Exciting Things You Can Do With a Virtual Reality Headset

Virtual reality headsets had been conceptualized a long time ago, back in the 1960s where there were prototypes of immersive stereoscopic videos, motion-tracking headsets and interactive Google Street View-like experiences took place. It was only until recently that the technology has fully developed and these devices have been made available to the public.

Below are some exciting things you can do and enjoy with a virtual reality headset. Check them out and be amazed.

Explore Different Places

Choosing a college can be very tiring. This is especially so when you have to go through a compulsory tour. This is one of the most helpful things to do with a VR headset.

Youvisit.com is loaded with thousands of pictures and videos of international universities and colleges, and you can practically walk into the environment and look around without actually being there.

Youvisit also deals with real estate listings, where clients wear headsets and go through homes that are far away.

Create Artwork in 3D

Creating art with the Tilt Brush is definitely one of the things to do with a VR headset. The 3D effect of the strokes is mind-blowing. You can go around your work and have some of the paintings suspended in mid-air. The kind of images you can make are limitless. They range from abstract to representational and realistic. Even if you can’t paint, you’ll still be able to use the brush like a spray can.

Mountain Bike Experience

Go mountain biking with your VR headset using a stationary bike that is compatible with your VR headset and an extreme mountain biking app. There are two models you can choose from:

The Ebove Bike

The Ebove bike was designed to be compatible with VR technology. There’s no doubt that the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive initiated VR gaming, but newer ones have joined the competition.

The Ebove bike inclines and goes the opposite way, uses pedal resistance and sideways tilt, and all correspond automatically to the 3D visuals. You can choose from a range of preloaded routes and tracks that can be operated and viewed on a 15.6-inch touchscreen. You can even challenge friends in real time.

VirZOOM

The bike is compatible with Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR, and HTC Vive and works well with PC and PS4. VirZOOM is less fanciful than the Ebove as the reactiveness corresponds to your speed input. This is justified as the VirZOOM is way cheaper than the Ebove.

Fly Like a Bird

Humans have always been inspired by the flying of birds as is evident in many inventions. It’s only natural that it should be one of the things to do with a VR headset. Unlike other inventions, with the VR headset you are the one doing the flying.

Birdly gives you the most realistic bird-like experience. Simulate flight posture by lying on a padded platform while wearing your headset. The flaps serve as your wings, and the hydraulic mechanism of the device tips you forward when you dive.

Real Life Rollercoaster

Most people who go to fairs and parks go for Rollercoaster rides because of the adrenaline rush. Six Flags over Texas, in collaboration with Samsung, incorporated the use of a VR headset while riding the rollercoaster in real life. Instead of seeing the real world, users see themselves somewhere else fighting to prevent a space invasion.

Bedtime Story for Your Kids

The world got busier, and this affected the time parents spend with their children. They hardly have time to read bedtime 

stories to their little ones. If you are guilty of this, Samsung has provided a solution to this with their bedtime story app.

Parents uses a Gear VR while the child wears a Google Cardboard headset. Apart from the feeling of reading together and the illusion of their presence, it has the benefit of the child living in the present.

Better Blueprints for Architects

Arch Virtual creates VR apps for architectural companies. This app doesn’t have a pre-built house for you to look at but open spaces. With computer models as the digital blueprints, Arch Virtual creates a three-dimensional animation of the interior. Once in the Oculus Rift D2K, you can examine every part of the building.

Upgrading Your Computer: A Guide on What Parts You Should Upgrade First

A desktop computer’s lifespan usually runs around 5 – 6 years, so once you reach this pinnacle and go beyond, your PC will start running slow. After countless optimizations and removing all unnecessary files and your PC is still running slow, maybe it’s time to upgrade some hardware. But, which parts or components should you upgrade first?

Although you can tailor your upgrades to suit a particular need, in general, performance must always take priority. And so, based on performance, you should upgrade in this order.

RAM

Adding more memory is the easiest PC upgrade you can make. It’s affordable and it can be done on almost any PC including many laptops. Upgrading the RAM delivers an instant performance to almost all PCs that are running slow. For resource hungry tasks such as video editing or gaming, the more RAM your computer has, the better. Even for casual use, extra RAM will enable you to have more apps running in the background and keep a greater number of tabs open in your web browser. How much RAM is needed? 4 GB is currently the baseline amount, but you’ll notice a significant improvement if you upgrade to 8 GB. For heavier tasks, you should look to 16 GB for best results.

