Every computer technician has at least one digital toolbox (I personally have over a dozen). Years ago, they used to be a stack of CDs/DVDs, but now they are USB flash and external drives. And the contents are constantly changing. So here is the latest version of My Digital Toolbox.

Rufus

Many companies that develop operating systems will create ISO (International Organization for Standardization) image files of their OS for users to download and install. This worked out excellent a few years ago when most computers came with CD/DVD drives. But now, finding a computer with a CD/DVD drive is challenging. So how do you use an ISO image to install software? One way is to create a bootable USB drive. When creating bootable USB drives, nothing is easier than using Rufus. I have used many bootable drive creators over the years, and Rufus is the easiest way of doing it. Rufus can create bootable USB drives from the installation ISO files for most Windows and Linux versions.

Rufus: Create bootable USB drives the easy way

Paint.NET

Paint.NET was initially meant to be a replacement for the Paint program inside Windows. But it has developed into a full-blown graphics program with features similar to Adobe Photoshop. Features include layers, history, plugins, special effects, and multiple file formats. The latest version of Paint.NET includes a graphics section for fine-tuning the hardware acceleration settings. Paint.NET is available from their website for free or from the Microsoft Store for a fee.

Paint.NET - Free Software for Digital Photo Editing

CrystalDiskInfo

Would you like to know if the drive in your computer was healthy? You sure would, but most software for diagnosing drives will only tell you when they start to fail. With CrystalDiskInfo, you can find out the exact state of your drive(s). CrystalDiskInfo uses the same information as those other analyzers but with more precise results. This way CrystalDiskInfo can predict an imminent drive failure before it happens. It runs on the current versions of Windows and Windows Server.

CrystalDiskInfo - Crystal Dew World

If you're a Windows computer owner, you know that keeping your device running smoothly can sometimes be a challenge. However, with the proper maintenance habits and knowledge, you can easily avoid common mistakes that slow down your computer and extend its lifespan. Here is how to keep your Windows computer running smoothly.

To help you achieve this, I've compiled a detailed guide with five (5) tips for maintaining your Windows-based computer like a pro. In this guide, you'll learn the importance of regular maintenance, how to avoid common mistakes, and how to develop simple maintenance habits that will keep your computer running smoothly for years.

So, whether you're a seasoned computer owner or a new user, this guide is essential for anyone looking to keep their Windows computer in top condition. Here are five (5) tips that can help you maintain your Windows computer like a pro.

1. Keep your computer clean and dust-free. Dust and debris can cause your computer to overheat and slow down. Dust can also conduct electricity, so removing it from your computer can extend its life.

How to clean the dust out of your computer

How to make your computer look and run like brand-new

2. Uninstall any programs or apps that you no longer use. This will free up space on your computer and improve its performance. There are two (2) types of programs/apps in Windows 11 and Windows 10. The first is the standard Desktop programs that most Windows users are used to. Then there are the Universal apps, UWP (Universal Windows Platform), to be exact.

And there are two (2) different places inside Windows 11 and Windows 10 to uninstall programs/apps, the Settings app and the Control Panel. With the Settings app, you can uninstall both Windows Desktop programs and Universal apps; the Control Panel can uninstall just Desktop programs.

How to uninstall a program or app using the Settings app

Windows 11

1. Left-clicking on the Start button to bring up the Start menu.
2. In the list of pinned apps on the Start menu, left-click on Settings.
3. In the left-hand column, left-click on Apps.
4. In the right-hand column, left-click on Installed apps.
5. A list of all the installed apps is displayed in the right-hand column. Find the app you want to uninstall and left-click on the three (3) horizontal dots (...) on the right and select Uninstall. If there is no uninstall option, that app is built into Windows and cannot be modified or removed.

Windows 10

1. Left-click on the Start menu and select Settings (the gear icon).
2. Left-click on Apps.
3. In the right-hand column, Apps and features will be displayed. Left-click on the app you want to uninstall and select Uninstall. If there is no uninstall option, that app is built into Windows and cannot be modified or removed.

How to uninstall a program using the Control Panel

Windows 11

1. Left-click on the Start button to bring up the Start menu.
2. In the upper right-hand corner of the Start menu, left-click on All apps.
3. Scroll down the list of programs and left-click on Windows Tools.
4. Double left-click on Control Panel.

Windows 10

1. Left-click on the Start button to bring up the Start menu.
2. Scroll down the list of programs until you get to Windows System, and then left-click on it to expand it.
3. Left-click on Control Panel.

