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 compressing files reduce the chances of its being infected?
Compressing files for security can give you just a little bit of gain if
done with proper compression software. A better strategy is to have a good
security process in place.
Can I trust a failed flash drive if I reformat it?
Failing flash drives can be compensated for with regular backups. But you
can avoid the issue entirely if it’s inexpensive and easy to replace.
Is there an age or gender component to being comfortable with technology?
Many people are not comfortable with technology. Judging their lack of
knowledge and experience through stereotypes is not a good idea!
Is real-time anti-malware scanning really needed?
Stopping real-time anti-virus scans opens you up for sudden virus attacks
that you don’t see coming. Sometimes, email scans are a different problem.
Is “Defender” enough, or do I need additional anti-malware tools?
Multiple anti-virus programs should not be running real-time scans together.
They might conflict. I look at what you really need running on your
computer.
How do I record a streaming video?
Recording streaming video has both legal and technical difficulties. We’ll
take a look at how to do it and the ramifications around both issues.
How can I remove the shortcut arrow from a desktop icon?
Desktop icons with shortcut arrows indicate that you are not acting on the
program itself, but on a shortcut to the program. The arrow can be removed or
made transparent.
My program crashes when I drag the cursor too fast to copy something. How do I fix that?
Fast mouse movement causing a crash could be a symptom of several things.
But first, we need to determine exactly what is crashing.
What are all these domain references in my router log?
The number of different domains and sites referenced by a typical computer accessing the internet is often much more than most people realize. I’ll look at how to identify them and show an example of just how many might be referenced on a simple web page.
I have to minimize and restore my browser to see the page display. How do I fix this?
Restoring a browser to see the display is the sign of a video driver
problem. You can avoid the problem by using a different browser or take a few
steps to fix it.
Can you list some good alternative DSL modem/routers?
DSL routers and modems can fail, or drop connections, for many reasons. The
best solution is to talk to your ISP.
Is initiating a WiFi connection more sensitive than simply keeping an existing connection running?
Connecting to Wi-Fi is easier the closer you are to the access point. That’s
another reason to not use someone else’s connection in the neighborhood.
I have problems with Firefox. What’s a good alternative?
Firefox browser problems can often be solved by a re-install of Firefox
itself. Otherwise, any of the top three browsers will do the trick.
Why does SkyDrive require I login with my Hotmail account?
SkyDrive and Hotmail are related because they are both services offered in a
Microsoft account. You can use the SkyDrive account and ignore Hotmail to
whatever degree you want to.
Can I block spam based on country or time of day?
Blocking spam is a huge job. The state of the art in spam fighting these
days is complex technology that analyzes characteristics in each email based
on what users have marked as spam.
My webcam suffers from poor performance even at small resolutions. What I can do to make it work?
A webcam with poor performance could be caused by computer resources being
overloaded. There are a few places to start the diagnosis.
How do I make a URL clickable in email?
Clickable links in emails are often created automatically by the receiver’s
email program. They can also be manually created in rich text emails.
My screen is scrambled on return from standby. What can I do?
Standby can scramble the screen on your computer if drivers or BIOS are out
of date. Ultimately this is one of the reasons I have trained myself not to use
Standby.
Since so many other people have uploaded music to YouTube, can’t I do that legally too?
Copyrights on YouTube are a long and ongoing problem that is still, in many
ways, trying to get worked out.
Is it safe to donate or give away RAM?
Giving away memory sticks is a great idea and removing power will cause the
volatile memory to disappear.
Can my landlord see the websites I go to?
A landlord could conceivably see the websites you go to if you use a
shared internet connection. But there are ways to stay safe.
Should I accept application software updates relating to Windows 8 even though I’m running Windows 7?
Windows 8 updates can be included in software updates and should be
installed, even if you have not upgraded to 8.
Why isn’t my browser remembering my usernames any more?
Remembering passwords in a browser is not secure. They can be recovered very
easily. Rather than turn the option back on, let’s look at some other
solutions.
Is there a best or better way to set up multiple monitors?
Setting up multiple monitors is easily handled by Microsoft Windows. You may
want to consider resolution and size factors when looking at what to buy.
