Latest news with #TaskManager
Digital Trends
27-07-2025
- Digital Trends
5 ways to upgrade your PC without spending a fortune
Without beating around the bush, PC gaming is expensive these days. Or, at the very least, it certainly feels like it is. With the prices of the best graphics cards still way too high, it might feel like you're stuck with your same old PC for the foreseeable future. Good news: It's not universally that bad. In fact, there are plenty of PC upgrades ranging from free to not-too-pricey that you can jump on today. I'm a PC builder with 20 years of experience, and here's what I recommend doing if you want to give your gaming rig a boost without breaking the bank. Better PC without spending a dime Short of your friends and family suddenly deciding to gift you PC hardware, you can't get any serious gains without spending money — but you can get some improvements. There are ways to boost your existing PC and make it run better, and some of those things can give you improvements in games. Recommended Videos This is especially true if you think that your PC seems to be struggling right now. Thermal throttling, crashes, and disappointing performance can often be addressed without upgrading the hardware — all you need is some good ol' PC troubleshooting. Start by cleaning up your PC, and by that I mean, get rid of all the random junk you've probably accumulated over time. (I know I have an alarming tendency to do that.) Uninstall unused programs, disable startup apps via the Task Manager to make your PC boot faster, and clear temporary files and cookies. Install one of the best antivirus programs and give your PC a thorough scan. Lastly, update all your drivers, including those from Nvidia and AMD. Optimize your settings, both for your PC and on a game-by-game basis. If your PC is getting old, scaling back in settings like View Distance, Projected Textures, or (duh) Ray Tracing can make a world of difference for your frame rates. If applicable, try out upscaling technologies from your GPU vendor, be it Nvidia's DLSS, AMD's FSR, or Intel's XeSS. Next, I recommend cleaning the actual hardware — a process that should be done once every few months, but often goes neglected for years. We have a detailed guide on how to clean your PC, so check it out. These won't make or break your performance, but are a good first step when you're in a pinch. And honestly, cleaning your PC can affect the temperatures in a major way, which translates to better performance. More (or faster) RAM How much RAM do you really need? There's an answer, I promise, and yet, my gut instinct is always to simply say 'more.' I always have an urge to buy more RAM, or at least faster RAM, and it's something I have to fight myself about regularly. Well, don't be like me — instead of debating, just do it. Get yourself a RAM upgrade. It's one of the cheapest ways to give your whole PC a boost — not just in gaming, but overall. Realistically, if you're already sitting at 32GB RAM, you don't need to double it. 64GB is reserved for enthusiasts and most of us don't need it, so if budget is tight, stick to your current RAM and try something else. But if you're under 32GB, that is the current sweet spot in a gaming PC, so buying extra might help your PC handle multitasking like a champ. In games, you'll likely see an improvement in loading times and overall performance. RAM speed and generation matters, too. If you're on an older motherboard, you most likely need to stick to DDR4 RAM. But if you're using an AMD AM5 processor, or an Intel 12th-gen and up CPU, you might be able to buy DDR5 — which opens up a lot of room for speed-based RAM upgrades. Older DDR5 RAM runs at 5,000MHz or less, but newer memory can easily go above 7,000MHz. Want DDR5 RAM? Check out this Crucial Pro DDR5-6000 32GB kit with reasonably tight timings. DDR4 RAM is cheaper, and you can snag 32GB of DDR4-3600 RAM from T-Group for $69. Better SSD? Yes, please! When it comes to storage, gamers can never have enough. I bought myself a 2TB SSD thinking I'd have plenty of room, and I was really wrong. I ended up buying an extra SSD just to store my games. If you don't have an SSD yet, then this is the single most impactful upgrade you can get — hands down. But, realistically, you're probably already using SSD storage. No worries, because you can still score a great upgrade for cheap. Upgrading from a SATA SSD to an NVMe drive is still going to feel like night and day. NVMe SSD to faster NVMe SSD won't feel as impactful, but you'll still shave off a few seconds from every loading screen and your Windows boot time. It helps, and SSDs are reasonably affordable these days. The drive I recently bought was the Lexar 2TBN NM790 with 7,400MB/s in read speeds, and I can heartily recommend it. If you want something smaller and cheaper, it's also available in 1TB for $68, so check it out. A new CPU could be a huge deal CPUs are impactful upgrades, but they're tricky. It's not like RAM or SSD, where you can pretty much pop them in and out of your PC at any given time. Every CPU is locked to a specific motherboard socket, which means that your upgrade path is limited to whenever the CPU vendor changes sockets. In the case of Intel, that happens often. You can generally expect Intel to switch sockets once every one or two generations. Meanwhile, AMD's AM4 platform has lasted for years, and the company still releases new CPUs made for those motherboards. The AM5 platform, on the other hand, is still new and likely not in need of upgrading. It's hard for me to give you a blanket recommendation here without knowing your motherboard, but I'll say this: Spending $100 to $200 on a new CPU might make more of a difference than you think. Most games rely on the GPU more so than the CPU, but even GPU-bound games benefit from a faster processor. The rest of your PC does, too. Have a look at our list of the best budget processors and pick the one that fits your motherboard. Steer clear of motherboard upgrades — that's neither easy nor