By default, the Control Panel opens up in the category view but can be changed to large or small icons. A pull-down menu in the top-right corner labeled View by: allows you to change the view.

• If viewing the Control Panel by Category, left-click on Uninstall a program under Programs.
• If viewing by Large/Small Icons, left-click Programs and Features.

A list of all the desktop programs installed will appear. Left-click on the program you want to uninstall and select the Uninstall button at the top of the list of programs.

3. Keep your computer up-to-date with the latest operating system updates and security patches. This will ensure that your computer is protected from viruses and other security threats. Keep in mind that Microsoft releases updates for Windows on the second Tuesday of every month.

And if you use your computer for playing games, manufacturers of graphics cards will also release updates the day after Microsoft does, so you should also remember to update your video card drivers.

4. Use reliable anti-virus software and perform regular scans to detect and remove any malware or viruses. Independent testing labs like AV-Test are a great resource when researching an anti-virus program. And you can install anti-malware software along with anti-virus software. But remember that having more than one active scanner running on your computer will use extra resources.

But you should be alright if you set your anti-malware software to scan only when you start it manually. In fact, using a layered approach to secure your computer is a great way to protect your system.

How to use layered security to protect your computer

5. Avoid downloading and installing software from untrusted sources. This can put your computer at risk of malware infections. Always download software from reputable sources and read user reviews before installing. And make sure you scan or have your anti-virus program scan all files downloaded from the Internet before opening.

Regular maintenance is crucial for your Windows-based computer's longevity and optimal performance. By implementing these simple habits and tips, you can extend the life of your computer and avoid common issues that can slow it down.

In the past year or so, I have been troubleshooting more laptop computers unable to keep a stable wireless network connection. The laptops will connect to the Internet, and within a minute, they automatically disconnect. So here is how to troubleshoot a laptop wireless network connection.

Quite often, performing standard network troubleshooting can fix the issue. But there are other times that it does not. But the one thing they all have in common is all of the WiFi adapters have Bluetooth included.

The first thing I look at when a customer tells me their wireless (WiFi) network connection keeps dropping is the power settings for the adapter. The default power setting for network adapters allows Windows to turn them off to save power. To change this setting, open Device Manager and locate the Network adapters section.

How to bring up the Device Manager in Windows 11

1. Left-click on the Start button to bring up the Start menu.
2. In the upper right-hand corner of the Start menu, left-click on All apps.
3. Scroll down the list of programs and left-click on Windows Tools.
4. Left-click on Computer Management.
5. Under Commuter Management (Local), left-click on Device Manager.

or

1. Right-click on the Start button to bring up the Power User menu.
2. From the context menu that appears, left-click on Device Manager.

How to bring up the Device Manager in Windows 10

1. Left-click on the Start button to bring up the Start menu.
2. Scroll down the list of apps and left-click on Windows Administrative Tools to expand the folder.
3. Left-click on Computer Management.
4. Under Computer Management (Local), left-click on Device Manager.

or

1. Right-click on the Start button to bring up the Power User menu.
2. From the context menu that appears, left-click on Device Manager.

Once you have Device Manager open, scroll down the list of devices until you reach Network adapters. Double left-click on the Network adapters category to expand it.

Double-click on the adapter you want to change to bring up its properties.

Select the Power Management tab and make sure the Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power is unchecked.

If changing the power settings on the wireless (WiFi) network adapter does not fix the problem, the next step would be resetting it. This is a simple procedure that can drastically improve your network connection. Resetting the network adapter(s) in Windows 10 and Windows 11 is the same, but getting to the simple way of doing it is different.

How to reset your network adapter in Windows 11

How to reset your network adapter in Windows 10

If resetting your network adapter(s) does not fix the problem with your wireless (WiFi) network connection dropping, the next step would be reinstalling the wireless (WiFi) network adapter. You have to get back into the Device Manager to perform this task.

Once you have Device Manager open, scroll down the list of devices until you reach Network adapters. Double left-click on the Network adapters category to expand it.

This time find the wireless (WiFi) network adapter in the list that appears that you want to remove and reinstall. Right-click on that device and select Uninstall device from the context menu that appears. A dialog box will appear, warning you about uninstalling the device. If the uninstall dialog box has the option to Delete the driver software for the device, go ahead and select that option.

If your laptop has WiFi and Bluetooth, it is also recommended to uninstall the Bluetooth device. Follow the same procedure inside of Device Manager for Bluetooth as you did for Network adapters.

