How can I safely get ants out of my laptop?
I noticed ants crawling out of my laptop, so I shut it down and placed it on a light-colored sofa where I could see them. After about an…
computer safety
What Should I Do After Spilling Water Inside My Computer?
I accidentally spilled a small amount of water on my computer. Some seems to have gone through an air vent, and I can see a few drops inside…
What should I do after spilling water inside my computer?
I accidentally spilled a small amount of water on my computer. Some went through a ventilation opening, and I can see a few droplets inside near the bottom…
Is It Safe to Switch Off a Power Strip After the PC Has Shut Down?
I moved my power strip and accidentally switched it off while the computer was shut down through the operating system, but I had not flipped the switch on…
I Ran an Unverified GitHub Executable—Should I Worry About Malware?
I downloaded and ran the executable from the AnyFlip-GUI-Downloader project before checking it with antivirus and online analysis tools. Afterward, I noticed that the executable was included directly…
Is it okay to keep a PC in sleep mode all the time?
I live in a small dorm room, and my roommate's setup is right at my feet. She leaves her computer in sleep mode all the time, but it…
What Should I Do After Getting a Trojan from a Minecraft Mod?
I recently installed a Minecraft mod that turned out to have a trojan, which Windows Defender didn't catch. After installing it, Minecraft wouldn't run properly, and I noticed…
Is My Prebuilt PC Safe to Use After Breaking the Front Panel?
I accidentally broke the front glass panel of my new prebuilt PC while taking it out of the box. The panel shattered, but I don't see any broken…
Is a Little Water on My Power Strip and Ethernet Cable Dangerous?
I accidentally spilled a cup of water on my power strip's cable while it was off, and some also got on the ethernet cable connecting my PC to…
How can I safely clean my PSU after spilling a chocolate smoothie?
I accidentally spilled some chocolate smoothie near my PC's power supply unit (PSU). A bit of the smoothie got inside through the area where the power switch is…
Best Tips for Safely Moving My PC
I'm moving next week and I need to take my PC with me. I've kept the original box and foam it came in, but I'm wondering if that's…
Is it safe to leave my PC in the car overnight in freezing temperatures?
I'm heading to a LAN party for a week, but I won't be able to bring my PC until a day later. I have an NZXT liquid cooler,…
Is My USB Likely Infected With a Virus After Seeing This Script Host Prompt?
I recently discovered something odd on my dad's USB that has files on it. When he opened the USB, a shortcut appeared along with a Windows-based script host…
What’s the best way to safely block a broken USB port on my motherboard?
I have a motherboard with an exposed and damaged USB port that I don't really use. However, I've noticed that if anything metal touches it, like another USB…
What Should I Know About .msi Files After Downloading One?
I recently tried to download a video from a website that I found on YouTube, and I ended up clicking on a pop-up that caused a file with…
Am I at risk from a half-downloaded ZIP file?
I was in the process of downloading a ZIP file that I suspect has a virus, but I canceled the download halfway. I'm really worried—can I still get…
How Can I Remove a Malicious Website Notification From My Computer?
I've been getting alerts from my antivirus about a malicious website, memory-scanner.cc, trying to open in Internet Explorer. This has happened at least three times today, but I'm…
Should I install my CPU on the motherboard now or leave it in the box while I wait for RAM?
I'm trying to figure out the best way to store my CPU while I save up for RAM. Is it safer to just leave it in its manufacturer…
Is it necessary to back up Windows before switching to Linux?
I recently got a new laptop and I've always wanted to switch to Linux, specifically Linux Mint. I've never really used or installed Linux before, but I'm eager…
How to Safely Handle Static Electricity When Upgrading My PC's RAM?
I'm planning to upgrade the RAM in my PC by adding two compatible DDR4 8GB sticks. However, I'm kind of anxious about the risks of static electricity damaging…