Articles in Category: Administration
Items related to Leo, Ask Leo! and overall website and related operations and administrivia.
Can Hotmail let me switch between accounts?
Switching between Hotmail accounts requires logging out completely from one
and signing into another. Other methods might not give you the results you are
looking for.
How do I fix mydownloader.app crashing whenever I try to download something?
This particular problem with downloading sounds like something has inserted
itself in the computer system. It’s behaving suspiciously like malware.
Is there a way to place restore points on a drive other than the system drive?
System Restore can take up a lot of room on a hard drive. I have a better
recommendation than trying to move the restore points.
How can I connect multiple users to my machine at the same time?
Multiple computers stations that seem to be running off of one computer are
possible with Windows Server Software. This isn’t your usual XP machine.
Why would I lose all the data on my hard drive after a Windows reinstallation?
Reformatting and reinstalling an operating system will, by the very nature
of “reformat,” erase all the data on your computer. Yes, everything will be
erased. You will need to backup.
How Do You Perform a Backup to an External Drive that Is TrueCrypted?
Backing up data to a drive encrypted using Truecrypt is really no different than backing up to any other drive. I’ll review why that is and some of the variations of backing up with TrueCrypt.
Do you have any tips for writing batch files in Windows?
Batch files or scripts are sequences of commands written in text files that run as small programs. Windows has its own scripting language in the form of the Windows Command Prompt commands.
Should I dedicate a hard drive entirely for virtual memory?
Virtual memory doesn’t (or shouldn’t) fill an entire hard drive. There are
better ways to maximize performance.
My hard drive is overheating, how should I fix it?
An overheating hard drive is serious. Before replacing it, it’s best to solve the heat issue. Oh yes, and are you backed up?
How do I diagnose a machine that won't boot reliably?
Diagnosing a machine remotely with very little information is impossible. It
might be time for a local technician.
Can I keep my IP address from changing when I switch out my router?
IP addresses can seem confusing; email headers have them, routers have them,
web pages have them… how do you sort it all out?
How do I access Outlook Express emails saved into My Documents?
Outlook Express and Outlook run on the assumption that you will keep emails
within the programs data folders. Saving them to your documents creates a
difficult retrieval situation.
How do I confirm security on my ISP-provided wireless modem?
Securing your router is important. You may need to take an Ask Leo!
checklist to your internet provider to insure you are properly protected.
How do I clear system information off an old system drive?
When re-using a hard drive, erasing the old system information is certainly a good idea. The best approach might be to backup and reformat.
Are Evite invitations safe?
The rule of thumb, to keep your computer safe, is to not click on links
you are unsure of… but how do you be sure?
How do I delete mail on Gmail permanently?
The Delete button in Gmail will move the email to the trash and there is a
way to easily empty that trash.
How Do Compromised Signing Certificates Affect Me? And How Do I Stay Safe?
Https encryption and digital signatures used to validate some programs rely on an infrastructure of trusted signing authorities. Interesting things happen when one of those authorities is breeched, or makes a mistake.
I dropped my external hard disk, how do I recover the data?
Backed up means your data is in more than one place… then a broken drive
won’t matter as much. There are a few options to try.
Can I restore a backup to a partition smaller than it was when backed up?
Depending on the way your imaging software is written, this could be a
difficult to impossible task. There are a couple of hoops you may have to jump
through to get it to work. But that’s not the real problem!
Someone from Outlook Express offered to clean my machine, should I let them?
Outlook Express is a program. It can’t pick up the phone and give you a
call! Find out why I think this is a scam.
How can I hook up my desktop computer in my basement wirelessly to a router on a floor above?
Hooking into a wireless from a basement apartment can be tricky, depending on
construction of the house and distance from the router. You also need the right
equipment.
How do I restore my passwords after replacing my motherboard?
A motherboard does not remember passwords. Missing passwords must be caused
by something else that happened while you switched the motherboard out.
Do I need updated drivers for my camera that stopped working after installing Windows 7?
This sounds like a driver problem. Pre-installed Windows comes with
drivers for all the equipment on your machine; an upgrade often may not.
Can I combine two hard disk drives into a single logical drive?
It is possible, but the result has a hidden danger to consider. In this case, it’s best to go with the supported option.
Should I let my son just focus on coding in school?