Will Outlook XP Work in Windows 8?
Upgrading XP to Windows 8 should not require you to change your email
service or programs, unless you are currently using Outlook Express.
Is there a way to search so the government can’t see what I’m doing?
Hiding your searches (potentially from the government) is not a practical
reality as you need to use an outside service to search the internet at
all.
What’s Open GL, and what do I do if it’s not supported, but needed?
“Open GL not supported” means that it is not available in your video driver
software. Getting it may be a problem.
How do I change a file from read-only to read/write?
Removing read-only is easily done in Windows Explorer… but the read-only notice may not be real.
Why Is Outlook so Slow to Receive Email?
Slow Outlook downloads could indicate problems in writing to the disk. I
walk through a series of steps to clean things up.
What should I do about saving my hardware drivers as so many instructions seem to recommend?
Device drivers should be saved if they are not in the original Windows
setup. That way, you can replace them easily if you need to.
How much of what you cover is applicable to Macs?
Ask Leo! has a lot of questions that are applicable to Macs as well as PCs.
My strength is in PCs, however, and that’s the majority of the questions that I
answer.
Why do some programs show up on the Add/Remove Programs list and not others?
Add/Remove programs is a database entry that should be completed when a program is
installed on your computer. If not, you need another way to uninstall.
How do I prevent a former employee sending email that looks like it’s from my company’s domain?
Stopping someone from sending from your domain name can only be done if they
are using your server to send. Otherwise, they may be spoofing.
I suspect the large number of emails and folders in my PST is causing problems with Outlook. How can I fix this?
Outlook can become unstable if the PST file is too large. There are several
ways to save and archive old emails and folders.
How can I protect my security when corresponding by email?
Email security can be enhanced by setting up an anonymous email account, but
that is still not completely totally secure.
Why would a taskbar item turn yellow when its application is minimized?
The taskbar icon changing color means that it is trying to tell you something.
If not, it shouldn’t have changed color.
How do I get video files I burn to CD to play in a specified order?
Setting an order for videos to play on a CD can be done easily. I’ll look at several things you may want to do when converting old videos.
Why does Internet Explorer crash when I try to print?
Internet Explorer crashing while printing can be caused by so many different
things. We’ll start by looking at add-ons.
Do disposable email addresses really add any security?
Disposable email addresses are not a security measure in the sense of
securing these accounts. They are a convenience and a spam management tool.
How do I copy-protect the text on my website?
Copy protecting websites is difficult, and I believe there is no practical,
technical solution.
My browser disappears while typing an email. How do I fix that?
“Desktop suddenly appears” means that a window has crashed. My belief is
that this is a browser issue.
Why isn’t the time on my computer the same as that on my self-synchronizing watch?
Time settings on electronic devices should be able to sync accurately, but
for some reason, they don’t. All I can say is I feel your pain!
If I have nothing to hide, do I still need a Windows password?
A Windows login password can be a minor inconvenience that can be disabled. Unfortunately, not having a Windows password does increase risk, even if you think there’s nothing of importance on your machine.
Why does Outlook still download deleted Gmail messages?
Downloading deleted email is a mystery! Perhaps it’s not really deleted and
you need to check some settings.
Why might my computer crash half way through playing a YouTube video?
Monitor going black while watching online video could indicate video
drivers, overheating, or even screen saving settings.
What’s the best way to archive an email newsletter I receive?
Organize email by using folders – and if you’re feeling motivated, see about
setting up rules to transfer email to the folder automatically.
Is there a better way to learn Linux than from a book?
Learning Linux is best done right on the internet with a copy of it in-hand so you
can explore and play.
Can my credit card information be read remotely?
Credit card theft “out of pocket” is possible with a new technology. And yes, foil in a wallet is a way to “foil” the thieves.
Why am I not getting 4G speeds on my 4G wireless modem?
4G internet connection speeds could suffer from signal strength issues or
interference. Windows settings won’t be an issue.
Why might I not be able to copy long filenames to an external device?
Long file name errors could be happening because of the disk format. The
first thing that I would confirm is that the file system can handle long file
names.
