How To - The Tech Lounge

What is Controller Deadzone? How to Find it and Fix

Uneeb Asim — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 17:21:28 +0000

Gamers in any game are always seeking a slight advantage to stay on top of the meta. One simple approach to get ahead is to upgrade your gaming setup, but not everyone can do that because of the cost involved.

So, before you go out and buy new graphic cards or a fancy pro controller, see if you can improve your present setup. Controllers, for example, are often used and may not always withstand the test of time.

After a few years of use, there appears to be a lot of controller drift and input difficulties, at least with recent models. This becomes a serious issue if you’re playing a competitive game. How can you aim properly when your stick moves on its own or doesn’t record an input? This is known as the controller deadzone.

Here, we will discuss what a controller deadzone is and ways to find it and fix it. Read on to find out!

What is a Controller Deadzone?

When you push your analog stick in a specified direction on your controller, it doesn’t fully register input since it has a deadzone. Regardless of how hard you press the stick, the controller acts as though you aren’t pushing it all the way – if at all.

This causes several annoyances when playing video games. It doesn’t feel like your actions are fully transferring to the game when you try to move your character or the camera around.

Deadzones on controllers are easy to spot, but they’re a little more difficult to correct. Until recently, deadzones on controllers were an issue that you had to live with. Things have, thankfully, changed.

Finding and monitoring your controller deadzones is crucial to resolving the issue. In the next section, we will discuss the ways to find the deadzone and fit it.

How to Find Deadzones on Controllers

With an Xbox or a PS controller, it is not difficult to find out if you have a deadzone. Over time, you will realize that the left or right analog stick on your controller is not responding as effectively as it previously did. Your player in the game would act as though you had only pushed it halfway up every time you pushed it straight up (or in any other direction).

Gamers find it aggravating in competitive games. You can use a controller deadzone test like Gamepad Tester to help you with this. It’s web software that can identify controllers hooked to your PC and show up diagnostics for them automatically.

You’ll notice two crosshairs with white dots in the center once the diagnostics are activated. The white dots shift when you move the sticks on the analog stick testers.

When the dots are static, it’s fine if they “jitter” a little; just move the sticks about and check whether the dots match up with your motions.

How to Fix Deadzones on Controllers

Some games or platforms that enable you to correct for deadzone can quickly solve the problem; all you have to do now is determine how wide the deadzone is. Depending on your platform, there are many ways to achieve this.

Fix Deadzones on Steam

Steam is by far the most user-friendly mechanism for repairing deadzones on controllers. Go to the general controller settings once your controllers have been recognized. Then press the calibrate button.

You can now see how your controller motions are being recorded and, more crucially, adjust the settings to compensate.

Conclusion

It’s a little more difficult to fix deadzones on controllers beyond the software. Things are no longer made to last as they once were. The original analog stick on the Nintendo 64 sliced your palm up before breaking, and now controllers like the one you have on the PS5 will crumble if you just abuse them a little bit. The only viable long-term solution is to purchase a new controller. You may even disassemble it for repairs if you’re extremely technically inclined.

The cost-effective approach for most PC players, however, is to employ software to correct for a deadzone and return to a regular playing experience. After you’ve rectified that, double-check that all of your settings are working properly to compensate for the lack of accuracy.

The post What is Controller Deadzone? How to Find it and Fix first appeared on The Tech Lounge.

How to Speed up Steam Downloads

Uneeb Asim — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 19:45:56 +0000

Steam is one of the most popular PC gaming platforms as it has millions of active players. The app has a vast range of games that you can buy at low rates and play immediately with quick installation. It is also used by a lot of streamers as well.

It is pretty easy to use. First, you must download your game, which can take some time, especially when the game size is huge. Because of the advancements in visuals and customization, the storage needs for modern games grow on an annual basis. AAA titles like Elden Ring or God of War in 2022 may consume up to 60, 70 GB of your system’s storage space, which is tremendous when compared to earlier games in the nineties and noughties.

Due to the increasing data size of these games, downloading is taking slower. Internet speed, is quite essential. However, even if you have a speedy fiber-optic connection or the latest tech gaming router, it might feel like game downloading takes a lifetime.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to speed up your steam downloads.

How to Increase Steam Download Speed

If you desire to accelerate your downloading speed on Steam, follow these methods given below:

Switch to an Ethernet Connection or Faster Wi-Fi

Although your Wi-Fi connection might be enough, a physical ethernet cables connection is almost always preferable. Choose an ethernet wire to link your gaming computer to the router (and internet service) straight if possible.

In comparison to Wi-Fi networks, which might deal with interference, lower speed limits, and other issues, this will provide the best rates and capacity.

But, for most of the users, their routers are not placed near their gaming machines. Installing ethernet wire inside your house may not be a solution as a result. To get around this issue, you might build up a mesh network and link a node to your PC through ethernet.

You may alternatively want to employ powerline extenders, which allow you to route ethernet traffic across your electrical wiring.

Try Another Connection

When your Steam downloading speed is extremely sluggish, you might have to take more dramatic measures. If your computer is portable, consider borrowing a relative’s or family member’s connection to the internet to complete the task.

A quicker connection is the greatest approach to ensure that your Steam downloads are as fast as possible. If the game is too large for your network, your data can be consumed faster, leaving you behind with no data.

If you already have an unlimited internet capacity and a 4G or 5G connection, you might also utilize a personal hotspot & your cellular data allowance to install Steam games.

Terminate Unnecessary Processes

Eliminating unnecessary processes frees up RAM and CPU for other activities, such as downloads—Right-click on the taskbar and select Task Manager.

Unnecessary processes can be terminated by right-clicking them and selecting “End Task.” Close all browsers and other programs that may have an impact on your download speed.

Click “Open Resource Monitor” at the bottom of the “Task Manager” window, then pick the “Network tab” in “Resource Monitor” to see whether anything is taking your bandwidth.

If you discover that a program is eating all of your bandwidth, you may choose to terminate the task there as well. Select “End Process Tree” from the context menu after right-clicking the process. Be patient since removing it from the list might take some time.

Set Priority for Steam

Another simple hack for making Steam download faster is to prioritize Steam downloads within Task Manager.

This tells your PC that you would like Steam to take precedence over other applications whenever it comes to internet connections. To begin, launch Task Manager by searching for it in the Windows start menu or by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Del.

