Tech Buying Guides
1TB or 2TB SSD: Six Quality Models to Upgrade Your PC
Six SATA and NVMe SSDs compared by compatibility, capacity and real PC use.
Resources / The Tera24 journal
Practical guides
& IT advice
Understand what is wrong.
Repair what can be repaired.
Make an informed choice.
A technician’s perspective, beyond the spec sheet.SAINT-CHAMASSY, DORDOGNE
Featured From the workshop
Windows Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
Black Screen at Startup: What to Check Before Replacing Your PC
A practical sequence for separating a display problem, Windows fault or hardware failure before replacing a computer.
PCs & Computers
NAS or External Hard Drive: Which Backup Should You Choose for 300 to 500 GB of Data?
For 300 to 500 GB, a NAS is not automatically necessary A collection of 300 to 500 GB can contain years of photographs, administrative documents, professional files or records that are essential to a small organisation. Capacity alone, however, is not enough to determine the most suitable backup solution. An external hard drive may be […]
On the workshop desk.
PCs & Computers
PC Keeps Restarting by Itself: The Most Common Causes
A PC that keeps restarting by itself may be suffering from overheating, unstable power, faulty RAM, an incompatible driver, a Windows error or a failing component. The exact moment when the restart occurs is often the most useful clue.
PCs & Computers
How to Tell if Your Hard Drive Is Failing
The most common signs of a failing hard drive A mechanical hard drive, also known as an HDD, contains spinning platters and read heads that move extremely close to their surface. These mechanical components can wear out, suffer damage after a shock or begin struggling to read certain areas of the drive. Failure is not […]
Tech Buying Guides
iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit Review: My Honest Opinion After Years of Professional Use
What I See Every Day at My Clients’ Homes in Dordogne When I provide on-site support—whether in Sarlat, Périgueux, or a small village in the Périgord Noir—I often come across the same situation: someone tried to replace their phone screen or install an SSD, only to get stuck because they didn’t have the right tools. […]
Printers
Inkjet vs Laser vs Thermal Printers: Which One Is Right for You?
Why Not All Printers Are Created Equal The price you see in the store tells you almost nothing. What really matters is the total cost of ownership: the purchase price, consumables, lifespan, maintenance, potential repairs, and the cost per page over several years. A printer sold for €49 can ultimately cost far more than a […]
Tech Buying Guides
Best 250 GB & 256 GB 2.5″ SSDs: A Comparison of the Most Reliable Models in 2026
Lexar NS100 256 GB – Best Value for Money The Lexar NS100 256 GB is easily the best-value SSD in this comparison for anyone on a budget. Despite its affordable price, it can dramatically improve the responsiveness of an older laptop or desktop PC without any significant compromises for everyday use. Type: 2.5″ SATA III […]
PCs & Computers
Replacing an SSD: Disk Cloning or a Clean Installation? What I Really Recommend to My Clients
What I See at My Clients’ Homes Across Dordogne I see the same situation time and time again. A client calls because their PC has been running slowly for months, or because they’ve just bought an SSD to replace their old hard drive. And the first question they ask is: “Can’t we just copy everything […]
PCs & Computers
7 Reasons Your PC Is Slow — And How to Fix It Without Buying a New One
Keeping an Old Mechanical Hard Drive (HDD) in 2026 This is probably the number one cause of slow computers that I deal with on a daily basis. The HDD—the traditional mechanical hard drive with spinning platters—was perfectly adequate ten years ago. Today, with Windows 10 and Windows 11, it’s often the main reason a computer […]