory settings. I’ve lost a lot of programs that are no longer compatible with Windows 11. One was Microsoft’s SyncToy, which I used to back up my files to an external hard drive. Is there a good free alternative? Andrew Ball Backing up your files is an essential, ongoing task, so … Read more
BurnAware is one of the few remaining programs for creating your own CDs and DVDs, and recently released version 17.2. The disc-burning software offers free and paid-for editions, so you can download the one that best suits your needs. Read our Should I pay for BurnAware Premium. Free trial: Seven days What you need: Windows 7, 8,10 or … Read more
I can’t recall why, but I stopped using Privacy Eraser (https://www.cybertronsoft.com/products/privacy-eraser/) a few years ago. I decided to download it again after reading about the new version. I remembered instantly how easy it was to use. Every setting seems to be in just the right place. What I also like is that the settings it … Read more
Presenter view in Microsoft PowerPoint makes it easy to deliver all kinds of material – from photo slideshows to background information like an itinerary or statistics. But what if you’re not in the room when your presentation is being delivered? Or you’re delivering it over the internet? In these situations you can use PowerPoint’s Cameo tool to insert yourself into the presentation via … Read more
The data on your phone or tablet may be more precious than the device itself. Wayne Williams shows you how to safeguard it Smartphones and tablets have become our trusted repositories for a wealth of personal data including contacts, past conversations, photos, videos, music, loyalty cards, browsing history, banking access and more. If you lose … Read more
Adding memory to your PC is one of the most effective upgrades you can make. The trouble is, not everyone can do it. Some computers are sealed boxes, and others have their memory soldered to the motherboard. In such cases, you’ll have to make the most efficient use of the memory you’ve got. But even … Read more