Articles in Category: ask-leo.com
These are articles that have been migrated from the old “ask-leo.com” site but have NOT yet been cleaned up or otherwise updated. They’re here primarily as a reference. We’ll be updating the more important and popular ones over time.
My ISP’s equipment is beeping and indicates a battery replacement is needed. What do I do?
Very often, when equipment is signaling for a battery change… it needs a
new battery!
How do I recover my contact list in Outlook?
Recovering data from an Outlook PST file may not be possible. A complete
backup would have saved an intact file for you.
How do Java and Javascript relate to each other?
Recent vulnerabilities and exploits relating to Java have people scrambling to turn it off. Unfortunately, because of another unfortunate choice of names, many are turning off the wrong thing.
My trip pictures vanished from my memory card. How can I recover them?
Even when traveling (or especially when traveling!), backing up is still
important. A backup strategy would have saved these vacation photos.
I can’t print from Excel. How do I fix this?
Is the printer at fault? Or the program? One way to troubleshoot is to try
printing to a virtual printer.
Why will opening one document sometimes open more than one?
It is common for applications to re-open all the files that were left open
the last time the program was closed. Sometimes, this can be a bit
disconcerting!
Why is typing in Yahoo! Mail so slow?
Typing in Yahoo! Mail could be slowed down by interference from your browser.
Hopefully, you can speed it up without upgrading the entire computer!
Can I run Windows XP on my new computer with Windows 7?
Virtual machines allow you to run multiple operating systems on one computer. There are several software packages that will help you get started.
What does it mean to “Like” something on Facebook?
Clicking the Facebook Like button can give you access to business specials. In return, that business can be seen by your friends and allows them to communicate with you.
How do I back up to a memory stick?
Memory sticks are not quite sufficient for regular backups, but you can find
step-by-step instructions to backup to any drive here on Ask Leo!
Why are there always programs that don’t respond when Windows is shutting down?
Shut down messages can happen for a number of reasons. The solution might be
as simple as waiting a minute.
Why does my program report “Disk Full” when saving a file to a disk with lots of room?
Error messages don’t always give enough clues as to what might be going on, but they often point the way to start digging for the answer.
How do I get rid of this social media sharing pop-up on a site?
Social media links that are programmed to float on top of the page are a design element and can’t be prevented with pop-up blocking.
Why do Thunderbird and Firefox hang on return from standby?
Standby can often be unstable, especially on older machines. There could be
a fix or you might want to change your power management methods!
Why do links sometimes show up as blue and sometimes brown when I’m typing them in email?
Links will show in different colors depending on whether or not you have
visited them before. It may not be under your control.
Why am I not getting some emails after my account has been hacked?
It’s a tough situation after an email account has been hacked. There may be some
further steps you can take to make sure you have total and exclusive control
over it.
How do I fix the screen when a game I play leaves it messed up on exit?
The game has changed the video mode. You may have to revert it manually or
check for support from the manufacturer.
How do I get data off of DVDs containing my photos that won’t read?
There are several options for recovering your data, but the big problem is
that these important photos were only in one place!
Why does defragging appear to lose disk space?
Defragging does not use up disk space; it only moves data around. That display you are looking at is at best an approximation of what’s going on.
How do I get YouTube videos embedded in email messages to work?
Online videos need to run from the YouTube website, so ultimately, clicking
over there is the easiest way to go!
Macrium Reflect’s Rescue Media doesn’t recognize my external hard drive, what do I do?
There are several ways to access your backed up data if your first restore
disc does not work.
Why did my YouTube conversion program just stop working?
YouTube officially discourages downloading of videos and puts significant
programming barriers in the way of doing so. Your downloads may be breaking on
purpose.
How do I encrypt the email stored on my machine?
Email can be encrypted in real-time by storing email data files in a
Truecrypt volume that must be mounted before using the email program.
Can malware on my machine cause it to contact illegal sites?
Once your machine is infected with malware, it isn’t your machine any more:
it belongs to the person who is controlling the malware… and they could be
doing anything.
How can I falsify my IP address?
There are several types of services available that can help hide an IP
address while you are on the internet; and also several potential problems
involved.
