30 March 2020

Muzmatch adds a button to video chat with a match’s dad


Muslim matchmaking app Muzmatch is getting (slightly) involved with video: It’s adding a button to enable users to request a video chat with a prospective match’s father.

If the user impresses on camera, the dad can grant a ‘Dad Verified’ badge to add to their profile — as an added layer of parental vetting for a community that’s seriously focused on finding a life partner.

YC backed Muzmatch has been building out a community-sensitive approach to app-based swipe-to-match ‘dating’ for Muslims for around five years at this stage, broadening its early focus on the UK and the US to include Muslim majority markets last year. In January it passed the 2 million user mark globally, up from 1.5M last summer.

Back in July, when we chatted to founder Shahzad Younas, video was on his mind — though his preoccupation was on how to incorporate “elements of video” in a sensible and safe way for a user base that’s intent on finding serious connection for the purpose of marriage. Muzmatch users definitely aren’t interested in casual dating or hook-ups. So “simple video” wasn’t on the cards, he said then.

In the event Muzmatch is starting by opening an indirect video chat channel between a potential match and a parent — to augment existing chaperone elements within the app, such as an optional wali/guardian feature for female users (which lets them elect to have their in-app chats emailed to a third party).

To access the new video dad chat feature — which must surely rank as one of the most nerve-wracking types of live chats available in the broad-brush dating app world right now — a Muzmatch user needs to navigate to their chat options and tap on the Dad Verification button.

Be warned: This will immediately trigger a video call with a potential partner’s dad. Evidently it’s not a button to be pressed when casually dressed or lost for words.

Unlike the wail/guardian chaperone feature, the Dad Verification button is universally available to both male and female users — so both sides of the community of users can opt to seek the approbation of a match’s father to advance their suit, per Muzmatch.

It’s not clear whether the startup is manually verifying a user’s dad is who they say they are. We’ve asked for more on that.

“To support the women who are complaining that men simply aren’t as serious about marriage anymore and the ones who have been ghosted and led on, the revolutionary Dad Verified feature will allow both men and women on muzmatch to check if their match is ready for marriage by getting them to speak to their father and get the seal of approval,” it writes in a press release.

It’s the latest tweak for the app which underwent some spring cleaning in January.

A v3.0 launch then brought updates to the interface, including support for richer profile content; a new card layout to showcase potential matches; and a cleaner view of matches/unmatches. Browsing and discovery, explore and chat also got a refresh at that point. But with dad video chats Muzmatch is taking a bigger step in the hopes of bringing its community along for the ride — and fending off growing competition for its target users in the process.

Zooming out, while dating apps are facing a curious time right now, as a result of the coronavirus crisis putting a dampener on face-to-face meet-ups with so much of the world under de facto house arrest, such physical restrictions seem likely to offer less of a disruption to Muslim dating apps — where the focus is on remote courtship to establish if there’s a marriage connection, rather than applying digital chatter as an accelerant for meeting in person.


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Alphabet’s Verily debuts a COVID-19 community testing toolkit as it scales its own testing efforts


While the origins of its coronavirus testing program were muddled by President Trump’s misleading announcements attributing its efforts to Google and inflating its scale, Alphabet’s Verily health sciences subsidiary has established and grown its community-based California testing initiative, deploying drive-up testing sites and ramping the number of tests completed from just over 1,200 last Wednesday to over 3,700 as of Saturday.

The Verily team detailed its progress in a new blog post, and CNBC reported last week that it has brought on 1,000 new volunteers from Google and other Alphabet companies to help increase its testing efforts and bring testing sites to new areas. In total, there are four testing sites in operation across California, which took two weeks to set up.

That’s a lot accomplished in not a lot of time, and Verily now wants to pass on the benefits of its experience and lessons learned. It put together guidelines and resources for anyone else looking to set up a community-based testing initiative (assuming they have access to qualified laboratories, testing supplies and healthcare professionals) and provided them for anyone to download.

The guide includes various documents, including workflows for everyone involved in the drive-through testing process, as well as the type of personal protective equipment needed, and how to organize and deploy on-site staff. There’s even full testing signage kits ready for download and printing.

These guide materials were created by Verily’s Project Baseline team, working in partnership with California’s Department of Public Health and other state governing and regulatory bodies, and they represent input from Stanford Medicine as well. Overall, the guide is intended as a way to help Verily spread the benefit of its experience, at a pace that it just can’t match via its own efforts to scale.

The company is definitely still looking to scale its own testing sites, however, and to launch new ones. This guide could help others make the most of its experience as it does so, though they’ll require a lot of access to specialized resources to replicate, even with the benefit of information shared by a team with first-hand knowledge of the challenges that mobile COVID-19 testing entails.


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5 Linux Operating Systems That Offer Bleeding Edge Updates


linux-os-updates

The words “bleeding edge” suggest considerable risk. But a system that’s always improving and updating has its benefits. You might see gains in speed and security, for example. If you like that sort of thing (and are willing to take a bit of a risk), here are five of the most bleeding edge Linux distros for you to try.

1. Debian Sid

Debian GNOME Live CD installation process

The choice might be surprising, considering Debian’s reputation of being the opposite of bleeding edge Linux. And for good reason. Debian Stable, the standard version of Debian, provides users with time-tested software containing relatively few bugs. While this means that you’ll generally have a nice experience, your software won’t be up-to-date.

To test and refine all this code, Debian makes use of two other branches of software with different levels of stability. The first is called Testing. The packages inside it are frozen on a schedule and set to become the next stable version of Debian. The next is called Sid, or Unstable. Sid is a rolling release version of Debian that continuously receives the latest software.

Sid is bleeding edge Debian, without sacrificing much of what Debian great.

Despite its name, Debian Sid is still quite reliable. The main difference is that much of its stability comes from upstream instead. For example, instead of Debian fixing any bugs for the version of Firefox in Sid, the community relies on Mozilla rolling out these improvements. Contrast this with Testing or Stable, where the Debian team has further refined the packages.

Installing Sid takes a bit of package manager know-how. Debian doesn’t really supply an actual install image for it. Instead, you need to upgrade your currently running system, ideally from Debian Testing, to make the process smoother. That way, you’ll have to update fewer things than upgrading from Debian Stable.

If you enjoy the experience Debian provides, but want your whole system to be bleeding edge, Sid is your best choice.

2. openSUSE Tumbleweed

openSUSE Tumbleweed

If you like the flexibility and user-friendliness of openSUSE but enjoy the benefits of newer software, Tumbleweed might be for you. Tumbleweed is one of the easiest bleeding edge rolling release distributions to get up and running.

