Getting Along With Your Computer
Let Me In!
Modern versions of Windows, especially Windows 10, really want you to use a password. Each week, as I set up or repair computers, I encounter people who believe...
Bye bye, CrashPlan
CrashPlan is ditching their Home customers. And, beware the bad malware in Firefox, Chrome, and FB Messenger. CrashPlan approaching end of life Are you a...
My desktop looks weird
Just when you think you’re getting a handle on Windows 10, something happens and your screen looks completely different. No problem. You’re likely...
Starting over
Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 include a helpful feature. When things are just too fouled up, you can practically start over. And, when you need to get rid of a...
Worth a thousand words
You can make your computing experience so much better if you master a few simple skills. This is the first in a series of columns to help you with that. Take a...
Print from anything
If you have just one computer in your home or office and you never move it more than 10 feet from your printer, you probably don’t need a network printer....
This is worthy of note
This week: Readers reveal the secret to last week’s card trick, and a couple of things worth mentioning. How did they do that? Many of you wrote to let me...
Relax! Chill! Take a break!
It’s time for a break from floods, fires, and current events. I hope you enjoy this collection of websites that will distract, entertain, and maybe even...
Gmail Helpers
I love Gmail because it’s easy to access from anywhere there’s an Internet connection. But sometimes browsers and even Windows itself don’t...
Get your ducks in a row
We’re all going some time. And even before we go, we can be in a situation where we can’t handle our own affairs for a time. The polite thing to do...
Best tips
As we head into the holiday weekend, I need a little bit of a break. This week, we’re re-posting three recent items readers found interesting or helpful....
How to kill an app
I fix computers and clean up computers for a living, so I’m used to seeing popups from malicious software and infected web browsers. But this last two...
Facebook tips
Are you new to Facebook? Are you an experienced Facebook user? Love it or hate it, Facebook has its quirks. Here are a few tips that will make Facebook better....
Too much OneDrive
If you’ve received an email from Microsoft informing you you’re over your OneDrive Storage Limit, your first question was probably, “How did...
Turn off Microsoft ads
Years ago, I worked for a long-distance phone company. Every month, it sent each of us a copy of the company newsletter, complete with ads for our own...
Inbox Almost Zero
While I’m not a believer in Inbox Zero, I am also not a believer in Inbox 8,248. Somewhere in between there will be a comfortable, productive zone for...
That ransomware problem
Earlier this month, a widely-reported ransomware outbreak scared the living daylights out of people all over the world. What happened, and how can you keep it...
Gosh, that's annoying
Here's how you can stop two annoying Windows features: Bypass the Word templates and go straight to a new document Stop your computer from dropping your...
Computer distractions
This column could have been entitled “Why I almost didn’t get my column written on time this week.” I’m usually pretty disciplined, but...
Microsoft control Issues
Creators Update hid the Control Panel … again. Seize control of your Microsoft account. Playing hide and seek with Control Panel in Windows 10 Creators...