Graphics Card

If you’re a serious gamer or do heavy work like video or image editing, then this should be an upgrade together with the RAM. This also includes work in gaming programming, 3D modeling, and 3D animation. Otherwise, you can upgrade just to improve the quality of watching videos. PC manufacturers tend to go with integrated graphics cards rather than dedicated graphics cards. If you have an integrated card, then moving up to a dedicated one will work wonders.

Hard Drive

There are usually two reasons to upgrade your hard drive. Either you’re running out of space or you want faster performance. If you’ve done everything you can to free up your hard disk storage and still regularly run out of space, then you will need to swap it out for a larger one. Not only does a full hard drive make it impossible to save new data, but it can also impact performance. At the very least, try to keep 10 GB of free space for the operating system to use. A quick option is to switch to a solid state drive. These use flash memory instead of a spinning disk and are many times faster than a typical hard disk drive, and are reliable since they last much longer than ordinary drives.

Processor

A processor is only worth upgrading if the upgrade is really important and much needed. But it’s expensive and may require you to upgrade your motherboard and it may require you to buy a new RAM. Even if your motherboard is compatible with a new processor on paper, it may need a BIOS update to work, so check before you buy. Ultimately, if your processor is the speed bottleneck in your system, you might want to consider buying a whole new PC altogether.

Powerful Tools to Help Keep Your Computer in Good Condition

Your desktop or laptop is an expensive investment so you need to treat it right and keep it in good condition. A well maintained and cared for computer means many years of good and fast response. Keeping your computer well maintained and cared for isn’t rocket science at all. In fact, there are various tools that will keep your computer effective and in good condition, often without the need to spend too much.

Computer Protective Case

You put your expensive smartphone in a case, so why wouldn’t you put your more expensive computer in a case? This is probably the most important tool you need to invest in, and there are lots of options available from hard covers, to sleeves and carrying cases that aren’t expensive at all. To protect your computer at all times, consider a hard case, but any sort of protection case is better than an exposed computer.

Store Your Backup Discs Where You Can Find Them

Never ignore the fact that those backup discs that come with your computer purchase are important tools as well. When your computer needs an OS reboot, uninstalling and reinstalling a program can sometimes fix the problem. But how can you do that if you don’t know where you put the backup discs? Label them and put them in a safe place that you’ll remember so you can use them for later. A good way to do this is to put the discs in a CD case or a three-ring binder so they all stay in one place.

File Cleaner and Optimizer

As you use your computer, there are certain files that you will need to delete on a regular basis. This includes browser caches, temporary installer files, Windows thumbnails, system log files, crash dumps, recycle bin, etc. Doing all this manually is hard since you’ll need to search for these files one by one. The file cleaner feature of CCleaner has two sections: one for Windows and one for third-party applications. Go through both and check (or uncheck) the kinds of files you want to clean, then click Run Cleaner. You’ll be surprised you can free up over 1 GB of disk space. We do advice to stay clear of the registry cleaner feature since registry cleaning has no measurable effect and should be avoided on all computers. Even though the Pro version isn’t necessary at all, you may want to consider upgrading if you’re interested in deeper scanning, real-time system monitoring, scheduled cleanings, and automatic updates. Upgrading will cost you $25.

Malware Scanning and Removal

Malware will always be a huge problem for computer users. It can slow down your system to a crawl, or worst, your PC becomes controlled by a hacker, your data gets locked and held for ransom, or your identity gets stolen. Malwarebytes is the absolute anti-malware app that you can currently get for free. Its database of infections is updated daily so it can successfully detect and remove the latest viruses, worms, spyware, and more. The free version only does manual full scans, but that’s more than adequate. The premium version adds real-time protection as well as support for anti-ransomware, anti-exploits, anti-phishing, anti-rootkits, and more for just $40 per year. Think of it as a preemptive vaccine, whereas the free version is more like a post-infection treatment.

Bad Habits That Lead Your Computer to Potential Danger

If you’re one of those computer users with the following bad habits – even just one – then all you’re doing is bringing harm and danger to the computer. Your bad habits may even bring danger to your personal security if you frequently use the computer and Internet. All these bad habits may eventually and collectively risk the security of your machine, work, online accounts, and sensitive personal information.

