Daves Computer Tips

Daves Computer Tips https://davescomputertips.com Computer Help, Tips, How-to's, and News Fri, 06 Feb 2026 06:20:37 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Giveaways & Contests Reminder (Week 0626) https://davescomputertips.com/giveaways-contests-reminder-week-0626/ https://davescomputertips.com/giveaways-contests-reminder-week-0626/#respond Fri, 06 Feb 2026 06:20:37 +0000 https://davescomputertips.com/?p=150770 Check out our DCT Forum. There, you can get answers to your computer questions, or just hang out and chat with other Forum members. It will also allow you to help others, which is always a nice thing to do. Try it out! Dave’s Computer Tips is working hard to bring top-quality software to our readers. Please note that none of the upcoming contests and giveaways are set in stone.

]]> https://davescomputertips.com/giveaways-contests-reminder-week-0626/feed/ 0 How To Change ChatGPT Personality https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-change-chatgpt-personality/ https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-change-chatgpt-personality/#respond Thu, 05 Feb 2026 05:50:10 +0000 https://davescomputertips.com/?p=150713 Last week, we talked about ChatGPT and how you can stop notifications. If you missed that one, you can find it here: How To Stop ChatGPT Notifications I would like to stay on this subject and teach you something new. That is right, I’m going to teach you how to you can change the personality of ChatGPT. Yep, there is a way to adjust the way it interacts with you. The other day…

]]> https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-change-chatgpt-personality/feed/ 0 How To Prevent Windows Updating Drivers https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-prevent-windows-updating-drivers/ https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-prevent-windows-updating-drivers/#comments Wed, 04 Feb 2026 05:01:43 +0000 https://davescomputertips.com/?p=150731 Device drivers are programs that allow the operating system to communicate with hardware devices. When it comes to driver updates, the old saying “if it isn’t broken, it doesn’t need fixing” well and truly applies. The one possible exception is graphics card drivers, which often include support for newer games/technology, but even then, the preferred option is to download updated drivers…

]]> https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-prevent-windows-updating-drivers/feed/ 2 Beware This Phishing Email From ‘Microsoft’ https://davescomputertips.com/beware-this-phishing-email-from-microsoft/ https://davescomputertips.com/beware-this-phishing-email-from-microsoft/#comments Tue, 03 Feb 2026 06:09:45 +0000 https://davescomputertips.com/?p=150574 I recently received an email supposedly coming from Microsoft. However, it is clearly a phishing email purely designed to entice users into giving up their Microsoft Account login details. It’s also a prime example of common phishing traits: BOTTOM LINE: I cannot remember ever receiving such an obvious phishing email. As I said earlier, this one includes pretty much all of the common…

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]]> https://davescomputertips.com/beware-this-phishing-email-from-microsoft/feed/ 1 Sync Time In Windows 10 https://davescomputertips.com/sync-time-in-windows-10/ https://davescomputertips.com/sync-time-in-windows-10/#comments Tue, 03 Feb 2026 06:09:27 +0000 https://davescomputertips.com/?p=150603 It’s the winter for power outages around here, with possible rotating outages due to damage at the power plant. These outages can also wreak havoc on our tech. Some minor, some major. One minor problem I had because of the last outage was that the time on one of my computers was out of sync. I usually sync the clocks in my home with the computer or TV. But sometimes those times need to be…

]]> https://davescomputertips.com/sync-time-in-windows-10/feed/ 1 Why Thousands Of Gamers Are Leaving Windows For Linux https://davescomputertips.com/why-thousands-of-gamers-are-leaving-windows-for-linux/ https://davescomputertips.com/why-thousands-of-gamers-are-leaving-windows-for-linux/#comments Mon, 02 Feb 2026 05:11:02 +0000 https://davescomputertips.com/?p=150683 Fellow DCT authors Jim Hillier and Terry Hollett have written extensively about Linux in its various forms, not least the growing number of Windows users migrating to Linux. There are many reasons for this, but one of the main ones is the extraordinary lengths Microsoft is going to to drive users away from Windows 11. Hardware requirements (TPM 2.0), the end of Windows 10, and the quite nauseating…

]]> https://davescomputertips.com/why-thousands-of-gamers-are-leaving-windows-for-linux/feed/ 2 Giveaways & Contests Reminder (Week 0526) https://davescomputertips.com/giveaways-contests-reminder-week-0526/ https://davescomputertips.com/giveaways-contests-reminder-week-0526/#respond Fri, 30 Jan 2026 05:16:38 +0000 https://davescomputertips.com/?p=150686 Check out our DCT Forum. There, you can get answers to your computer questions, or just hang out and chat with other Forum members. It will also allow you to help others, which is always a nice thing to do. Try it out! Dave’s Computer Tips is working hard to bring top-quality software to our readers. Please note that none of the upcoming contests and giveaways are set in stone.

