No one who assembles a PC or sets up a new computer can avoid the BIOS or UEFI. That’s where you define the basics, from the boot sequence and memory profiles to security features like Secure Boot. Modern UEFI interfaces are graphical, can be operated using a mouse, and are much more convenient than legacy BIOS text menus… but they can still be daunting for first-time users. If you’re reluctant to dive into your PC’s BIOS/UEFI, have no fear! These tips will get you familiar and comfortable in no time. How to boot into BIOS/UEFI settings Mark Hachman / Foundry In order to boot into BIOS/UEFI, you have to press a key (or a combination of keys) during the startup process. If you aren’t quick enough, or if you press the wrong keys, you’ll end up in Windows. The exact key(s) you need to press depend on your motherboard’s manufacturer, but most of them use one of the following standardized keys: Delete, F2, F10, or F12. The correct key is often displayed on the screen for a brief moment with the motherboard logo, and it’s best to press the key several times as soon as you see it. However, there’s also an alternative way in Windows 11: open Settings > System > Recovery, scroll down to the Recovery options and look for “Advanced startup,” then click the button labeled Restart now. There you can directly call up the UEFI firmware settings. Step 1: Update your BIOS/UEFI Before you even start fine-tuning, you should update your BIOS/UEFI to the latest version. New versions often bring better RAM compatibility, extend CPU support, and/or fix security vulnerabilities. Download the update from the manufacturer’s website. (Pay attention to the exact model of your motherboard.) It will usually come as a ZIP file, which you can unzip and copy to a USB flash drive. Then, you should be able to find the update function in the BIOS under “EZ Flash,” “M-Flash,” or similar. (If you can’t find it, run a web search for instructions on how to update your particular motherboard.) Important: Make sure your PC doesn’t crash, restart, or shut down during a BIOS/UEFI update. Also, refrain from experimenting with overclocking or unstable power supplies while updating. Also, avoid the update if there’s an impending thunderstorm or if there are known power fluctuations affecting your area/house. Step 2: Set language and interface Many modern UEFI menus offer a graphical view, and some of them even let you interact using mouse controls. You’ll usually find the language setting directly in the main menu or under a tab labeled “General Settings.” Always change the language first so that you can find your way around more easily later. Some motherboards also offer a “Simple view” for beginners and an “Advanced mode” for fine-tuning. Step 3: Customize the boot sequence In order to install Windows on a PC, the PC must be bootable from a USB flash drive. That means you might have to re-order the boot sequence so that if the system detects a plugged-in USB drive, it first tries to boot off of it before moving on to the internal SSD (for example). You can do this in the BIOS/UEFI by navigating to the appropriate section and dragging the USB flash drive option to the top. After Windows is installed, make sure to change the order back and select the Windows Boot Manager or your system hard drive as the first boot device. Tip: If your PC doesn’t reliably recognize your USB drive at startup, try deactivating “Fastboot Mode.” Step 4: Optimize working memory Foundry By default, RAM often only runs at base clock rate. Activate the appropriate profile in the UEFI—depending on the manufacturer, this is called XMP (Intel), DOCP (Asus/AMD), or EXPO (AMD). This allows your RAM to utilize the full speed for which it’s designed without you having to manually overclock. You can usually find this option on the main page of the UEFI menu or under a tab such as “AI Tweaker” (for Asus), “OC” (for Gigabyte), or “Advanced Memory Settings.” Step 5: Set the fan and temperatures You can adjust fan curves under menu items such as “Q-Fan” or “Smart Fan Control,” which allows you to determine how loudly or