laptop Archives

Winsage

August 22, 2026

Someone discovered that Windows 11 nukes your GPU drivers if you leave your laptop in eco mode

A user on the Zephyrus G14 subreddit discovered that using the eco power mode on Windows 11 for 15 consecutive days leads to the automatic deletion of GPU drivers. The eco mode power-gates the discrete GPU off the PCIe bus, causing Windows to treat it as disconnected. After 15 days of inactivity, Windows performs a cleanup and removes the GPU driver package. When switching back to standard power mode, the GPU is identified as a "Basic Display Adapter." Users can check if their GPU drivers have been removed using specific command prompt commands. To prevent driver cleanup, users can either switch to a non-eco power plan occasionally or modify the registry to set Autorun (DWORD) = 0.

Tech Optimizer

August 22, 2026

Best Ransomware Protection 2026: Tested and Ranked

Ransomware protection is best approached as a layered strategy rather than relying on a single solution. The effectiveness of software is significantly enhanced by maintaining a well-managed backup that is disconnected during an attack. Five tools were evaluated based on their default settings, focusing on behavioral detection, protected folders, file rollback, and real-time protection. 1. Norton 360: Rated as the best overall ransomware protection, it offers comprehensive features including behavioral monitoring, protected folders with dual alert modes, and 50 GB of cloud backup within a single subscription. It has a perfect score in advanced threat assessments. 2. Bitdefender: Recognized for its file rollback and remediation capabilities, it provides an effective "undo" feature that restores files, although this feature is turned off by default. 3. Avast One Free: The best free ransomware protection option, it includes a dedicated shield on the free Windows tier and has achieved a perfect score in advanced threat assessments. 4. NordVPN Threat Protection Pro: Best for blocking the delivery route of ransomware, it prevents downloads before encryption starts but cannot stop the process once it has begun. 5. McAfee: Best for protecting multiple devices simultaneously, it offers unlimited device coverage on most plans with integrated ransomware defense in its scanning engine. Modern ransomware protection software has shifted from signature matching to focusing on monitoring the behavior of processes interacting with files. The four essential layers of protection include behavioral monitoring, protected folders, automatic file rollback, and backup. Most users do not need a separate anti-ransomware product, as these features are typically included in main antivirus suites, with the key consideration being whether these features are activated. The rankings of the tools were based on whether the ransomware protection layer is enabled by default, the extent of file recovery when intervention occurs, and the frequency of false positives during normal use. - Norton 360: Best overall, with protection enabled by default and a perfect score in advanced threat testing. - Bitdefender: Best for file rollback, but the rollback feature is disabled by default. - Avast One Free: Best free option, with a perfect score in advanced threat assessments but lacks rollback capabilities. - NordVPN Threat Protection Pro: Effective at blocking malware downloads but does not provide rollback or backup features. - McAfee: Suitable for families with multiple devices, offering automatic backup of flagged files but lacks user-configurable protected folder options. The effectiveness of ransomware protection tools is primarily assessed through behavioral responses rather than library matching. Backup remains a critical layer of defense, functioning even when other layers fail.

AppWizard

August 21, 2026

Friday’s Android app deals and freebies: Blacksmith of the Sand Kingdom, Little to the Left, Onigo Hunter, more

A selection of Android games and apps is on sale, including Blacksmith of the Sand Kingdom, A Little to the Left: Stars, A Little to the Left: Drawers, RPG Onigo Hunter, Premium-RPG Wizards of Brandel, and Data Defense. The Best Buy 60th Anniversary sale features price drops on select items from Nothing, an all-time low price on Anker’s SmartTrack Google Find Hub wallet card, and a 0 discount on Lenovo’s 2026 IdeaPad 2K touchscreen Copilot+ laptop. Additional Android app price drops include various genres and styles, providing limited-time offers for users.

Winsage

August 20, 2026

Windows 11 KB5121003 update breaks Teams and Outlook on ARM devices

Following the KB5121003 Patch Tuesday update, users on ARM64 devices like Surface Laptop 7 and Surface Pro 11 are facing startup failures with Microsoft Teams and New Outlook, while traditional Win32 applications remain unaffected. Reverting to the previous update restores functionality, but recovery options have not resolved the issue. The root cause appears to be broken AppModel Runtime package states, leading to dependency issues and 0x80073CFC errors. This problem is similar to one caused by update KB5094126 earlier this year. Creating new Windows profiles offers only temporary relief, and administrators are advised to pause the deployment of KB5121003 on ARM devices until the issue is addressed.

