Jim Hillier – Daves Computer Tips

The Correct Way To Use PrivaZer On SSDs

Jim Hillier — Fri, 08 May 2026 04:40:35 +0000

PrivaZer is a popular junk file cleaner that includes additional privacy measures, such as secure deletion of files and securely wiping free space on drives. PrivaZer is my junk file cleaner of choice. However, if you’re running an SSD, there are a couple of PrivaZer settings you should be aware of. By way of explanation, I reckon you’d be aware by now that excessive writes to SSDs shorten…

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How Much Account Verification Is Enough?

Jim Hillier — Wed, 06 May 2026 04:02:00 +0000

I’m all for enhanced online account security, but has it maybe gone a bit too far? These days, I find myself needing to sign in to some accounts over and over, and others are now putting me through hoops to prove my identity. All my online accounts are secured by 2FA where available. I use a password manager (Bitwarden) protected by a master password to manage all my passwords.

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How To Check Your SSD’s Health

Jim Hillier — Tue, 05 May 2026 05:49:32 +0000

Unlike HDDs, SSDs give little to no warning that they are about to fail, so it’s important to periodically check your SSD’s health status. Some manufacturers provide a dedicated tool that supports their own brand – e.g., Samsung Magician – but if you don’t have such a tool, there are alternatives. CrystalDiskInfo is portable freeware that provides a comprehensive report of your drive’s health…

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One Simple Browser Setting To Enhance Security

Jim Hillier — Fri, 01 May 2026 07:21:20 +0000

You’ll all be aware of the “HTTP” and “HTTPS” prefixes for URLs. HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) was the standard for many years, but these days HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is the new standard. As the name suggests, HTTPS adds a layer of security via encryption, which protects the privacy and integrity of data exchanged between the web browser and a website.

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How To Run Both Windows & Linux On Laptops

Jim Hillier — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 04:04:03 +0000

A few months ago, I wrote an article specifically for users who want to transition from Windows to Linux but are being stumped by must-have Windows-only software: What’s Stopping You Transitioning To Linux? In response to that article, which involved installing Windows & Linux on separate internal drives, a reader posed the question, ‘but what about laptops and/or mini PCs that don’t have the…

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Microsoft Starts Removing AI Components – Sort Of

Jim Hillier — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:13:09 +0000

As you’d most likely be aware, users have complained bitterly about Microsoft’s insistence on permeating every nook and cranny in Windows 11 with Copilot (AI), and the backlash caused Microsoft to announce it would be pulling back on its Copilot (AI) integration. Both my colleague Marc Thomas and I have expressed doubts over Microsoft’s promised pullback. I’ve previously stated that the company…

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Beware Fake Windows Update Download Sites!

Jim Hillier — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 04:48:36 +0000

Security Company Malwarebytes has recently identified a fake Windows Update site that closely mimics an official Microsoft site to trick users into downloading a malicious update. According to Malwarebytes, the phishing site convincingly mimics official Microsoft support pages, and the attack targets Windows users by offering what appears to be a legitimate cumulative update for Windows 11 24H2.

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Which PC Brands Rate Best For Customer Satisfaction

Jim Hillier — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 04:11:13 +0000

ASCI (American Customer Satisfaction Index) has completed a study to ascertain which PC brands rate best for customer satisfaction. ASCI incorporated a variety of factors to come up with an overall customer satisfaction rating, including: Acer came out as the worst brand for customer satisfaction, with HP coming out on top as the best: (Credit: ASCI) A score of 81 is the median…

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Windows Losing Out To Linux – Worldwide Trend

Jim Hillier — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 06:55:32 +0000

Governments around the world have either transitioned from Windows to Linux or are planning to do so. France has since announced that, based on the success of its Gendarmerie’s transition, the entire government will now be following suit and transitioning from Windows to Linux. NOTE: France currently employs around 5.7 million civil servants It’s well known that in most countries…

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When Will We See A Windows 12?

Jim Hillier — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 04:03:29 +0000

This question – when will we see a Windows 12 – was raised recently by a regular DCT commenter, and it’s a darn good question. While there is no official word regarding the next Windows iteration, with a combination of historical data and logic, we can ascertain a reasonable theory. As you can see from the above official Windows 11 lifecycle chart, there is typically a 2-year turnaround…

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How To Pin Files/Folders To The Taskbar

Jim Hillier — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 04:03:13 +0000

In a previous article, I explained how to pin shortcuts to websites on the Taskbar. Now I’m going to show you how you can pin shortcuts to files/folders on the Taskbar. There is no option in Windows 11 for pinning frequently accessed files and/or folders to the Taskbar, but with a little creativity, it’s not all that difficult to do. In the following example, I’ll be working with a folder that…

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Has Security Software Won The Battle Against Malware?

Jim Hillier — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:10:30 +0000

For years, malware purveyors and antivirus developers have played a game of whack-a-mole, and now it seems that antivirus software has well and truly come out on top. I remember years ago when malware infections were so prevalent that there were specialist sites set up to help users identify the various types of malware and come up with solutions. For example, who remembers HijackThis?

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Firefox Search Bar Not Working – Solved

Jim Hillier — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 04:06:29 +0000

I was once a dedicated Firefox user, but for some time now, I have moved on to Brave as my default browser. However, I wrote an article recently about Perplexity search in Firefox, and while revisiting Firefox, I discovered that the search bar was not working. When I tried to type a search term into the search bar, what I was typing automatically and constantly popped into the address bar…

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How To Pin Websites To The Taskbar – Any Browser

Jim Hillier — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 04:30:35 +0000

This applies to all mainstream browsers. I don’t have too many websites that I visit on a regular basis, but it’s handy to have one-click shortcuts to those that I do visit regularly pinned to the Taskbar. Both Edge and Chrome include a simple native method for achieving this, but other browsers, such as Brave and Firefox, require a bit more effort. In all the following examples…

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