cheap. Improve your cooling You may have followed my advice (in which case, thanks for making me feel useful) and cleaned your PC, but there's only so much you can achieve with a can of compressed air. Sometimes, you should just go ahead and upgrade your cooler to give your PC the (literal) breathing room that it needs. This will be an especially impactful upgrade if you currently have a stock cooler combined with a mid-to-high-end CPU. While stock coolers are meant to be good enough to handle the processor they come paired with, they don't quite have the power of a third-party CPU cooler. I've personally witnessed many PCs, including my own, that were completely transformed by a CPU cooler upgrade — and those aren't too pricey. When it comes to cooling upgrades, you have three options: Buy a third-party air cooler Buy an all-in-one (AIO) liquid cooler Stock up on some more case fans You can do two of those things at once, as case fans don't cost a whole lot. As far as air coolers go, I heartily recommend the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE, which is just $37 on Amazon. It's versatile, so chances are it'll fit your motherboard, so make sure to double-check. Meanwhile, AIO coolers get a bad rep for being expensive, but you can get this 360mm Thermalright Frozen Notte model for just $55. Again, a pretty versatile beast, but do your research before shopping to make sure it'll suit your case. No matter which upgrade you go with, you might be surprised how a little investment can help your PC in a major way. While graphics cards are expensive right now, these upgrades can help you get by until things improve in that regard.
Techday NZ
03-07-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
TeamViewer launches AI-powered tools to boost IT support speed
TeamViewer has introduced TeamViewer Intelligence, a suite of AI-powered features aimed at improving IT support workflows with real-time automation, actionable insights, and in-session assistance. The latest offering in the portfolio, TeamViewer CoPilot, works alongside established capabilities like Session Insights and Analytics, providing IT professionals with tools to reduce manual intervention, resolve support issues more quickly, and manage helpdesk activities more efficiently. This is designed for a broad range of operational environments, including service desks and distributed IT endpoints. Mei Dent, Chief Product & Technology Officer at TeamViewer, said, "With TeamViewer Intelligence, we're embedding AI directly into support workflows, so teams don't need to switch tools or break focus to get help. Whether it's resolving a ticket or managing large-scale IT environments, we're enabling faster decisions and more scalable operations through intelligent assistance." TeamViewer CoPilot serves as a contextual AI assistant integrated within remote support sessions. IT support agents are able to communicate with CoPilot through real-time chat, allowing access to device data and diagnostics, the generation of resolution workflows, as well as automation of routine duties, such as opening Task Manager or pulling system logs. The feature is crafted to streamline the troubleshooting process, particularly in environments with a high volume of service requests, turning repetitive tasks into swift, scalable operations. Session Insights & Analytics is intended to give IT leaders an aggregated, comprehensive view of their support operations. It combines automated documentation with actionable intelligence, automatically summarising each support session – including smart tags and detailed, step-by-step records of issue resolution. This allows for quicker knowledge transfer between support staff, simplified review processes, and more consistent team-wide knowledge sharing. Built-in dashboards provide clear metrics, covering factors such as issue types, resolution times, support session volume, and workload distribution. The goal is to give IT managers visibility that enables identification of recurring issues, improvement of service delivery quality, and optimisation of team performance over time. "With TeamViewer Intelligence, we're embedding AI directly into support workflows, so teams don't need to switch tools or break focus to get help," said Mei Dent, Chief Product & Technology Officer at TeamViewer. "Whether it's resolving a ticket or managing large-scale IT environments, we're enabling faster decisions and more scalable operations through intelligent assistance." TeamViewer Intelligence features are available as add-ons for customers using TeamViewer's Corporate and Tensor licences. These tools are supported in TeamViewer's latest user interface, ensuring seamless integration with existing workflows. Broader applications Beyond core IT support functions, TeamViewer is also expanding its use of AI into field operations. The Assist AR platform, designed for service technicians and deskless employees, includes an AI-powered session summary feature for remote video assistance calls. This tool automatically transcribes and records major outcomes from assistance sessions, helping field teams document their work efficiently and maintain compliance requirements, all without slowing down their operational pace. TeamViewer's broader strategy reflects continuing demand for enhanced digital workplace solutions as organisations face global trends such as skilled labour shortages, increased hybrid work, faster data analysis needs, and the adoption of emerging technologies. The company reports that its offerings assist organisations by boosting productivity, reducing machine downtime, accelerating onboarding of new staff, and improving both customer and employee satisfaction. Headquartered in Göppingen, Germany, TeamViewer employs more than 1,800 people worldwide. In 2024, the company reported revenue of approximately EUR €671 million. TeamViewer serves over 660,000 customers globally, spanning small businesses through to major enterprises, supporting both office-based and frontline staff.
