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.
Why does IE7 still seem to be around after installing IE8?
After updating IE7 to IE8 some folders and setting may be left that make it appear that IE7 has not been completely uninstalled. We’ll speculate why.
Why do file timestamps compare differently every time change?
Twice a year when daylight saving time or summertime begins and ends, file time comparisons can be off if you’re using differing file systems.
SimpleURL – Inexpensive Domain Registration … with Service
SimpleURL is a domain registrar that I’ve used for many years that provides low prices and excellent support.
Does forwarding email introduce risk?
Forwarding email from one account doesn’t add major technical risk, but there are issues that doing so can introduce, and cause IT admins concern.
If all I do is web browsing, email and video, do I still need to back up?
Even if you use your computer as nothing more than a gateway to the internet it’s likely that you still need to take care to back up important data.
What do I do if my machine didn't include installation or driver disks?
Manufacturers sometimes skimp on including installation or driver discs when a system comes preinstalled. I’ll review options, and what you should do.
How can I sign a digital document without needing to print it?
If you get a digital document requiring your actual signature you can avoid paper, but signing a digital document electronically may have issues.
How many copies are made when I email a picture?
Computers are great at making copies of data, and that’s very true when you send a message. Two, three or even more copies, some temporary, may result.
Why is Outlook Express sending multiple copies of my email?
Occasionally Outlook Express may try to send a message repeatedly. We’ll look into a couple of causes, and solutions, to sending multiple copies.
My Windows Live Hotmail account won't close, what do I do?
People often find themselves in a position where they cannot close their Hotmail account. I’ll look at why this might be, and why I’m confused.
How do I tell if I have 32 bit or 64?
Determining whether or not your process or operating system is 32 or 64 bit is very easy with the aid of a tiny tool, and knowing where to look.
How do I get rid of boot choices in Windows 7?
It can be confusing to remove multi-boot choices for operating systems that have been removed. We’ll walk through the simple process for Windows 7.
Does running Windows in a virtual machine protect me from viruses?
Virtual machines are powerful tools that used properly can provide a safe and secure sandbox – used improperly they’re as vulnerable as anything else.
If I replace my hard drive will I lose my ability to restore to original settings?
Harddrives often contain more than you think. Replacing or losing one may also cause system recovery information to be lost as well.
How should I protect myself when other people use my computer?
Allowing others to use your computer is risky, at best, but as this story shows, can lead to some serious and potentially expensive ramifications.
How do I move installed applications from Windows XP to Windows 7 when I don't have installation media?
When upgrading or moving to a new PC you’ll probably need the installation media for your applications. Without it, things can get difficult.
Can you have too much RAM? Is 64bit just a marketing ploy?
64 bit machines and 64 bit support are becoming more common, which begs the question: is it hype, or is it worth it? And how much RAM is enough?
The Volume Indicator Has Disappeared from My System Tray. How Do I Get It Back?
The volume indicator allows you to control the sound output by your computer. It can disappear, and the option to enable it has moved around a little.
Is it safe to buy software on EBay?
Software on EBay is often deeply discounted and very lucrative. The problem is that those deep discounts sometimes indicate issues to be wary of.
Why is my "generic volume in use" when removing my external hard drive?
Before you can remove a removable device, Windows needs to make sure no programs are still accessing it. If one or more are, you can’t “safely remove”.
My anti-spyware tool is reporting errors in my hosts file. What is that, and why?
The hosts file can be used to send you to or prevent you from reaching malicious sites. Different anti-spyware tools can bump into each other checking on this.
Is keeping an image backup of my cleanly installed machine a good idea?
An image backup can serve as a great checkpoint to restore to in the event of failure, and can even help avoid needing to reformat and reinstall.
How Do I Type in Characters and Symbols that Aren’t on My Keyboard?
There are literally thousands of different characters; many more than would fit on a keyboard. There’s an approach to type the less common ones.
Why is downloaded email disappearing immediately?
Anti-malware software can interfere with email such that email disappears immediately, or other features of the email program stop working or worse.
What's the difference between anti-virus, anti-spyware and internet security software?
