Hacks related to using technology -- such as computers, phones, televisions, etc. -- safely and effectively.
0
votes
2answers
21 views
Archiving digital documents for a long term usage
How I can be sure that we are able to read an .docx document in about 100 years? I have a large collection of documents on my hard drive (including letters, cv's and other stuff). I want them to be ...
0
votes
1answer
16 views
How to clean old sticky pc mouse with rubber coating?
I have an old Logitech MX510 mouse which is very sticky on the sides. How can I get rid of this stickiness?
-1
votes
1answer
58 views
how can you display text or image that has been hidden using microsoft paint?
is it possible to see text hidden using ms paint as shown by this example?
0
votes
2answers
76 views
Whats wrong with my remote control?
I have this remote control:
Sometimes if I press a button the TV does not react - although there is nothing in between that could block the signal between the red light and the remote control:
If ...
2
votes
3answers
119 views
How to make sure a document stays long term readable?
In case of very long term storage, what are the ways to make sure that a document remains readable?
I am thinking about a conservation in the order of magnitude of 100 years.
I am interested in ...
2
votes
4answers
148 views
Increase legibility of computer screen in the sun
In Western Europe, we currently have a long spell of warm and dry weather. The perfect moment to combine sunbathing with working from home. However, outside in the sun, the legibility of my laptop ...
18
votes
11answers
7k views
Can I shut off my laptop's keyboard without turning off my computer?
My feral kitty (isn't feral anymore), Shorty, loves to sit in front of my gigantic old beast of a laptop for the heat and to keep an eye on my cursor. But when I'm not looking or want to hear music ...
8
votes
4answers
303 views
Physical Text To Digital Text
Let me first prefix this question with, I have no idea which StackExchange site would be most appropriate for this question, but I thought LifeHacks might work...
In 1998 my Mom's side of the family ...
1
vote
3answers
170 views
How to segment ones life/data?
I find myself thinking about organizing my digital stuff again. The whole thing started with the thought "What would the optimal folder structure look like?". Thinking about this, I came to the ...
3
votes
5answers
193 views
How do I childproof the power button on my computer without making it hard for me to get to?
I have toddlers and would like to childproof the power button on my desktop computer which sits on the floor. Unfortunately I don’t have the option of moving it out of reach and I can’t really put any ...
1
vote
2answers
141 views
What kind of ink could I use for paint my desktop computer? (If there is any)
I have a sudden urge to paint blue my computer to match the keyboard and the mouse and also the CPU. There is a type of an ink that I could use for it?
18
votes
17answers
8k views
How, without leaving my home, can I force myself to abstain from using the internet for a few days? [closed]
I'd like to stay off the internet for a day or for a period of a few days, every so often. When I try to abstain, I yield to temptation. How can I force myself to be successful?
1
vote
2answers
189 views
How to read bar code without having bar code reader/ scanner?
As we have seen that In the digital world of today, every service is taken by machinery. You all now that in shopping malls and in almost all the shops ,seller sells their products by scanning them ...
2
votes
7answers
216 views
Something to keep the fizz of cola bottle
I am looking for some trick or gazzette to keep a bigger bottle of coke longer so that it doesn't lose all the fizz everytime it's opened again! Something which could keep the CO2 longer so that a ...
-3
votes
2answers
125 views
Acsessing Radio Signals in the middle of Nowhere (North Wales)
Hi I'm about to go to Wales, as a football fan I really would like to be able to listen the matches (especially when you are in the middle of nowhere). Is there a radio I can get (rather not do), or ...
1
vote
0answers
223 views
How can I remove the bearings from a hard drive motor?
I've dismantled many hard drives and harvested the magnets from them. I've also removed the bearings from the arm which reads the platters. I've been told and seen on youtube that it should be ...
0
votes
1answer
745 views
How to fix earphone only background music hear
I have a a pair of earphones that came along with my phone Nokia 100 (I know, it is very old). At first, these earphones worked perfectly without any problems until I accidentally plug it into the ...
1
vote
2answers
156 views
How do I test rechargeable batteries?