Tom's Guide
09-05-2025
- Tom's Guide
Windows 11 PC running slow? Here's 11 simple steps to free up RAM
Whether you're just about to kick off a busy day of work or want to relax by scrolling through websites, watching shows or playing games, there's nothing worse than your Windows 11 PC slowing you down. From apps and programs taking too long to start up to your computer lagging or completely freezing, these nuisances can make using Windows 11 hard to deal with. Sometimes, it feels like even small tasks can be too much for Microsoft's operating system to handle on your laptop or desktop. But it's not completely out of your control; there are ways to speed up your PC, and a lot of this has to do with freeing up your system's RAM (Random Access Memory). By giving RAM the space it requires to handle apps in the background, multiple tabs or playing demanding PC games, it can effectively improve performance and speed up your computer — all without having to spend to add more RAM to your laptop or desktop. There are plenty of simple ways to do this, and I'm here to show you the best ways to free up RAM on your Windows 11 PC. By far the easiest way to free up RAM usage is to close any apps, programs or windows you're not using. This can be anything from Google Chrome to a PC game that you're not currently using. Since any open application consumes memory, closing them can free up space for tasks that you're actively using. It's as simple as it sounds: on the app you're not using, click on the "X" button in the top-right corner of the window. Some Windows 11 apps use more resources that can cause your PC to come to a halt, but it can be hard to find the one that's causing the biggest issue. That's where Task Manager comes in handy, as it can help you spot the app that's impacting your RAM. You can open Task Manager by pressing "Ctrl + Shift + Esc," searching for it in the search bar and clicking on the app or using "Ctrl + Alt + Del" and selecting "Task Manager." From here, select the "Processes" tab on the left-hand sidebar if you're not in it already and click on the "Memory" column. This way, you can see which apps are using the most RAM from highest to lowest. If you spot any applications that are using way too much RAM that you're not using, click on the app and select "End task" near the top of the window. Alternatively, you can right-click and click "End task" there. It's worth noting that some Windows 11 apps are crucial for your system to work, so only close apps that you recognize. Finding your PC is running slow despite only having a couple of apps or windows open? It's the unseen programs that may be gobbling up too many resources — even if you're not using them. That's where you'll want to stop background apps, and you can prevent them from running by heading into settings. Hit "Windows key + i" to open the Settings app on Windows 11 (or search for it in the search bar and open it) and click on Apps in the left-hand sidebar, then navigate to Installed apps. On the app you want to stop running in the background, select the "three dots" icon and click "Advanced options." Under "Background app permissions," click on the dropdown menu and select "Never." Now, and app you've selected won't put pressure on your PC's RAM even when it's not being actively used. Booting up your PC only to see a bundle of apps launching and creating a bottleneck in all the processes isn't ideal, and RAM can have a hard time dealing with it. If there's an app you don't need to open straight away, it's worth keeping it closed on startup. To disable start-up apps, head into Task Manager ("Ctrl + Shift + Esc") and click on "Start-up apps" in the left-hand sidebar. Here, you'll see a list of all the apps available during start-up. In the Status column, check the apps that are "Enabled." If there are any that you don't need to use when starting your PC, select the app and click "Disable" (or right-click and select "Disable") to stop them from opening once you launch your laptop or desktop. It's one of the oldest tricks in the book, but it's still a great way to free up RAM. Note that not all apps can be disabled, and that generally means it's meant to start with your PC. There may be some apps that simply take up too many resources, even though they don't need to, but Windows 11's Efficiency Mode can provide a helping hand by limiting CPU usage and how much RAM is used in certain apps. In Task Manager ("Ctrl + Shift + Esc"), click on the "Processes" tab and select the app you want to put a limit on. Simply right-click the app and select "Efficiency mode." That's it. It aims to save battery life and make your