When you are all done uninstalling devices, restart your computer. Once your computer restarts, Windows will automatically reinstall the device driver(s) with the factory defaults.

Now if none of the previous steps helped your wireless (WiFi) network connection from disconnecting automatically, there is a last resort option that is guaranteed to work.

It is a USB WiFi adapter. I know what you are thinking. Why not just replace the existing WiFi card? You could find a replacement WiFi card and have to open up your laptop to change it out.

Or you could get a USB WiFi adapter, plug it in, and be ready to surf the Internet in seconds. When given a choice between the two (2) options, all of my customers have chosen the USB WiFi adapter with no complaints of dropped Internet connections.

Even though I am a computer technician, I still have the same email problems as everybody else. But I have learned a few simple things to avoid spam, phishing, and unwanted email. So here is how I deal with email.

Now I am not your average email user. Polls show that the average person has between two (2) and four (4) email addresses. I currently have twelve (12) addresses I actively manage (check daily).

I also primarily use a computer to check my email since I have so many accounts and get so much junk mail. I have only three (3) of those addresses on my phone (only the essential ones) and only read mail; I rarely respond to mail on my phone. And since I only read mail on my phone, I only use the built-in email app.

But on my desktop, that is an entirely different story. Since I was initially in the corporate work environment, I became used to using Microsoft Outlook for managing my email. Technically Outlook is a PIM (Personal Information Manager), but that is just splitting hairs.

With Outlook, I can set up filters and rules to sort incoming emails automatically. This can include filtering messages by sender, subject, or even specific keywords. Doing this lets me quickly identify and prioritize important emails.

The advantage of using an email program like Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Thunderbird is that you can store a copy of your mail on your computer. I have had too many discussions with customers on how I cannot recover deleted mail when it is erased on the cloud.

Security tip: Do not use the automatic preview pane in any mail program. If a mail contains malicious code, accidentally previewing it will run it. With no preview pane, you can safely select and delete any mail without worrying about executing malicious code.

The only problem I had using an email program was that I could not prevent it from downloading junk mail in the first place. Years ago, I discovered an anti-spam program called MailWasher. It allows me, by default, to read only the text of mail and delete any mail on the server.

Over the years, I have become good at spotting junk mail. In fact, I maintain a detailed article about just that, so if you want to learn more about identifying junk mail, check out the following link.

How to spot a piece of spam email

Finally, I always make sure to follow proper email etiquette. This means using a professional tone, avoiding overly casual language or abbreviations, and being mindful of the recipient's time and schedule when sending messages. And use spell check and avoid using ALL CAPS when possible.

Are you looking for an image editing program with more features than any built-in Windows apps? Something between Microsoft Paint and Adobe Photoshop? If so, you should take a look at Paint.NET.

Having a program that can create professional-looking graphics is essential, and not having to pay an excessive amount for one is critical. You get the best of both worlds with Paint.NET 5. And depending on the version, Paint.NET can be free (more on this later).

Paint.NET is a versatile and user-friendly image editing program that can help beginners and professionals alike create stunning graphics. Some of the types of graphics you can make include logos, social media graphics, website banners, and more.

Now Paint.NET was initially meant to be a replacement for Microsoft Paint that is included with Windows, but it developed into a completely separate project. Paint.NET has a simple, easy-to-use interface that has an easy learning curve.

Paint.NET features rival Adobe Photoshop's features, including support for layers, history, plugins, and multiple file formats. Like Photoshop, Paint.NET has included special effects like blurring, shaping, distortion, noise, and red-eye removal.

I have written about Paint.NET before, and it keeps improving. With this version, there are some really great new features. They include:

• Support for Windows Ink, including pressure sensitivity for brush tools
• A graphics section for configuring GPU and hardware acceleration settings
• A completely brand new plugin system that supports both CPU and GPU effect
• Multiple new and revised Effects and various changes to the user interface

Now the system requirements have changed. Paint.NET 5 is currently only 64-bit and will only run on Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows Server 2019, and Windows Server 2022. And there are two (2) different options for downloading Paint.NET.

The first option for downloading Paint.NET is free from the developer's website or the Microsoft Store for a fee. The only difference I have found is that the paid version gets updated automatically, but you must manually update the free version. For more information on Paint.NET and to download the free version, follow the links below.

Paint.NET 5

Download Paint.NET 5 (free version)