Should you install 'optional' driver updates? - Make your battery backup work longer during power outages
Enjoy today's selection of practical, easy-to-follow tech tips.
Rick's Daily Tips Tech Update for Saturday, October 30, 2021.
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Today's Quick Tip....
Make your battery backup work as long as possible during a power outage
Do you have your computer gear plugged into a battery backup device? If so, you know that your machine should stay up and running for a while the next time your power goes out.
Well here's a little tip that will extend the amount of time that your battery backup will be able to supply power to your computer during an outage...
Make sure that only your computer, monitor, modem and router are plugged into the "Battery" or "Battery+Surge" outlets on the device.
Everything else should either be plugged into a stand-alone surge protector or one of the "Surge Only" outlets on the battery backup unit.
Important: If you have a laser printer it's best to keep it plugged into it's own dedicated surge protector instead of one of the the "Surge Only" outlets on the battery backup device.
Whatever you do, never plug a laser printer into one of the "Battery" or "Battery+Surge" outlets on a battery backup because laser printers draw more current than a typical consumer-grade battery backup device can safely provide.
Bottom line: The only truly essential pieces of your computer system are the computer itself, the monitor, your modem and your router. Therefore, those should be the only devices drawing power from your battery backup during a power outage.
Having other non-essential devices drawing power from your battery backup's battery will simply drain it dry faster, and that means your essential gear won't work as long.
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The latest from Rick’s Daily Tips...
• Q&A: Should I let Windows Update install ‘optional’ driver updates?
A reader wants to know if he should ignore 'optional' driver updates or allow Windows Update to install them along with all the regular pending updates. This post has the answer.
• Charge your USB devices by plugging them directly into a wall outlet
Do you hate seeing a bunch of chargers dangling from your electrical outlets? If so, you can replace a regular two-receptacle outlet with a special charging outlet.
• Click here to see today's 'Picture of the Day'.
Every morning I post a new photo that I find inspiring, intriguing, or just plain beautiful to look at. Jumpstart your day by checking it out.
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Today's post from 'My Daily Smile'...
Guess what? Earth isn’t the only planet that has Auroras.
I'm sure you're probably familiar with the colorful aurora's (i.e. Northern and Southern Lights) that light up the night sky over the regions surrounding the Earth's poles. But did you know that other planets besides Earth also have auroras of their own?
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Tech news that caught my eye...
• Microsoft PowerToys get Windows 11 UI updates
• Apple warns of more supply chain woes after iPhone 13 drives revenue surge
• Google rolls out tool to help minors delete photos from search
• It's a 'golden era' for cyber crooks - and it could get worse before it gets better
• Cricket Wireless removes speed caps from several plans and offers 5G to everyone
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Do you have precious photos and/or other irreplaceable files that you'd like to recover from a non-working computer?
Chances are I'll be able to recover them for you, even if the machine won't turn on or start up correctly.
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Thanks so much, and have an amazing day.
Your tech buddy,
Rick Rouse