Not Cleaning Your Computers

Desktops and laptops have air-intake vents for cooling and are the most affected when it comes to dust and grime. Dust generally won’t damage electronics, but it can clog fans, optical-drive mechanisms and other moving parts, which can lead to component failures and overheating if the fans stop working properly. Cleaning your computer isn’t hard, but it’s important to do so regularly before too much dust and grime build up significantly. Try cleaning out your PC just once a month using compressed canned air or desktop blower and a soft brush to remove dust that has been stuck. Be careful in cleaning around sensitive components.

Eating and Drinking Around the Computer

Many people are guilty of drinking, eating, or just snacking while working on the computer. This is not good for computers. Crumbs, oils, sticky spills and germs will build up on the device, potentially gumming up keys and mouse functionality. The worse thing that could happen is spilling your coffee or soda drink on your computer.

Smoking

Cigarette smoke isn’t just bad for humans but for computers as well. Dust and tar can build up in the unit and over time, the build-up causes the Central Processing Unit to overheat and fail.

Using One Password for Everything or Reusing Passwords Over and Over

You’d be surprised to know how most hackers get into your online accounts because they take advantage of weak passwords, and when they obtain one, they use it to log in to other vital accounts. Some users will argue that it’s not realistic to have different passwords for every online account they have. But that’s not true because many people can have several passwords and have never been hacked in their life. We suggest creating at least three types of passwords: A strong one for online banking and shopping, a moderately strong one for email and social media sites, and a generic one for non-financial or non-essential websites.

Failing to Back up Files and Data

You have a bad habit of not making copies of your files and other important data, so what do you do when your computer crashes and you lose everything? You can always start from scratch by reinstalling your OS and other programs, but you can’t reinstall lost files and data. So do back up your data. Any number of online backup services will sync your files automatically with a cloud-storage system, whether you use a PC, tablet, or laptop. Or you can physically back up files and data by saving on external drives or DVD’s.

Finding Online Resources that Can Help You Maintain Your Computer

Technology has come a long way in the last 10 years alone (imagine what computers and maintaining it was like in 1997). But like all machines, things can still go wrong. And though it’s nice to have a dependable computer tech support company to lean on and be subscribed to, it’s good to search for online resources from time to time just to learn about minor or general computer maintenance.

First, it’s so easy to search for online resources that can help you maintain your computer. All you need is to search on Google (or any other search engine you’re using) by typing key words such as “online resources computer maintenance” or “online computer maintenance tips.” However, if you want to go direct to the really helpful sites without doing generic searches, here are our suggestions.

Official sites of your computer’s OS

One of the best ways to get help and advice for computer maintenance is to go directly to the company’s official site, depending on whether you’re using a Mac or a Microsoft computer. Apple’s official site has its Apple Support Communities that give free advice in troubleshooting your Mac computer and other software or hardware issues. You can also engage in a live chat with an Apple technician. The Microsoft official website also has a Microsoft Community for free troubleshooting advice. You can search by category or you can post and an accredited expert will assist you.

Official apps and manufacturer’s sites

If you’re having trouble with apps like Firefox, SmartThings, and Spotify, you can simply search for the manufacturer’s websites themselves. They often have official wikis, support forums, and even telephone numbers so you can call their technical support.

Supportrix knowledge base

Supportrix is known worldwide for its outstanding and superb technical support services and they can handle a wide variety of issues such as virus removal and security, PC tune-up and repair, networking issues, data recovery, and the like. But it’s no surprise that they have a knowledgebase of technical articles arranged in categories that you can select in order to search for tips and advice on computer maintenance and other issues.

YouTube

Naturally, if you can’t find what you’re looking for in article format, then you can always search the world’s largest cache of roughly 85 million videos. You’re bound to find videos that discuss about computer maintenance and other issues, usually posted by those who have experienced the same problems. You can even find videos from the official manufacturers as well.

Social Media

Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites aren’t just for chatting, posting photos, and reading all that fake news (kidding), because you can find the official pages of manufacturers on social media. Also, like in Facebook, there are also third-party communities that you can join that provide free tips and advice on computer maintenance and other issues. You can also use Twitter to contact official companies so as to get a faster and accurate response.

Ways a Well Optimized Computer Can Get More Things Done

We all know the basic truth that when a computer has been running for a few years into its lifespan, it tends to slow down a bit. As its workload increases, the computer slows down considerably. Also over time, unneeded files and programs fragments the hard disk and neglecting to clean out through regular maintenance adds up to slow down computer speed and performance.

