Or it asks you to close out of every other tool first. Why does it do that? So Why Are Installers Annoying?

Windows 8.1 file transfer window screenshot courtesy ofim really famecore. The Answer SuperUser contributors Valmiky Arquissandas and Richard have the answer for us. That is because during the first few seconds, it just does the operation it has to do. That gives you theaverage speedof the operation. This is elementary school math. Well, the speed is 1 km/minute, so that is 60 km/hour. Substitute travel with copy, km with bytes, and that answers your question....

Today’s SuperUser Q&A post comes to the rescue for one reader’s file search dilemma. I know there are hundreds of these file types in the parent directory and sub-directories though. How can I do a search like this in Windows 8 that returns results? Is there an easy way for Sebastien to search for multiple file types at the same time? For example, to search for text files you should punch in *....

Quick Links Linux is easier to install and use than ever. We’re usingUbuntu 14.04as an example here, butLinux Mintis very similar. Other Linux distributions have also improved, although they aren’t all quite as slick as this. Modern Linux distributionsare typically about the size of a single CD. You don’t need a writable disc anymore, either. You cancreate a bootable USB drivecontaining the Linux distribution. In fact, this is a better, faster alternative....

Today’s SuperUser Q&A posts looks at precautions one should take with an endeavor like this. Photo courtesy ofmachu (Flickr). Thankfully, I have an old (compatible) CPU handy. I would prefer not having to mount the motherboard in a case just to do the BIOS update bit. Is it safe to power up the motherboard outside of its case? My understanding is that the case provides grounding for the motherboard. Could the lack of grounding be an issue?...

Quick Links If your devices have bothBluetoothandWi-Ficapability built in, then which one is actually faster? Today’s SuperUser Q&A post has the answer to a curious reader’s question. So I am wondering…is Bluetooth faster than Wi-Fi? Which one is faster? So no, Bluetooth is not faster than Wi-Fi. Not even vaguely close.

Quick Links Do you have an old desktop PC sitting in a closet somewhere? Put it to use by installingFreeNAS. FreeNAS is a free, open-source operating system that will convert old PCs into online grid-attached storage devices. Use your NAS as a central file storage or backup location for every PC on your data pipe. FreeNAS also supports plug-ins, so you could even run a BitTorrent client or media server on it....

We installed Ubuntu Touch 14.04 on our own hardware to see what those tablets will be like. We don’t recommend installing this yourself, as it’s still not a polished, complete experience. You’ll see the welcome screen when you boot up or unlock a Ubuntu tablet or phone. If you don’t, you’ll just see a message saying “No data sources available.” This is actually very similar to the Dash onUbuntu’s Unity desktop....

Windows software downloads are a mess. Many programs give a shot to drag adware and other malicious junk onto your gear. Even safe programs we test sometimes turn to the dark side and start bundling junk later. Software Downloads Change Here’s the worst thing we have to deal with. We did our due diligence – everything is fine. But applications are often sold to new owners, or the current owner becomes desperate for income....

In Windows you’re free to easily find out how much disk space is left using Windows Explorer. The total disk space and how much space is free is displayed for each unit connected to your machine. However, how do you do this on an Ubuntu machine? The first program is System Monitor. To access this program, tap the top button on the Unity bar. Enter “system monitor” in the Search box....

Quick Links Windows 8.1 and 8 brought big changes to Windows. Whether you like Microsoft accounts or prefer not to use them, there are interesting options for you here. you might sign in with your Microsoft account and password on any Windows 8.1 system. Local accounts are the traditional style of Windows user account. Your user account name and password are stored only on your rig. This enables parental control features, so it’s ideal if you’re creating accounts for children....

Quick Links Have you ever wondered why laptop screens seem to come in such odd sizes? Then you are not alone! Photo courtesy ofJace Cooke (Flickr). The hope is that it is aGood Subjectivequestion. Why do laptop screen sizes come in the fractional sizes they do instead of 11/12/13/14/15"? What is the reasoning behind it? Looking at actual LxWxD dimensions on laptops does not really help since screen bezels vary in size....

Luckily, you could get around this limitation if you really want a fresh install of Windows 8.1. It even comes with Update 1 integrated. You also can’t load the original version of Windows 8 with a Windows 8.1 product key. This normally makes sense, but Windows 8.1 isn’t really a different version of Windows. Only people who purchase Windows 8.1 can install it fresh, not people who origianlly purchased Windows 8....