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.
Can I plug all my router plugs into a switch to get more speed?
The way packets get routed, it’s unlikely that you would see any real benefit
from that connection; and it’s possible that could end up confusing things.
Is it okay to use hibernate to shut down my computer daily?
Hibernate is a fast way to turn a computer on and off. On many computers, it
works reliably.
Webinar #13 – What's on Leo's Computer?
Webinar #13 – What’s on Leo’s Computer? – was Sunday, June 10th, 2012.
Why are my two anti-virus tools giving different results?
It comes as no surprise that different computer protection tools operate
differently. Here’s a short rundown on my recommendation.
Is it faster to write to a drive that has lots of space than to one with less space?
Surprisingly, it just might be faster to copy to an empty disk. But the
reason for this is a little more complex than simply the amount of data on a
drive.
What IP address do I put in my browser to secure my router?
To connect to your router, you first find your gateway address and type that
into the address bar of a browser window: I explain how.
What's your take on the online spying bill CISPA?
CISPA is a bill that is worth reading about. In this article, I recommend
several reliable sources for information.
How do I get outgoing mail to display "Undisclosed-Recipients:;" in the TO field?
“Undisclosed-Recipients” may be placed in the To: field by mail programs or ISPs if the To: field is empty. It’s not standard and not in your control.
How do I change my Hotmail alternate email address if I can't access it any more?
If you lose access to the alternate email address configured for your Hotmail account, it can be difficult, perhaps impossible, to remove or change it.
Has LastPass had a security breach?
I recommend LastPass because of their transparency and security model: even
LastPass cannot recover your login!
Is there an easy way to share photos with my family that's free?
Sharing files with family and friends is made easy with Dropbox.
How do I tell if my computer is capable of having a wired internet connection?
Look for an ethernet cord socket on the computer. Finding one will be good
news.
What can I do about a pop-up that says, "Internet Explorer has stopped working?"
Pop-up errors can be annoying… or a sign of serious computer trouble. I give
a brief description of both.
Why is my important folder suddenly gone and not in the recycle bin?
A folder can go missing only through some sort of direct action. Finding it
again might be tricky.
Why do I get an error that says "The requested operation requires elevation"?
When a computer requests “elevation,” it is asking you to increase your
administrative privileges to the next level.
Can I delete the paging file if I'm using an SSD drive with 8GB of RAM?
The paging file and hibernation file can be turned off. Whether it affects
the speed of your computer will depend on how heavily you use it.
How do I turn my DVD drive on to boot so I can test my rescue disk?
Your computer will be set to boot from various locations in a certain order.
To boot from a disc, you set the boot order in the BIOS.
Is there a way to run a DVD disc off my hard drive?
There is a free recipe of programs available online, which can help you run a DVD directly from your computer’s hard drive.
How do you run TrueCrypt with Dropbox?
Dropbox files can be encrypted with TrueCrypt. It works well as long as you understand how it synchronizes.
What is a Meebo bar? And is it bad?
Websites often add toolbars to their pages that do not install on your
computer. They will show in your browser whether you sign up for the service or
not.
Why does my computer turn itself back on from standby?
Normally, a computer in standby should remain there until you turn it back on. I’ll look at a few of the possible reasons why it might wake up early.
How do I read my Acronis backup data on a computer without Acronis?
Most backup software solutions have proprietary software. Trial versions can
often help out in a situation like this.
Is there a way to prevent toolbars from ever downloading to a computer?
Many software vendors offer a download for browser toolbars… whether we want
them or not. Sometimes, the offers are hidden.
Can I turn off my modem when I am gone?
Turning off a modem can actually clear up connection problems. However, you may want to explore some other methods for dealing with a sluggish system.
How do I get my two monitors to run different programs?
Attaching additional monitors to laptops is common. There are several
settings to look at in order to make them work as expected.
Can I run two hard disks with different operating systems on one computer?
You certainly can run two hard disks with different operating systems on one computer, but I actually recommend setting up a virtual machine instead.
Why is my back up aborting with a code of 0x810000037?
Some research reveals that this may be the result of malware infecting the
machine. Up-to-date virus tools should solve the problem.
Why can’t my DVD drive read a data CD?
Sometimes media on a disc is incompatible with a particular drive causing it to not work properly. Unfortunately, there are limited options for solving this.
Will deleting games free up more space on my hard drive?
Deleting games will definitely free up some disk space, but perhaps there is more you could do.
Will drilling my hard drive wipe it of all data so I can donate it?
Drilling a hard drive will certainly destroy it! Your data should be safe
from most recovery efforts.
Can I clone everything on my hard drive except the operating system?
Cloning a hard drive, by definition, copies everything on it. There is a
better option for upgrading which includes a clean installation of the new operating system.
How can I get my volume back louder, like it used to be?
Windows 7 has some extra volume controls that are sort of “hidden.”
Adjusting those may help.
Should I uninstall my old driver before installing an upgrade version?
Rebooting may be necessary, but deleting the old driver typically is not.
Can I convert my XP computer to Windows 7?
Many XP machines have enough power to safely run Windows 7, but there is no
realistic ‘upgrade’ or ‘conversion’ path.
Should I Install Internet Explorer 8? Internet Explorer 9?
Internet Explorer 8 and 9 have been out for awhile now. Should you install them? Yes, even if you don’t use them.
How can I recover my data after I reinstalled Windows?
Reinstalling Windows erases and overwrites the data on your machine.
Recovering it is difficult, if not impossible.
Can you copy a program file to another computer and run it?
Installing programs through their native installation steps often makes
changes to your PC that allow them to run. There is, however, one type of file
that may work.
How do I tell if programs are using too much memory?
Window’s memory management is very complex. There are easier ways to help a
sluggish computer than diagnosing memory usage.
Why are there only six asterisks in the password field when my password has more characters?
The number of asterisks that are hiding a password, an email address, or
secret question might not represent the size of the answer.
Should I change the security information on all my emails after my Hotmail was hacked?
Having control over recovery details is what allows you access back into a
hacked account: the goal is to prevent the hacker from controlling that
recovery info.
How do I play a 32 bit game on my 64 bit computer?
There are several software options available for running an older game on a newer
computer, but you may have to take a step further.
Is it safe to leave programs opened on my computer when I go onto the internet?
Basic internet safety is about protecting your computer from viruses and
malware. Once that is in place, it’s safe to browse the internet.
How do I get my saved Outlook emails onto my new computer with Windows Live Mail?
When transferring emails from Outlook to use on another computer, it’s
important to create files that can be read by the new computer.
Can I reinstall my XP with SP2 even though updates have ended?
Support from Microsoft for SP2 has ended. SP3 has critical security patches
that need to be installed on your computer.
Can the IT department send emails that look like they are from me?
The IT department has physical access to your email account. That means they can do any number of things with it.
Can I safely remove update files and folders that are taking up disk space?
Updates are important for the security of your computer, but removing those files may open you up to malware.
Why are there so many user accounts on my machine?
User accounts can be created on Windows for many reasons – only one of them actually being users. I’ll look at other reasons user accounts might exist.
How do I remove my personal information from a machine before giving it away?
Recent news reports show that much personal information is simply and unknowingly given away when old computers are discarded. I’ll look at what to do.
Will not having a paging file slow down my system?
The paging file is used by Windows to manage situations where more memory is needed that is present. Not having one shouldn’t impact speed.
How can I stop my anti-virus software from filling up my hard drive with updates?
Anti-virus updates (from well written anti-malware tools) should not be accumulating virus definitions on your hard drive.