To get your computer up to speed again, performing optimization through maintenance should be done on a regular basis. When a computer is regularly optimized, it achieves two things:

1. A well optimized computer brings back peak performance to more things get done faster. This is particularly important if the computer is used for work, business, or educational purposes like research and studying.

2. A well optimized computer means you don’t need to spend a dime on so-called software or programs that make grandiose claims that if you run their program your computer will run better and faster.

We’ll get back to number 1 to show you ways on how to properly optimize your computer. As for number 2, you need to realize now that you can perform maintenance optimization regularly for free. Software and programs with wild claims of optimizing your computer automatically, in reality, will do virtually nothing and are outright scams. This includes antivirus and malware software that sell add-on optimization tools that cost around $20 or less. Unless you’re running Windows 9x versions, all Windows today and even Apple computers have built-in optimization tools that are more than enough to keep your computer well maintained and in peak performance.

So going back to number 1, perhaps some do’s and don’ts reminders can first show you what and what not to do.

DO NOT:

§  Use Internet Explorer or IE based browsers like MSN Explorer.

§  Use Outlook or Outlook Express.

§  Open e-mail attachments that are questionable or suspicious or not expecting, no matter who sent them.

§  Respond to spam messages and e-mails using unsubscribed links.

§  Visit questionable and untrusted website.

PLEASE DO:

§  Always have an updated antivirus program running and keep that firewall up with no poked holes into it.

§  Have your computer automatically install all the latest security updates.

§  Delete all unsolicited e-mails containing attachments without reading them.

And most of all, perform regular optimization maintenance.

Disable transparency effects

These special effects look impressive, but use up too much of your PC’s resources. Turn off these effects and instead, go for that classic Windows look, to speed up your computer’s performance.

Disable unnecessary startup programs

Several programs contain a component that automatically runs at startup. While this is convenient for programs you use often, running unwanted software at startup could slow down your computer.

Disable shadows and animations

Shadows and animations look nice onscreen, but, they unnecessarily add to the CPU’s (Central Processing Unit) load.

Uninstall unnecessary programs

You need to uninstall programs you no longer need or use, especially those trial versions you installed and forgot about. Such programs take up memory and eventually slow down the computer.

And of course, don’t forget to regularly defragment the hard disk, running disk cleanup, restarting you computer at least once a week after you turn it on, and running only one antivirus protection program.

Several Factors to Consider Before Buying a Laptop

For most people, a laptop is usually considered a work tool or a study tool. But a laptop can be more than these for other multi-faceted purposes such as handling a personal business, entertainment, documentation, and even social media. This makes it imperative that the buyer should make the correct choice for his/her needs before buying that new unit.

So, here are the really important aspects to consider when shopping for a new laptop.

Size

If portability is the main concern, then consider a notebook that has a small screen and is light weight. Any laptop marketed as an Ultrabook should fit the bill as they are designed to be slim and light. If work or heavy tasks are to be done, then you may need the 13- to 15-inchers with better and faster specs.

Screen Quality

You’ll be staring at your laptop for many hours each day so you want to make sure you get a screen that is comfortable to look at. Touchscreens have glossy screens that lead to reflections so consider a laptop that doesn’t have a touchscreen unless you really need it. Size matters again since a big screen is needed if you need to do heavy tasks like video or photo editing or a lot of research and writing. Look at the resolution: a 1920x1080-pixel resolution, or full HD, should be considered if you want plenty of space to line up windows and keep things in view. Finally, the viewing angles are extremely important. A laptop screen that has IPS (in-plane switching) offers the widest viewing angles and the best user comfort. Never buy blind so go into a store and see the screen for yourself.

Processor Speed

It’s hard to go past any of Intel’s Core-based CPU’s when buying a new laptop. Think Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7. These CPU’s offer the best performance when it comes to multitasking and multimedia tasks. Core i3-based notebooks are generally found in entry-level systems, while Core i5 makes up the majority of mainstream computers. Core i7-based systems are for those of you who want the best performance from your laptop. However, note that with a Core i7-based system, heat coming through the base of the laptop can be cause for concern, especially if you plan to use the laptop on tabletops.

RAM

You need 4GB of RAM or more to get the best out of your system. More RAM allows for more applications to be run at the same time, and for more data to be quickly accessible by the system at any one time, which comes in handy for tasks such as editing photos.