There are two versions of openSUSE: Leap and Tumbleweed. Leap is the stable version that shares a base with SUSE Linux Enterprise. Software in Leap “leaps” forward roughly once a year. In contrast, new software updates tumble along in Tumbleweed continuously.

Unlike Debian Sid, openSUSE positions Tumbleweed as more of an alternate way to enjoy openSUSE rather than an unstable experience for more adventurous users. There’s a proper installation image so that you can install this bleeding edge desktop directly, as simply as you would a distro like Ubuntu and Fedora.

openSUSE has a few peculiarities that further distinguish it from other options. The distro uses YaST, a one-size-fits-all tool for system administration and configuration. Also, openSUSE doesn’t shy away from including a bunch of pre-installed software.

openSUSE is known for is its excellent support for the Plasma desktop. That’s something for KDE fans to keep in mind. Tumbleweed can be an alternative to KDE Neon whose software is even more up-to-date.

3. Fedora Rawhide

Fedora 32 beta

openSUSE and Fedora share some key similarities. They’re supported by competing enterprise-oriented companies, SUSE and Red Hat respectively. They’re also the two largest distros to use the RPM package format. So it’s fitting that both have a bleeding edge version of their operating systems.

For Fedora, this cutting edge version is called Rawhide. Rawhide is the place for testing new software, both for fixing bugs and getting an early look at the latest code. Packages receive steady updates, with new versions of programs rolling out very quickly.

This doesn’t mean that Rawhide is unusable. One of Fedora’s practices is to provide stable versions of software (as in they won’t release programs still in beta). That means all of the code comes from upstream developers intended for everyday use.

Similar to openSUSE and the KDE Plasma desktop, Fedora is known for its top-notch GNOME implementation. If you’re a fan of GNOME, Rawhide is a way to see the newest changes in GNOME.

4. Gentoo ~arch

Gentoo 10 years computing wallpaper
Image Credit: Ben Stedman and Alex Legler/Gentoo

Gentoo is a rolling release distro where you compile software specifically for your machine. Thing is, installing Gentoo is not for newcomers or the faint of heart.

By default, it is actually quite stable. Gentoo focuses more on flexibility than being bleeding edge. This is because you compile programs directly on your computer rather than download a pre-compiled binary like you would on most other distros. Gentoo has a stable (arch) and unstable (~arch) release system, with the latter option disabled by default.

Gentoo is not for people unfamiliar with Linux. Gentoo takes a lot of manual work, as even app updates require compilation.

There are certainly benefits to this model. By compiling most of your software, Gentoo lets you trim your system down further than other operating systems. You can strip programs of unwanted features, for example. This might also yield potential speed gains. You also gain a thorough understanding of how Linux works, which might appeal to programmers.

It’s also easy for Gentoo to mix and match between stable and unstable packages. This means that you can choose what parts of your system you want to be on the bleeding edge. Compare this to Fedora or Debian, where mixing unstable and stable versions of programs is not recommended.

If you’re willing to take some time to learn and compile your software, Gentoo might be for you. Alternatively, you could try something that makes Gentoo easier to install, such as Sabayon.

5. Arch Linux (and Derivatives)

Arch Linux

Similar to Gentoo, Arch Linux is known for being a little hard to install. The Arch disc image is just a terminal with a few tools to get you started. On the bright side, like openSUSE Tumbleweed, it comes bleeding edge by default. Arch strives to keep programs as modern as possible without breaking things.

Arch’s philosophy of giving responsibility to the user for managing system administration means that users are required to do a little more to their operating system than other alternatives. For example, on Debian, program services start up automatically. In Arch, you need to enable them manually.

There are two streams of package releases: stable and testing. You can expect the stable programs to be about as up-to-date as any of the other choices above. For those even more adventurous though, the testing repositories await.

Arch Linux is also home to something called the Arch User Repository, a huge collection of programs that simplifies installing software not available from official Arch channels. There are many packages that live on the bleeding edge there.

If you enjoy manual control over your own system, as well as the benefits of new software, Arch is a viable option. Alternately, if you want to install Arch without the fuss, you could always go for Arch-based operating systems such as Manjaro.

Make Sure to Keep a Backup

There are always risks with using an operating system that by design is always changing. As such, it’s important to take some precautions. You need to have a plan in place for when things go wrong.

A simple place to start is to back up your hard disk drive regularly, just in case.

Read the full article: 5 Linux Operating Systems That Offer Bleeding Edge Updates


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Where to Find the Netflix Download Folder on Windows 10


Netflix allows you to download movies and shows to watch offline with the Netflix app for Windows 10. But where is the Netflix download folder?

Finding the location of your Netflix downloads is necessary to solve this puzzle. However, remember that Netflix doesn’t give you the option to change the download location. Also, the company doesn’t allow you to browse to the place where your downloads are saved.

If your drive is filling up fast, you can manually move the downloads to another location. When you want to watch them again, just copy them back to the original location.

Where Are Netflix Downloads Stored?

  1. Open File Explorer from the Taskbar.
  2. The Netflix folder is a hidden folder. To display it, go to the View tab and then click on the Option menu button on the right.
  3. In Folder Options, select the View tab and scroll to the Files and Folders settings. If it’s not checked, then select the Show Hidden files, folders, and drives setting to enable it.

    Enable Folder Options in Windows 10 to view Netflix downloaded files

  4. Click OK.
  5. From the File Explorer, you can navigate to the Netflix download folder. The full path is:
    C:\Users\[USERNAME]\AppData\Local\Packages\4DF9E0F8.Netflix_mcm4njqhnhss8\LocalState\offlineInfo\downloads

    Here [USERNAME] is the Windows folder with your current username.

It might sound obvious but you can also copy-paste C:\Users\ and then select the folder with your username. Just append the file path after that to get to the folder without drilling down into the hierarchy.

The Netflix download folder will be empty if you have never downloaded any movies or shows with the Windows 10 Netflix app. However, once you download something you’ll see a bunch of files here. The largest will belong to the actual media file.

Netflix Download Folder

Notice that there are no file names that will help you identify the movie or show. Rename the largest file and Netflix will no longer recognize them. Also, you cannot play them with any media player except the Netflix app.

You can delete the files and reclaim some of the space on your hard drive. But that can be done from within the app as well.

Until Netflix adds a few more file management features, at least the location can help you manage your hard drive space when it starts to run out.

