Computing

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

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

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

When you want to remove an app or program from your PC, you probably reach for Windows’ built-in ‘Add or remove programs’ option. It’s okay for removing the odd program here and there, but all too often you’ll be presented with a message telling you that some components couldn’t be removed, or that the uninstall … Read more

DUPLICATI – Suitable online storage. Duplicati supports most popular services as well as WebDAV, FTP, and SSH, and can store backups locally too. Read our DUPLICATI Review. The first rule of backups is that you can’t have too many backups. Better to have redundant copies of your data than a single copy that fails when … Read more

YOUTUBE RECENTLY STARTED testing a three-strikes policy for viewers who use ad blockers on its website. If it detects that you have one installed, it will give you three chances to disable the tool before it blocks you from watching any videos. Read our Keep Your Ad Blocker Working. This strict new policy is intended … Read more