Malware terminology has become more confusing over time. Definitions for anti-virus, anti-spyware and internet security are unclear and inconsistent.
Why did my email apparently get delivered to the wrong person?
Email addresses are by definition, fairly specific. It’s unlikely but malware, misconfiguration or other interference could cause misdeliveries.
What are Root Certificates, and why do I need to update them?
Root certificates are a critical part of how encrypted connections like https validate the site you’re connecting to. Updates happen periodically.
How do I send you files that clarify the problem I'm having?
I encourage people to be as complete as possible in the questions submitted, and typically do not accept supporting files.
Restoring An Image Using Acronis TrueImage Home
Your machine has crashed, and the hard disk reformatted or replaced – it’s time to restore your entire machine from an image.
Can I repartition my hard disk to remove CRC errors?
Repartitioning is not an effective way to deal with CRC errors or bad sectors. At best repartitioning will only hide or delay the error.
How do I stop QuickTime from playing audio files in my browser?
QuickTime Player, a popular player for various formats, has a nasty habit of inserting itself into your browser, and being difficult to remove.
How do I make system tray icons go away permanently?
Many applications like to add an icon to the system tray or notification area. Unfortunately, controlling what goes there isn’t as easy as we’d like it to be.
What's the difference between a recovery disk and an installation disk?
Computers with pre-installed operating systems often include a recovery disk. Unfortunately, you might find out too late that’s not what you need.
How Do Programmers Create Interactive Games?
The techniques used to create games are as varied as the games themselves. We’ll look at a couple of common characteristics.
How easy is it to forge or alter email?
Email is easy, ubiquitous, and almost trivial to forge or alter. We’ll look at why that is, what it means, and one approach to avoiding it.
My laptop only seems to support WEP encryption, how do I get WPA2?
Selecting WPA or WPA2 encryption is important, but not all hardware supports it. We’ll look at what to do if your computer doesn’t support WPA2.
Is Windows Live Hotmail about to close my account?
People continue to fall for what more experienced users would say are laughably bogus phishing attempts. I’ll analyze why one common attempt is so bad.
Restoring A File Using Acronis TrueImage Home
We have our backup program running, now it’s time to try restoring a file from that backup.
Why does the mouse on one computer move the pointer on another?
Wireless keyboards and mice broadcast their information in such a way that other computers might be able to listen in.
How do I disable my laptop touchpad?
Whether or not your laptop’s touch pad can be disabled depends on the software used to configure it. It might be easy, or it might be impossible.
Is Yahoo (or Gmail or Hotmail or …) reading my email?
Many of the free email services run ads along side your email that are targeted to the content of the message. My opinion? Nothing to worry about.
Scheduling Automatic Backups with Acronis TrueImage
Now that we’ve created our first full backup, it’s time to let Acronis do it’s job automatically – we’ll schedule an automatic backup task.
Should I consider the 64 bit version of Windows 7?
With Windows 7 imminent and 64 bit capable hardware more common, many people are wondering if it’s time to make the switch to 64 bits with Windows 7.
Why doesn't accessing a site by its IP address work?
It’s not uncommon for tens, if not hundreds of websites to be located on a single web server. When that happens, an IP address just isn’t enough.
I thought my posts were private/anonymous/protected?
Google was forced by court order to reveal the identity of an “anonymous” blogger. It’s worth understanding the risks that this implies.
How can I best connect to the internet while driving?
There are many options for connecting while traveling, but for connectivity while literally on the road there’s only one practical solution.
Making a Full Backup using Acronis TrueImage
Our first step after installing Acronis and creating rescue media is to create a full backup.
Why can't I copy/paste out of a PDF document?
PDF format is an excellent way to share documents knowing that they’ll display the same regardless of where viewed. You can do more, sometimes.
Why do I have Internet Explorer temporary files if I never use it?
Internet Explorer runs deeper than most people realize. Portions of what we think of as IE are in fact part of Windows itself.
What does "Cannot copy – the request could not be performed because of an I/O device error" mean, and what do I do?
I/O device errors indicate a problem with storage media you’re attempting to read from or write to. I/O device errors should not be ignored.