Manage Netflix Downloads on Android Devices

Space becomes a more critical issue on phones. So check out our previous article to find out where Netflix downloads files to on an Android device and then save space by moving Netflix content to an SD card.

Read the full article: Where to Find the Netflix Download Folder on Windows 10


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The 10 Best Dark Comedies to Watch on Netflix


netflix-codes

The world can be a dark place, full of violence, disease, and death. However, movies can be a wonderful escape from that. Dark comedies are especially good at this, since they make light of those subjects and find the hilarious in the bleak.

Netflix is full of dark comedy films. And to help you decide what to watch, we’ve rounded up the best dark comedies on Netflix. These movies are full to the brim with gallows humor, sure to make you smile despite the serious themes.

1. The Lobster

The Lobster is directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, who also created the Oscar-winning film The Favourite. If you can believe it, The Lobster is even more absurd than that, though it’s just as wonderful and darkly comedic.

The film stars Colin Farrell, in a world where people are given 45 days to find true love while staying at a strange hotel. If they don’t, they are turned into an animal and released into the woods. Rachel Weisz also stars, so the two pair up and test their relationship.

If you want something more traditional, check out the best romantic comedies on Netflix.

2. I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore

I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore is a dark comedy that is almost too easy to relate to. In a nutshell, it’s about anyone of us having a bad day, when you encounter just one too many annoying people.

The story revolves around the main character, who, together with a geeky neighbor, goes on a vigilante quest to retrieve her grandmother’s silverware. Follow their dark and dangerous, but also deeply hilarious, adventure featuring some amateur criminals and flying ninja stars.

3. The Death of Mr. Lazarescu

The Death of Mr. Lazarescu is a Romanian film about a man who is sent to hospital following a spout of dizziness. He’s then sent between hospitals, with each doctor diagnosing something different and lacking any sympathy for the titular star.

The film is shot naturally so that it almost seems like a documentary, which makes it even more affecting. Despite Mr. Lazarescu’s frustration and pain, and the biting commentary of the health system, it still manages to raise a morbid smile.

4. Tucker and Dale vs. Evil

Are you tired of seeing evil hillbillies in Halloween horror flicks on Netflix? Have you had enough of seeing the same old clichés in movies? Meet Tucker and Dale, two redneck friends who are just trying to enjoy their vacation and relax at their cabin when a group of students mistake them for psychotic killers.

Tucker and Dale vs. Evil has plenty of gore in it, a ton of genuinely hilarious jokes, and even a life lesson of never prejudging a man just because he looks (or even acts) a certain way.

5. A Serious Man

A Serious Man is often overlooked when discussing films created by the Coen brothers, but it’s well worth watching. It’s set in the 1960s and follows a Jewish physics teacher whose life falls apart in every way, causing him to question the beliefs he holds dear.

Despite the low-key and small scale of the story, A Serious Man is a powerful exploration of religion. As you might imagine, that’s a topic perfect for the Coens to mine for comedic and poignant nuggets. This is a real treat of a movie.

6. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is a western anthology film that features an excellent cast across six short stories. The tales include a singing cowboy, a gold-seeking prospector, and a bank robber.

Each of the vignettes is different from one another, but all of them feature themes of violence and death. Despite that, they manage to achieve a level of poignancy too. Plus, of course, you will be chuckling all the way through, despite the macabre tone.

7. Young Adult

If you liked Juno then you should also enjoy Young Adult, since it’s produced by the same creative team. Charlize Theron leads as Mavis Gary, a divorced and alcoholic ghost writer who tries to strike up a romance with her ex-boyfriend. The only problem is, he’s married and has a newborn baby.

Theron is always on top form and it’s equally true here. She superbly portrays the power and emotion of this flawed individual. Despite her depressing life, there’s still lots of laughter to be had in this great dark comedy movie.

8. Life After Beth

In Life After Beth, Zach’s world is rocked when his girlfriend, Beth, suddenly dies. Equally as shocking is when Zach discovers that Beth is actually alive. Or, at least, is partly alive, since her grave is now empty. However, she doesn’t seem to be acting like her old self.

Aubrey Plaza gives a great performance as Beth and brings some unlikely heart to this zombie dark comedy film. Though it’s not groundbreaking, Life After Beth is still enjoyable and offers something different from the usual The Walking Dead-type zombie tropes.

9. Swiss Army Man

Swiss Army Man is utterly bizarre in the best way possible. Perhaps all you need to know about this movie is that it stars Daniel Radcliffe as a farting corpse.

OK, it’s much more than that. Paul Dano plays a man who is lost and alone on an island and attempts suicide. However, a corpse washes ashore, and he soon discovers that he can manipulate the corpse to do all sorts of things—including riding it like a jet ski or using a certain male body part as a compass. Weird, wild, and immensely watchable.

10. War on Everyone

War on Everyone is a twisted buddy cop comedy, where the two cops are crooked and do everything in their power to frame criminals. However, things take a turn for the worse when they try to blackmail the wrong person, and it isn’t long before they lose control.

This movie is directed by John Michael McDonagh, who also directed the dark comedies, The Guard and Calvary. War on Everyone features debauchery, biting wit, and seriously warped police officers. What more could you want?

Keep on Laughing Through the Dark With Netflix

While it’s true that dark comedies make it easier to process the shocking events of today’s reality, in the end it all comes down to your personal taste. So, while we hope you enjoy these dark comedies, there’s no guarantee you will.

If you want some more traditional laughs, you might enjoy the best British comedies to watch on Netflix.

Read the full article: The 10 Best Dark Comedies to Watch on Netflix


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How to Remotely Access USB Storage With TeamViewer


remote-control-usb-devices

Moving data from one computer to another is easy when you have USB storage, and even easier when you can access said storage remotely. TeamViewer is a simple solution that lets you grab files from external USB drives no matter where you are, whether you’re across the office or on the other side of the country.

Let’s explore TeamViewer, what it can do, and how to use TeamViewer’s USB remote features to access an external drive from anywhere.

What Is TeamViewer?

TeamViewer is a handy tool for remotely accessing other computers and devices. Not only can you remotely control another PC with it, but you can also use the USB devices attached to it. Whether you want to check in on a USB webcam you have plugged in, or you wish to use a connected printer, TeamViewer is an excellent program for this use case.

TeamViewer’s USB passthrough capabilities are very impressive but don’t be intimidated. It’s straightforward to set up TeamViewer’s ability to access a USB storage drive on another computer. As such, TeamViewer is a fantastic option if you want to grab files from a hard drive while you’re out and about.

