249 votes
Accepted

How can I keep my cat off my keyboard?

Place a box near your keyboard that is the right size for the cat to sit in. If possible, place it on something warm. Cats like two things: warmth and security. It likes being on your keyboard ...
  • 7,420
111 votes

Best (law-abiding) ways to inconvenience cold callers?

When the cold caller asks for you, say "Just a moment, I'll get them." and then place the phone next to the stereo and let it play, like hold music. Every once in a while get back on in your best ...
  • 1,783
94 votes

How can I keep my cat off my keyboard?

This happens because my cat likes to sit on my keyboard. Is there any way to prevent this from happening? I enjoy my cat's company while working, so would rather not shut him out. Since this is ...
85 votes

How can I keep my cat off my keyboard?

I remember this from /r/funny a while back - a decoy keyboard! Kitty Fooled!
  • 951
79 votes

Best (law-abiding) ways to inconvenience cold callers?

Print the telemarketing counterscript and keep it next to your phone. I don't know how much it annoys the caller, but it might make things more fun for you.
49 votes

Best (law-abiding) ways to inconvenience cold callers?

Well, this doesn't apply to the UK specifically but here's my approach: Never answer unsolicited calls from an unknown number. From anyone. Ever. Calls from a number that I don't recognize go ...
  • 649
45 votes

How can I remove ants from my laptop keyboard?

There are already some good answers for how to get them out immediately. However, I have an alternate proposal: Wait until they leave on their own. They're there because there's food in there. As ...
42 votes

How can I keep my cat off my keyboard?

Animals need boundaries. The only way to prevent that from happening is to set boundaries with him. If he steps on the keyboard, remove him from the desk and place him on the ground. You will need ...
  • 1,165
39 votes

How can I remove ants from my laptop keyboard?

To remove almost anything, the simplest and most effective way is to use an Aero Duster. These blast compressed air in under the keys and into all the nooks and crannies and will safely leave your ...
  • 1,195
35 votes

Best (law-abiding) ways to inconvenience cold callers?

Answer in a foreign language. For the cold caller it's usually not worth trying to communicate with someone who you share no common language, since they are usually on the clock to make commission.
  • 517
31 votes
Accepted

Stop keyboard wobble due to uneven desk

This is happening because there is a gap of space between a corner of your keyboard and the desk. Your goal, as you may have guessed, is to remove this gap. A general solution is to look around you ...
30 votes
Accepted

How can I organize Micro SD Cards?

I believe the most efficient way is to use a pillbox, like this one: This is what I do. They are pretty strong, have enough space and they are very cheap. There are many different kinds, if you fancy....
  • 798
26 votes

Can I shut off my laptop's keyboard without turning off my computer?

Most operating systems (Windows, Mac, Linux) have some means of manually locking the screen. This will engage the screen saver (if you have one set) and require password entry before the system will ...
  • 9,760
25 votes
Accepted

How can I charge my smartphone faster?

There are numerous things you need to know about charging your phone in order to charge it any faster. Ampere is unit of current intensity. So higher amperage means more energy in the same time. It ...
  • 3,939
24 votes
Accepted

How can I make sure I get the USB plug in the right way up?

All you have to do is follow the USB convention! Every USB plug has (or is supposed to have) one side labeled with the USB symbol. The pins should be exposed towards the side that is labeled with ...
  • 364
23 votes

Best (law-abiding) ways to inconvenience cold callers?

I sound interested then say "Wait a moment, I have to take something off the stove". Then walk away. They hang up eventually. (I used to keep an emergency whistle by the phone - blowing it removes ...
  • 1,808
23 votes

Best (law-abiding) ways to inconvenience cold callers?

If you want a novel, legal and amusing way to discourage telemarketers, there's always Lenny. http://www.toao.net/595-lenny If you're really committed, set your number up with a premium rate for ...
22 votes

Can I shut off my laptop's keyboard without turning off my computer?

BabySmash was created to allow a baby to smash away at a keyboard without doing any harm to the computer. It also draws nice patterns to keep baby amused. It may not amuse your cat but it should ...
  • 321
21 votes
Accepted

How to store loose CDs and other discs without scratching them?

I always use standard A4 printing paper. Very cheap and available almost anywhere. Put each disk on a piece of paper, right at the centre. Then fold the long edges, next fold the short edges, like ...
  • 878
21 votes
Accepted

How to keep a laptop cooled down

Vacuum the vents The fans are designed to keep the components of your laptop cool. When the inside gets inevitably dusty, the fans have to work harder to be less effective. In the worst of cases, it'...
  • 11.5k
19 votes
Accepted

How to prevent accidentally pressing the power button on a computer?

Anyone with a toddler knows of the unexpected mass destruction that can rain down when your two-year-old somehow figures out how to infiltrate your massive security barriers and somehow hit that ...
18 votes
Accepted

Hiding or covering annoying LED lights on computer and accessories

I know these two tricks - one of them to cover any light, and the other to turn off the motherboard lights, specifically. Nail Polish Yes, nail polish. Just grab one with a dark color (black, deep ...
  • 526
18 votes

How can I remove ants from my laptop keyboard?

I am from India. We have good sunlight almost year-round. If I were you, then I would simply put my laptop in the sunlight for 5-10 minutes. The ants will leave the keyboard because it will get too ...
  • 181
17 votes

How to keep a laptop cooled down

First, we must know why laptops overheat. All of the equipment inside a laptop, processors, RAM disks, hard drives, etc., work really hard, so the computer gets hot. Most computers have a cooling ...
  • 11.2k
17 votes
Accepted

4m² Room for Gaming PC - Temperature issue

IDEA #3: You can also try making a cheap 5-gallon bucket Air conditioner. Check out this video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxSLbpAwibg *Someone commented on why this would not be good. ...
17 votes
Accepted

How to clean the inside of a desktop computer without a vacuum

Blow the dust out with compressed air OUTSIDE the building. Word for the wise: place a soda straw or similar object between the cooling fan blades in a manner to prevent them turning, as blowing the ...
17 votes

Best (law-abiding) ways to inconvenience cold callers?

I have three fixes for this, with different results: As I am in the USA, my phone number has been on the Do Not Call list as long as the list has existed. I used to get good results reporting callers,...
17 votes

Best (law-abiding) ways to inconvenience cold callers?

One very amusing way to dismiss cold callers is to put on your best sultry voice and say; “I would be delighted to answer all of your question my dear, but this is a premium service and we will bill ...
  • 331
17 votes

How can I open an iPhone's SIM card slot without the included pin?

I have successfully opened an iPhone card slot using a paper clip. Just straighten a standard sized paper clip and poke the end in the hole. It is a tight fit but it works.
  • 1,808
16 votes

How to prevent accidentally pressing the power button on a computer?

I have just covered the button with a piece of cardboard (~3" square) and used masking tape to secure the cardboard onto the case. This may leave some residue, but is essentially free.
  • 11.5k

Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible