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.
What's the minimum amount of internet security software I need?
It’s common for machines to be overloaded with security software. Too much, however, can cause problems. I’ll look at the minimum needed.
How do I unblock email to me that my ISP is blocking without asking?
Email providers use many techniques to attempt to stem the flow of spam. Occasionally, those techniques can cause legitimate mail to be blocked as well.
How do I get the free Windows XP SP3 download to install? And do I really need it?
Windows XP SP3 can occasionally have install problems. I’ll look at steps to take to make it work since it’ll soon be required for continued support.
Can my neighbors see my WiFi if I can see theirs?
If you’re close enough to see someone else’s wireless network chances are they can see yours. There’s one step you must take to stay secure.
How do I get people to stop asking me to fix their computers?
Once your friends become used to your providing technical support and assistance it can be difficult if your situation changes. I’ll offer some ideas.
How do I get rid of this msconfig startup error after making changes?
After making changes using msconfig it restarts on your next boot and presents what appears to be an error message. It’s not. I’ll look at what it is.
How do I cancel a Yahoo email account?
Yahoo provides a free email service as well as many other free features. If you want to delete your Yahoo account – well, that link is well hidden.
Should I Install Optional Windows Driver Updates?
Microsoft Windows Update will often suggest optional Windows driver updates. They’re optional, so you don’t need to take them, but should you?
Would you please reopen my Hotmail account?!
I get a constant stream of people asking me to re-open their Hotmail or other email account as if I were Hotmail or their ISP. Problem is: I’m not.
Why does installing from scratch take so long? Isn't there a better way?
Installing Windows from scratch, particularly an older version, can take some time. I’ll look at why it’s fairly inevitable, and one trick you might use.
How do I transfer information such as contacts and mail from one Windows Live Hotmail account to another?
Transferring information out of a Hotmail account can be difficult. It’s impossible if you don’t have access to the account.
What happens if I let my email account expire?
Allowing an email account to expire is a convenient way to close it, but make absolutely certain it’s what you want, or there could be serious issues.
How do I get pictures from my camera if its software doesn't work on my computer?
Digital cameras are often accompanied with software that you are encouraged to install first. Often it’s not required; I’ll show you the alternative.
How do I get Hotmail or Messenger without Windows Live?
Windows Live is the branding use for Microsoft’s Hotmail, Messenger and other services. I’ll review how to control how much Windows Live you get.
How do I get the correct program to open my PDF files?
By accident or design the wrong program can sometimes be the default for some file types. I’ll show you how to pick the right program and make it stick.
How do I control the names displayed in my inbox?
The name displayed along with an email address – the display name – is easy to change for email you send. For email you receive? Not so much.
How do I fix Windows after removing a virus?
Once you’ve removed malware from an infected machine it’s possible that Windows may suffer lingering side-effects. I’ll look at why and what to do.
How Do I Restore from a Backup?
You’ve been good and you’ve been making sure your machine is backed up regularly. Now I’ll cover what happens should you need to restore from a backup.
How do I fix my USB port crashing my machine?
I’ll run through options to fix your USB port if your computer crashes on inserting any USB device. It can be software, but it’s probably hardware.
Terms of Service Violation: Why won't my email provider tell me what I did wrong?
If you’re account is closed for terms of service violation, it’s natural to want to know why. I’ll explain why they probably can’t tell you.
"Windows Live Hotmail has blocked some attachments …" – how do I get around that?
“Windows Live Hotmail has blocked some attachments in this message because they appear to be unsafe.” means Hotmail is protecting you from malware.
Is my computer secure now that I'm running anti-virus and anti-spyware software?
“Is my PC secure” really has only one answer: no. A more practical question is: what steps can you take to be as secure as possible?
Why are there two iexplore.exe Internet Explorer processes when I've run it just once?
With the release of IE8 many people are noticing that there is more than one iexplore.exe process when they run IE. I’ll look at why.
What's an ebook, how do I get it and what do I do with it?
Ebooks are a popular publishing mechanism that allow you to purchase and instantly download a book to your computer. We’ll look at what and how.
How do you use more than one anti-virus program?
While no single anti-virus program can catch all viruses, running more than one anti-virus program can cause problems. And it also might not help.