How to Set Up TeamViewer

Setting up TeamViewer is a breeze; assuming no technical hiccups get in the way, you should get connectivity in around five minutes.

To share a USB external drive over TeamViewer, first download TeamViewer on the PC you want to access. TeamViewer also has an Android and an iOS app if you’re going to use your mobile phone to access your PC. There are other ways to remotely control your computer from your phone, but TeamViewer is one of the easiest and most elegant options.

During the setup, be sure to select “personal use” if you’re using it for yourself, as this gives you free use of the service.

The indicator on TeamViewer showing a connection has been made

Once TeamViewer is installed, open the software. At the bottom, you’ll see a connection indicator. When this indicator turns green and “Ready to connect (secure connection)” appears, you’re good to go. Yes, that’s all the setup TeamViewer needs for its basic features!

Downloads: TeamViewer for PC | Android | iOS (Free with paid business licenses)

How to Use TeamViewer USB Sharing

Now that TeamViewer is up and running on the target computer, you need to install it on the device that will access the target device. If you’re going to do this from another computer, repeat the installation steps above.

For the sake of this article, we’ll be connecting via the TeamViewer Android app instead. The steps are identical to the PC version, but the user interface differs slightly.

Accessing the Target PC on TeamViewer

Once you have TeamViewer running on the other device, type the target’s ID under the Partner ID section, but don’t progress just yet. You can find the target’s ID under Your ID on its TeamViewer window.

Before you progress, take note that you have two options for connecting. You can select Remote control and you’ll gain control of the target device, which is useful for grabbing files.

However, if you want to access the USB storage device on the target device exclusively, it’s easier to use the File transfer option instead. This feature focuses only on the target’s file system, removing the need to control the target PC fully.

When you select File transfer, TeamViewer asks for a password. You can find the password on the target computer’s window, under its ID.

Once you enter the details, TeamViewer should connect to your target PC. Now you can point TeamViewer toward your external USB drive to access your files.

Copying Files From the Target PC on TeamViewer

If you connected via mobile, select the files on the target PC that you want to copy over. Then, once you’re done selecting, go back to your Android’s file system and choose the download destination. Tap the numbered file icon at the top, then select Copy selected files here.

If you connected via PC, you should see a file transfer screen showing both your computer’s file system and the target’s. Navigate to the folder where you want to send to and copy from, then use the Send and Receive buttons to transfer files from one folder to the other.

Transferring a file on the PC version

Setting Up TeamViewer for Repeated Use

TeamViewer is handy for one-time use, but if you’re using it repeatedly, it can get annoying. TeamViewer will keep the same ID every time you boot it up, but the password will randomize. This isn’t ideal if you try to access TeamViewer on the go and forget the new password.

To avoid this problem, you can do one of two things; set a personal password you can always use or create an account you can add as a trusted account.

Setting a Personal Password With TeamViewer

If you want to set a personal password that never changes, hover over the password field on the target computer. Click the arrow button that appears nearby, then select Set personal password.

Choosing the option to set a personal password

Under Personal password (for unattended access), enter the password you want to use.

Setting a personal password on TeamViewer

You can now use this personal password in place of the randomized one, regardless of what the randomized password is.

Using a Trusted Account With TeamViewer

To add yourself as a trusted user, you need to create an account with TeamViewer. Making an account is a good idea if you plan on using TeamViewer a lot, as every device you sign in to will appear on a master list. No more entering long IDs!

Once you’ve made your account, click the box that says Grant easy access. The app should now say your account has easy access.

Enabling easy access for an account

Now, sign in to your account on your other devices. If you connect to the target computer via the Computers & Contacts menu, you can choose to connect without using a password. Note that if you try to connect through the ID as we covered above, you may still need to enter a password.

Accessing USB Devices Wherever You Are

TeamViewer is a fantastic tool for remotely controlling USB devices, and USB drives are no different. By using TeamViewer’s file transfer feature, you can quickly grab the files you need regardless of where you are.

If you like the idea of remotely controlling USB devices, why not try USB over Ethernet?

Read the full article: How to Remotely Access USB Storage With TeamViewer


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Netflix and Chill: The 10 Best Date Night Movies for Couples


netflix-perfect-date

Are you in the mood to Netflix and chill with someone special? Then you’ve come to the right place. Netflix is a great place for date night movies perfect for couples to watch on the sofa.

In this article, we list the best movies for couples and date night movies for when you want nothing more than to Netflix and chill. Enjoy!

What Does Netflix and Chill Mean?

The original meaning of “Netflix and chill” is to watch Netflix with someone with the hopes of hooking up. However, the meaning changes depending on who you ask—since some people interpret it as literal relaxing. However, it’s commonly understood as a Netflix date night: either with your partner or someone new.

With that in mind, here are the best date night movies or Netflix and chill movies to catch on the streaming service…

1. To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before was a breakout success when this teen rom-com was released in 2018, followed by its sequel in 2020. The story is based on the novel of the same name, following a high school student who has a penchant for writing letters to her crushes that she never sends.

However, her world turns upside down when her little sister finds her stash of letters and delivers them to each of the crushes she’s had—including her sister’s longtime boyfriend. In order to avoid dealing with this particular crush, she starts pretending to date a schoolmate who wants to make his ex jealous.

While the teen drama is definitely at a peak in this movie, the story has some wonderful, tender moments that come with finding your first love.

Watch To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before on Netflix

2. Falling Inn Love

Falling Inn Love is a slightly different twist on the city-girl-in-small-town rom-com setup. Christina Milian plays Gabriela, an American who, after losing her job and boyfriend, wins a New Zealand inn through an online competition.

However, the inn turns out to be in a state of disrepair and Gabriela needs to enlist the help of a local contractor. Expect tons of romantic tension and a journey of self-discovery for Gabriela.

Watch Falling Inn Love on Netflix

3. Always Be My Maybe

Always Be My Maybe combines the comedic talent of Ali Wong and Randall Park in a charming tale of childhood best friends reconnecting despite their lives taking very different directions.

Sasha and Marcus (played by Wong and Park respectively) were inseparable until a heated fight after the death of Marcus’s mother pushed them apart. However, the two reconnect when Sasha—now a celebrity chef—returns to open a new restaurant. When Sasha breaks up with her fiance, Marcus sees a chance to pursue the relationship he sabotaged when they were teenagers.

