Blog
Tests
Guides for testing your keyboard, mouse, screen, sound, network and other hardware, and for fixing what the tests find.
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Tests
Why arrow keys scroll instead of moving the cursor
Find out why arrow keys scroll the page or sheet instead of moving the cursor, test whether the keys register, and fix focus or Scroll Lock.
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Tests
How to test if a USB adapter adds mic noise
Compare the same microphone with and without a USB adapter to find hiss, crackle, level changes, and other noise, then narrow down the cause.
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Tests
How to find the cleanest microphone input before a webinar
Compare your microphones in a quiet room, hear background noise and distortion, and choose a clean input before your next webinar.
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Tests
How to check laptop battery drain in a browser
Check your laptop's battery drain with a browser meter, compare the rate under the same conditions, and learn what to change if it drops fast.
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Tests
Why audio sounds centered in only one headphone
Use a left and right channel test to find out whether the cause is mono audio, a balance setting, an app, or a headphone connection.
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Tests
How to tell if Windows is mixing stereo into mono
Use a left and right speaker test to find out whether Windows combines stereo channels, then check the mono setting, output device, and app.
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Tests
How to compare CPU speed before and after heating
Run the same CPU benchmark before and after a heat test to see whether performance drops, then learn how to make the comparison fair.
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Tests
Laptop fan loud but performance drops
Find out whether heat is slowing your laptop, how to check it with a browser test, and what to fix before paying for a repair.
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Tests
Why battery life estimates jump up and down
Learn why your laptop's remaining battery time keeps changing, how to read the drain rate, and what to check before blaming the battery.
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Tests
How to compare battery drain before and after updates
Compare battery drain before and after an update with the same settings and workload, so you can tell a real battery change from normal variation.
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Tests
Touchscreen taps by itself: causes and checks
Find out whether phantom touches come from a dirty screen, charger, settings, or failing hardware, then test the screen and try practical fixes.
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Tests
How to test a tablet screen before buying used
Check for dead zones, missed touches, multitouch problems, dead pixels, and screen damage before paying for a used tablet with quick browser tests.