Darren Allan

Darren is a freelancer writing news and features for TechRadar (and occasionally T3) across a broad range of computing topics including CPUs, GPUs, various other hardware, VPNs, antivirus and more. He has written about tech for the best part of three decades, and writes books in his spare time (his debut novel - 'I Know What You Did Last Supper' - was published by Hachette UK in 2013).

Articles by: Darren Allan

A young woman is working on a laptop in a relaxed office space.

How to sign up for free extended updates in Windows 10 to stay safe until October 2026

By Darren Allan published

If you're confused about where to get Microsoft's free offer of extended support, we'll show you exactly how it's done.

Windows 11 laptop showing Copilot

Microsoft is improving its best feature for Copilot+ PCs – and that gives me hope for the future of AI in Windows 11

By Darren Allan published

Microsoft makes AI agent in settings more powerful – and I'm excited to see what the next agent achieves.

Using Zipped files and folders in Windows 11

Microsoft isn't just abandoning Windows 10 - this version of Windows 11 is heading for the scrapheap too

By Darren Allan published

Windows 11 users have got their own support warning just as Windows 10 is about to have the plug pulled.

Angry PC gamer sitting at a gaming desktop PC and losing

Thinking of buying a new PC? You might want to move soon, as a perfect storm looks to be brewing for component price hikes

By Darren Allan published

China's introducing new export controls on rare-earth elements - and that's bad news for the price of a raft of PC components.

The top trim of an Intel Arc B570

Intel reveals XeSS 3 with Multi-Frame Generation - and unlike Nvidia's MFG, it works on older GPUs

By Darren Allan published

Taking a page from Nvidia's playbook, and doing things better to boot - now AMD is the only GPU maker not to have MFG on the menu.

Windows 10's grave

5 myths about Windows 10 End of Life you need to know of

By Darren Allan published

Think it's fine to run Windows 10 without security updates? Or that Windows 10 is going to vanish in a puff of smoke in mid-October? We bust some common myths.

Upset PC gamer with head in hands by his PC

Can your mouse spy on you? Research shows a high-sensitivity gaming mouse can pick up your speech with a malicious AI-driven trick

By Darren Allan published

Is your mouse spying on you? Well, probably not, but AI can theoretically be used to turn a gaming mouse into a surveillance device.

A man sitting at a table and looking at a laptop with a puzzled expression, holding his hear up with his hand

Is using Windows 10 still safe after the End of Life deadline? All your questions answered

By Darren Allan published

Windows 10 runs out of support soon, and you may have questions. Luckily, we have insightful answers to the most common queries.

Back view of a man using a laptop with Windows 11's Microsoft Store app open

Microsoft's improving Windows 11's File Explorer in many ways – and adding a 'highly requested' feature that might surprise you

By Darren Allan published

Microsoft is finally knocking File Explorer into shape, and there's a useful taskbar-related tweak for Windows 11, too.

Young woman using laptop, looking annoyed

Microsoft is 'removing known mechanisms for creating a local account' from Windows 11 setup - get ready to use a Microsoft account

By Darren Allan published

Say goodbye to local installations, as Microsoft continues its crackdown on those who want to avoid a Microsoft account.

Angry woman using a laptop

Microsoft fixes weird bug that's been messing with Windows 11 updates for years

By Darren Allan published

Want to apply a Windows 11 update and shut down your PC? The weird bug that made this choice randomly fail to work has been fixed.

Woman using multiple screens

Microsoft finally gets its act together to make Windows 11's taskbar work fully across multiple monitors

By Darren Allan published

After four years, Microsoft's finally managed to give Windows 11's taskbar a simple ability that's been missing since launch.

girl using laptop hoping for good luck with her fingers crossed

Ouch! Microsoft admits Windows 11's OneDrive syncing could be slowing down your PC

By Darren Allan published

Microsoft has a bunch of tips to improve the performance of Windows 11, one of which is to turn off OneDrive.

Windows 11 logo on a laptop with blue background

11 things you probably didn't know about Windows 11

By Darren Allan published

Thinking of migrating to Windows 11 soon? There are plenty of good reasons to do so, plus a few potential pitfalls to be aware of.

girl using laptop hoping for good luck with her fingers crossed

Will Microsoft never learn? Leaked OneDrive app sparks fears of more pointless bloat in Windows 11

By Darren Allan published

Microsoft could have a plan to push OneDrive more in Windows 11 – but a new leaked app is causing some confusion.

Man having Windows 11 problems with his laptop

Microsoft is literally losing its Edge, as browser reportedly sheds a quarter of its users in six months – but I'm not surprised

By Darren Allan published

The Edge browser has gone from bad to worse this year, and that might be down to Microsoft's pushiness.

MSI Katana 15 (2023)

Nvidia just delivered a major free upgrade for gaming laptops, bringing in AI to extend battery life

By Darren Allan published

Always running out of battery with your gaming laptop? Nvidia has a plan to help you out.

Acer Aspire 14 AI laptop display showing the Windows 11 login screen

Windows 11 25H2 update is out now, but be warned – this is one of the strangest upgrades ever

By Darren Allan published

The annual update for 2025 is here – but it's difficult to get excited about this rather odd upgrade.

Sad business man and laptop

Windows 10's extra year of free updates comes with a surprising hidden catch related to Microsoft accounts

By Darren Allan published

There's been another twist in the saga of Windows 10's extra year of free updates, which could be bad news for some.

An angry PC Gamer sat at their desk looking unhappy

Excited for Nvidia's RTX 5000 Super GPUs? Prepare yourself for disappointment as new rumor suggests they aren't close to launch

By Darren Allan published

Rumor about imminent arrival of Nvidia's RTX 5000 Super GPUs is wrong, apparently - they won't be here anytime soon.

Close-up of right-hand ports on Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch on desk

Don't buy a new Windows 11 laptop, Google argues, get a Chromebook Plus as it's the "laptop that has never had a virus"

By Darren Allan published

As Windows 10 support ends, Google wants you to switch to a Chromebook - but I'm not convinced about its arguments here.

Happy woman sitting on a bed with a coffee and a laptop

Windows 11 could get a change to help banish Edge and Bing - but don't get your hopes up too high

By Darren Allan published

Windows 11 could get a much-wanted change, with Microsoft possibly relenting on pushing Edge and Bing so hard.

Woman disgusted by her laptop

Windows 11 bug that stopped some Intel PCs from getting the 24H2 update is fixed – but it took a whole year

By Darren Allan published

Can't get the Windows 11 24H2 update on your Intel PC? You should be able to now as audio bug is finally fixed.

Windows 10's grave

Sticking with Windows 10 this month? Here's what you need to know about your choices and risks you might be taking

By Darren Allan published

We run through all your options as Windows 10's End of Life looms on the near horizon.

A man at a desk using a laptop and holding his hands up, while having a confused look on his face

Windows 10's year of free updates now comes with no strings attached - but only some people will qualify

By Darren Allan published

Updated Don't want to sync your PC settings to get free updates for Windows 10 next year? Here's some good news - but only for those in Europe.

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