Locate the Steam Client Service, right-click it, and then select Go to details.

Right-click SteamService.exe and choose Set priority > High. This should offer Steam higher network priority and aid with downloads.

Change the Download Region

Steam will automatically identify the area from where you link to servers, and when it mistakenly selects your location, you may be attempting to download from such a server located very far away.

Go to Steam, then click on Settings. Click on Downloads to check your download region.

Examine the Download Region part of this window. Make sure the area is nearest to where you are since this will result in the quickest download rates.

Another modification you may make is immediately below, where it says Limit bandwidth. Uncheck this box to enable Steam to utilize the whole amount of bandwidth required to install your game.

Disable Your Antivirus and Firewall

Your firewall or antivirus software may occasionally interfere with your download rates. Disable each of them to see if anything changes. To learn how to disable it, consult your antivirus provider’s handbook or website.

In the Cortana search field, type “firewall,” then pick “Windows Defender Firewall” in the start menu.

Then, click the “Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off” button.

Lastly, verify this by checking the box next to “Turn off Windows Defender Firewall,” then clicking “OK.”

Pause Auto-updates on Your Windows PC

Select Settings from the Start Menu by right-clicking on it. Choose the Update & Security option and update settings.

Select the Pause updates for seven days option under Windows Update. Update pause resume Steam downloads. When the download is finished, choose Resume updates to reverse the update settings.

Conclusion

So, these are some of the methods you can apply to improve downloading speed. Even if you only implement a couple of these suggestions, you should observe a significant improvement in your Steam download speeds.

Although it is difficult to manage the strength of your real internet connection, you may make the most of what you can control by following these tricks and methods. After that, you should be able to continue playing your favorite games in no time.

The post How to Speed up Steam Downloads first appeared on The Tech Lounge.

Can You Use Flash Drives as RAM?

Uneeb Asim — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 18:34:08 +0000

If you notice that your computer or laptop is slowing down when you are working on digital art or playing a high graphics game, you should look to upgrade the RAM of your machine to enhance the performance.

RAM is a device’s second engine. Higher the RAM, the higher its performance. This is extremely important for users who want to play games with high graphics or execute high-end tasks like editing videos or images.

However, RAM is a costly component of a PC or a laptop, and high-performance RAM with the latest tech will set you back several dollars. But did you realize there’s a clever method to save this cost by just utilizing a USB drive as RAM on a Windows laptop or PC?

The tech world is moving forward fast with innovations. You can keep up by following the methods in this article to use a USB flash drive as RAM.

How to use a USB drive as RAM

It is simple to use a USB flash drive as RAM; all you need is a USB flash drive, and the crucial thing to remember is that a single file larger than 4 GB cannot be stored on a FAT32-formatted USB device. If you want to save data larger than 4GB on this USB flash drive, you must format it using the NTFS file system.

In this next section, we will look at two ways to use a USB device as RAM. Adhere to the standards listed below.

Virtual RAM Method

The first method is the Virtual RAM method. Virtual RAM, often known as virtual memory, is a built-in feature of the Windows PC. To begin, perform the instructions below:

Plug your USB flash drive into any available USB port.
After that, Right-click on the My Computer or This PC icon (depending on the OS).
Then, choose Properties from the drop-down menu.
Next, From the left side of the Properties box, select Advanced system settings as shown in the image below.
At the top of the System Properties window, select the Advanced option.
Underneath the Performance tab, click the Settings option.
At the Performance Options box, select the Advanced option once more.
Under the Virtual memory area, click the Change button.
Then, Uncheck Manage the paging file size for all drives probably automatically, and then pick your USB stick from the device list displayed.
Under the Custom Size option, enter the value in MB. This number must be at least 200 MB smaller than the value displayed against available space.
Finally, restart your computer or laptop. You will notice the effects of more RAM in demanding tasks.

Ready Boost Method

The second method is the ready boost method to use a USB flash drive as RAM. Follow the steps below:

Step 1: Format the USB Flash Drive

Attach the USB flash drive to your system.
Launch the File Explorer program on your PC.
Next, here on the left-hand side of the File Explorer window, click on “This PC.”
Then, right-click on the USB drive and choose Properties. Then, select “Format” to begin formatting the drive.
When the Format box displays, select the File system option.
Then, click “Start” to begin the formatting process. The formatting procedure will take some time to complete.
Once formatted, proceed to the Step 2 given below:

Step 2: Use ReadyBoost to increase the RAM

After formatting your USB drive, it’s time to ready boost your USB flash drive. Follow the below steps to do it.

To begin, press the Windows key and E key at the same time.
Next, to see all of your laptop’s discs, click on “This PC.”
When you find your USB device, right-click it and select “Properties.”
Just go to the “ReadyBoost” option in the Properties box.
Choose the “Use this device” option.
You can now tweak the slider to increase or reduce the quantity of RAM (For example– the maximum limit for this computer is 4094 MB).
To save the changes, click “Apply” and then “OK.” And restart your PC.

That’s all there is to it! You’ve successfully upgraded the RAM on your laptop or PC. This will significantly accelerate the system and boost its performance.

Disconnect your USB Flash Drive

Remove the USB flash drive only after you’ve removed the Ready Boost settings. Because if you remove your USB drive and your system shuts down directly, it can corrupt your Windows because there are cache files in the flash drive, so do not eject the flash drive directly.

If you want not to use the flash drive as extra RAM, perform the following methods to eject your USB drive safely.

Launch File Explorer & navigate to “This PC.”
Then right-click on the flash drive.
Then, select “Properties.”
Then, select the “ReadyBoost” tab.
You must choose “Do not use this device” here, and ReadyBoost will not utilize this device.
To save these updated modifications, click “Apply” and then “OK.”
You can now remove the USB from your laptop or PC and use it as a standard drive on other PCs.

Conclusion

Generally, using a USB flash drive as RAM on Windows is simple. However, you must disconnect your flash drive carefully, or the device may be damaged. Create a system restore point from a safety standpoint as well.

Remember that you can only use a USB drive as RAM in Hard Disk Drive (HDD). If the above steps are not working in your system, then you have a Solid-State Drive (SSD) in your PC or Laptop, or you may have no more RAM capacity in your system.