]]> https://davescomputertips.com/giveaways-contests-reminder-week-0526/feed/ 0 AnyTech365 AntiScam Ultimate Overview & Giveaway https://davescomputertips.com/anytech365-ultimate-overview-giveaway/ https://davescomputertips.com/anytech365-ultimate-overview-giveaway/#respond Thu, 29 Jan 2026 21:39:22 +0000 https://davescomputertips.com/?p=150689 AnyTech365 has kindly offered our DCT readers a chance to win one of five licenses for their AntiScam365 Ultimate programs. These are one-year/one PC licenses and are currently each valued at $80.00 (US). “AnyTech365 AntiScam Ultimate combines full anti-scam protection with advanced detection and continuous monitoring to stop scammers before they escalate. With tamper-resistant defenses, 24/7…

]]> https://davescomputertips.com/anytech365-ultimate-overview-giveaway/feed/ 0 Will Half-Life 3 Launch With The Steam Machine In 2026? https://davescomputertips.com/will-half-life-3-launch-with-the-steam-machine-in-2026/ https://davescomputertips.com/will-half-life-3-launch-with-the-steam-machine-in-2026/#respond Thu, 29 Jan 2026 13:02:09 +0000 https://davescomputertips.com/?p=150653 Considered one of the most important video games of modern times, Half-Life 2 was launched way back in 2004, and I still remember having the DVD shipped to me in Spain. But it was also the first time I had experienced digital game downloading because the DVD contained only part of the game, thus requiring us to set up an account with Valve’s gaming platform, Steam. Half-Life 2 still looks great…

]]> https://davescomputertips.com/will-half-life-3-launch-with-the-steam-machine-in-2026/feed/ 0 How To Stop ChatGPT Notifications https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-stop-chatgpt-notifications/ https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-stop-chatgpt-notifications/#respond Thu, 29 Jan 2026 05:47:49 +0000 https://davescomputertips.com/?p=150587 Last week I started a lesson on the new subject of ChatGPT. We talked about how you could stop this AI from taking your information to teach all its AI systems. If you missed that, you can find it here: How To Stop ChatGPT Using My Data I would like to stick with this subject and teach you something else about AI. As with all programs and websites, they love to send you notifications.

]]> https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-stop-chatgpt-notifications/feed/ 0 Easily Debloat Windows With ‘Winhance’ https://davescomputertips.com/easily-debloat-windows-with-winhance/ https://davescomputertips.com/easily-debloat-windows-with-winhance/#comments Wed, 28 Jan 2026 11:17:41 +0000 https://davescomputertips.com/?p=150605 Looking for an easy solution to slim down Windows? Look no further! Based on a suggestion from one of our regular readers, I checked out “Winhance,” a free and open-source Windows debloat/enhancement utility to see what it offered, and I must say I am very impressed. Many thanks to Reg for the suggestion. There are quite a few Windows debloat/slimming tools around at the moment…

]]> https://davescomputertips.com/easily-debloat-windows-with-winhance/feed/ 2 I Underestimated The Power Of Smart Watches https://davescomputertips.com/i-underestimated-the-power-of-smart-watches/ https://davescomputertips.com/i-underestimated-the-power-of-smart-watches/#respond Tue, 27 Jan 2026 05:43:14 +0000 https://davescomputertips.com/?p=150614 Back in September 2021, I bought a Samsung Gear 3 Frontier smartwatch and wrote about it in I Just Bought My First Smartwatch! I sold it a year or two later and reverted to analogue, but smart watches have improved considerably in the intervening years. I don’t think I truly appreciated the Gear 3 and what it was capable of, so back in September 2024, I bought a Xiaomi Watch 2 in a gadget…

]]> https://davescomputertips.com/i-underestimated-the-power-of-smart-watches/feed/ 0 How To Disable Browser AI, Telemetry, & More https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-disable-browser-ai-telemetry-more/ https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-disable-browser-ai-telemetry-more/#comments Tue, 27 Jan 2026 05:43:00 +0000 https://davescomputertips.com/?p=150580 NOTE: Applies to Chrome, Edge, and Firefox only. Corbin Davenport, a tech writer, software developer, and podcaster, has released a tool to help users remove AI features, telemetry data reporting, sponsored content, product integrations, and other annoyances from the Chrome, Edge, and Firefox browsers. Corbin’s project, appropriately named “Just the Browser“, consists of various scripts to…

]]> https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-disable-browser-ai-telemetry-more/feed/ 3 Disable TiVo Remote Back Light https://davescomputertips.com/disable-tivo-remote-back-light/ https://davescomputertips.com/disable-tivo-remote-back-light/#comments Mon, 26 Jan 2026 05:16:51 +0000 https://davescomputertips.com/?p=150591 One of the first problems I had with my TiVo cable service was that the batteries in my remote seemed only to last a week. I got in touch with Tech Support, and they only sent me a new remote. When you move or shake this remote in the dark, the buttons will light up. Good or bad, up for debate. I was convinced that this was one of the reasons why the batteries drained so quickly.