quietly your PC fans run in everyday use. A steeper curve (i.e., faster at higher temperatures) is recommended for gaming while a flat curve (i.e., remain slow even when temperatures rise slightly) is more suitable for office or home server use, ensuring peace and quiet. Step 6: Optimize energy and performance Many motherboards offer power-saving features such as “C-States” (reduces the CPU voltage when idle) or “ErP ready” (reduces power consumption when switched off). If you need more power, activate Turbo Boost (Intel) or Precision Boost Overdrive (AMD). The latter ensures higher clock rates, but requires good cooling. Note: The combination of power-saving features and aggressive performance options can lead to instability on cheaper motherboards. If your PC crashes frequently after making such changes, switch Turbo Boost/PBO/C-States off again as a test. Step 7: Check security settings In order for Windows 11 to be installed, certain security features must be active in the BIOS/UEFI. If they’re missing, the setup will be canceled or even refuse to start. The two most important options are: Enable Secure Boot: Ensures that only boot loaders signed by Microsoft are loaded. Without Secure Boot, malware could be installed before the operating system starts. As a security measure, Windows 11 will refuse to install without Secure Boot. Enable TPM 2.0: Referred to as “fTPM” (AMD) or “PTT” (Intel) depending on the manufacturer. TPM 2.0 stores cryptographic keys securely in the system. Windows 11 will refuse to install without it. It’s also worth taking a look at the extended security options: BitLocker support: With TPM enabled, hard drive encryption such as BitLocker can be used without additional effort. This protects your data in the events of theft or loss of the computer. Supervisor/BIOS password: Protects the firmware settings from unauthorized access. Lock interfaces: Some motherboards allow you to deactivate USB ports or network adapters directly in the UEFI. This is practical for particularly sensitive environments where access to external devices needs to be restricted for security reasons. Step 8: Other advanced features If your PC is still running stably after all of the above tweaks, it’s now worth taking a look at some additional options: SATA/NVMe mode: For single SSDs and HDDs, AHCI is the standard. This ensures full performance and TRIM support. RAID is only worthwhile if you want to use several drives for purposes of data mirroring (RAID 1) or performance (RAID 0). Importantly, this setting must be defined before Windows is installed, as changing it later can lead to startup errors. Learn more about RAID setups and multiple drives working together. Activate virtualization: Features such as Intel VT-x and AMD-V make it possible to run virtual machines efficiently. If you want to use Hyper-V, VirtualBox, or VMware, you should switch this option on. Without virtualization activated, many things will still run but with significantly reduced performance. IOMMU/SR-IOV (optional): This feature is interesting for advanced users who want to use device passthrough or special virtualization scenarios. Tip: Even if you don’t need virtualization immediately, you can activate the feature directly now. This will save you having to search the BIOS later if you ever end up experimenting with virtual machines. Get comfortable with your BIOS/UEFI In short, the BIOS/UEFI is the control center of your PC. Just a few settings—such as RAM profile, boot sequence, and Secure Boot—can make a world of difference between a system that’s limping along versus a system that’s stable, fast, and secure. If you feel like it, you can eventually try your hand at fine-tuning the deeper settings, from individual fan curves to overclocking. But even without experimenting, with the right BIOS/UEFI settings, your new PC will now be ready to start and optimally prepared. Good to know: You only need to make most BIOS/UEFI adjustments once. After that, your computer will run permanently with the optimum settings without needing any annoying readjustments. Read...

