Windows Archives

How to disable the Windows Page/Swap file

I have a lot of RAM in my system and wanted to see if there’s a performance improvement to be had by disabling the page file. By default this is enabled so that Windows apps never run out of memory, but if you’re sure you have plenty, there’s no need for Windows to write a … Read more

How to boot Windows 11 into Safe Mode

Windows 11 can be booted into a “safe mode” that will allow us to troubleshoot things. How to get there has of course changed and is shrouded in great mystery because apparently Windows 11 is so awesome that there are never any issues to troubleshoot, with it being obviously the best ever operating system of … Read more

How to securely erase a hard drive on Windows

Formatting a hard drive, no matter if we use the quick or slow option, will not destroy data. It merely marks all sectors containing data as “available” so that the next save process will use them, overwriting existing data. The difference between the “quick” and “regular” format options in Windows is that quick will update … Read more

How to update your Xbox Controller Firmware from Windows

I have a ton of PlayStation controllers, but some Windows apps prefer a native Xbox controller so a month ago I bit the bullet and bought one. Huge mistake. The thing worked when connected via USB, but I had no luck connecting it to basically ANYTHING wireless. Two Windows PCs, two iOS devices, a Steam … Read more

How to test your System RAM in Windows

I’ve added some new RAM to my desktop system, and before embarking on mission critical projects I thought it best to test if it was working correctly. On previous occasions I’ve always relied on the built-in BIOS tool, but I felt in the mood for something new and researched if there was a built-in tool … Read more

How to use an Xbox 360 Wireless McBazel receiver on Windows 10/11

My original Microsoft wireless Xbox 360 receiver for Windows packed up, after over 15 years of loyal service. Perhaps I shouldn’t have let him be plugged in 24/7 on a powered hub, or perhaps his number was up. These dongles are no longer in production, but several third party devices are available. I’ve decided to … Read more