Category: Advice
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Cold calls from Windows
Phone calls from “Windows” to help you with security problems should give you such a warm feeling for the big guy from Redmond, right? When you have paid a decent amount for a computer and then someone from a respectable sounding company calls you to let you know that your computer has alerted them to…
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Virtual Vacations, seeing the world for free
There may too many places you want to still visit but you can tour many of them over the Web. First off, take advantage of Google’s Street View taken around the world. Now, you can “vacation” in such spots as Saint Brendan’s Cathedral in Ireland, Shark Bay in Australia, or even the Historic District of…
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When to buy a new computer
When Microsoft stops supporting an operating system, such as XP Service Pack 3, on April 8, 2014. When the new software you just have to have won’t work well on your old computer. When you are learning a new computer skill, like music editing, on that old computer that just barely handles email. When you…
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Fire-up your web browser(s)!
Since the web browser is the focus point for many attacks on your personal computer, why do we spend money and time on firewalls and security software that does not seem to catch things like fake antivirus programs? I propose that you start using multiple web browsers, along with keeping up with security updates and…
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How do I know which updates to trust?
Yes, people, you do want to keep up with security updates for all those programs and such on your computers. But, how do you recognize the legitimate ones? The written list includes: Windows Security Updates, Adobe Reader and Flash updates (or pretty much any update from Adobe) and Java. Here are images of what to…
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50% solutions
Programs acting buggy all of a sudden? Remember that old stand by, reboot the computer. First close and reopen the wonky program and if things don’t get better, then reboot. It may work 50% of the time. If some part of the computer, like the printer, speakers, mouse, is not working, check all cables. Fully…
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2012 Resolutions – nearly new
Here is that time of year again, new resolutions and some old ones that I didn’t get to. Check all UPSs (uninterruptible power supply). Make sure that only the computer and the monitor are plugged into the side that says battery and surge protection. All other things, especially printers, should only be plugged into the…
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Alternatives to large emails for getting things there
Emailing many photos and video or audio clips is often limited by your internet service provider (ISP) or even the recipient’s ISP. It is so easy to attach video files to an email, or drag a bunch of photos into a new message. However, the megabytes build up fast. And, your outgoing mail may be…
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Exif, or How did you know where I was in that photo?
Recently, my mother sent me one of those news clips about how easy it was to find (read stalk) kids, just from a photo a parent took a smartphone and then posted it on some photo-sharing site. Like all of those news shorts, there was truth and hyperbole wrapped up in this piece she sent.…
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Cords and Connections
Portable this, digital that, wireless connections and yet I find that I have to keep track of so many different connecting cables, power adapters and chargers that it feels like I have to have a second bag, apart from my clothes. When going away with your devices, what do you bring? Of course, bring the…
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Keeping it organized, things to think about
With modern large hard drives it is very easy to not keep things neat and organized, sort of like when you first move into a larger house. Folders Make folders to organize all sorts of things, in email and on your desktop. Move them around as you finish a project, putting them back into Documents…
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Making email work better for you
Rule #1, keep your inbox small by using filters and moving messages to folders. Use rules or filters to move messages, send automatic replies, highlight important messages. Use folders for message groups, immediately put messages there. Highlight with color those must read messages. Set up automatic responses for information requests. Rule #2, use proper email…