]]> https://davescomputertips.com/disable-tivo-remote-back-light/feed/ 2 Giveaways & Contests Reminder (Week 0426) https://davescomputertips.com/giveaways-contests-reminder-week-0426/ https://davescomputertips.com/giveaways-contests-reminder-week-0426/#respond Fri, 23 Jan 2026 05:01:14 +0000 https://davescomputertips.com/?p=150572 Check out our DCT Forum. There, you can get answers to your computer questions, or just hang out and chat with other Forum members. It will also allow you to help others, which is always a nice thing to do. Try it out! Dave’s Computer Tips is working hard to bring top-quality software to our readers. Please note that none of the upcoming contests and giveaways are set in stone.

]]> https://davescomputertips.com/giveaways-contests-reminder-week-0426/feed/ 0 2 Little Known Windows Tricks https://davescomputertips.com/2-little-known-windows-tricks/ https://davescomputertips.com/2-little-known-windows-tricks/#comments Thu, 22 Jan 2026 05:10:19 +0000 https://davescomputertips.com/?p=150557 Here are a couple of Windows tricks that I pretty much guarantee you don’t know about. This trick creates a one-click option to quickly shut down the PC, and it’s achieved via an obscure file that’s been tucked away in the System32 folder for many years: Now, when you double-click the new shortcut, a “shade” will drop halfway down the screen. Slide the shade down with the mouse to…

]]> https://davescomputertips.com/2-little-known-windows-tricks/feed/ 11 How To Stop ChatGPT Using My Data https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-stop-chatgpt-using-my-data/ https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-stop-chatgpt-using-my-data/#comments Thu, 22 Jan 2026 05:05:56 +0000 https://davescomputertips.com/?p=150503 Last week, we covered How to Create a Shortcut on your Android phone from Google Chrome. If you missed that, you can find it here: How To Create Shortcut On Android This week, I wanted to jump off this subject and talk about ChatGPT. ChatGPT has been taking over the world in the last few years. Many people use it for their jobs or personal projects. I know many companies even use it for…

]]> https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-stop-chatgpt-using-my-data/feed/ 2 HandBrake – Save Your Own Presets https://davescomputertips.com/handbrake-save-your-own-presets/ https://davescomputertips.com/handbrake-save-your-own-presets/#respond Wed, 21 Jan 2026 05:09:52 +0000 https://davescomputertips.com/?p=150538 My movie collection file size ballooned from around 300GB to 1.2TB. I couldn’t understand why, since I only recorded a couple more movies from my cable box. I scanned through my videos only to find that the last movies copied over were 140Gb to 170GB in size. I must have picked the wrong codecs to save in Open Broadcaster Software (OBS). I wrote about this before about reducing the size of…

]]> https://davescomputertips.com/handbrake-save-your-own-presets/feed/ 0 How To Quickly & Easily Convert Any File https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-quickly-easily-convert-any-file/ https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-quickly-easily-convert-any-file/#comments Tue, 20 Jan 2026 05:05:21 +0000 https://davescomputertips.com/?p=150499 How would you like to have an option in the right-click menu to quickly and easily convert any file, right there in File Explorer? That’s what you get with this terrific freeware with the rather exotic name, File Converter. Thanks to fellow author and friend Marc Thomas, who recommended File Explorer in the first place. I’m not one who needs to frequently convert files, and in the past…

]]> https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-quickly-easily-convert-any-file/feed/ 1 Have Siri Announce Your Calls On Your iPhone https://davescomputertips.com/have-siri-announce-your-calls-on-your-iphone/ https://davescomputertips.com/have-siri-announce-your-calls-on-your-iphone/#comments Tue, 20 Jan 2026 05:05:07 +0000 https://davescomputertips.com/?p=150469 I know! Sounds really strange, right? Well, I guess it sounds a little strange anyway for us old folk. But that is why I am here – to bring you up to speed and teach you how to make things easier for you, or if not easier, at least fun, and you will learn something to boot! It will totally freak out your grandchildren. Ask me how I know! This is really very simple, and you should not have any…

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