Microsoft Tips, Tricks & Info
2024DEC31
Table of Contents / Source:
What’s new when shopping for a laptop in 2025? 8 things to keep in mind
As we close out 2024 and head into 2025, I’ve got news for you if you’re in the market for a new laptop: a lot has changed, and lots more changes are yet to come. Here are the new things you need to know to make an informed laptop buying decision this year.
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How to properly wipe your laptop data before getting rid of it
Before you sell, recycle, donate, or trash that laptop, you’re going to want to take a few simple steps to wipe all your data and protect yourself.
Before we get started, though, I need to get one PSA out of the way: always back up your data!
Further reading:
- How To Format A Hard Drive - thegamer.com
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4 awesome things your external SSD could be doing
Internal and external SSDs have been tumbling in price over the last few years, with great deals on 2TB SSDs available year round (and especially on Black Friday). Due to this, it has become more and more viable to keep an external drive around effectively in place of a USB stick.
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How to COMPLETELY REMOVE Software on Windows
When uninstalling programs and apps in Windows they’ll often leave behind files and other remnants that are no longer needed. So to tidy up your system and free up disk space, I’ll show you how to remove the registry data, left over files and folders, along with the temporary files to completely remove those programs and associated junk from your computer.
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8 Signs Your Windows Computer Might Be Infected With Malware
Here are some telltale signs that your computer may be infected with Malware and how to protect it.
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One Tech Tip: Replacing passwords with passkeys for an easier login experience
You might have noticed that many online services are now offering the option of using passkeys, a digital authentication method touted as an easier and more secure way to log in. The passkey push started gaining major momentum after Google started accepting them about 18 months ago.
Passkeys are seen as eventual replacements for passwords, but if you're still not sure what they're all about, read on.
Further reading:
- Passwords vs. passkeys: What you need to know - engadget.com
- Passkey technology is elegant, but it’s most definitely not usable security - arstechnica.com
- Passkey portability is what the password-less future needs - xdadevelopers.com
- Google Chrome: How to find your saved passwords - androidpolice.com
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What Happens When You Block Someone on Facebook?
Want to block someone's Facebook profile but aren't quite sure what exactly happens when you do that? Facebook takes several measures to ensure the blocked person can't reach out to you on this platform. Here's exactly what happens when you block a Facebook account.
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5 Microsoft Word Hacks You Probably Didn’t Know
Here are some nifty tricks you should know.
- Sort Lists Into Order
- Send Your Word Document to Kindle
- Remove Extra Spaces Between Words
- Add High-Quality Graphics
- Duplicate Your Microsoft Word Window
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7 Microsoft Excel Tricks You Probably Didn't Know
One of the beauties of using Excel is that it's a constant learning curve. Even for the most seasoned of pros, there are always more hints and tips that we can pick up along the way to boost our spreadsheet expertise. Here are some of my favorites.
- Hide Data but Keep Cells
- Change Numerical Data to Representative Text
- Cutting, Copying, Replacing, and Inserting Cells, Rows, and Columns
- Repeat Your Last Action
- Insert, Check, and Uncheck Many Checkboxes Simultaneously
- Add the Current (Fixed) Date and Time
- Duplicate the Excel Window
Further reading:
- How to Use the DGET Function in Excel - howtogeek.com
- How to Convert Text in Excel: Upper Case, Lower Case, and More - makeuseof.com
- How I clean my messy data in Excel - xdadevelopers.com
- 5 ways to use Excel’s Power Pivot with big databases - xdadevelopers.com
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12 useful tips for the new Microsoft Outlook
With the new Outlook, you can increase your efficiency both at home and in the office.
Further reading:
- Windows’ new Outlook app: 4 key details you absolutely need to know - pcworld.com
- The new Outlook for Windows and Web will allow users to customize the folder icon colors - windowsreport.com
- Simple Fixes to End Outlook's Password Loop for Good - lifewire.com
- Classic Outlook gets an official ‘death date’ and users are urged to switch - pcworld.com