Price

Of course you can’t ignore the price which is a significant factor to consider when shopping for a new laptop. Laptop prices are often predicated on the features of the device. So, a laptop with a faster processor speed and RAM would likely cost more than a model with less speed. However, increasing competition in the market and more attention to research and development of new products makes it possible these days to find moderately priced devices boasting features that would naturally be found in models that are more expensive.

4 Common Newbie Mistakes You Make When Building Your First Computer

What are the common mistakes that beginner PC builders make? Oh, the list can be long, and based on many experiences, we can name at least 20 here alone. For beginners, building a PC is not easy, but it’s not rocket science either; but there are enough components and enough small things that make it easy to overlook a minor, but critical aspect of assembly.

So, here’s hoping that presenting the four most common newbie mistakes when building a first-time PC can help alleviate those mistakes, and that means four less mistakes and 16 more to go. Just kidding.

Mixing up the power cables

Of course you do know how to plug in your cables, but not all plugs are created equal. Take your computer’s internal power supply that has two different kinds of 8-pin power cables: one for the graphics card and the other one for the CPU’s motherboard. So be sure to take a closer look at the pins since they’re shaped differently so you don’t force into where they don’t belong.

Leaving the graphics card hanging out

If the GPU is screwed into the case and plugged into its power, don’t immediately assume that it’s good to go. The graphics card needs to be plugged into a slot on the motherboard. There’s a rubber shield you need to remove to expose the PCI-Express slot, and then the card needs to plug into a matching PCI-Express lane on the board. Make sure of this by pushing the graphics card into the slot until the lock – at the far end of the slot – snaps into place. Then be sure to screw in the card and don’t rely on the motherboard slot to carry all the weight.

Not pushing the power cables all the way in

Many newbies and even experts have fallen into trap of not being able to figure out why the desktop wouldn’t boot. The motherboard seemed to be getting power, the graphics card seemed to be getting power, but the computer just wouldn’t turn on. Take the time to really study because the motherboard power cable could be just a fraction of a millimeter shy of being properly plugged in. It just needed a tiny little push to snap into place. It can look like it was plugged in, but more often it’s not.

Not using anti-static procedures when building a PC

“Grounding” refers to the process of discharging static electricity from the human builder into safe ground that sinks the charge and pulls it away from the user. This prevents electrostatic build-up and discharge into components that will ultimately damage computer hardware, and this damage is not usually immediately visible until the PC is used often. It’s advisable to take some sort of grounding safety precautions such as a simple anti-static wrist strap or a banana plug receptacle that connects to the third prong in a wall outlet.

Choosing the Right Computer Components to Suit Your Needs

Building your own computer is not a rite of passage for anyone, regardless of how tech savvy you are, or aren’t. The reason to build your own computer – and choose the best components for it – is because of the need to do so. When you build your own computer:

• You can easily upgrade it because it’s custom-built.
• By choosing your own components you avoid buying a low-end computer if you’re on a budget, and what you’ll build will run faster. Many low-end computers use inferior components.
• You get more benefits by choosing what you really need:

• Basic system – if you just need something for homebased work and nothing special, you can get solid parts.
• Home system for the family – mainly more RAM and a dual-core processor so all family members can be served.
• Gaming system – you’ll need a faster ATI or Nvidia graphics card, a dual-core processor or quad-core processor, a good quality and faster RAM, and a good SATA hard drive.
• Music sound mixing and production – you’ll need a strong and non-integrated sound card, a decent amount of RAM, and a decent processor.
• Video editing – you need to choose a graphics card fast enough to render what you need to be done. These cards are not the same as gaming cards since there are cards actually made for the professional editing market. A quad-core processor is needed and a large hard drive is needed with multiple terabytes if you need to do a lot of video editing.

What are the bare minimum components you can choose for a computer?

• CPU case with a power supply
• Motherboard (be careful since some motherboards come with integrated video card while most have integrated sound and network)
• Processor
• Memory (RAM)
• Hard Drive
• Video Card

The Processor

This is fairly easy because although you may choose AMD for basic units depending on the motherboard, the best choice will always be an Intel, particularly one of the Intel Core 2 CPU’s if you’re unsure what to choose. Even with an Intel, examine the specs to know what kind of motherboard you need. Just take note that if you plan to purchase a separate video card, don’t get a board with integrated video on it.

