Readers’ Tips
TIP OF THE FORTNIGHT
Make MiniTool shut your PC after converting videos
I’ve been using MiniTool Video Converter (www.snipca.com/56496) for several years, so was delighted to read that version 4.5 has been released (Issue 721, page 18). It has one of the cleanest interfaces of any video program I know.
You mentioned the Settings menu. One of the options I use is for my laptop to automatically switch off once MiniTool has finished converting my video. Click the top-right menu icon (three horizontal lines), then Settings. Now choose ‘Convert’ ( 1 in our screenshot) then click the ‘When the task is completed’ dropdown menu. I normally pick ‘Shut down’ 2 , but you can also choose ‘Do nothing’ (which is the default), Sleep and ‘Exit program’. Click OK to confirm.
By forcing my laptop to automatically turn off I can safely set MiniTool to convert large videos before going to bed. I wasn’t sure at first whether it would work, so started converting small videos first. I gradually built up to larger files and it’s never let me down. John Stanley
John wins a copy of our 2024 Back Issue CD
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Wi-Fi
Boost speed using aluminium tray
I’ve managed to greatly increase my Wi-Fi signal with a used (and washed!) aluminium food tray (pictured below right). It takes a bit of trial and error to get the best angle, but it’s not too difficult. A bigger tray doesn’t seem to make any difference, but smaller ones are less effective.