The post Can You Use Flash Drives as RAM? first appeared on The Tech Lounge.

How to Check RAM Health

Uneeb Asim — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 17:20:07 +0000

Whenever it comes to problems with a PC, RAM is frequently second only to software problems. But how would you know if your computer’s RAM is terrible?

There are a few methods to do a memory test and verify the health of RAM. Still, as is frequently the case, 3rd-party tools are likely to provide more information than Windows’ convenient but rather easy in-house techniques.

This article will teach you how to check the health of your RAM in several ways. But first, let us review some quick indicators of RAM problems.

RAM Problems Indications

Before you can do anything, you’ll like to be sure you’re howling up the correct tree, so these are a few clear symptoms that your RAM isn’t working properly like:

PC beeps one or even more times when it boots up.
PC processing slows down the longer you leave it on.
Have trouble loading files.
In System Info, the PC shows less RAM than what you have installed.

Now we can discuss the best methods to check RAM health on Windows.

Health Check by Windows Memory Diagnostic

The Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool is the easiest but least comprehensive way to check your RAM.

Click Start
Type in the search bar “mdsched.exe.”
When requested, restart the computer.
A diagnostic tool will be launched.

Click F1, then select whether you want to run the Basic, Standard, or Extended tests. This might take some time. During this procedure, you will see a progress bar and a “Status” message informing you whether any errors were discovered.

However, you are not required to watch the process; you may leave your computer and return later to get the results.

Your computer will restart and back to the Desktop when it’s finished. The result will show after you log in. To begin,

Launch the Event Viewer.
Select “Event Viewer” from the menu that appears when you right-click the Start button. In Windows 7, enter Windows Key+R,
then type “eventvwr.msc” into the Run dialogue and hit Enter.
Go to Windows Logs > System.
You’ll notice a long list of upcoming events. In the right pane, click “Find.”
Enter “MemoryDiagnostic” into the search box and press “Find Next.”

At the bottom of the window, you’ll see the result as well as extra information about your RAM.

Boot and Run MemTest86

MemTest86 is a great testing tool that you may download and use if you’re seeking the finest one. It runs a broader range of tests and may uncover flaws that the bundled Windows test does not.

The most recent versions of this utility include a premium edition with additional functionality, albeit the free version should suffice. MemTest86 is Microsoft-signed; thus, it will run even on computers with Secure Boot activated.

You might also use the free and open-source MemTest86+ if you’re seeking another choice. We are, however, using MemTest86.

Both are self-contained, bootable gadgets. MemTest86 comes with a USB image that you may copy to a USB drive. To make a bootable USB drive, just execute the EXE file provided with the download as well as provide a spare USB drive.

Please be aware that copying the MemTest86 image to a USB device would delete its contents. Make a backup of any vital files on the disc first.

After you’ve made bootable discs, reboot your pc and instruct it to load from the USB device where you copied the memory test program.

The application will start up and begin analyzing your storage, running via test after test & notifying you if there is a problem. It will continue to conduct tests until you disable it, enabling you to check how memory operates over a longer duration.

Any mistakes will be shown on your screen. When you’re finished, just hit the “Esc” key to quit it and reboot your system.

If tests return errors, it’s very likely that the RAM—at least one of several sticks—is not healthy and is defective and must be replaced.

Physically Checking the RAM

Now, how would you deal with the faults that were discovered during the RAM checkup on your Windows system? Changing the RAM is the last resort, but it’s also worth double-checking that it’s correctly seated in your computer.

Remove the RAM sticks from the Computer one at a time, running the MemTest every session to check if the issues go away. That way, you’ll be able to determine which stick (or slot) was producing the issues.

If you notice that problems appear whenever you insert a particular stick, there is an issue with that stick. If there are issues every time a RAM stick is inserted into a specific slot, that slot may be the root of the issue, and you may need to repair the motherboard.

Conclusion: What If your RAM Is Bad?

If your RAM looks to be faulty, you would need to purchase a new RAM module & update your old one. Until then, you might attempt underclocking your RAM to temporarily make your system a bit more stable.

If the diagnostic methods reveal no faults or a clocking-related error, you should examine your RAM’s clock and speed parameters and overclock it to maximize its performance.

If that does not address your problem, the problem you are attempting to identify on your PC may be caused by a failure in another system part, and the RAM might not have been the source of the problem.

The post How to Check RAM Health first appeared on The Tech Lounge.

How to Check Motherboard Health

Uneeb Asim — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 16:27:37 +0000

The motherboard is an essential component of a PC. The efficiency and health of your motherboard are something you may not realize when using your PC daily.

When users have difficulties with their PCs, they frequently blame a defective motherboard. But how do you know it’s a motherboard problem and not something else?

How to check the health of my motherboard? This will be the subject of our discussion. Make sure you go through this post to avoid misdiagnosing an issue.

Importance Of Motherboard

We can’t overlook the reality that the motherboard is the most crucial part of a PC since it connects numerous other components such as the central processing unit (CPU), RAM, and input and output devices.

By using the human brain as an example, you can see how vital the motherboard is because, just as the brain maintains balance, the motherboard does the same. That’s why it is essential to check motherboard health.

Ways To Check Health Of Motherboard

The major topic we’re talking about today is how to check motherboard health. Let’s move on to the symptoms of a faulty motherboard.

PCI-E Ports

This is a difficult one to narrow down. If your GPU ceases operating or you see unusual visual abnormalities on the screen (especially when gaming), it might be a defective PCI-E slot or even the GPU itself.

To begin, you should upgrade your GPU drivers & reinstall them if needed to ensure that the issue isn’t simply a software issue with the graphics card. If it fails, try inserting the GPU into a different slot to see whether the issue resurfaces.

If this doesn’t fix the issue, then it is clear that the slot from which you removed it is most likely defective. You might try upgrading your motherboard BIOS to see if that fixes the issue, but if that doesn’t work, you might have to check into a replacement.

RAM Slots

If your system beeps when you switch it on and slows down with time, you might have a RAM issue. However, it is possible that the issue is not with the RAM itself but with the RAM slots.

To test this, open your PC, remove a stick of RAM, and then turn it again on to check whether it functions properly. Continue doing so till your computer fails again. If this happens, try placing the RAM in some other RAM slot.