The Graphics Card

Choosing a video card will depend on whether you play PC video games or not. If you do, then you’ll need to spend some money for a good card. If not, then you can pick up the regular $50 ATI or Nvidia DVI video card that works fine. Just make sure your motherboard has the correct slot. If you’re a serious gamer, then you’ll need at least an Nvidia 8800 GTS card since it’s blazing fast. Take note that most high-end video cards require a separate power connector, so make sure your power supply has the right connector.

Hard Drives

Most computers at least hold 80GB and you can install a SATA 500GB hard drive for $100. Always get SATA since it’s faster and more stable than the older IDE or PATA. You can also get the newer RAID (redundant array of independent disks) that allows multiple, lower cost hard drives to function as a single unit. SSD’s are more expensive and has less capacity but is more mechanically reliable.

5 Ways to Optimize Your Gadgets to Maximize their Capabilities

Aside from a desktop computer or a laptop, there are so many tech gadgets in our lives today, and it’s important to keep these tech gadgets optimized and well-maintained periodically to keep things running smoothly. Like your desktop PC and laptop, your other tech gadgets need to be cleaned and maintained properly as well as staying well optimized.

Update your Wi-Fi router

Since all tech gadgets connect to the Internet, if you’re experiencing slow Wi-Fi speeds, spotty connections, or trouble with technologies, you might need to update the firmware of your router. Router manufacturers update firmware on a regular basis to fix issues and improve performance. The process for updating a router’s firmware is generally pretty simple but varies between brands, so it’s best to check the user manual or online documentation.

Keep the operating system and other software updated

While Apple, Android, and Windows will default to automatic downloading and installing of updates, some programs and apps on your tech gadgets and devices needs to be updated as well. It’s a good idea to manually check for updates as well, just in case. Sometimes security patches come “out of cycle,” meaning that if the vulnerability is serious, Apple, Microsoft, or Android will release a patch for it as quickly as possible. You also need to check for updates on new drivers for your tech gadgets. If you regularly use a tablet, always check the OS for updates even if the default is set to automatic.

Clear up disk space

Just like a PC and laptop, tech gadgets need to be cleaned internally, that is, old files and other unused items should be cleared out or transferred. While some phones have an SD card for more saving space and most tablets now have a big capacity, eventually, this space gets filled up fast. For tech gadgets to work faster and better, delete or transfer files not in use. Delete what you don’t need and transfer other files that aren’t needed to your PC. For instance, if you have a lot of pictures and videos from all your vacation trips stored in your gadgets, simply transfer these to your PC or an external drive.

Uninstall old unused programs and apps

Almost similar to a PC or laptop, as time goes by and your gadgets rack up space from all those downloaded programs and apps, perhaps it’s time to get rid of what you don’t need or don’t use anymore. In some cases, a few of these were never even used at all. As you remove these programs and apps, you free up more space on your gadgets and they’ll start working faster and smoothly again.

Clean your gadgets

Like a desktop PC and laptop, even tech gadgets collect a lot of dust internally, and its external features also become dirty. You can use canned or compressed air to blow out all this dust and dirt. With most tech gadgets, all you need to remove is the battery to blow out the dirt inside.

7 Warning Signs Your Computer is About to Fail

Computer failure or crashes often occur suddenly and with very little warning. Most failures are not as random as they seem, though. There will actually be a number of potential warning signs. When you notice the following, please call the local tech support company you are subscribed to:

Hardware conflicts

Sometimes, two components in a PC will try to consume the same resources or perform the same task. This creates a hardware conflict and it will show itself in unusual behavior when certain tasks are done. You can check for hardware conflict by opening Windows’ Device Manager in the control panel. Hardware with a conflict will appear with a yellow exclamation point next to it.

Program corruption or random file issues

Files that always worked suddenly don’t open or only work on occasions. They may or may not be accompanied by an error message. This may be caused by a failing hard drive, or worse, a virus.

Noisy mechanical hard drive

Mechanical hard drives are likely sources of problems with PC’s. They contain mechanical parts that will eventually wear out, causing the system to fail.

If you find that programs or files are taking a long time to load or that the drive has become noisy while working, then your hard drive could be nearing the end of its life. Back up your data and call your tech support company.

Occasional boot errors

When there is boot error, you will see an error message that reads “boot device not found.” Windows will fail to boot, but it may work at a later time, or work immediately once you hit the reset button. This is a sign that something is wrong with your hard drive, or that your Windows OS has somehow become corrupt.

