Laptops Fast Fixes

Boost performance away from the mains, repair a faulty display, and fix sticky keys and typing glitches

Can't connect to Wi-Fi

Lots of things can cause Wi-Fi blocks. First, check that your laptop’s Wi-Fi is actually switched on. There might be a small physical switch for this on your laptop, or it might be activated by holding down the Function (Fn) key while pressing a key with a Wi-Fi or antenna icon. Next, click the Wi-Fi icon in the Notification Area at the far right of your Taskbar, click your Wi-Fi network in the list, then click Connect. Type your network password if prompted. If you’re using a public hotspot (in a cafe, for example), it often initially seems you can connect without a password, but chances are you’ll need to log in via a web page when you launch your browser and try to visit a website. Ask the organisation running the hotspot for the login details.

Read all your ebooks on your tablet

When you buy a paperback book, it's yours to read anywhere. Kat Orphanides reveals how to get this kind of freedom with heavily restricted ebooks

If you’ve read the news lately, you’d be forgiven for wondering what rights -if any - you have over the digital media you buy.

In October 2014, UK citizens were finally allowed to copy their MP3s, CDs, DVDs and ebooks - but just eight months later in June 2015, the law was rolled back. Now we’re not even sure if we can rip a CD for iTunes.

Amazon may seem restrictive with its proprietary formats, but its range of apps makes it easy to read ebooks legally on almost any tablet, phone or PC.

WD 2TB My Passport X

Need more storage for your console? Look no further

One of the biggest problems facing a modern console owner is the lack of hard drive space these things ship out with by default. True enough, there are ways and means to upgrade the current storage in an Xbox One or PS4, but often this relies on some screwdriver work, and a loss of warranty for the user. Western Digital, though, has come up with a tweaked version of the solution used by many PC users: a USB 3.0 external hard drive.

WD 2TB My Passport Ultra

A reasonably priced, and sizeable backup solution

This is the seventh generation of the popular My Passport Ultra product range, Western Digital has kept the line going for quite some time now, and it shows no signs of getting long in the tooth either. With a redesigned USB 3.0 bus powered interface and a flashy new look, this new generation of My Passport Ultra drives comes in a variety of capacities and colours. There are 500GB, 1TB, 2TB and 3TB models on offer in black, blue, red and white coloured chassis’.

Xara Designer Pro X11

The latest update to Xara’s high end product, Designer Pro X11

Xara are one of the oldest software developers in the UK; starting in 1981 it has been responsible for some very innovative software, mainly in the realm of graphics. This latest product Designer Pro X11 is the culmination of its work in this field. Combining the elements from all of the Xara graphic products into a single all encompassing program that, certainly at the latest price, represents excellent value for money. It includes Vector Illustration, drawing, Photo Editing, Web Design and DTP layout all within a single contextbased interface, giving you just about everything a graphic designer could ever need. It also comes at a fraction of the cost of other leading brand products.