TL;DR: Right now, it’s only $55 to get Microsoft Office Pro and Windows 11 Pro for life. This year, Microsoft raised the price for Microsoft 365 and ended support for Windows 10. If you want to avoid subscription fees and protect your computer, then get Microsoft Office Pro and Windows 11 Pro for life for only $54.97 (reg. $418.99). This sale will not last much longer. The Microsoft Office lifetime license comes with Word Excel PowerPoint Outlook Teams (free version) OneNote Publisher Access There are no recurring fees or renewals, and the software connects to your device rather than your Microsoft account. You can use it offline without losing access, and updates are included. Part two of this bundle is a lifetime license for Windows 11 Pro, which has a cleaner interface, faster performance, and stronger built-in security. It includes features like BitLocker drive encryption, Hyper-V virtualization, and Windows Sandbox for testing new apps in a safe environment. Copilot, Microsoft’s AI assistant, is integrated to help with tasks like changing settings or summarizing web content. Right now, it’s only $54.97 to get Microsoft Office and Windows 11 Pro for life. The Ultimate Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License + Windows 11 Pro BundleSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

Canva debuted an updated visual suite on Thursday, with integrated AI across the platform as well as a new video editor. Canva’s calling this its “Creative Operating System,” though it’s nothing of the sort — just a creative suite tied together with AI. Canva said that its new design model can generate layout and content within seconds, and that its AI is integrated inside its entire product suite. That includes @askcanva, an AI assistant that can provide assistance. The new suite includes what the company is calling “Video 2.0,” a reimagined video editor that can work with templates or generate content from a prompt. Much of the new suite includes an emphasis on commercial customers, with new email design tools, integrated forms, and a way to connect Canva’s code tool to its Sheets spreadsheets. A Canva Grow tool also is designed for end-to-end marketing, as well. Canva’s new vide editor features an updated timeline.Canva Our sister publication, TechCrunch, has more details, including an interview with Canva’s senior executives. Read...

Revolut has launched an eight-week NZ campaign with All Blacks star Ardie Savea, highlighting its app’s global finance features and ease of use. Read...

Microsoft, really, really, really wants you to log in with a full, connected Microsoft account for Windows 11. It’s essential for tracking user data, feeding people ads, and generally making your PC experience much more frustrating (though it also enables ease-of-life features like OneDrive and account syncing between PCs). Users have been finding ways around this requirement for a while, and sharing their results. This is apparently a “harmful or dangerous” act, according to YouTube. That’s the inescapable conclusion one must draw from the fact that YouTube creator CyberCPU Tech has reportedly had a video on this topic removed from the platform, and all appeals to YouTube and Google have been denied, according to the creator. The same thing happened a week later for a guide on how to install Windows 11 25H2 on older, unsupported hardware, as reported by Tom’s Hardware. Both videos were flagged by YouTube’s automated system as a violation of its “Harmful or dangerous content policy.” Again, when the creator asked for a manual review, the appeal was denied. YouTube’s policy outlaws obvious things like “instructional theft” (piracy, defeating retail store theft prevention, etc), “hacking” with the intent to steal information, bypassing payment systems, and phishing. I haven’t seen the videos, of course — they’re gone. But as far as I can tell, none of CyberCPU’s instructions would have included any of this, assuming it was just telling people how to install Windows 11 on older hardware or install it without a connected user account, something Windows has been able to do for decades. According to the policy, a channel that gets three such strikes in a 90-day period can be terminated permanently. CyberCPU says that only one strike was applied to the channel, with the second video included in the original warning. The CyberCPU Tech channel is five years old and has 300,000 subscribers, which is considered mid-range for the platform, but many creators make a living from channels that size. After taking a class provided by YouTube, the channel will be in good standing with the platform by January 2026, and the creator has applied to get a personal representative assigned from YouTube. In a follow-up video posted two days ago, CyberCPU Tech claims that the second appeal was denied in less than a minute. Other YouTube creators that have covered similar Windows topics have also had their videos removed, according to yet another video from the channel. While they didn’t initially believe that Microsoft had anything to do with the takedowns, instead blaming YouTube’s “AI-enhanced” and notoriously unreliable automated system, they now think otherwise. “In fact, I believe they [Microsoft] are entirely responsible for this.” After outlining alternative video options, the creator said, “Are we not allowed to make videos about installing Windows on unsupported hardware because of some backroom deal with Microsoft? If that’s the case, then Microsoft’s own website shows how to do it. But fine, we won’t make those videos anymore, we just need to know the rules and make them clear.” No evidence for direct Microsoft involvement was offered, though YouTube’s labyrinthian processes for creators aren’t helping to assuage those fears. Copyright strikes, a separate but easily exploitable system, are often used by IP owners to shut down unfavorable YouTube videos even when they clearly fall under fair use. YouTube channel operators have to navigate an inscrutable system that offers little to no guidance on what specific part of a video constitutes a violation, whether actions were taken automatically or due to reports from viewers or third parties, and how they might avoid getting strikes in the future. CyberCPU Tech intends to continue making videos on similar Windows topics, though they may be posted elsewhere. The creator mentioned X/Twitter, Floatplane, a tech-focused platform owned and operated by Linus Media Group (owner of Linus Tech Tips), and Rumble, an alternative video site made for right-wing influencers. Rumble provides hosting for U.S. President Trump’s personal social network Truth Social, and is popular with influencers who have been banned from more mainstream platforms, like game streamer “Dr Disrespect” and alleged human trafficker Andrew Tate. The creator said that Rumble is not a realistic option for tech creators who want to move off YouTube. “…After two years and hundreds of videos, I’ve made a total of 43 cents.” Non-political content on YouTube alternatives struggles to maintain viewers (though more generalized competitors like TikTok and Instagram Reels are faring better). “But as long as people continue to upload to YouTube,” says CyberCPU, “YouTube will still be able to abuse their creators, because they have no incentive not to.” Whether automated or guided by human hands, YouTube’s policies continue to frustrate many of the creators who make the platform successful. Regular viewers are also becoming tired of the site’s many problems, including rising prices for ad-free viewing and a massive influx of AI slop, much of which is provided by YouTube itself. Even as the platform gets measurably worse in many different ways and faces increasing competition from services like TikTok, it remains the de facto home of user-uploaded video on the web. Read...