If the computer starts acting up once more, you realize that the problem is in the RAM stick. If the PC functions normally, you know it’s the RAM slot, and the motherboard is not working properly.

Power Supply Unit

The power supply unit (PSU) is equally critical as the motherboard. Despite this, many users pay little attention to it, even when their machine dies.

Fundamentally, a PSU gives electricity to your computer. If it fails to do so or is out of specification, it can cause lasting system damage. If the load is too large for the PSU, the system’s power supply will be inadequate, causing serious damage to other components.

As a result, you must utilize a high-quality power supply. Consult your motherboard documentation for instructions on how to check the PSU voltage using the BIOS menu. There are additional software utilities available from motherboard makers that can do this function.

If you have another PSU that is known to operate, try it in your system to check if the present PSU is just dead or malfunctioning. Several connected peripherals might cause the system to overload, so detach non-essential components like the optical drive or video card to verify if the computer works smoothly.

If it does work smoothly, then the problem is with the PSU. Alternatively, if it does not work, the motherboard can be at fault.

USB Ports

Examine the gadgets in various ports to determine if they function appropriately. If they do, you realize there’s a problem with the USB slot. You can check for keyboards and mice in multiple ports prior to being discarded.

But don’t start blaming your motherboard yet. Go to Device Manager on your PC, keep scrolling to “Universal Serial Bus controllers,” and see which ports have exclamation marks beside them.

If this is the case, right-click it and select Update Driver.

Although if there’s not an exclamation point (like in the image above), you should attempt the Upgrade Drivers option to be sure. Alternatively, you may right-click each one of the USB port drivers individually and select “Scan for Hardware Changes.”

Lastly, you might try removing each USB driver individually then rebooting your PC to compel it to reinstall them.

If any of these do not help, the issue is most likely with your motherboard’s hardware.

Video Ports (HDMI, VGI, DVI) Not Working

Suppose the multimedia outcomes are also not operating when connected to your motherboard. In that case, the very first thing to keep in mind is that if you’ve got a GPU within your PC, neither of that will work. That’s because, by default, your computer turns off its motherboard access points if there are GPU slots accessible. (This parameter may be changed in the BIOS).

If the problem persists, go to Device Manager, under Monitors, right-click “Nonexclusive PnP Monitor,” and carefully try every option, including “Output for equipment changes, too,” “Update driver software,” and simply “Uninstall gadget.”

Furthermore, when you do uninstall your display, restart the computer to enable it to reload, and then test it to see if it performs. If none of this functions, you’re looking at a damaged motherboard, and it’s a good opportunity to start looking for that assured data.

Blue/Black Screen

The Blue/Black Screen of Death (BSoD) indicates that there is indeed trouble with the mobo, which might be already dead. It’s a malfunction that indicates that your windows have been paused, but the system has a flaw.

In almost all of the cases, it signals an issue with the hardware or the driver, but it might also be the motherboard, so keep that in mind as well.

Burning Smell

If your system frequently gives a burning smell, this might signify a motherboard breakdown.

This smell is recognized when there is excessive overheating, which can be caused by any unsuitable part of the board.

Conclusion

Motherboards are complex, but all these measures will help to check motherboard health. Open your computer to determine whether the problem is with the board or other PC components.

When you do access your system, make certain that all wires, cards, and so on are correctly plugged in since a loose connection causes most issues.

The post How to Check Motherboard Health first appeared on The Tech Lounge.

How To Properly Dry Your Electronics (Without Rice)

Uneeb Asim — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 16:34:14 +0000

Even though we all know it is not great to drop electronic gadgets in liquid, we are human beings, and we make mistakes. So, the wetting of electronic devices sometimes happens.

Dropping a smartphone or tablet into the water, or dumping a bottle of water or cup of coffee on a laptop, can make it worthless (if it is not waterproof). It also makes you feel uneasy about the files stored on such systems. However, few individuals are prepared for what will undoubtedly occur.

Water damage is amongst the most prevalent risks to portable electronics. Still, you can often recover devices if you dry them off correctly. This article discusses several strategies for preserving water-damaged electronic gadgets.

What to Do When Your Electronic Device Gets Wet

Moisture is one of the most dangerous enemies of electronic gadgets. Unfortunately, considering the increasing mobility and popularity of cellphones, cameras, and tablet PCs, it is all but guaranteed that each of your essential electronic gadgets will have a fateful meeting with H2O at some point in the future.

If your gadget falls into water, there’s a good chance (roughly 70%) that you’ll be capable of drying it out and getting it back to function in a matter of hours. It won’t be quick in most circumstances, so you’ll have to be prepared to make a mess. However, you may avoid a trip to the electronics store by replacing it yourself.

Here’s how to get damp cellphones, cameras, and other electrical gadgets to dry:

Basic Rescue Steps

Although the drying methods for cellphones, laptops, cameras, and tablet PCs differ in certain aspects, the general approach for any of them after substantial touch with water or other fluid is the same.

Here’s what to do:

As soon as possible, get it out of the water. Water begins leaking into the hardware of an unsecured device in less than thirty seconds.
Remove the battery from the device. It is more prone to be destroyed by water than the actual gadget because it is the source of power.
If at all feasible, unplug the memory & SIM cards. Since your data is often saved on them rather than on your computer or phone, you’ll want to safeguard them.
Remove any chargers, headsets, and other devices which may be connected to the device.
Keep an eye out for symptoms of water damage. In the case of phones, a liquid damage indicator has been installed on the interior near the battery. You may have water damage if it’s a solid color (typically red or pink).

Drying the Device

The procedure varies slightly depending on the device. Still, the majority of the steps are the same whether you’re using an MP3 player or a tablet:

Remove the water. Shake it out gently, avoid throwing it, and use a cloth and paper towels to absorb as much of the leftover water as you can.
Try using a can of pressurized gas. Spray the can straight ahead to expel just air, not the freezing liquid. Aim it towards the keys, crevices, speaker, microphone, or any holes to drive extra liquid out.
Dry the item in a warm location, turning it on every several hours. A bright windowsill will suffice. Do not use an oven, hairdryer, or heat gun to heat the device because these electronic heating elements can damage it.
You can encourage or quicken up the water evaporation process by directing a fan at the damaged gadget.