However, things get more complex when Keanu Reeves enters the picture as Sasha’s new boyfriend. The story is filled with tons of laughs, poignant moments, and one of the best Keanu Reeves cameos you’ll ever see.

Watch Always Be My Maybe on Netflix

4. Irreplaceable You

If you’re looking for a different, bittersweet love story, Irreplaceable You is filled with tear-jerking moments and heartfelt reflections on true love. The story follows Abbie and Sam, childhood sweethearts who’ve finally decided to get engaged.

But what Abbie thought were signs of pregnancy turn out to be stage four cancer. The heartbreaking revelation puts their whole life on hold. Abbie decides to cope by searching for a new love for Sam. However, this only pushes Sam away in the little time they have left together.

The film has some hard-hitting lessons on making the best of the time you have—and you’ll be lucky if you make it through with dry eyes.

Watch Irreplaceable You on Netflix

5. About Time

About Time is a romantic movie that blends the fantasy of time travel with lessons about family and savoring life. In the film, protagonist Tim finds out from his father that all the men in his family have the ability to travel back in time.

Tim uses this newfound power to rewrite the regrets in his dating life, eventually meeting and marrying Mary. As life continues, however, traveling back becomes trickier—since his actions in the past could rewrite the future. He has to choose between living in the past and continuing with his unknown but promising future.

Watch About Time on Netflix

6. P.S. I Love You

Starring two-time Academy Award winner Hilary Swank alongside Gerard Butler, Lisa Kudrow, among many others, P.S. I Love You is another bittersweet romance movie.

In the film, Swank and Butler play a married couple who suffer a significant loss (he dies). Following this, she receives a series of gifts and messages from him (arranged before his death), all ending with the words, “P.S. I Love You”.

Examining how love can transcend death, P.S. I Love You will leave you smiling at the end.

Watch P.S. I Love You on Netflix

7. Isn’t It Romantic

Isn’t It Romantic is a romantic comedy that satirizes all other romantic comedies. However, rather than taking a dark humor approach, it gleefully pokes fun at romantic tropes while offering a feel-good story overall.

After a head injury, architect Natalie (who despises romantic comedies) wakes up to find herself in a world filled with romantic comedy tropes. This includes a handsome billionaire suddenly developing an intense interest in her, a pop-song soundtrack, and a PG-13 swearing filter.

The only way to leave this strangely perfect yet infuriating world involves Natalie finding genuine love.

Watch Isn’t It Romantic on Netflix

8. Alex Strangelove

This highly rated romantic comedy follows high school student Alex Truelove, who is in the middle of a typical high school romance with his best friend. However, as the pair discuss taking things to the next level, Alex’s certainty waivers when he begins feeling a connection with someone new. The catch: this someone new is another guy, Elliot.

This not only makes Alex question his relationship, but also his sexuality. The journey of Alex’s self-discovery is filled with laughs, tenderness, and a fresh take on the typical teen romance movie.

Watch Alex Strangelove on Netflix

9. When We First Met

Three years ago, Adam DeVine’s Noah met Alexandra Daddario’s Avery for the first time. Though Noah felt love at first sight, Avery thought otherwise. In the present day, at Avery’s engagement party with another guy, Noah thinks back to when the two of them met and wonders why they never dated.

A strange glitch with a photo booth transports Noah back in time, to see if different actions could make him and Avery end up together. But things aren’t as straightforward as he’d hoped.

Watch When We First Met on Netflix

10. Her

In this drama by Spike Jonze, Joaquin Phoenix develops a relationship with Scarlett Johansson’s Samantha. The only problem? Samantha is an intelligent computer personified through a female voice. The film also stars Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, and Olivia Wilde.

Part romance, part science-fiction, Her takes you down paths you probably won’t expect. The film is ideally suited for watching on the sofa with your significant other. In the end, it’s a story about how relationships shape our world, for better or worse.

Watch Her on Netflix

Enjoy Your Netflix and Chill Date Night

So there you have it. We’ve provided the Netflix, now all you have to do is chill. There are lots of movies about love and romance on Netflix, with more added each month. The films mentioned above should make you laugh, smile, and, if your night goes according to plan, get lucky.

Are you craving even more movies? We’ve also covered other ways to find great movies. If, on the other hand, you’re spending time alone, you might want to check out these films to watch if you’re single on Valentine’s Day.

Image Credit: AndreyPopov/Depositphotos

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How to Add and Remove Email Accounts on Mac


manage-email-accounts-mac-ios

Having multiple email addresses is so common today that most people want to check all of their email accounts on their computer in one place.

It’s also essential to know how to remove email addresses for accounts you no longer use. For example, if you have a Gmail address for work and leave that job, you’ll want to remove that Google account on Mac.

Here, we’ll show you how to add and remove email accounts on your Mac.

Add an Email Account Automatically or Manually

If the email account you’re adding is from an email provider like Google, Yahoo, or iCloud, Mail will automatically add your email account with just your email address and password.

Otherwise, if you’re using an email address from an internet service provider (ISP), you may have to enter the email account settings manually.

To set up your email account manually, you need to know your user name (generally your full email address), the Incoming Mail Server, and the Outgoing Mail Server. If you don’t know these, either look them up or contact your email provider.

POP vs. IMAP

You must also choose IMAP or POP for your email account. IMAP stands for Internet Message Access Protocol, while POP is short for Post Office Protocol. These protocols allow you to receive emails using a third-party app such as Mail.

If you access your email on multiple devices, like your computer, phone, and tablet, you should use IMAP. Emails and folder structures are stored on the server and only copies are stored locally on your devices. Using IMAP ensures that all your devices see the same emails and folder structures.

POP is an older protocol, but can be useful if you want to download and store emails (not copies) locally on your device. Email downloaded using POP is available even when you’re not connected to the internet.

POP is also a good way to have a backup of all your email. However, if you choose POP in an email client on a mobile device, you most likely won’t be able to create and use folders to organize your email.

If you use POP in an email client on your computer, make sure you set the option to leave a copy of the downloaded email on the server. That way, you can download your email to your computer and still receive the same messages on your mobile devices.

Add an Email Account With Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a security method that provides additional security when signing into online accounts. When using it, you must prove your identity in two different ways. One of these is the usual password, which can be compromised in several ways.

The second level of security on your account with 2FA requires you to not only know something (a password), but to also have something, like your phone. This makes it much harder for someone to hack into your account.

If you’re adding an email account that has two-factor authentication enabled, such as a Gmail account, you must get an app-specific password before adding your email account to Mail.

