Archive for ‘computer tip

When should you use private browsing?

by
Image for When should you use private browsing?
Play

Tweet All of the popular web browsers have the ability to go into “private” mode .  This means that the websites you visit won’t show up in history, and those sites won’t place any cookies on your computer for tracking purposes.  There are actually some legitimate purposes for this. 1. Shopping for birthday or [...] Read more »

How to get back the MS Word ribbon

by
Image for How to get back the MS Word ribbon
Play

Tweet One of the worst things that can happen when you are using your computer is for something to just suddenly disappear right in front of your eyes.  And then you wonder “how do I get it back”?  But it is going to be pretty difficult to bring it back, when you don’t know how [...] Read more »

Weak home wifi signal? Add internet to any room in your home

by
Image for Weak home wifi signal? Add internet to any room in your home
Play

Tweet Do you have areas in your home where the wifi signal is weak?  Or, do you want to have an actual ethernet (wired) connection in a room other than where the router sits?  There is actually a pretty easy solution to that – WITHOUT running any new wires. Normally, if you want a [...] Read more »

How to REALLY get just the software you need

by

Tweet Last Monday in my blog/podcast I recommended that you set Windows Updates to download and install ALL Windows Updates automatically – both the updates labeled “Important” and the updates labeled “Optional”.  I need to revise that advice. First, I want to thank my friend Larry for bringing this to my attention.  Larry sent [...] Read more »

Make sure you are getting ALL Windows updates

by
Image for Make sure you are getting ALL Windows updates
Play

Tweet Update: Please read this blog post before following any instructions below. I recently had a client who brought me a computer that had a few different issues.  They all seemed to be unrelated – odd error messages popping up, the screen not displaying content the way it should all the time, etc.  In cases [...] Read more »

MyPC Backup review – automated online backup service

by
Image for MyPC Backup review – automated online backup service
Play

Tweet MyPC Backup is the online, automated backup service that I use and recommend.  This is the program that protects my own files and folders, and I have set it up for lots of my clients.  In this post I will go over the features, costs, and how it works.     If you [...] Read more »

Make Windows 8 look like Windows 7 or XP

by
Image for Make Windows 8 look like Windows 7 or XP
Play

Tweet If you just bought a new computer and it has Windows 8, I’ll bet you miss Windows 7.  Maybe you even miss good ol’ Windows XP.  If so, you’re going to really like this – it’s a way to make your brand new Windows 8 computer look and feel like Windows 7 or XP. [...] Read more »

Send and receive text messages with your computer

by
Image for Send and receive text messages with your computer
Play

Tweet Today I want to tell you about a really cool free service I discovered recently.  Yes, there are other sites that claim to do something “sort of” like this, but there really is no comparison for usability.  I’ll explain what I mean.  This service enables you to send and receive text messages right from [...] Read more »

The Java security solution

by
Image for The Java security solution
Play

Tweet I’ve been getting email questions from clients about the recent security problems with Java.  I am going to use today’s blog post and podcast to set the record straight so you can make sure your computer is safe. What is Java?  Simply put, Java is a computer programming language.  One of its advantages [...] Read more »

How to clean out your Gmail inbox

by
Image for How to clean out your Gmail inbox
Play

Tweet Recently I wrote about the advantages of using Gmail instead of the email account that is provided with your internet service.  That prompted a Podcast Voice Mail (727-386-9468, available 24/7) from my friend Nancy.  Nancy already uses email and has for quite a while, and now her Gmail inbox is absolutely loaded with emails.  [...] Read more »