Use Q-tips with Alcohol

If water gets stuck in tiny components of the device, soak a Q-tip in alcohol and apply this to the affected areas.

Alcohol will increase evaporation, which occurs when the gadget is left out in the open air. It will operate well for the internal components of several electronic devices which have circuit boards.

Use Desiccants

Regrettably, many individuals employ techniques for curing wet devices that are either inefficient or may cause the gadget to be damaged. For example, because dried grains like rice may absorb liquids, many individuals use them to dry out a gadget as a desiccant.

On the other hand, rice is generally efficient at collecting moisture from the atmosphere but might not be of much use.

Furthermore, because heat causes water to evaporate, individuals have occasionally cooked their gadgets in ovens or even with hairdryers, resulting in burned parts and fried circuits.

Check Your Device

Re-insert the device’s original, now-dry battery after 24 hours and check whether it turns on. You’re back in business if it succeeds!

Change the battery, insert the charger into the gadget, and switch it on if it doesn’t work. If it works now, you’ll need to replace the battery.

Waterproof Your Gadget

There are several methods for waterproofing your technology.

Purchase a waterproof case or bag. Cases are classified into three types: standard, tough, and heavy-duty. Keep an eye on the submersion factor, which indicates how many feet underwater the case can be submerged for at least 10 minutes.
Zippered plastic storage bags are ideal. This genuinely low-tech alternative protects your gadget from water as well as other environmental risks like sand, grime, or dust.
Choose custom-fit bags. Try a device that is meant to tightly fit your phone and enable you to keep it in your bag while chatting for a little enhanced experience. The same holds for the use of headphones and other external devices.

Conclusion

When combining summertime fun with electronics, water damage is a risk. Even though there are some really good headphones for swimming available, be aware of your surroundings. Most gadgets are not waterproof. So, avoid carrying your devices near the pool or even other bodies of water.

If you find yourself in this accident, responding quickly and trying to follow the steps outlined above will give you the best chance of saving your device.

The post How To Properly Dry Your Electronics (Without Rice) first appeared on The Tech Lounge.

How to Clean a Trackball Mouse

Uneeb Asim — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 16:26:22 +0000

Dust particles can pour into your trackball or mouse and accumulate over time, just like they can on any other electrical equipment. The longer you use your trackball without cleaning it, the more likely you will have issues with your sensor’s tracking ability.

This article will show you how to clean a trackball mouse in just a few minutes thoroughly. Your trackball mouse does not need to be completely dismantled or disassembled because it can be done quickly, efficiently, and safely.

Recommended Tools For Cleaning Your Trackball

Microfiber – used to clean the plastic surfaces.
Q-tips – for cleaning bearings and other difficult-to-reach places
Air Sweeper – to clear dust from the sensor and housing
A brush – to clean the joints and tiny crevices.
Tiny screwdriver (optional) – to access the trackball and clean it thoroughly.
Tweezers (optional) – to aid in the removal of stickers and the disconnection of ribbon cables. Take the toothpick and glass cleaner as well.

Now that we have all we require. Let’s begin the cleaning.

Note: Before you begin, make sure your trackball is switched off or disconnected and the batteries have been removed.

Pre-Clean Wipedown

Get your microfiber cloth and wipe off the surfaces of your mouse if your trackball hasn’t been cleaned in a while. Make sure your towel is just a little moist, and not completely saturated.

If you’re going to use a disinfectant spray, make sure it’s okay for plastic and spray the towel instead of the trackball.

Cleaning the Trackball

If the ball is sticky or extremely greasy, cleaning the ball and everything in the housing cup underneath it is an excellent idea.

Step 01: Pop-out Trackball

Based on the trackball, this might require popping the ball out via the access hole with a pen or finger or just tipping your gadget upside-down & allowing gravity to do the job.

There may even be a stylish eject button on some newer models. Whatever method you choose, make sure your trackball is loose and out.

Step 02: Wipe Down With Wet Microfiber

Take your microfiber cloth and wipe off the ball if it’s extremely sticky or oily now that we’re free-balling.

While the oils on your skin and fingertips aid in the smooth rolling of the ball, too much attract dust and filth. A microfiber cloth, moist or dry, will assist wipe anything off the surface.

Cleaning Mouse Buttons

Cleaning the buttons is a little more difficult since you risk damaging them if you don’t do it correctly.

So, to do this correctly, unplug your mouse from the equipment and carefully wipe any dust particles or dirt and grime. It may have piled up inside the corners surrounding the buttons that it might otherwise not be possible to access.

Next, disinfect the buttons with rubbing alcohol and remove any lubricant or dust that has developed over time.

How To Clean Bearings and Sensor

Three roller bearings, as well as a sensor, may be found in the socket cup under your trackball.

The bearings may accumulate a lot of dust, filth, grease, oil, and anything else that finds its way beneath the trackball over time, especially in dustier conditions.

To retain a smooth trackball, it’s critical to wipe down these areas on a routine basis.

1. Clean the Bearings and Sensor

Clean out any filth on top of the bearings with a Q-tip, tiny brush, or the similar microfiber as previously.

Because some bearings roll while others don’t, you may need to use a brush or toothpick to wipe down both the bearing as well as the housing if other techniques fail to reach the nooks and crannies.

If you have an air duster, use this to sweep aside any particles that have found their way into the sensor cavity. Not only should your balls ride on clear bearings, but the sensor should be able to sense the ball properly as well.

Start giving the cup a final wipedown with your microfiber before replacing the trackball in its housing.

Deep Cleaning

It is important to remember that if your warranty hasn’t already gone, this will most certainly void it, so continue around your own risk.

Remove the rubber feet and stickers from your trackball.
Open up your mouse by loosening and removing all screws with a small screwdriver, most likely a Philips head #1.

Measures to Take While Cleaning Trackball Mouse

You must not allow the hardware inside of the trackball mouse to become wet while cleaning it. To clean each part, just use rubbing alcohol or water, and make sure the cloth is not soaked with these fluids.

Cleaning your trackball mouse on a routine basis is also necessary. It will become more accurate and efficient as you clean it. The timeline varies, but if you clean the trackball once every six months, it will work at full capacity.

Conclusion

Mouse, gaming or otherwise, get filthy, and a trackball mouse is not an exception.