Winsage

August 19, 2026

Microsoft Office and Windows 11 Pro, together for life for $33

Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 and raised the price of Microsoft 365 to . An offer allows users to purchase Windows 11 Pro and Microsoft Office for .97 until August 23. Windows 11 Pro features include BitLocker for drive encryption, Hyper-V for virtual machines, Windows Sandbox for safe application testing, Snap layouts for window organization, DirectX 12 Ultimate for gaming, TPM 2.0 for advanced login options, and an integrated Copilot feature. Microsoft Office includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, Access, and a free version of Teams, available for a one-time fee with updates included. The offer expires on August 23 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Winsage

August 19, 2026

Everything you need to head back to school with a new Dell PC is here — fast Windows laptops with essential accessories on sale

Dell's official store is offering discounts on PCs, with back-to-school deals providing savings of up to 0. The new Dell XPS 13 laptop features a 13.4-inch 2.5K touchscreen display with a 120Hz refresh rate, weighs 2.2 lbs, and is powered by a standard 65W USB-C AC adapter. It includes a built-in webcam for Windows Hello face unlock and USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports. The student pricing for the XPS 13 is 9.99, while the standard price is ,199.99.

Tech Optimizer

August 17, 2026

Norton’s back-to-school deal ends August 27: $3.33/month for full family protection

Norton 360 Deluxe is a comprehensive subscription service that includes real-time threat protection, a secure VPN, a password manager, dark web monitoring, cloud backup, and parental controls. It supports up to five devices across Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, all managed from a single dashboard. The service is available for .99 for the first year during a Back to School promotion from August 17 to August 27, which is a 68% discount from the standard rate. After the first year, the subscription renews at .99 annually. Norton offers a 60-day money-back guarantee for its subscriptions.

AppWizard

August 17, 2026

Latest Fanatical bundle is offering 25 Steam Deck-friendly games worth $798 for just $22

Fanatical's Best of Killer bundle offers a collection of 25 games compatible with the Steam Deck, allowing gamers to select titles individually. The pricing structure includes three tiers: .20 each for five to nine games, each for ten to nineteen games, and [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: For Steam Deck enthusiasts eager to expand their gaming library without straining their finances, Fanatical’s Best of Killer bundle presents an enticing opportunity. This carefully curated collection features 25 games, all compatible with Valve’s acclaimed handheld console. While these titles are equally enjoyable on traditional PCs, the added benefit of handheld compatibility makes this bundle particularly appealing. Prices and savings are subject to change. Click through to discover the current deal prices. What does the bundle offer? In true Fanatical fashion, the Best of Killer bundle is designed with flexibility in mind. Gamers can select the titles they wish to purchase, allowing them to bypass any games that do not pique their interest. The pricing structure is tiered, rewarding buyers with greater savings as they add more games to their cart. Purchasing five to nine games costs .20 each. Opting for ten to nineteen games reduces the price to per title. For those who choose twenty or more titles, the cost drops to an impressive [cyberseo_openai model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Rewrite a news story for a business publication, in a calm style with creativity and flair based on text below, making sure it reads like human-written text in a natural way. The article shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. The article shall NOT start from a title. Response language English. Generate HTML-formatted content using tag for a sub-heading. You can use only , , , , and HTML tags if necessary. Text: PC Guide is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read More Table of Contents If you’re a Steam Deck owner looking to try some new games without putting a dent in your wallet, then Fanatical’s Best of Killer bundle is definitely worth checking out. It’s a packed collection of 25 games compatible with Valve’s popular handheld. Of course, they’re all great for regular PC gamers on a laptop or desktop, but the handheld compatibility is a nice bonus. Prices and savings subject to change. Click through to get the current deal prices. Custom URL Learn more --> What does the bundle offer? As we’ve come to expect from a Fanatical bundle, the Best of Killer bundle is fully customizable, meaning you can hand-pick the games you want to pay for, rather than being forced to buy the entire bundle – this way, you can ditch any games you’re not interested in. Fanatical has also divided the price into three tiers, and the more games you select, the more you’ll save. Five to nine games cost $1.20 each, but adding 10 to 19 games to the cart will bring the price down to $1 per title. And if you select 20 or more titles, the price will drop to just $0.95. For the complete bundle, which includes 25 Steam Deck-friendly titles (22 individual titles and one trilogy), you’ll have to pay just $21.84, which is 97% less than the original value of $797.85. Latest PC & Tech deals Prices correct as of July 10th, 2026. Here’s a complete list of games included in Fanatical’s Best of Killer bundle, along with their Steam Deck compatibility status. GameSteam Deck compatibilityOriginal priceSniper Elite 5Playable$49.99Sniper Elite 4 Deluxe EditionVerified$89.99Zombie Army 4: Dead WarPlayable$49.99Strange Brigade – Deluxe EditionPlayable$79.99POSTAL 4: No RegertsPlayable$19.99Chernobylite Premium EditionPlayable$55.10Zombie Army TrilogyVerified$44.99Gori: Cuddly CarnageVerified$21.99Sniper Elite V2 RemasteredPlayable$34.99Choo-Choo CharlesVerified$19.99Children of Morta: Complete EditionVerified$28.97Bramble: The Mountain KingVerified$29.99Redout 2Verified$29.99POSTAL: Brain DamagedVerified$19.99Moonlighter: Complete EditionVerified$26.98Creatures of AvaVerified$24.99Evil Genius 2: World Domination Deluxe EditionVerified$59.99EverholmPlayable$19.99Stray PathPlayable$14.99Dark EnvoyVerified$29.99Beyond: Two SoulsVerified$19.99Dawnsbury DaysPlayable$4.99Heavy RainVerified$19.99 If you’re interested in getting more games for less, we recommend checking out Fanatical’s Favorites bundle, which can help you score 20 Steam Deck games for just $54. " temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" ].95 each. The complete bundle, which includes 25 Steam Deck-friendly titles—comprising 22 individual games and one trilogy—can be acquired for just .84. This represents a staggering 97% discount from the original value of 7.85. Latest PC & Tech deals As of July 10th, 2026, the following games are included in Fanatical’s Best of Killer bundle, along with their compatibility status for the Steam Deck: Game Steam Deck Compatibility Original Price Sniper Elite 5 Playable .99 Sniper Elite 4 Deluxe Edition Verified .99 Zombie Army 4: Dead War Playable .99 Strange Brigade – Deluxe Edition Playable .99 POSTAL 4: No Regerts Playable .99 Chernobylite Premium Edition Playable .10 Zombie Army Trilogy Verified .99 Gori: Cuddly Carnage Verified .99 Sniper Elite V2 Remastered Playable .99 Choo-Choo Charles Verified .99 Children of Morta: Complete Edition Verified .97 Bramble: The Mountain King Verified .99 Redout 2 Verified .99 POSTAL: Brain Damaged Verified .99 Moonlighter: Complete Edition Verified .98 Creatures of Ava Verified .99 Evil Genius 2: World Domination Deluxe Edition Verified .99 Everholm Playable .99 Stray Path Playable .99 Dark Envoy Verified .99 Beyond: Two Souls Verified .99 Dawnsbury Days Playable .99 Heavy Rain Verified .99 For those looking to maximize their gaming experience while minimizing expenses, Fanatical’s Favorites bundle offers another attractive option, featuring 20 Steam Deck games for just ." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].95 each for twenty or more titles. The complete bundle costs .84, a 97% discount from the original value of 7.85. The bundle includes games such as Sniper Elite 5, Zombie Army 4: Dead War, and Heavy Rain, with various compatibility statuses for the Steam Deck.

