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 am I suddenly getting spam?
Getting spam is the norm these days. If you suddenly start getting spam when before you had not, the question isn’t “why?” – it’s “what took so long?”
Can I recover data after I accidentally formatted my hard disk?
Formatting a hard disk erases everything on it. Depending on how the hard disk was formatted, it might be possible to recover data. Or not.
RSS and Google Reader – Subscribe to information feeds and read it all for free
RSS Feeds are a great way to stay on top of the latest news and postings made to blogs and many other websites and services.
Is it possible for a hacker to get my Hotmail password without access to my computer?
It’s easy to think that as long as you keep your computer out of other people’s hands you’re safe. It’s nowhere near that simple.
What's your background? Did your University education help?
I frequently get asked about my background, and what factors into success in technology. We’ll cover my education, and things even more important.
Will my Windows XP computer work with a USB keyboard?
Windows XP supports USB keyboards, but before it boots there’s a period where your USB keyboard may, or may not, work.
Is it ok to have more than one firewall?
Firewalls can do a good job protecting you from internet threats, but having too many of the wrong kind can cause conflicts.
Why is my modem taking longer and longer to connect?
With some ISPs devaluing dialup in favor of broadband, there are many reasons dialup might start to get slightly more problematic over time.
How do I remove a virus from a memory card?
Lately memory cards, such as used in digital cameras, have been used as “carriers” of malware. The card is easy to clean. Your system may not be.
Sometimes the only solution is to have someone look at your machine.
Diagnosing some types of failures remotely can be extremely difficult. Sometimes you just need to have someone get hands-on with the machine.
How do I send periodic email to a large number of people?
Because of spam, sending email newsletters and other large quantities of email requires serious consideration, and in many cases, professional help.
AWeber Email Service Provider for email newsletters and more
AWeber provides high quality email newsletter and autoresponder services with one of the highest deliverability records in the industry.
How can I protect my email from being read by others using my computer?
When sharing a computer with others it’s important to understand the level of trust you have. That dictates how much security will, and won’t work.
What's this spam-fighting technique called?
Challenge/Response is a controversial spam fighting technique that forces senders to validate themselves before their email will be accepted.
How do I know when it's time to replace my computer?
The decision of when to replace a computer is not an easy one. It involves not just replacement costs, but the cost of your time as well.
Is there any way to completely stop downloads and updates to my PC?
It might or might not be possible to stop programs from automatically updating themselves. Most of the time, though, you don’t want to interfere.
How should I save my old emailed love letters?
Archiving email of any form is an exercise involving file formats, the flexibility of your email program, and even a prediction about the future.
Internet Explorer pictures not displayed – how do I bypass security so that they are?
Internet Explorer will sometimes not display pictures. Bypassing security settings occasionally helps but there are also other settings to check.
Where can I get a free antivirus for my computer?
There are many free antivirus programs available for your computer. We’ll look at some of them, including the one I’m currently evaluating.
How do i totally delete a virus on my computer?
Once infected knowing that you’ve removed a virus totally is theoretically impossible. In reality we most often assume that it can be done anyway.
On Kids, Parents and the Internet
An old problem finds a home on new technology: cyber bullying and other internet related harassment seems to be on the rise. What’s a parent to do?
Why can't my anti-virus program open certain files?
Depending on how anti-virus programs work, certain files may not be scanned. In some cases that’s expected and nothing to worry about.
How can I delay programs that start automatically?
Lots of software starts when you login to Windows, but you have very little control over timing and order. There are free solutions available.
Why is mail being sent to all my contacts?
One of the earliest and most common ways that viruses propagate is by using your address book to email all your contacts. Protection is required.
Is it safe to perform maintenance on a recovery partition?
Many machines come with a portion of their hard disk set aside as a recovery partition. When visible as a drive, some maintenance operations are safe.
Does installing a chat program pose any additional risks?
Chat and IM programs allow communication to people all over the internet. They often also include file transfer ability, and that can pose a risk.
Acronis TrueImage Home – Backup Software
Acronis TrueImage Home is a cost-effective, easy to use, reliable backup software solution.
Do I need MS Office updates if I only have the viewers?
The view-only Microsoft Office components may, or may not be affected by the updates to their full versions. We’ll look at what to consider.
Why is DSL so much more complicated to setup than cable?
The technology used to connect to the internet – DSL, Cable or something else – actually plays less of a role in setup complexity than you might think.
My computer froze, and I lost my work in progress – what can I do?
Sooner or later you’ll lose something that you’re working on due to a crash or other failure. There are habits you can develop to minimize the impact.
Why am I getting a bounce to an email I sent from someone I didn't send it to?
Often times when you send an email and there’s a problem you’ll get a bounce in return. If that bounce is from someone else, something might be fishy.
Why am I not getting some emails in my MSN Live Hotmail account?
One of the casualties of the war against spam is reliable email deliverability. Sometimes mail simply never shows up. We’ll look at what can be done.
How can I archive old hard disks?
Old machines and old hard disks have a way of accumulating over time. We’ll look at a few ways to keep the contents without keeping the entire machine.
How do I post a long link in email?
Long URLs or Links can cause problems when sent in email programs, since many email programs try to be helpful by forcing text to fit a fixed width.
Can my company read the email I send via Hotmail on my work computer?
When sending email on a company owned computer or using a company owned network, the company can watch. They can likely read your email and much more.
How do I get Windows XP SP3 on CD?
Windows XP SP3 is releasing. If you’re on dial-up, or have many machines, you may want to wait for the Network Install or for a CD to be available.
Who should I believe?
With different support resources offering frequently conflicting advice, how do you decide who’s right? Which tech support resource do you believe?
How do I fix bad sectors on a flash drive?
Once a flash drive starts to show wear by having errors, you shouldn’t treat it like a hard disk. You’ll be much safer replacing it.
What does it mean when you recommend something?
I occasionally recommend specific products or services. I’ll clarify exactly what it takes to get a recommendation, and what it means.
How Do I Protect Users on My Network from Each Other?
Be it tenants or children, it’s common to have machines on your network that you can’t trust. A secure solution involves setting up another network.
Some Other Podcasts
As I discontinue my weekly podcast, a few recommendations on other podcasts that I listen to.
Is it safe to post a picture of the product stickers when I auction a software package?
There are several stickers containing important information on product boxes. Some are generic and safe to display. Others are most definitely not.
Why can't I undelete these files?
Deleting a file doesn’t necessarily remove the data from disk. It then becomes a race to recover it before it’s overwritten by something else.
How do I view what cookies I have, and which are safe to delete?
Anti-spyware programs often list cookies as suspect without much explanation. We’ll look at how to find out a little more, and what to do. Or not.
Will Microsoft continue to support activating and patching Windows XP after they stop selling it?
Windows XP will soon no longer be available for purchase. We look at what that implies for Windows XP Support and Activation.
Windows XP SP3 is releasing, should I install it?
Windows XP SP3 is about to be released. Should you jump on the bandwagon immediately and install it? That depends on your tolerance for risk.
Podcasting, 3 Years Later
I’m considering discontinuing my podcast, and reflect on podcasting in general.
What is Java?
Java might appear on your computer, but it’s nothing to worry about. Java is a programming language that likely was used by a web page you visited.
How do I delete the default screensavers in Windows XP?
Screen savers are easy to locate and delete, unless they’re one of the default set included in Windows. Then extra steps are needed.
What are cabinet files?
Cabinet files are container files often used to distribute software. What to do with left over cabinet files after setup is done isn’t always clear.