What do I need to get a wireless internet connection in my remote location?
A good internet connection is often difficult to find in a remote area. Your
cell phone company might have a solution for you.
Can I reinstall Windows XP after installing this non-genuine copy of Windows 7?
You can’t remove a Windows operating system, but it is possible (and good
practice) to reformat a hard drive and reinstall from scratch.
I can't login when I set my blocking on high, what do I do?
Cookies and spam blockers are unrelated settings on a computer. This leaves
me guessing what you may be talking about.
Do I need to run anti-malware software on my smartphone?
Sophisticated viruses for smart phones are certainly predicted for the
future. Do you need to worry about it yet?
What's the best way to clear my hard drive of everything but the operating system?
It’s impractical to try and erase everything on a hard drive except the
operating system. Fortunately, there is an better solution.
Should I report this malware that I just encountered, and to whom?
Clicking on an email with a Trojan can be dangerous. I explore some
immediate steps to take to check your system and mark it as spam.
Can I restore my system simply by saving and restoring the entire registry?
Restoring the registry is similar to the way System Restore works. The
results as a backup strategy may be unreliable.
How do I make a secure password if I can't use special characters?
Research has shown that the most important technique in creating a secure
password might not be what you think! Here’s a hint… it’s not special
characters!
I cleared cookies and more, so how did a web site still know it was me?
Websites have several methods of tracking visitors from tracing IP
addresses to dropping cookies. I walk through various steps needed to go
anonymous.
Why does IE8 crash when I attempt to attach a photo to email?
Internet Explorer crashes when adding pictures to an email. I go through a
number of steps to clean the system.
Installing my game to an external drive doesn't work, what do I do?
Gaming off an external drive can be very slow, or not work at all. I give my
recommendation on where to install the program.
Why does CCleaner clean up Internet Explorer items when I don't use Internet Explorer?
It’s not unusual to find remnants of Internet Explorer in your system – even
if you don’t use it as a browser. I explain why.
Does using complicated usernames add anything to the security level?
Complicated usernames add such a small benefit to your online security that it’s hardly worth the effort. Better to focus on the basics.
Can I unselect the recovery partition when I backup my C: drive?
A full backup needs to be a full backup. I explain why you need to also
backup your recovery partition.
Connecting my wireless mouse to my computer causes it to not boot – what do I do?
Your computer’s BIOS will be set to look for boot devices in a certain
order. If that is causing problems, you will need to reset your boot order.
My grandson uses my email address, can he use something else?
Setting up a good email account is very simple, so there is no need to share
an account with a grandson. A few simple steps are necessary to separate the
accounts.
How do I keep my PC running all the time?
A screen going black after a time is either a power setting or a
screensaver. It’s an easy setting to change.
How do I fix my Facebook layout problems?
Some webpages do not translate well through the numerous screen resolution
settings available in Windows. If you are having problems, you may need to play
around with several zoom features.
Is there an anti-virus for XP that doesn't require SP3?
There is a reason that virus protection developers are not
offering installations for systems still running XP SP2. The upgrade to SP3
protects your system from numerous security problems.
How do I get my wireless to run faster?
A wireless connection should be capable of the same speeds as a wired
connection. I look at both distance and hardware as possible culprits in
slowing down a system.
Are Clippy and Rover and the Kitty Cat ever coming back?
A minority of people are missing Windows helper animations… but that’s not
going to be enough to bring them back.
Are there alternatives to CCleaner's free space wipe function?
Wiping free space on your hard drive with CCleaner will clean your drive
with a few wipes; you may need to first clean up temporary files, caches, and
deleted files.
If too many bad password attempts cause account locks, how do hackers hack in?
Hackers have a lot of ways to try to get into online accounts. Understanding
how it works can help protect you online.
Is it OK to turn off email scanning in my anti-malware program if it causes a problem?
Scanning email downloads in real-time can interfere with a smooth download.
Sometimes you need to adjust your settings.
Does my Android phone need a firewall, and is tethering safe?
Hackers will be targeting phone software more and more as time goes on, I
look at a few issues related to tethering and firewalls on phones.