It’s crucial to have a clean mouse not only for hygienic reasons but also for performance, comfort, and mouse longevity. It would be best if you also had a clean mouse-pad to prevent the trackball mouse from dust.

How to Clean a Trackball Mouse

The Tech Lounge

How to Improve Cables Longevity

Uneeb Asim — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 14:55:59 +0000

Electrical cables and wires serve as the foundation of every industrial setting or factory. Suppose cables fail or are disrupted, even for a few moments. In that case, the entire system comes to a standstill, resulting in significant downtime and loss.

Furthermore, sensitive wires and shielding are within your USB, FireWire, or Cat cable intended for high transmission speed and noise reduction. Although reasonably robust, communication faults may occur if the cables are folded, bent, or squeezed.

To resolve these issues, cables and wires must be adequately maintained. Some of the fundamental dos and don’ts of suitable cable and wire installation, maintenance, and preventative actions must be understood.

In this article, there are some general suggestions and preventative steps that can help you extend the life of your cables. But first, let’s discuss the types of cables in our everyday use.

Types of Cables

There are many types of cables, i.e., charging cables, earphones, fiber optics, electric wires, etc. Some of them are the following.

Ribbon Electric Cables: Ribbon cables are made up of several conducting wires that are strung up side by side to form flat, broad cabling. It gets its name from the fact that its structure resembles a ribbon. It’s sometimes referred to as flat cable or multi-planar cable. This cable is typically found in electronics that require several data buses to connect internal devices such as disk drives to their drive controllers.
Twisted Pair Cables: A twisted pair cable is a type of cable formed by twisting two independent shielded cables and running them parallel to one another. This cable is frequently utilized in several types of data and communication infrastructures.
Coaxial Cables: Coaxial cable is a type of copper wire specially designed with a metal shield and other elements to prevent signal interference. Cable TV companies primarily use it to communicate their satellite antenna facilities to client businesses and homes. Telephone companies may also utilize it to link central offices to telephone poles near users.
Shielded Cables: A shielded cable is an electrical wire with one or more conductive shields encasing the conductor and its surrounding insulating layer. Typically, these are made of metallic foil or braided cables. A protective jacket typically forms an outermost part. This reduces the electromagnetic interference (EMI) that the cable emits and receives.
Fibre Optics Cable: A fiber optic cable is a type of network cable that consists of strands of glass fibers enclosed in an insulated casing. They are intended for long-distance, high internet connections, and communications. Fiber-optic lines have a higher bandwidth than conventional cables and can carry data across long distances.

To improve the longevity of all these cables, certain measures must be taken. Read on to find out!

Tips To Improve Cable Longevity

It happens – cables fail. But this does not have to happen regularly. The life of cables is usually about 40 years.

Here are some tips for ensuring that your cables endure as long as possible.

1. Wrap Carefully

Every cable is constructed from twisted wires. Sometimes there are more wires, but even the most basic cable has a copper wire within the plastic coating. Taking care of the cable entails caring for the copper contained within the wire.

While the copper wire is flexible, it is not indestructible. Most cables’ tiny copper strands will break over time, producing signal deterioration and, finally, failure. Mishandling cables increase the wear process; thus, the less cautious you are with them, the shorter their lifetimes will be.

Wrap a cable around your arm, hand, or wrist only if necessary. That is the most straightforward technique to snap a cable. Wrap the cable loosely in a circle, following the outlines of the natural curvature of the wire.

2. Store Carefully

After you’ve wrapped your wires correctly, attach them with a Velcro tie or a twist-knot leftover from electronics packing. Cables of comparable sizes, once securely wrapped, can be stored next to one another like records or pizzas, depending on the form of your container.

Smaller cables can be organized in a variety of ways, including paper tubes, grid boxes, plastic containers, hooks, and other storage options.

3. Avoid Sharp Bends and Stretches

Sharp bends should be avoided to protect your cables. For example, if the socket is too far away and you are charging your gadget but still want to use it, you may, but the cable could be bent or stretched to the maximum.

It is advised to refrain from doing so. It will deteriorate the insides of your cable, and doing so regularly will result in the connection sliding off – the cable will break open and reveal the wires internally, rendering your cord worthless.

4. Installation Temperature

To improve cables longevity, you need to install cables while the cable and ambient temperatures are between 0oC and +40oC.

Suppose the cables were stored at temperatures below 0⁰C or above +40⁰C. In that case, they should be allowed to achieve the installation temperature as specified above. Otherwise, extremely high or low temperatures can damage the cable and decrease its life.

5. Cable Management in Use

Cables typically fail around their connecting points, i.e., mobile charger, USB-C cable, external hard disk cable, etc. This is because these junctions are subjected to the highest stress.

The connectors are the most often modified parts of the cable. Making a practice of yanking or bending a plugged-in wire will ultimately destroy the connection, so avoid doing so. And it would help if you also prevent your PC cables from damaging, for doing this, you need to manage the cables properly.

6. Improve the Life of Fiber Optic Cable
To increase the longevity of fiber optic cable, follow these steps.

Don’t bend the cables any further than the recommended bend radius.
Make sure there is no stress on the wire or cable.
During the installation, avoid twisting and kinking.
Make sure that cables and wires do not come into touch with anything that might damage them.
Keep wires and cables away from the heat of a naked flame.
Maintain a frequent analysis of the performance of wires and cables.

Conclusion

If you are an electrician or cables usage is a frequent thing for you, the above tips and suggestions will ensure that your chargers, earbuds, and cords last longer and save you from spending more money on cables.

When it comes to data cables, remember that it is preferable to prevent damage than to repair afterwards.

The post How to Improve Cables Longevity first appeared on The Tech Lounge.

How To Check What PSU I have?

Uneeb Asim — Sun, 07 Nov 2021 14:51:47 +0000

For many people, determining their power supply unit’s manufacturer, model, and wattage is quite tricky. We’ve figured out the quickest and easiest ways to figure out which PSU your system is using.

We’ll show you how to determine which power supply you have in the following instructions. Methods will cover how to check your power supply with and without removing your side panel, as well as several essential recommendations that will help you make a more educated hardware buy.

What PSU Do You Need?

The power supply unit you purchase must be adequate for your system. Test it to make sure that it is.

Suppose you intend to update your computer components to something more powerful, you should get a power supply with a larger wattage and rated capacity.