I have 17 old AA rechargeable batteries and would like to figure out the fastest way to know which AA batteries are at the end of their recharging life.
Currently, I am putting each AA battery into ...
0
votes
1answer
243 views
How can I better protect my laptop in my backpack? [duplicate]
I recently purchased a new laptop. This one is an investment as I intend to use it for consulting and moonlighting. I take my laptop with me commuting to and from work, as I've got opportunity during ...
3
votes
3answers
110 views
Best way to get a sleigh up a hill without human effort?
As I saw someone pulling/carrying a sleigh up a hill, I thought of what would be the best way to get this sleigh up a hill (But without any effort of someone). An idea would be to just bring it up ...
1
vote
2answers
161 views
Always breaking my earbuds. Strategy?
It seems like manufacturers conspiracy, but I go through 3-4 pairs of earbuds a year, just because of the broken cable.
They just won't make them last or detachable.
I discovered recently that there's ...
4
votes
2answers
140 views
Avoiding silicone watch strap breakage
I have this old (and dear) simple digital wrist watch (a Casio W71). It uses a Silicone strap by default - and (one side of) this strap tends to tear at the point where you fasten it, after a few ...
1
vote
1answer
166 views
Can RGB lights (on blue) help with concentration and focus?
If the basis of f.lux and copycat programs is that blue light keeps you awake, then could I be more focused during the day if I have a blue rgb light strip (provided the room is fairly dark, like when ...
6
votes
2answers
878 views
How to boost wifi signal range without touching the antenna or router using reflectors, etc?
I have a project to boost a wireless signal but without touching the router and its antennae.
1st of all the router is above the cabinet which we can't reach.
2nd we are not allowed to touch the ...
-1
votes
1answer
98 views
Sterlizing rags, sponges and scrubbers in a microwave? [closed]
Recently I've gotten worried about overuse of cleaning rags / sponges / scouring pads / scrubbers in my kitchen (let's call them "scrubbers" for short), and whether I should perhaps replace them more ...
6
votes
1answer
147 views
How to make a laptop touchpad respond better?
The touchpad (trackpad) on a laptop is not responding well.
I noticed that the surface of the touchpad is worn in some areas, but not others.
Are there any lifehacks to help the touchpad respond ...
0
votes
3answers
227 views
How to turn a rotated cable back to the right orientation?
I move my laptop computer on the bed, and between the bed and the desk often, with some USB devices plugged in. I ended up breaking many USB cables by rotating them many times.
So, as a ...
-1
votes
1answer
334 views
why windows and mac os does not read linux ext4 [closed]
As you may know linux Ext2, 3 and 4 are free, also FAT and FAT32 filesystem are the worst fs ever made , so why in 2017 , after more than 20 years of FAT sucking hard, we still don't have drives that ...
0
votes
2answers
565 views
How to remove the broken part of the tip inside of the stylus?
This is likely to be a really rare situation. I bought Sony's Digital Paper DPT-RP1 and it was great. Unfortunately, while it has a wonderful design, it doesn't seem to be so sturdy. Just now, its ...
5
votes
3answers
256 views
How can I cover a webcam mic effectively?
I know that I can cover a webcam with tape, but what can I do to block a microphone embedded in a webcam? Will tape be sufficient to block sound to the microphone, or will I need to do something else?
5
votes
3answers
590 views
How do I avoid the huge amounts of dust that collect around my computer?
I have a home office, and so my PC is on pretty much the whole time. I tend to leave it on overnight during the week, as it saves time when I start work the following day.
I always seem to have huge ...
3
votes
10answers
1k views
Avoiding headache while using screen for the whole day
As a web developer, I need to use my computer for work. So for almost 10-15 hours a day, I work on my computer. Sometimes I get a very bad headache.
I am using the laptop on my bed while I use a ...
3
votes
5answers
1k views
Secure monitor to desk (from falling)
I want to prevent a computer monitor from falling, if the desk's legs are kicked or anything similar. The desk is relatively light.
