Articles in Category: Administration
Items related to Leo, Ask Leo! and overall website and related operations and administrivia.
Will Formatting a Disk Erase All Data?
If your format happened quickly, it’s unlikely your data was actually erased. I’ll show you the difference.
Ask Leo! and Facebook
Facebook holds you for ransom. Facebook doesn’t show you all the posts from pages you follow unless those pages PAY for the privilege of being seen more widely. Facebook is also now randomly and capriciously taking down legitimate posts for so-called “policy violations”.
My Email Information Is on the Dark Web. What Do I Do?
What action to take on breach and exposure notifications depends on how much information you get.
Does Deleting Cookies Free Memory?
Deleting cookies will clear up a little disk space, and may or may not free up a small amount of your computer’s memory.
Exchanging Files with Dropbox
Dropbox has several file sharing options, but knowing which one does what can be a little confusing. I’ll lay ’em out.
Macrium Reflect Free is Going Away
Macrium has announced end of life for Macrium Reflect Free. Here are your alternatives.
Another Reason NOT to Reuse Passwords
It’s so tempting to reuse passwords, but it’s such a bad idea for so many reasons.
What to Do When Your Account Is Hacked
Hacks happen. There are steps to take, not only to recover your account but to prevent it from being hacked again.
Will My Backup Work If I Replace My Motherboard?
Replacing a motherboard may require a reinstall or a repair install. Or you might get lucky, and it’ll just work.
Why Is My Password Manager Telling Me I Have a Password at Risk?
It’s an important security feature, but it can also flag some false positives.
Why Can’t I Get Emails From One Person?
If you’re not getting email messages sent by one particular person, there’s a list of things to check.
I Got an Email Related to Someone Impersonating Me on Facebook. What Should I Do?
Facebook impersonation is common and annoying, but typically does not represent a direct security threat.
Upgrade Home to Pro in Windows 10 or 11
It’s easy to upgrade Windows 10 or Windows 11 Home to Pro. There’s just one thing you need.
Someone Is in My Computer, Controlling it. What Can I Do?
When things behave unexpectedly, many people assume their computer has been compromised by remote hackers. Many of those people are wrong.
2021’s Most Popular Articles
My annual roundup of which Ask Leo articles got the most attention and generated the most commentary in 2021.
Dialing Back Social Media
Facebook is holding you for ransom. Sign up for Confident Computing via email instead.
How I Fixed a Failed Windows 10 Update
Windows Update generally works. Here’s the successful approach I took when it didn’t.
How Do I Move Thunderbird to a New Computer?
Moving email from one machine to another is a snap when you’re using Thunderbird as your email program. I’ll show you how.
Content Re-Use on Ask Leo!
A behind-the-scenes rundown on all the different ways a single Ask Leo! article is re-used, recycled, and re-purposed.
2020’s Most Popular Articles
My annual roundup of which articles got the most attention and generated the most commentary in 2020.
Changes to the Ask Leo! Podcast
I’m making a slight change to the Ask Leo! podcast. Here are the details.
2019’s Most Popular Articles
My annual review of which articles got the most attention and generated the most commentary in 2019.
2018’s Most Popular Articles
My annual review of which articles got the most attention and generated the most commentary in 2018.
2017’s Most Popular Articles
My annual review of which articles got the most attention and generated the most commentary in 2017.
Patreon Changes
Patreon changed their fee structure causing some to decide to drop their support for Ask Leo!. Before you do so, I have an alternative that’s actually better for both of us.
2016’s Most Popular Articles
My annual review of which articles got the most attention and generated the most commentary in 2016.
How Do I Change or Delete my Patreon Subscription?
Changing or deleting your support for Ask Leo! on Patreon may not be obvious, so let me show you how.
Ask Leo! Patron FAQ
Patreon allows you to support Ask Leo! with a monthly contribution, in return for which you get an assortment of patron-only rewards.
2015 in Review
A look at the most popular Ask Leo! articles of 2015, as well as an overview of those that got the most comments (hint: you’ll nod your head in understanding on why one topic, more than any other, might generate so much discussion in 2015).
2015 Survey results
Some high-level results from my 2015 reader survey – what’s bugging you? I now have a better clue.
2014’s Most Popular Articles
As the year ends I once again review which articles on Ask Leo! were the most popular and ponder the trends that they reveal.
2013’s Ten Most Popular Posts
As 2013 draws to a close, I review which articles on Ask Leo! were the most popular and briefly discuss what trends that I feel they reveal.
What’s the difference between an ad and your recommendation?
Advertisements, just like in newspapers or magazines, are nothing more than rented space on a page and should never be confused with recommendations.
Can I copy one USB drive to another without using a computer?
Copying a USB drive without a computer is unlikely. Even a USB duplication
device will need to be some sort of computer.
Is Google Talk a good thing?
Google Talk is a way to talk with other people on their computers. That’s
good if you want to do it and don’t already have an alternative service.
How do I move all emails of a certain year to a folder?
Moving emails to a folder for storage depends on which email program you are
using. First you sort them…
Why does Flash keep crashing in Firefox, but work fine in Chrome and IE?
Flash crashing in Firefox means something is wrong with either Flash or
Firefox. We’ll take an investigative approach to get running again.
How Do I Create a Windows 7 System Repair Disk, and What Can I Do With It?
One of the often overlooked steps in preparing for disaster is creating a system repair disk. I’ll review how to do that and what it does and does not do.
Why am I getting tracking cookies from your site?
“Tracking” cookies from most sites aren’t that bad, and usually not tracking
you personally. They are there to help with your user experience.
Which laptop is best?
The best laptop is the one that will fit your needs. To decide what you want
you’ll need to first look at how you’ll use it.
How can I switch back to the old Hotmail from Outlook.com?
If it is still possible to switch back to Hotmail… it won’t be available
for long. If you really hate it, you might want to consider changing
programs.
There’s Just No Need to Hate Windows 8
I recently upgraded my primary desktop machine to Windows 8. I did so with some trepidation after hearing many complaints. My reaction: what’s all the fuss about?
Leo’s 2013 Sabbatical Results
When I went on my sabbatical, I didn’t share the whole story. Even the word “sabbatical” wasn’t quite right. Here’s the background.