PC more responsive, but it's also known to cause some issues for PCs. See if it works for you, and if it doesn't, just turn off Efficiency Mode on the app you selected. While you're using apps, temporary files can accumulate without you noticing, storing information and used for backup. These aren't all completely necessary, and a lot can take up disk space that can also affect RAM. You can easily clear temporary files, though. Head into Settings ("Windows key + i") and click "Storage" in the System menu. Select "Temporary files" and you'll be presented with a few options to remove. Check the boxes next to the type of files you want to get rid of, then click the "Remove files" button near the top. "Downloads" generally take up the most space, but these could be files you've downloaded in the past and still need. It goes without saying, but only check the types of files you don't need. RAM is used as a way to store data that your CPU can quickly access, like a short-term memory of sorts. That's why games with demanding graphics require more RAM, as it takes a lot for your PC to process. The same applies to any app using visual effects, and you can reduce this to bolster performance instead. An easy way to access this option is to search for "Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows" in the taskbar. Click on the option and a Control panel window will appear. In the "Visual Effects" tab, click the "Adjust for best performance" option. This will turn off all effects, but you can pick and choose which options you want to keep on if you still like a little style when navigating around your Windows 11 PC. After this, click "Apply." If you've been using your PC for a while, chances are there are a bunch of apps that you installed over the years but no longer need. These can take up disk space, but they may also be running in the background. So, if you don't have a use for them anymore, you may as well uninstall these programs. Open the Settings app ("Windows key + i") and click "Apps" in the left-hand side bar, then select "Installed apps." Check for any apps you don't need, then select the "three dots" icon and click "Uninstall." A lighter system makes for better RAM usage. It can be a slog, especially with all the updates Windows 11 throws at you, but updating your PC can be a great way to keep RAM as efficient as can be. Not only do Windows updates contain many bug fixes and driver updates, but they can also stop outdated software from causing insufficient memory. Either type in "Check for updates" and click the option that appears, or open Settings ("Windows key + i") and click "Windows updates" in the left-hand sidebar. Select the "Check for updates" button to download any updates available. You may have to restart your PC for the updates to take effect, so make sure you've saved anything you've been working on. Malware can come in the form of apps and programs hiding on your Windows 11 PC, and while it can do a lot of harm to personal information, banking details and beyond, it can also consume a lot of resources, which affects RAM. If your system is running slow and you can't figure out why, it's a good idea to use one of the best antivirus software to do a full system scan of any malicious programs. One of the best free ways to do this is by using Microsoft Defender that's built into Windows 11. Open the Windows Security app (search for this in the taskbar), select Virus & threat protection, and press "Quick scan." If anything pops up, delete it. The simplest method that always has a good chance of succeeding: restart your PC. This will close all running apps that are taking up too much RAM and end any other processes. This resets everything to scratch, giving your computer a fresh start without being overburdened by programs fighting for space. You know the drill: Simply click the Windows icon in the taskbar, select the power icon and hit "Restart." By restarting regularly, you can make sure your PC's RAM has enough free space to get through tasks. Knowing what you're going to use your PC for is a good way to know how much RAM you really need. You never want too little so you laptop or desktop can't even run tasks during your daily routines, but you don't want to spend too much on additional, unnecessary RAM, either. Here's a good rule of thumb of the amount of RAM for different uses: Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. The more RAM, the better, but there's no need to spend more if your system is acting slow. Follow the steps above to free up RAM and improve your PC's performance. For a deeper dive on how much RAM you need, we've got you covered.
