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.
I've lost the password to a "zip" file. How do I open the file?
ZIP files are a archive format that includes optional password protection. If you don’t have the zip file password you may still be able to get in.
Why does my anti-spyware program keep reporting the same cookies?
Many anti-spyware programs repeatedly report cookie or tracking cookie issues. Are those spyware? Maybe. Maybe not. Some thoughts on what to do.
So What About Open Office?
Is it time to look at Open Office more seriously?
How do I send email to a lot of people at once?
It’s very tempting to build a group or list in your email program to send mail to them all at once. But if the group is big, it probably won’t work.
How do I get a password reset or reminder sent to my alternate email if I can't login to it?
Many people fail to set up alternate email addresses correctly, rendering password resets and reminders useless. We look at how best to set them up.
What is msmsger.exe?
Msmsger.exe is, most likely, an imposter. Trying to look like something legitimate, msmsger.exe is probably malware.
Malware Using the News
A recent worm is using breaking news to peak your interest. Don’t fall for it.
What does it mean when a site says they "receive and store certain information"?
Privacy statements of many websites have wording that indicate they receive and store information. We’ll look at just what that might mean.
Can I recover from a virus by just restoring my registry?
Viruses and other malware often work in part by making changes to your registry, so it’s tempting to think that’s all that needs to be restored. It’s not.
Why isn't my Outlook PST getting smaller after deleting emails?
Deleting items in an Outlook PST doesn’t mean that space will be freed up right away. We’ll look at two reasons, and two ways around it.
What's a botnet? Or zombie? And how do I protect myself from whatever it is?
Botnets are implicated in the increase in spam in recent months. Bad news: many are infected and part of the problem. Good news: it’s easy to avoid.
How do I display my MSN Hotmail or other email in the order it was sent?
Every so often the sort order of email in your inbox may change unexpectedly. A stray click can do that, and a not-so-stray click can fix it.
How do I determine the capabilities of my wireless network adapter?
Figuring out the speed capability of your wireless network card may not be obvious. Using Windows you can examine the wireless card’s properties.
The Need for Speed
No matter how fast, the internet is never fast enough.
How do I stop, start and generally control videos I watch on the web?
More and more video is being placed on the web. Unfortunately, not every video producer is giving us the control we want. I look at how this comes to be.
Why is my friend getting two copies of my mail?
Getting multiple copies of email is most often a problem at the receiving end. We’ll look at both sending and receiving, and the most common causes.
TightVNC free remote control
A free alternative to Remote Desktop, TightVNC is compatible with Mac and Linux as well as providing remote access to Windows XP Home.
Can software firewalls and security packages cause problems?
Software firewalls and other security packages can definitely help keep things more secure, but they can also add their own level of confusion as well.
How do I know if I'm behind a NAT router?
NAT routers are a fundamental way to share an internet connection while protecting you at the same time. You may already have one. It’s easy to check.
Do ebook copy protection schemes work?
When publishing an ebook for sale, it’s natural to want to retain control over distribution. Sadly many techniques simply add barriers to purchasers.
Do I need all these instant messaging programs?
There are lots of instant messaging services. It’d be wonderful if we could talk to anyone on any service from any other service. Sadly, that’s not to be.
Running Without a Net
I discuss those few brave individuals who run Windows without recommended protection.
How do I extend my network wirelessly?
Extending your network using wireless technology holds both promise and complexity. Here are some ideas to extend a network using wireless networking.
How do I put my business on the web?
Every business should have some kind of presence on the web, but it’s not always obvious how to start. I share a couple of ideas.
Will sending someone a link to my Hotmail allow them to get in?
It’s easy to mistakenly send someone a link directly to your Hotmail mail. The good news it that, unless they know your password, it’s a benign mistake.
Why do I get "There is another user logged onto your computer" when I shut down?
‘There is another user logged onto your computer’ happens when another user is logged in. That can happen in a couple of ways – one obvious, one not.
Are Web-based Applications any Good?
I look at the potential, and risks, of applications such as Google Docs & Spreadsheets, and Zoho.
The link I want to use to post a picture on MySpace is too long, what can I do?
Putting pictures into comments on MySpace is easy – unless the URL is too long. We look at how to post a picture in a MySpace comment with a long URL.
Why is using Hotmail for my business such a bad idea?
Many small businesses uses free email services such as Hotmail as a shortcut or cost saving measure. Unfortunately it can costs them business in the long run.
Do you have a disaster plan?
A disaster prompts thoughts on the plan that’s keeping Ask Leo! running.
How do I upgrade to USB 2.0?
Older computers may have only the slower USB 1.1 interface. Adding USB 2.0 isn’t difficult, but it does require a hardware addition.
Sometimes, it's not what you think
I share some frustrations in my steps to recover data from a friends hard disk.
How do I defragment my new hard disk?
Defragmenting is a useful bit of maintenance to keep your hard disks speedy. It’s not always needed, though. We’ll look at when, and how, to defrag.
How can I connect to my DSL modem if I don't have a network card?
Most computers come with ethernet these days, but if you have an older machine that doesn’t, there are alternatives.
How do I keep people from seeing possibly private things on my shared computer?
Sharing a computer is common, but it’s fraught with issues. It’s all too easy to expose your private information by accident if you share a computer.
Why can't I open attachments in Hotmail?
Opening attachments in Hotmail is easy – if Hotmail lets you. If Hotmail doesn’t support the attachment type, Hotmail won’t open the attachment. Period.
Is Free Software Worth it?
If you get what you pay for, what if you pay nothing?
7-zip File Archiving Utility
There are many win ZIP archive programs. 7-Zip is free zip software, full featured, compatible and the zip software I recommend.
How do I download my Hotmail messages to my computer?
Downloading Hotmail messages to your computer is easy – or it’s not – depending on your account. I look at some ways to download Hotmail messages, including the one I actually use myself.
Why does Windows Explorer take so long to display sometimes?
Windows Explorer can often take an unexpectedly long time to display its initial screen. There are several common causes of Windows Explorer’s delay.
How do I change Windows sounds?
Changing the sounds that Windows plays on certain events is easy – once you know where to look.
Switching to Thunderbird
I take the plunge
I get "Error Number: 0x800CCC19" when sending email – how do I fix it?
Error Number 0x800CCC19 is a timeout, which can be caused by many things. Most common appears to be interference by your anti-virus program.
My '2' key stopped working. How do get Windows to recognize it again?
Every so often a keyboard stops working or acts up. It’s tempting to look everywhere but at the most likely culprit: the keyboard itself.
"Unable to update region settings" – how do I fix that on my DVD drive?
DVD Region Codes are intended to restrict where a DVD can be played. Computer DVD drives can sometimes alter region codes, but only a few times.
Can NtUninstall folders be deleted?
Folders called $NtUninstall******$ can appear in your Windows directory. We’ll look at what they are, and whether or not they can be safely deleted.
It's That Time of Year Again
The holidays are just around the corner.
Can I find my Hotmail mail on my machine somewhere?
Web based email services like Hotmail keep your mail on their servers. But your browser might be caching the email you read on your hard disk.
Making the Podcast
How I do it – with video!
Where is 'C:\DOCUME~1'? I can't find it on my hard disk.
Error messages frequently include filenames of the form ‘DOCUME~1’ which seem nowhere to be found. They’re actually there, just by another name.