An app-specific password is a code generated by the email service or provider. This code is used in place of your normal password when adding the email account to Mail, or any other third-party email client. Your email provider should have instructions on how to get an app-specific password for your email account.

Add an Email Account to Mail on Mac

You can add an email account on your Mac in the Mail app or in System Preferences. The result is the same using either method; we’ll show you both.

Add an Email Account in Mail

To add an email account using the Mail app, open it and go to Mail > Add Account from the menu bar.

Select the type of email account you’re adding and follow the prompts.

Mac Mail Select Type for New Account

If you don’t see your account type on the list, select Other Mail Account. Choose Continue after you decide.

If you select Other Mail Account, the system will still try to add the email account automatically. The following dialog box displays if the account name and password cannot be verified.

Mac Mail Unable to Verify New Account

Enter the additional information as discussed above and select IMAP or POP. Next, click Sign In.

If your email account verifies, you’re asked which apps you want to use with the new account. Select the apps you want to use and click Done. Note that your email account may not support all the apps listed.

Mac Mail Select Apps for New Account
Change the Account Description in Mail

Your email account displays under Inbox in Mail. By default, the email address displays as the description for the account. To change this, right-click on the account under Inbox and select Edit from the popup menu.

Select the email account you want to rename. Next, enter a new Description and close the dialog box.

Mac Mail Edit Description for New Account

Add an Email Account in System Preferences

You can also add email accounts to your Mac via System Preferences. Adding an Internet Account adds the account to the Mail app on your Mac and the setup is the same.

Click the System Preferences icon in your Dock or head to Apple menu> System Preferences from the menu bar. Then select Internet Accounts. Select the type of email account you want to add and follow the prompts. Choose Add Other Account if you don’t see your type of email in the list.

Mac New Internet Account in System Preferences

Change the Account Description in System Preferences

By default, the email address displays as the description for the account. However, you can change this like you can in the Mail app.

Go back to System Preferences > Internet Accounts. Then select the account you want to rename and click the Details button. Enter a new description and click OK.

Mac Internet Account Edit Description

Delete or Deactivate an Email Account on Mac

If you have an email account on your Mac you no longer use, you can delete or deactivate it.

Click the System Preferences icon in your Dock or go to Apple menu > System Preferences from the menu bar. Then open Internet Accounts.

Delete an Account

If you want to remove the account completely, select it in the list and click the minus sign below the list. Confirm this action by clicking OK.

Mac Delete Internet Account

Deactivate an Account

You can also make an account inactive by unchecking all associated apps for the account. If you want to use some of the available apps but not email, uncheck Mail in the list while leaving the apps you want to use checked.

Mac Internet Account Deactivate

Managing Mail Accounts on Mac Is Easy

Mail on macOS is a great email app for connecting and managing all of your accounts. So if you want to add an Exchange account or remove a Google account on your Mac, Apple Mail makes it easy.

For more help with Mail, check out these rules to help deal with email for you or some Mac Mail productivity tips.

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The 10 Best Travel Documentaries on Netflix


travel-documentaries-netflix

Maybe you’ve caught the travel bug. Maybe you have returned home from a big trip abroad and are wondering where to go next. Or maybe you’re an aspirational traveler who partakes in wanderlust from the comfort of your own sofa.

No matter what your motivations are, Netflix has you covered. In this article we list the best travel documentaries you can watch on Netflix right now. All of which are guaranteed to make you long for a week (or two) experiencing new sights and sounds.

1. Expedition Happiness

What is life’s purpose? To be happy, sure, but how? In Expedition Happiness, a couple tries to find out. What is happiness after all? Is happiness a wedding? A loft overlooking a great view of the city’s chaos? A monotonous routine just to maintain a healthy bank balance?

After all, what is the point of living if you do not break the routine. Sit back and stream the Alaskan mountains to the Mexican beaches with the “Loft on Wheels” created by Mogli and Felix with their dog Rudi. Let your soul travel as these three try to figure out what happiness is.

Get to know the ups and downs of executing a moving residence, and to turn an old school bus into happiness.

2. Street Food

Combining travel with food, this documentary series from the creators of Chef’s table will probably leave you hungry after a few episodes. The first season concentrates on Asia, visiting Bangkok, Osaka, and Seoul, among other destinations.

The theme tying all of these locales together is, as you probably guessed from the name, the street food you can find there. While the focus is often on the food itself, the show also focuses on the local heroes who create it.

3. Somebody Feed Phil

This is hands down the most fun you’ll have watching a food and travel documentary. The way that Phil approaches new food, new places, and new people is a breath of fresh air.

He’ll take you to places you never thought of. Places you’ll end up adding to your bucket list. After watching this I ended up adding to my list: coffee in Vietnam, vegetarian food in Israel, dragon fruit in Thailand, and hot dogs in Copenhagen, to name a few.

As Phil says, “If you like a dish, go to the source.” Get delighted, get amused, get amazed and definitely get hungry while somebody feeds Phil.

4. Dark Tourist

Not all of the best travel documentaries have to be about the beautiful and the serene. If you’re in the market for a slightly twisted travel story, Dark Tourist is for you. David Farrier, a New Zealand based filmmaker and journalist travels around the world looking for unusual and often morbid tourist spots across the world.

This documentary explores a new phenomenon called dark tourism. This is where tourists intentionally travel to places associated with death and destruction. A war-torn country? Sure. A dangerous border crossing? Why not. A quick trip around radioactive environments? Don’t mind if I do.

5. National Parks Adventure

The US National Parks Service is more than 100 years old. That’s more than a century of protecting natural wildernesses in the United States.

This breathtaking documentary by filmmaker Greg MacGillivray will make you want to go visit a national park right away. Between the beautiful montages is a story of three artists as they revisit Roosevelt and Muir’s camping trip, where the Parks Service began.

6. Pedal the World

Some titles are artistic, hinting at a deeper meaning. Others are starkly literal. Pedal the World belongs in the second group. Why? This is a documentary following one man’s trip around the world by bicycle.

That man is Felix Starck, who also happens to be the director of Expedition Happiness. If you enjoyed that documentary, you’ll likely enjoy this one as well. Keep in mind that this is an earlier effort, so it may be a little rough around the edges compared to the newer movie.

This is a must watch for bicycle enthusiasts and anyone obsessed with world travel.

7. Jack Whitehall: Travels With My Father

Father-son bonding is a different experience for everyone. When comedian Jack Whitehall was young, he and his father Michael never really bonded.