I thought of simply drilling a hole through the base of the monitor ...
0
votes
2answers
429 views
How to prevent charger cables wearing out too quickly? [duplicate]
All of my phone charging leads have frayed at the ends where you plug it in. I've spent a lot on getting these braided cords that are supposed to last for a while but they never last. I have in total ...
9
votes
4answers
866 views
How to stabilize a loose/failing USB connection?
I always end up having a 'USB device not recognised' error while I fix my external harddisk to my laptop. Even a slight disturbance causes this error due to the weight of the disk, and I find it ...
0
votes
4answers
277 views
How to create unique, strong yet easy-to-remember passwords [closed]
Can someone suggest a good technique that is as simple to remember as possible but can help one remember a set of passwords for different sites? I don't want to have to spend too much time mentally ...
3
votes
5answers
189 views
How to raise my laptop stand
My laptop stand brings the screen much closer to eye level, but not quite close enough. I want to raise it a few inches by placing something underneath, but I can't think of what to use. The bottom of ...
3
votes
2answers
147 views
Protecting Protruding watch glass
I own a smartwatch which, for some odd reason has the glass sticking up slightly over the bezel. I've cracked one, and somehow, after 3 months, I'm getting a replacement.
I'd like to prevent it from ...
9
votes
8answers
2k views
I lost my equals key. now what?
The equals key is missing from my keyboard. If I need to press it I am currently using a pencil to stick in the hole and push the little internal button.
Any ideas how to continue using my keyboard ...
2
votes
2answers
226 views
How to protect a CD without a case [duplicate]
I am currently using a plastic freezer bag with a bubble envelope. Any other better hacks to store CD until I get a CD case?
3
votes
1answer
442 views
How can I make my mouse clicks louder?
My old mouse was pretty loud so bought a new one, now it is too quiet. Any hacks to make it louder?
1
vote
3answers
520 views
How to reduce the noise from PC's fans? [closed]
My computer's cooling fans make a terrible noise.
Please, could you give me some advice about how can I reduce that noise?
2
votes
2answers
769 views
How to clean cloth-wire earphones?
There are lots of tutorials to clean white earphone wires but those are made of rubber or plastic. How should a cloth-wire earphone be cleaned without damaging it?
-3
votes
1answer
3k views
Convert smartphone charger into wireless [closed]
I came across this page in facebook about life hacks and they have a video saying one can convert his smartphone charger into wireless charger. This is the link to page. I would have followed the ...
4
votes
6answers
806 views
Protecting cords against chewing pets?
I’m interested in ways to protect cords against chewing pets. What might be used to armor a light-guage power cord or USB charging cords?
Since these items already have ends on them I can’t just ...
-1
votes
1answer
138 views
How do I run Windows OS virtually instead of on a PC? [closed]
I want to be able to use the Windows operating system virtually instead of having it on my local PC. More specifically, I want to use something like a Chromebook device and just log in to a cloud ...
6
votes
8answers
615 views
There is a tiny plastic ball stuck in my Macbook's earphone port. How can i remove it?
There is a tiny plastic ball stuck in my Mac Book's audio port.
I have shaken my Mac: failed.
I have tried to take it out with a vacuum cleaner: failed.
Tried to take it out with a pin : failed.
...
3
votes
4answers
343 views
Mac Keyboard cleaning
My mac keyboard is dirty after a year of using it and I want to clean it, however nothing seems to work. I've tried alcohol (98%) , I've tried soap,nail polish remover, wipes for cleaning glasses... ...
0
votes
1answer
131 views
Can graphic tablet/laptop combos replace pen and paper? [closed]
The vast majority of my work is done on laptops/computers. However there are times that I find paper and pen best, mostly for:-
Planning - the ability to connect words and phrases spatially or ...
4
votes
5answers
197 views
How can I keep a USB mini 2.0 (or other) cable from tearing?
What are some ways to protect the ends of a USB mini 2.0 charging cable (or other thin insulated wire) tearing up?
Anytime the electrical outlet is at a height greater than the device it is attached ...
