Stories by Rick Broida

Windows 8 on a USB Drive, defragging tips, launch apps fast

If you've poked around PCWorld in recent weeks, you've learned how to download and install Windows 8 on a new hard-drive partition and how to install Windows 8 in a virtual machine. Today, let's talk about one of my favorite approaches for installing Windows 8, well, anywhere: by way of a flash drive.

By Rick Broida | 02 November, 2011 09:17

Tags: Windows, software, operating systems

Make sure all your Google Contacts sync to your iOS device

My wife recently made the switch from a clunky old Android phone to a spiffy new iPhone 4S. When she asked if all her contacts could be moved from the former to the latter, I confidently replied, "Sure, no problem!" After all, Android phones sync with Google Contacts, and iTunes has the ability to do likewise. Easy-peasy, right?

By Rick Broida | 27 October, 2011 09:28

Tags: consumer electronics, Google, smartphones, hardware systems, iPhone, Phones, tablets, iPad, iTunes, Apple

Browsing tips: Slow-loading sites, Google Chrome tweak

True story: I'd been getting fed up with Firefox, in part because it was acting sluggish and flaky, so I decided to give Google's Chrome browser a try. And by "try," I mean make it my primary browser for a couple weeks.

By Rick Broida | 05 October, 2011 08:52

Tags: Browsers & Add-Ons, SiteAdvisor, mcafee, applications, Google, browsers, software

Learn how to run programs from your flash drive

Reader Patricia has a question: "Why can't application software be put on USB drives instead of [hard] disks?"

By Rick Broida | 27 April, 2011 08:15

Tags: storage accessory, storage, USB, software, flash memory

Turn Amazon Cloud drive into desktop-accessible storage

As you may recall, Amazon recently unveiled its new Cloud Drive service, which provides 5GB of free online storage. (Elsewhere I explained how you could bump your limit to 20GB for under a buck.) The only downside? To access it, you have to use Amazon's Web-based interface. It's not bad, but not nearly as convenient as, say, a local hard drive.

By Rick Broida | 15 April, 2011 06:29

Tags: application development, Web services development, web services, Hard Disk, software, file management

Add a spell-checker to Internet Explorer

Among the many reasons I'm partial to Firefox is that Mozilla's browser has long offered a built-in spell checker. (Not that I need it, of course -- we payd riters learnt gud speling in skool.)

By Rick Broida | 12 April, 2011 06:45

Tags: applications, plug-ins, browsers, software, Internet Explorer, mozilla

Can your system handle Windows 7?

Much as everyone loves Microsoft's Windows 7, not everyone has made the move yet. Plenty of folks are clinging to Windows XP for dear life, while others just didn't see enough reason to upgrade from Vista. After all, it's not like Microsoft is giving Windows 7 away for free.

By Rick Broida | 06 April, 2011 02:46

Tags: windows xp, Microsoft, Freeware / shareware, Windows, Windows 7, software, operating systems, windows utilities

Firefox 4 tip: Why your status bar keeps switching sides

I'm not sure if this is a bug or a "feature," but it's definitely annoying.

By Rick Broida | 01 April, 2011 01:59

Tags: Firefox, applications, browsers, software, mozilla

Firefox 4 tip: Keep tabs open between sessions

Yesterday I told you how to tweak Firefox 4 so it would allow incompatible add-ons to run. One of my primary motivations for doing so was the PermaTabs Mod add-on, which I use religiously to keep tabs open from one browsing session to the next. (Ironically, that extension came into being because its predecessor, PermaTabs, was incompatible with Firefox 3.)

By Rick Broida | 30 March, 2011 03:30

Tags: Firefox, applications, browsers, software, mozilla

Firefox 4 tips: Bend the new browser to your will

Mozilla released Firefox 4 last week. I'm trying hard to like the new browser, but it keeps finding ways to annoy me. First, it moved the Reload button for no good reason (same for the Home button, but that's just as easily fixed). Second, it put the tabs at the top of the screen (again, easily fixed). Third, and most important, a bunch of my favorite add-ons stopped working. Luckily, I've come up with a few ways to fix the interface quirks that are driving me nuts and solve the extension compatibility problem.

By Rick Broida | 30 March, 2011 03:28

Tags: Firefox, applications, browsers, software, mozilla

Firefox tips, plus a warning: Protect those passwords

It's been a while since I've covered tips for my favorite browser, Mozilla Firefox tips (read "Quick Tips for Speeding Up Mozilla Firefox" for my last installment). So this week I thought I'd toss you a couple tips for scrolling through long Web pages in Firefox. But first -- a public service announcement.

By Rick Broida | 09 March, 2011 05:03

Tags: applications, browser security, browsers, software, mozilla

Must-have tools and tricks

It's time for another grab bag of hassle killers. This week I tell you how to get a disposable e-mail address to use as a spam magnet, how to turn off Windows 7's automatic window resizing, and how to recover data from a crashed drive.

By Rick Broida | 24 February, 2011 01:53

Tags: applications, e-mail, Windows, e-mail security, software, Windows 7, operating systems, data protection

Get a quick and easy disposable e-mail address

Here's a common hassle: You sign up for some freebie, promotion, or service that requires your e-mail address--and suddenly your inbox is deluged with ads, notifications, and other spam.

By Rick Broida | 19 February, 2011 06:59

Tags: application development, spam, Web services development, applications, antispam, e-mail, web services, spam blockers, software, internet, security, web

Customize who can see your Facebook status updates

Facebook status updates don't have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. You can decide who gets to see a particular update -- or, if you prefer, who doesn't.

By Rick Broida | 09 February, 2011 02:53

Tags: Internet-based applications and services, social networks, social media, internet, Facebook

Prepare your PC for future data disasters

Reformatting and restoring a PC is not fun--in the way spending 2 hours in the dentist's chair is not fun. You have to back up all your data (and pray that you haven't forgotten anything), reformat the hard drive, install Windows, track down missing drivers, find and reload all your software, restore your data, and pull out clumps of hair over the things you inevitably neglected to save. (Firefox plug-ins, anyone?)

By Rick Broida | 05 February, 2011 01:51

Tags: Windows Vista, windows troubleshooting, Linux, Windows, Windows 7, software, non-Windows, operating systems, windows maintenance

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