Software launches at random

Software that launches on its own is a clue that you may be a victim of malware. Often, the programs that appear will be linked to advertisements, but any Trojan can allow this. You may also notice that certain hardware, like the webcam, may activate without your consent. This tampering may eventually lead to problems as your PC is exposed to unwanted programs or its files are corrupted maliciously.

Video artifacts

The video that you view on a PC, no matter its source, is effectively a stream of data that’s turned into an image. An error in that data can cause an “artifact,” which may appear as blocks of random colour, strange lines, or partially missing 3D geometry. All of these problems are signs that your PC’s graphics processor is encountering an issue. Often, the problem is excessive heat. It could also mean that the graphics processing unit is old and should be replaced.

Unusually loud system fan

A computer with fans that are noisy may be screaming for help because its internals are too warm, a situation that can eventually lead to a crash and even hardware damage.

Best VPN Apps You Can Get For Your Android Device

Everywhere, data privacy is always at risk -- ISPs selling people's information, hackers stealing people's data and even money, and websites tricking users out of their personal details. It seems like someone's always out to compromise our security. Keeping yourself safe while browsing the Internet is a necessity, especially for those who carry their mobile devices everywhere they go.

By using VPN, you can have the easiest and most accessible way of protecting your data online. This is because a VPN acts like a tunnel between your Android phone and the Internet. It encrypts information and sends it to servers around the world, which makes it nearly impossible to identify individual users, keeping your privacy intact no matter what your location is or which network you connect to.

With the right provider and software, you can experience safe yet inexpensive VPN service on your Android device, without sacrificing the speed or device usability.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN has a well deserved reputation for speed. The service delivers consistently high numbers on speed tests from a variety of locations. The app doesn't skimp on the privacy features, either. The service has a strict zero-logging policy to ensure your data is as inaccessible as possible, and you also get to take advantage of unlimited bandwidth as well as a complete lack of file type restrictions, which is perfect for Android users who use their phone for everything, everywhere.

ExpressVPN offers both an app for Android as well as access through OpenVPN. The custom software has a lot of features that make it easy and convenient to use, including speed test, live support, smart location suggestions, server favorites, and more. It's a fast, easy-to-use VPN that has stellar support for mobile devices, PCs, and tablets.

NordVPN

You can find some of the most unique features of any VPN service in NordVPN. The biggest standout is its signature double encryption process that wraps all data in an unbeatable 2048-bit SSL encryption. NordVPN keeps speed test results high by configuring servers to handle different types of traffic. If you're streaming a movie, for example, your data will likely be funneled through a server designed to stream movies. This adds up to an incredibly fast network, no matter which server you're connected to.

The NordVPN Android app runs natively on the operating system, ensuring an easy-to-use experience that's incredibly light on resources. Installation is as quick as downloading and logging in, and once you're connected, switching servers and monitoring your connection is just a few taps away.

IPVanish

IPVanish operates on a top tier VPN network that refuses to compromise on speed or security. It offers access to over 750 servers in 60 different countries, each locked down with 256-bit AES encryption and a no-exceptions zero-logging policy. Why is it an amazing choice? Unlimited bandwidth, no restrictions on P2P or torrent traffic, and awesome speed test results are just some of the reasons. It includes all of the features that make the IPVanish network so useful, including strong encryption as well as automatic server suggestions, a variety of security protocols, and overall fast connections. As a nice bonus, the IPVanish app is available to download and install as a raw apk as well as from the Google Play Store.

PureVPN

One of PureVPN's standout features is a surprisingly high simultaneous connection limit. Most providers put the cap at three devices connected through your account at a time, but with PureVPN, it's five. With so many Android devices out there, it's a great thing that you and your family members can use them at once. You can mark favorite countries to automatically receive a list of connections from that area, ping servers to see which offers the best connection, even submit support tickets from within the app. Everything is packaged in a single lightweight download, so even older or slower phones won't have any trouble keeping the VPN alive.

VyprVPN

VyprVPN has made a name for itself by taking privacy a step further. The company owns and operates its entire network of 700 servers in 70+ countries, allowing it to customize hardware and software for optimal privacy and speed. VyprVPN delivers unlimited bandwidth with no file type restrictions, has a strict zero-logging policy, and deploys the proprietary Chameleon technology to defeat VPN blocking measures so you have truly free access to the Internet. The VyprVPN Android app has tons of functionality, all packed into a single lightweight download. The app also lets you switch servers with just a few taps, manage connections on a per-app basis, and automatically activate the VPN when you connect to an unsecured Wi-Fi network.