Now, Whitehall wants to bring that spark back by taking a gap year and traveling with his father. Watch as this comedian trades the stand-up stage (see the best stand-up comedy specials on Netflix) for a tuk-tuk in Thailand.

What better way to spend time with your parent than by going on a trip. But what happens when you have a slightly grumpy father and you are the overly energetic one? Quite a blast, actually, Watch as this father-son team gets into accidents, goes to odd places, and attempts to open up to one another.

8. Paul Hollywood’s Big Continental Road Trip

For most people, where you travel is the important part. For others, it’s how you get there that matters. Car enthusiasts definitely fall into the latter group. If you count yourself among them, Paul Hollywood’s Big Continental Road Trip should be next up in your Netflix queue.

This documentary follows the actor, baker, and part-time racing driver across a large swathe of Europe. The series sees Hollywood visit Italy, Germany, and France. In each hour-long episode, he chronicles the cars and culture of a given country.

If you’re a fan of cars as well as the Great British Baking Show, don’t miss this one.

9. Mountain

Feeling contemplative? Are you looking for a documentary that features breathtaking locations but takes a slower, more meditative approach? Mountain could be exactly what you’re looking for.

Directed and produced by Jennifer Peedom, Mountain explores peaks around the world. Willem Dafoe narrates the film, occasionally reading passages from Robert Macfarlane’s Mountains of the Mind.

Much like that book, the film examines the human fascination with mountains. Even if you never visit a mountain in your life, this film will give you a greater appreciation of them.

10. Night on Earth

Whether you’re a night owl or you’re afraid of the dark, night can a fascinating time. Night on Earth is a documentary in the style of Planet Earth that focuses on what happens at night across the world. Thanks to new camera technology, this is the best look at night you’ve probably ever seen.

Each episode has its own focus. The first episode follows predators and their prey, while other episodes touch on nighttime in the ocean or even cities. One episode even takes you behind the scenes to see how the crew captures such amazing footage.

Keep Going With Food Documentaries on Netflix

Travel and food often go hand in hand. But what if you’re more of a foodie than a traveler? Now that you know about the best travel documentaries to watch on Netflix why not check out the best documentaries about food.

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How to Make Netflix Better by Changing a Few Settings


Netflix is one of the most popular streaming services available. There are plenty of others, including Amazon Prime Video and Hulu, plus a bunch of niche streaming services. But Netflix still ranks despite shrinking the size of its catalog by half in recent years.

Whether you are brand new to Netflix or have been using it for several years, there are a few settings you can change to make Netflix even better. And by delving into the Netflix settings you can create the perfect Netflix experience for you and your family.

To access your Netflix settings on the web, just head to Netflix.com and sign in to your account. Then, click the arrow next to your profile at the top and select Account. Et voila, let the customization begin!

Create Multiple Profiles

If more than one person in your household uses the same Netflix account, multiple profiles can come in handy. This is especially helpful if you allow your children to watch content on Netflix.

Scroll down to the My Profile section and click Manage profiles. You can also jump to this area quickly by clicking the arrow next to your profile (as above) and selecting Manage Profiles.

Click Add Profile and enter a name. If you mark the checkbox next to Kid?, only movies and television shows available for children aged 12-and-under will be available. Hit the Continue button when you finish.

netflix add profile web

You will now see the new profile displayed alongside your other options, and can switch between them.

Set Up Parental Controls

To ensure that your child can only access content that you approve of, you should enable the Netflix parental controls. Scroll down to the Settings section and click Parental Controls. Enter your password when prompted and then create a four-digit parental control PIN.

Next, adjust the PIN protection level by choosing the age groups or using the slider. You can also enter titles for specific shows to require a PIN for playback, regardless of maturity rating.

Click Save at the top when you finish.

Netflix Parental Controls PIN

Now, if a user profile tries to access content outside of the level you set up, they will be prompted to enter that PIN.

Adjust Playback Settings

At the top, you can enable or disable autoplay using the checkboxes. These settings let you control whether or not you want the next episode of a series or previews on all your devices to play automatically.

For quality and convenience, you can adjust the data usage-per-screen and autoplay options. Scroll down to the My Profile section and click Playback settings. You can then choose from the default video quality, low quality, medium quality, or high quality. That default setting can be one of the annoying things about using Netflix.

When you finish, click Save.

Netflix Playback Settings

Customize the Subtitles

If you enjoy watching Netflix in another language using subtitles, you can completely customize their appearance. Scroll down to the My Profile section and click Subtitle appearance.

Here, you can choose the font style from seven options including “Casual” and “Block,” and can pick a color as well. You can also select a text size from small, medium, or large.

You can then add a little flair to your subtitles with four different shadow options for the text along with the shadow color. Finally, you can select a background and window color if you like. As you experiment with each of these options, the sample at the top will change automatically for you to review. When you finish, click Save.

netflix subtitle appearance web

Update the Communication Settings

You can stay up to date with the exact types of Netflix news and details you want via email. Scroll down to the My Profile section and click Communication Settings.

You can then mark which emails you would like to receive, such as updates on new features, newly added content, special offers, and helpful surveys.

You can opt to receive text messages by adding your phone number. And you can use that number to access and recover your account if necessary.

When you finish, click Update.

Netflix Communication Settings

Decide Your List Order

If you would prefer to decide the order of shows and movies in your list, you can change this easily. Scroll down to the My Profile section and click Order in My List. Then, mark the Manual Ordering radio button and click Save.

You can then rearrange content in the My List section rather than having Netflix recommendations at the top.

netflix list order web

Now, just click My List in the top navigation. Then, just drag and drop content in the order you want it. You can also click Move to top on any piece of content and that TV show or movie will pop to the top of your list. Or just click the X to remove an item completely.

netflix list order move to top web

Find Hidden Genres

You may not be aware of this, but Netflix has a slew of hidden categories just waiting for you to discover.

For instance, if you choose the “Action” genre when browsing, you can scroll down to see sub-genres such as “Action Thrillers” and “Action Comedies”. However, there is also a hidden category for “Mind Bending Action Sci-Fi and Fantasy”.

Maybe you love the “Horror” genre and often browse the “Cult Horror” sub-genre. However, there is also a hidden “Vampire Horror Movies” category for those looking for a specific creature feature.

Netflix Vampire Horror Movies

A handy website for accessing these hidden categories is Netflix Hidden Codes. You can browse through the list or enter a keyword into the search box. Click on one of the options and you will see options for that sub-genre open directly on Netflix.com.

netflix hidden codes web

Change Your Mobile Netflix Settings

There are a few settings that can be customized on Netflix for Android or iOS. Open the app on your device, tap the More button, and select App Settings. Keep in mind that settings vary depending on your device type.