Earlier this week, Microsoft released optional update KB5067036 for Windows 11 users, adding a number of long-awaited features to the operating system, with the most notable improvement being a revamped Start menu design with new sections. Unfortunately, Microsoft’s developers have missed a bug that makes it impossible to close the Task Manager by pressing the X button without silently opening a new instance in the background. Windows Latest took a closer look at the bug and found that each instance takes up about 25 MB of working memory, so after a while it can negatively affect the performance of your computer. While waiting for a permanent fix, you can terminate all instances of Task Manager by opening the Windows Command Prompt and entering the following command: taskkill /im taskmgr.exe /f Read...

Stop your search! We’ve found an excellent gaming laptop deal and it comes in the shape of this Lenovo LOQ 17 that’s now $799.99 at B&H, slashed down from its original $1,129.99. That’s a no-brainer discount for a solid mid-range gaming machine, so consider jumping on it quick because B&H has it marked as “limited supply at this price.” This Lenovo LOQ 17 (model 83JH000JUS) comes with a 13th-gen Intel Core i5 processor alongside 12GB of DDR5 RAM and a 512GB SSD, but the real highlight is the Nvidia RTX 5050 graphics card. That’s a solid combo for well under a grand, unlocking access to Nvidia’s DLSS 4 features that’ll elevate your gaming experience while also pushing enough power to tackle your daily tasks without a sweat. Physically speaking, you’re looking at a large 17.3-inch IPS display with a standard 1080p resolution and a speedy 165Hz refresh rate, which is just what you need to take advantage of that RTX 5050. That means crisp visuals, smooth gameplay, and even high-res spreadsheets for better work productivity. Rounded out with USB-C video, four USB-A, HDMI 2.1, Ethernet, 3.5mm audio, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.3, it’s relatively good on connections. Just note that it’s hefty (6.38 pounds), not very slim (0.99 inches thick), and nothing special battery-wise. Still, it’s a winning deal because RTX 5050 gaming laptops rarely come this cheap. Get this Lenovo LOQ 17 for $799.99 while you can! Save $330 on this RTX 5050 laptop before supply runs outBuy now from B&H Read...

AvePoint enhances Azure data protection, partners globally with IAMCP, and boosts cloud marketplace integration to support rising demand in AI security services. Read...

Commvault unveils AI-driven features allowing enterprises to manage data protection and resilience using natural language via ChatGPT and Claude. Read...

Cybersecurity`s future features AI risks, digital tariffs, and the end of VPNs, transforming identity management and security by 2026 and beyond. Read...