Articles in Category: Administration
Items related to Leo, Ask Leo! and overall website and related operations and administrivia.
Why does my internet connection slow down sometimes?
We’ve come to rely on our internet connections and quickly notice when speed isn’t what it should be. The problem is that there are many possible reasons.
Can I prevent a file from being deleted?
It’s possible to make it very difficult to delete a file, but someone with motivation and physical access to your machine might still cause trouble.
How do you remove wireless connections in Vista?
It’s possible to accidentally connect to wireless networks you didn’t expect. We’ll look at how to make sure you get the connection you expect.
How do I format and partition my new external hard disk?
Partitioning and formatting a new disk, internal or external, is often not needed but it’s easy to do using Windows built-in disk manager.
What is Silverlight, and do I need it?
Silverlight is Microsoft’s new collection of software to support rich web-based applications. You may not need it yet, but eventually you might.
How secure is standby mode?
When your computer is put into standby mode, it’s turned off … mostly. And it might wake up again on its own. Is that an added risk? Not really.
Is it safe to uninstall updates?
Some updates might be safe to uninstall, but doing so makes some risky assumptions. Most programs keep only the patches they need.
How do I transfer my email from one ISP to another?
Actually moving a web based email account to a different provider is nearly impossible. We’ll look at some of the reasons and alternatives.
How do you keep track of new mentions of yourself on the internet?
There are many tools to search for interesting keywords. Combined them with an RSS reader and you can easily stay up to date on topics you care about.
ScamBusters.org – Keep Yourself Safe from Internet Scams and More
ScamBusters.org is a web site and resource dedicated to educating people about keeping themselves safe from internet scams in all forms.
How do I backup and restore the registry?
“First backup the registry” is a common instruction when troubleshooting other problems. We look at three different ways to backup the registry.
Will putting a label on a CD hurt it?
Putting a label on a CD or DVD you’ve burned yourself seems like a good way to identify it later, but you do need to be careful in how you label it.
Can I save the Sent Items folder to CD in Outlook Express?
Microsoft’s ubiquitous Outlook Express is a very popular email program, but suffers from several limitations. Saving multiple messages at once is one.
What's an "instance"?
In casual computing the term instance frequently signifies one of multiple copies of the same running program.
Why can't I create a folder named CON? (And other "Crazy Facts")
Unexplained behavior can often seem mysterious and even magical, until the real, more mundane reasons are understood. And so it is with Windows.
Foxit Reader – A Faster Free PDF Reader
Foxit Reader is fast, free alternative to Adobe Reader for 99% of PDF documents.
Can I tell when my Hotmail account was created?
Windows Live Hotmail will typically show you the date your Windows Live account was created – even if it was created before Windows Live existed.
What's the difference between RAM and a Memory Module?
The terms RAM and Memory Module are occasionally used interchangeably, but in fact they’re two different ways of looking at computer memory.
Is DHCP safe?
DHCP is a fundamental technology to assign IP addresses to computers connected to a network. There are scenarios where DHCP might be spoofed.
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.