On iOS, you can then adjust the data usage options. By default, Automatic is enabled, but you can change it for playback on Wi-Fi Only, Save Data, or Maximum Data.

In addition, you can control the video quality between Standard (faster with less storage) or Higher (uses more storage).

On Android, you may notice an additional setting for Allow Notifications. You can enable this option and receive alerts for new content, suggestions, or other types of Netflix notifications.

Download: Netflix for Android | iOS (Free)

How to Make Netflix Work Better for You

These simple adjustments can greatly improve your Netflix experience. Plus, if you share your account with others in your home, everyone can benefit from these changes to the Netflix settings. And if you change your mind, you can easily revert Netflix back to its defaults.

As a bonus, we offer up something you might not have considered, with an article explaining how to learn a language watching Netflix.

Image Credit: REDPIXEL.PL, Ellegant via Shutterstock.com

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How to Install a New Hard Drive to Replace an Old One


Hard drive space isn’t infinite. Today’s massive drives, with capacities exceeding 1TB, can create that illusion. But as drive sizes increase, ways to consume drive capacity also expand. HD video, for example, can eat gigabytes for breakfast.

That’s the bad news. The good news is that learning how to install a new hard drive isn’t difficult, so there is no need to be concerned about a hard drive that is nearly full. Read on to find out how to install a new drive to replace an old one.

Identifying The Proper Replacement Hard Drive

Before you can replace a hard drive in your PC with a new drive, you’ll need to determine the type of drive you need to buy.

HDD or SDD?

Replace Hard Drive - SSD

The most important choice you need to consider is whether you want a mechanical hard drive (called an HDD, or hard disk drive) or a solid state drive (called an SSD). SSDs are smaller in dimensions than HDD. They are also a lot faster. If you want to access programs with less waiting, then an SSD is one of the best upgrades you can make to your PC.

However, an SSD is more expensive than a HDD would be for the same amount of storage. For example, while 1TB HDDs are very affordable, a 1TB SSD is an expensive luxury. So one popular choice is to buy a smaller SSD, say around 256GB, to install your operating system and programs on.

Then you can also buy a large capacity HDD, say around 1TB, to store your media like photos and music or your games library. That way, your operating system will be fast but you’ll also have plenty of storage.

Also, consider the problem of bottlenecking. If you have a newer system with plenty of RAM and a good processor, then you’ll benefit greatly from upgrading to a SSD. Everything will run much faster and your computer will be much better to use.

But if you have a very old computer which is limited by an old processor and not much RAM, then you won’t necessarily see that much benefit from upgrading to an SSD.

In that case, you might as well save your money and stick to an HDD.

HDD Data Connection Types

Today, most hard drives use a data connection known as SATA. However, very old computers might instead support a data connection called IDE. You can easily tell the difference between the two because an IDE connection uses numerous pins, while SATA uses a pin-less L-shaped connector.

The pictures above provide a comparison—the IDE drive is on the left and the SATA drive is on the right. Laptop drives will obviously be smaller, but the connections have the same appearance.

Physical Drive Size

You’ll also need to make sure you buy a drive with the correct physical dimensions. There are two popular hard drive sizes: 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch. The larger is built for desktop systems, while the smaller is generally for laptops and compact desktops. However, solid state hard drives often come in the 2.5-inch size regardless of the type of machine they’re meant to be installed in.

This rule isn’t absolute, however, because some all-in-one computers use 2.5-inch drives.

Transferring Data From The Old To New Drive

The process of installing a new hard drive is one of the least difficult hardware installation procedures around in terms of the physical effort required. However, the hard drive is one of the most critical components in your system because it stores all of your information.

Everything from your operating system to your emails to your favorite songs are stored on your hard drive. Obviously, a straight replacement will leave you without that information.

If you’re using a computer that has more than one hard drive bay you’ll find the process of transferring data from one drive to another to be easy. All you need to do is install the second hard drive in your system and then clone an image of your existing drive using one of the many freeware tools available for this task.

Once the old drive’s image has been cloned and placed on the new drive, you can simply remove the old drive or reformat it and use it as a second drive (make sure the clone was successful before taking this step, however!)

Computers that have only a single drive bay are more difficult to work with because you can’t have the new and old drive installed at the same time. You can, however, still clone your old drive to your new one. This is possible by connecting your new drive to your PC with a USB-to-SATA cable or an external hard drive dock.

Cloning a drive may take some time because of the bandwidth limitations of USB 2.0, but it will complete eventually.

How to Replace a Hard Drive

Desktop computer hard drives are usually placed in the lower front half of a mid-tower enclosure. They are attached using between two and six screws. Once the drive is in place, you just need to plug in the SATA data cable.

This connects to your motherboard. Then you connect the power cables to your power supply unit. The next time you boot up your machine, you should be able to see the new hard drive in your BIOS.

Laptops are different, as some laptops will offer a plastic hard drive bay cover on the bottom of the laptop that is held in with one or two screws. Removing the cover will reveal the drive, which is itself typically attached with a few screws. Installing a replacement drive is simply a matter of taking the existing drive out and putting the new drive in its place.

The power and data connections are built into the mount itself, so you don’t have to worry about tracking down the cables.

Please note that not all laptops are intended to be user serviceable in this way. So please read your laptop’s manual for information about hard drive replacement before proceeding.

Booting & Partitioning

replace hard drive - windows disk management

Once you’ve replaced your old drive you’ll want to boot up your PC. This way you can make sure everything is functioning well. Assuming you did clone your data from your old drive to your new once, this process should be painless. Your PC will barely realize that anything has changed.

You should probably visit the Disk Management utility, which can be found by visiting the Administrative Tools > Computer Management section of the Windows Control Panel, to ensure that Windows is recognizing and using all of your new hard drive’s capacity. If it isn’t, you can extend the current partition to cover the free space or create a new drive partition.

If you didn’t end up cloning your drive, this step will be irrelevant. Because you’ll have to format and partition the new drive during the installation process of your operating system.

Install a New Hard Drive Easily

Replacing a hard drive in your PC can seem like an intimidating task if you don’t know much about hardware. But it’s a fairly simple process and can make your experience using your computer much better.

For more detailed information about a laptop-specific project, see our guide to upgrading your laptop DVD drive to a hard drive.

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