Time Business News
23-04-2025
- Time Business News
Microsoft Word Freezes and doesn't save
Microsoft Word Freezes and Won't Save? Try These Fixes Now Microsoft Word is an essential tool for students, professionals, and writers alike. However, it can be frustrating when Microsoft Word freezes and refuses to save your work. If you've encountered the dreaded ' Microsoft Word not responding not saved ' error, don't panic! There are several solutions you can try to recover your work and prevent this issue from happening again. In this article, we'll walk you through the best fixes and introduce a powerful recovery tool called WinfrGUI that can help restore lost files. Common Reasons Why Microsoft Word Freezes and Won't Save Before diving into solutions, it's important to understand why Microsoft Word freezes. Some common reasons include: Large or complex documents with too many images, tables, or formatting elements. Insufficient system resources, such as low RAM or CPU usage spikes. Conflicts with add-ins or third-party software that interfere with Word's functionality. Corrupt Word files due to unexpected shutdowns or malware infections. Problems with the AutoSave feature not functioning properly. Issues with Microsoft Office installation, including outdated or corrupted program files. Now, let's move on to the solutions. Restart Microsoft Word and Your Computer Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve the issue. If Microsoft Word freezes: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager. Find Microsoft Word under the 'Processes' tab. Click End Task and restart the program. If the problem persists, restart your computer and check if Word functions properly. Use AutoRecover to Restore Unsaved Work If Word crashes before you save your work, you can try retrieving your document using the AutoRecover feature: Open Microsoft Word. Click File > Open > Recover Unsaved Documents. Look for your file and click Open. Save the file immediately to avoid further data loss. If you still can't find your file, you may need to use a file recovery tool like WinfrGUI. Faulty add-ins can cause Microsoft Word to become unresponsive. To check and disable add-ins: 1. Open Word in Safe Mode by holding Ctrl while clicking the Word icon. File > Options > Add-ins. 3. Under Manage, select COM Add-ins and click Go. 4. Uncheck all add-ins and click OK. 5. Restart Word and check if the issue persists. Using an outdated version of Word can lead to compatibility issues and crashes. To update Word: Open Microsoft Word. Click File > Account > Update Options > Update Now. Allow the update to complete and restart Word. Repair Microsoft Office If Word continues to freeze, repairing your Office installation may help: Open Control Panel and go to Programs & Features. Find Microsoft Office, right-click it, and select Change. Choose Quick Repair or Online Repair. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process. Clear the Word Cache Temporary files can cause Word to slow down or freeze. To clear the cache: Press Win + R, type %temp%, and press Enter. Delete unnecessary files in the Temp folder. Restart Word and check if the problem is resolved. Save Documents in a Different Format If your document is causing Word to freeze, try saving it in a different format: Click File > Save As. Choose RTF (Rich Text Format) or DOC instead of DOCX. Reopen the file and check if the issue persists. Increase Virtual Memory Low system memory can cause Microsoft Word to become unresponsive. To increase virtual memory: Right-click This PC and select Properties. Click Advanced system settings. Under the Advanced tab, click Settings in the Performance section. Go to the Advanced tab and click Change under Virtual Memory. Increase the Initial size and Maximum size values. Click OK, restart your computer, and check Word. Recover Lost Files Using WinfrGUI If none of the above solutions work and you've lost important documents, WinfrGUI can help. WinfrGUI is a user-friendly version of Windows File Recovery that helps retrieve lost Word documents quickly. How to Recover Word Files Using WinfrGUI: Download and install WinfrGUI from the official website. Launch WinfrGUI and select the drive where your Word file was saved. Choose the Scanning Mode (Quick Scan or Deep Scan). Click Start Recovery and let the tool scan for lost files. Select your recovered Word document and save it to a safe location. Using WinfrGUI ensures that even if your document was not saved, you have a chance to recover it. Prevent Future Freezes in Microsoft Word To avoid dealing with Word freezing and not saving your files in the future, follow these best practices: Enable AutoSave: Go to File > Options > Save and enable AutoSave. Save your work frequently: Use the shortcut Ctrl + S to save your progress. Avoid using heavy formatting: Large images and tables can slow Word down. Keep Office updated: Regular updates fix bugs and improve stability. Use cloud storage: Saving files on OneDrive or Google Drive adds an extra layer of protection. Final Thoughts Microsoft Word freezing and refusing to save can be frustrating, but with the right troubleshooting steps, you can quickly get back to work. Whether it's disabling add-ins, repairing Office, or using a powerful recovery tool like WinfrGUI, there are plenty of solutions available. If you've experienced the Microsoft Word not responding or saving error, try these fixes today and ensure your documents remain safe and accessible! TIME BUSINESS NEWS