Someone's stolen my email account and is scamming my contacts for money, what do I do?
If your contacts suddenly get email from “you” claiming your overseas and in desperate need of funds to get home – your account has been hacked.
How do I get a pinned taskbar item to run with administrative privileges in Windows 7?
Pinning something to the task bar in Windows 7 is convenient, but appears to hide the “run as administrator” option. We’ll find it.
What is "Windows.old" and can I delete it?
Windows Setup may leave the prior installation of Windows on your hard disk as a backup safety measure. I’ll discuss and then delete it.
Is it OK to use this random wireless network that I just found?
When scanning for wireless connections you may find several that are unknown yet and appear open and available. Using them is risky. Very risky.
My computer logs out immediately on login, what do I do?
If you’re logged out as soon as you log in to Windows it’s likely that your anti-malware tools removed an infection along with your ability to login.
If I get this particular backup device, can I then use it to restore my entire system?
Having a device on which to backup data is only half the battle. If you want it to be able to restore your entire machine, additional steps are needed.
How many failed product key attempts do I get before I have to call Microsoft to install Windows?
Your product key must be entered when you install Windows, and can be wrong as many times as you like. Activation happens separately and later.
Can I backup multiple machines to the same drive?
With multiple machines connected to a local area network, it’s often reasonable to have some of them backup over the network to a shared backup drive.
Can I upgrade Windows XP to Windows 7 by upgrading to Windows Vista first?
There’s no direct upgrade path from Windows XP to Windows 7, but upgrading to Windows Vista first works, in theory. In practice? It’s risky.
Should I buy my own DSL modem?
DSL modems are typically provided by your ISP. Most people don’t realize that you can often purchase your own … but should you?
Can a virus infect my computer's BIOS?
It is possible for a virus to be written that hides itself in certain BIOS’s. The good news is that a BIOS virus is extremely rare.
What's a BIOS?
BIOS, for Basic Input Output System, is the software already built in to you computer. It’s primary job? Load other software.
Is it possible to hack an IP address?
You cannot hack an IP address, as it’s fundamental to routing data on the internet. However, there are scenarios where IP addresses can appear the same.
Does leaving my external hard drive connected put its contents at risk from malware?
An external hard drive does run certain risks when it comes to malware, but often not the ones we think of. Avoiding malware remains the best solution.
Does using a virtual machine keep me safer?
By running a non-Windows OS within Windows using a virtual machine you can avoid some issues, but only certain types.
Why should I use a different computer to send anonymous email?
Sending truly anonymous email can be tricky, and just about any piece of semi-consistent data can be used to ID you, often including your machine name.
Does private browsing or stealth mode count as anonymous surfing?
Private Browsing modes protect your privacy on your machine, while Anonymous surfing protects your identity on the internet. They’re not related.
How can I close my deceased relative's Hotmail account?
If hackers or spammers gain access to or spoof the account of a deceased individual it can be very difficult to regain control or close the account.
Ask Leo! Stickers
By popular demand, Ask Leo! stickers are now available two different ways: Buy Leo a Latte or Buy Leo a Beer. Here’s how it works: when you buy me a beverage valued at $5 or more my assistant will send you 3 stickers in the mail. Direct Purchase: you can purchase additional stickers in my … Read more
How should I protect my computer from theft when I leave home?
Keeping your home computer safe from theft and data loss is surprisingly hard. Complete protection isn’t simple and simple protection isn’t complete.
Are computers simply too unsafe to use?
With all the attention that malware and security issues keep getting it’s easy to think that there’s no hope for safe computing. There is.
Do I want to let my browser automatically detect settings?
Browsers are often configured to automatically detect settings as a convenience for networks that use proxy servers. Most of us don’t need this.
Do I want 32-bit or 64-bit Windows?
When installing or upgrading to the latest version of Windows, one of the first decisions is 32-bit or 64-bit? I’ll look at which you should choose.
How can I tell if my computer is infected?
Sometimes it seems obvious, sometimes not, but ultimately there’s no way to prove that a computer is not infected. Best we can do is increase the odds.
Why are those "retype the word" tests so twisted, faded and blurred?
“Retype the word” or more properly CAPTCHA tests are designed to prove you’re not a computer – and that difficult to read text is part of the test.