Coding is not just about coding. To function well in the work world, a
student also needs to learn the many other skills taught at school. Yes, there
are a few things I would have done differently.
Is a Quick Scan the Proper Default for Security Software?
A quick scan is going to find a good percentage of malware problems. You
should also consider a full scan at the right time.
I accidentally deleted all my drivers, now what do I do?
Deleting your drivers is not good! Time to get out that installation media.
Can I connect two computers to my dual-input TV?
Connecting two monitors to a computer is common. You can go the other way
and connect two computers to one monitor if you have the right drivers and
hardware.
Can I copy a bootable DVD to my hard disk to burn again later?
ImgBurn is the tool for copying bootable DVDs. Not only can you copy the DVD to your drive, but you can use ImgBurn later to remake the bootable DVD.
Why do all my programs crash with "stopped working"?
Using overly aggressive registry cleaners can lead to numerous errors. The
solution might be painful.
Can I open Outlook PST files read-only?
It is not possible, as I understand it, to open a .pst file that is on read only media. This is a side effect of how Outlook works.
How do I login to my old Hotmail account after I create a new one?
You can only be logged into one Hotmail account at a time in a browser
window. That often feels like the other account just “disappeared.”
Will a dual core processor run single-threaded programs?
The way dual core processors work is quite complex. They allow the computer
to do two things at a time, but that may only help for programs that are
written multi-threaded.
Why am I only sometimes getting newsletters I signed up for? Is there a subscription limit?
Fighting spam is an incredibly complex and unfortunately inexact effort. Spam filters use data from many places – including you – to determine what is and is not spam. I’ll review what steps you should take to maximize getting what you expect.
How do I test my backups to DVD?
Macrium Reflect has a backup-verify step in its backup process that will
help in testing for these kinds of problems.
How do I test my backup to make sure it will work when I need it?
Making regular backups is critical, but once you’ve got that set up, how do you know what you have will in fact work when you need it? I’ll look at a couple of approaches.
If someone starts using my old email address could they find my information?
Online email providers have stringent security functions in place to reduce
duplication and hacking of email as much as possible.
Can information I posted years ago on a social site be cached and found on the deep web?
The best way to stay safe online is to consider that anything you post can
be cached, seen, and even copied. Don’t post anything you want kept
private.
Does an internet installation with a FiOS cable protect my system from possible lightning strikes?
FiOS cables have fiber optics, but there may still be wires connecting your
house.
Do SSD drives have a limited life expectancy because they are flash memory?
USB drives are made with different longevity requirements than Solid
State Drives (SSD). Life expectancy is now well managed.
Why is my computer making a loud noise since I upgraded the motherboard?
The noise could be from several culprits, but the first suspect should
always be the fan.
Where can I find drivers for adjusting sleep option, screen brightness and HDMI port?
Missing drivers? Best place to search for drivers is on the manufacturer’s website.
Why is my dropdown of websites suddenly gone and Facebook telling me I have a new IP address?
Websites can be cleaned from your drop-down menus and IP addresses can
change. That in itself is not indicative of a hack. A few steps will increase
security.
How can I send a hyperlink in an email?
Sometimes, it’s as easy as typing or pasting in the link. If that doesn’t
work, another simple step may be necessary.
Why did this Win32/OpenCandy malware come back, and how do I really get rid of it?
The world of malware and malware removal is complex. Occasionally, malware can’t be removed by some tools. Occasionally, it will return quickly. I’ll look at why and my approach to dealing with persistent pests.
Is the 'Keep Me Signed In' Option Immune to Password Changes?
If you check Keep Me Signed In when signing in to an online service, the idea is that you don’t have to specify your password again… unless you change your password.
Should I worry that Firefox wants to disable add-ons when it updates?
It’s inconvenient that Firefox’s new version numbering system sometimes
requires add-ons to be disabled for short periods of time. But the real
question is: do you need all those add-ons?
Why is my screen sometimes covered with random pipes, and often freezes?
Those crazy pipes running around on your screen is a standard Windows screen saver… but freezing indicates a problem.
Does configuring the number of CPU cores used during boot help anything?
Don’t touch that setting! This is a common myth about Window’s boot
configuration and changing it could only make things worse.
How can I download Internet Explorer?
Internet Explorer, most commonly, downloads from Microsoft as part of automatic updates. Find out how you can get it manually.