Remember that your motherboard and other pricey components may be destroyed if you don’t utilize a top-quality power supply unit.

The best time to assess your power supply is shortly before an upgrade. New generations of hardware or even a same-gen update frequently require a significant amount of more power to function efficiently.

For example, switching from a 2060Ti to a 3060Ti will naturally demand roughly 50-100 extra watts of electricity.

This is often the case with any hardware change, so knowing what you’re working with in terms of watts is critical.

Check out the PSU calculator to see how much watts your new gear will take.

How To Check What PSU I have?

Here’s how to find out the power supply unit you have on your PC:

Power Supply Label

There is a printed layout or a label sticker on every power supply unit with the specs and the model number.

You will simply need to open the PC case and find out the written level on the PSU to verify this label on your PC power supply.

Suppose your power supply is hidden under a PSU cover. In that case, you’ll have to remove it to learn about its specifications and, more importantly, its model number.

To remove your PC’s power supply, you may need to loosen some screws. Before touching your computer, detach it from the power source and switch off the power supply.

Now that you’ve removed your power supply unit, closely examine its body to see whether it has any labels, such as the one seen below.

Image Source: Tech Spot

The certified ratings, model number, and characteristics of your power supply may be found here. This is the quickest and most accurate way to determine the wattage of your power supply.

Check the Manufacturer’s Website

This second method would work only if your computer was bought as a prebuilt.

In this case, the website where you purchased the PC should offer a complete components list that you may use to determine which PSU you have.

This method makes life a lot easier when determining the wattage of your power source. It’s also useful because the power supply on most prebuilt PCs isn’t labeled.

So, search for your computer’s model on the internet. It will verify the wattage of your power supply.

On the Box

You can examine the model and specifications of PSU on the pass apply box if you have it.

Inspecting the power supply’s box is the most straightforward approach to determine the wattage, model number, and other necessary details.

Hopefully, one of the three ways listed above has assisted you in determining what power supply you have.

Conclusion

Finally, the simplest approach to find out what PSU you have is to remove the panel from your chassis. However, we appreciate that not everyone has that privilege; therefore, other options must be considered.

Most people want to know how long does a PSU lasts. Always check your PSU if you want to upgrade, overclock, or make sure it has enough power. It has the potential to save you time, money, and a great deal of worry.

If your PC’s existing power supply is dying, don’t lose time and replace it as soon as feasible.

The post How To Check What PSU I have? first appeared on The Tech Lounge.

How to Remove Bloatware

Uneeb Asim — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 12:50:46 +0000

Bloatware is a stain on the tech world. Manufacturers load pre-installed apps onto your brand-new laptop, smartphone, or tablet in order to make a profit. You’re left with a slew of frequently unwanted apps clogging up your already restricted hard drive space.

Bloatware is nothing new to Microsoft. Windows 10 may appear to be the real deal, but it hides a number of apps that you don’t need. Fortunately, you can get rid of the Bloatware.

Let’s have a look at how to identify Bloatware, some of its common examples, how to remove Bloatware from Windows 10 and release the extra load and wearing-down effect it has on your PC or a laptop.

How to Identify Bloatware?

Here are a few indicators that can assist you in identifying Bloatware, so you’ll be able to see it quickly:

Bloatware isn’t always straightforward to get rid of. It is tricky to delete the application. Even after you’ve removed it, it keeps reappearing in your app list. When you try to uninstall it, it may lead you to shady websites or erase portions that are buried deep within the application. Some bloatware apps are nearly impossible to remove.
The app is unfamiliar to you. Bloatware can be identified by the fact that you don’t recall installing a certain piece of software on your device.
It makes a strong pitch for you to buy some more features. Since some bloatware relies on invasive and aggressive marketing techniques to acquire your money, they will inevitably bombard you with such recommendations.
Embarrassing pop-ups began to appear on your browser. It may also lead you to dangerous websites, modify your homepage, and control your browser settings.
It’s nearly useless. Normally, you would not install such an app on your own.

Common Bloatware Apps

Bloatware may be found on nearly all phones and computers, including those from Apple, Android, and Windows. Are you unsure what Bloatware is on Android or what Bloatware is on Windows 10?

Here’s a list of Bloatware to keep an eye out for on your device (including Macs and iPhones):

Apps for Weather Forecast
Apps for Financial or Money Management
Games Centres
Apps for Sports
Assistants for Personal productivity
Apps for Navigation or Maps
Apps for Health and Fitness
Extensions for trash browsers and toolbars
Apps for Messaging or Video
Players for Music and Video
Apps for System updates

Unfortunately, because they’re integrated into the main product, not all of the bloatware instances listed above can be uninstalled.

Remove Bloatware on Windows 10

Bloatware in Windows 10 is rather common. This, however, varies according to the maker. Acer and Asus laptops, for example, have less Bloatware than Toshiba or Sony laptops. There are other higher-priced brands, such as Microsoft Signature PCs (Surface), that are bloat-free.

ShouldIRemoveIt can provide you with some valuable information. It presents a comprehensive list of commonly deleted apps using crowdsourced data based on the activities of its users. It also tells you how many people have removed each software.
There are four tips to remove Bloatware on Windows 10.

Use the Windows 10 Refresh Tool

Go to the Start Menu and look for the Settings option and open it.

Select Update & Security from the drop-down menu.

Choose Recovery from the Update & Security menu

Select Get started from the Reset this PC menu.

Click on Keep my file

Based on if you need the latest version of Windows from Microsoft or wish to utilize an older version from your pc, select either Cloud download or Local reinstall.

When you get a notification (Warning) that you won’t be able to go back to a prior windows version, simply click Next.

To begin the procedure, click Reset.

Regular Uninstall

Some apps may function with the right click -> uninstall approach, but not all.

Pre-installed games, weather, and finance or sports news applications can be uninstalled safely. Other software, on the other hand, will necessitate the use of more complicated removal tools.

By Using Power Shell

More sophisticated users might use Powershell. Powershell is a command language that allows you to take more control of your computer. In the Windows search box, type PowerShell and choose Windows PowerShell. It’s best if you run it as an administrator. You may use instructions to control your system; for example, the Get-AppxPackage command displays a list of applications previously installed on your device, while Remove-AppxPackage uninstalls programs.