Tech Optimizer

August 16, 2026

Best Android Antivirus Apps 2026: Tested and Ranked

Bitdefender Mobile Security is rated as the best antivirus app for Android in 2026, achieving a 100% detection rate, 0.5% battery drain, and unobtrusive operation. The evaluation compared five antivirus applications on a Galaxy S26 Ultra, assessing detection rates, battery drain, scan speed, and permissions. Other notable antivirus apps include Norton 360 for Mobile, which is recognized for its features; Avast Mobile Security, known for its free version; McAfee Mobile Security, which excels in scam call and text filtering; and NordVPN Threat Protection, praised for web and Wi-Fi security. Most users may not need an antivirus app due to built-in protections like Google Play Protect, which automatically scans apps. However, specific scenarios warrant the installation of an antivirus app, such as sideloading apps, receiving scam texts and calls, assisting relatives, conducting banking and shopping on mobile, and using public Wi-Fi. The top five antivirus apps tested are: 1. Bitdefender Mobile Security: 100% detection, 0.5% battery drain, 31-second scan time. 2. Norton 360 for Mobile: 99.9% detection, 0.9% battery drain, 24-second scan time. 3. Avast Mobile Security: 99.9% detection, 0.7% battery drain, 26-second scan time. 4. McAfee Mobile Security: 99.78% detection, 1.0% battery drain, 34-second scan time. 5. NordVPN Threat Protection: 95.60% detection of web threats, 0.2% battery drain. Battery consumption varied, with NordVPN being the lightest and McAfee the heaviest. Permissions requested by each app also varied significantly, with Bitdefender requiring the most extensive permissions. Users are advised to check for legitimate antivirus apps by verifying the developer, installation count, update history, lab participation, and permission requests. Free antivirus apps like Avast and AVG offer effective protection but may lack some features of paid versions. Users should be cautious of fake security apps that mimic legitimate ones. If malware is suspected, users can run scans with Google Play Protect or other anti-malware apps and follow specific steps to remove malware if detected.

BetaBeacon

August 16, 2026

Best Android Emulator for PC in 2026: Setup Guide

Microsoft's official Windows Subsystem for Android stopped receiving updates and new installs after March 5, 2025. This leaves three options for running Android software on a Windows PC in 2026: third-party emulators, Google's Play Games on PC beta client, or developer-grade tools like Android Studio's emulator or Genymotion.