However, instead of totally uninstalling the program, it will simply hide it from your user profile. The DISM command in Powershell allows you to remove applications completely. It may be utilized for certain applications, much as the others listed above.

Purchase a PC free of Bloatware

Bloatware is frequently the consequence of PC manufacturers or vendors seeking to minimize costs and increase income from software developers, as previously stated. Microsoft offers devices that are usually free of third-party applications. MacOS, especially, is great when it comes to being bloatware-free.

Regular uninstall, Powershell, or Bloatware removers may all be used to remove the native apps. Non-budget vendors such as Falcon Northwest or Maingear also sell bloatware-free PCs. However, be prepared to pay a higher price.

Conclusion

While the Bloatware in Windows 10 doesn’t take up much physical space, it’s more about gaining control over your system, especially before utilizing a new machine. Some really good gaming PCs can help you in gaining more control over your device, as they are optimized for performance and thus bloatfree.

Many people consider the default applications in the installation to be trash. Still, while some of them are useless, there are a few that are worth retaining.

Regardless of your feelings, you now have the skills to manually delete each piece of Bloatware on Windows 10.

The post How to Remove Bloatware first appeared on The Tech Lounge.

How to Format Your External Hard Drive

Miodrag Matović — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 18:46:11 +0000

External hard drives, and USB drives in general, are the great thing that lets you save important data, without cluttering your main drive. This allows you to have all the important data at your disposal and easy to access, while having the operating system drive dedicated primarily to work, offering the best possible productivity.

Simply, external hard drives are a nice addition to the whole set of handy utilities and tools that make your life much easier. Now, if you have one of them, you probably want to use it, and that usually demands that you format it in a way that will suit your Operating System, size of your files, etc. For that reason, it is good to know how you can manage that and here are the easiest ways you can do it.

How to Format Your External Hard Drive

Formatting your hard drive is no hard task and can be done with ease and in multiple ways. However, have in mind that not all formats are equal, and that, for instance FAT32 can be read by both Mac and Windows, yet it can only hold files that are up to 4GB in size. exFAT, on the other hand, doesn’t have that sort of limitations; nonetheless, it doesn’t work with Time Machine and File History.

NTFS is probably the best format for Windows because it accepts all file sizes and works with both Time Machine and File History, but in the case of Linux and Mac, it can only be used for reading such files. In other words, be sure what sort of files suit you, and following that do the formatting.

How to Format Your External Hard Drive on Windows through Windows Explorer

If you own a Windows machine the best format choice is the NTFS, and the whole process of formatting the drive can be done in the following way:

First, plug in the drive that you want to format into the computer and go to My PC (Windows Explorer).

Once you do that, right-click the external drive

and select “Format”, from the drop-down menu.

Choose the preferred file type, allocation unit size, and volume label, and mark the square next to “Quick Format”.

Go to Start,

confirm that you want to format the disk by pressing OK and that is it.

Your speedy external hard drive is now formatted. In the information window that tells you that the format is finished, just press OK, and your job is done. You can freely use your new formatted external hard drive.

How to Format Your External Hard Drive on Windows with the Help of Disk Management

In the case you want to explore additional ways to format your external hard drive, you should know that that can also be managed through the Disk Management feature.

In this approach, as you may guess, you first need to plug in the drive and activate the Disk Management, by going to My PC,

right-clicking on it, and selecting “Manage”, from the drop-down menu.

Once the Computer Management opens, enter Disk Management, and find the drive that you want to format.

When you find it, right-click on it and go to Format.

Select volume label, file system, and allocation unit size, and mark the square next to “Performa a quick format”.

Press OK,

confirm that you want to make the format by pressing OK, in the newly opened window

and that is it. Your external hard drive is now successfully formatted.

How to Format Your External Hard Drive on Mac

In the case you own the Mac, this what needs to be done:

First, plug in the external hard drive and open the Finder.

Once you do that, go to the Go menu

and select Utilities from the drop-down menu.

Enter Disk Utility,

select your external hard drive,

and press Erase.

Select the drive name and file format from the drop-down menu, press Erase

and that is it. Your external hard drive will now be formatted at the desired file type.

The post How to Format Your External Hard Drive first appeared on The Tech Lounge.

How to Transfer Photos from Android to Computer

Miodrag Matović — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 18:45:05 +0000

Having photos and generally, all the important data accessible all the time on your Android device, is a great thing. Nonetheless, sooner or later, your device’s storage will become too cramped and you will have to move your photos and other files somewhere else, to bring a bit of relief to your device and let it work as it used to once again.

To do that, you can always transfer the photos to Google Drive, or some other cloud service; however, you can also transfer them to your computer, which should certainly save some money, of course, only if you have enough space available on your machine.

If you do, you will be glad to know that such an operation can be easily done and everything you need is a high-quality USB-C or Micro USB cable and a bit of good will.

How to Transfer Photos from Android to Computer

Transferring your Android photos to the computer is no hard task; however, the whole process may vary depending on your computer’s Operating System. For that reason, you will be introduced to this process, in the case of the two most common Operating Systems – Windows and Mac.

How to Transfer Photos from Android to Windows Computer

If you own a Windows-based machine and want to transfer the photos from your Android device to the computer this is what you need to do:

First, connect your Android device to the PC with the help of the appropriate USB cable.
Press the “Charging this device via USB” notification on your Android device, and change the USB use to File Transfer.

After that, go to My PC (Windows Explorer)

and enter the Android device connected to your computer, by double-clicking on its folder.

Once you do that, locate your photos on the device (they have usually located in the DCIM> Camera folders either on your external card or the main drive),

select the ones that you want and drag them to the desired location,

or right-click on them, choose Copy from the drop-down menu, and paste them into the desired folder.

After that, your job is done, you can unplug the cable and can continue your other activities.

How to Transfer Photos from Android to Mac

Moving your photos to Mac is also a straightforward process that includes the following steps:

First, download and install the Android File Transfer app on your Mac.

Open it and connect your Android device over the USB cable.
Tap on your Android device and change the USB use to File Transfer.

After that, the Android File Transfer window will open and you will be able to drag your photos wherever you like.

After you are finished, unplug your devices and that is it.

The post How to Transfer Photos from Android to Computer first appeared on The Tech Lounge.