Articles in Category: Administration
Items related to Leo, Ask Leo! and overall website and related operations and administrivia.
How can I get the IP address of someone I'm instant messaging, and does it actually identify them?
Instant messaging programs often do not actually connect directly to the other person. Even when they do the IP address doesn’t tell you much.
How do I change the icon of a desktop shortcut?
Creating a shortcut is easy and there’s an interface for changing the icon. Though not obvious, there’s a large selection of icons to choose from.
Does Sharing a Computer Mean that I’m Sharing My Google Web History?
It’s actually difficult to maintain privacy on a shared computer. Google’s web history is one reason, but your browser’s history is another.
What is thumbs.db, and can I delete it?
Thumbs.db is a thumbnail cache used by Windows Explorer to speed up some types of folder displays. You can delete it and prevent more from appearing.
Why can't I access the Documents and Settings or Local Settings folders in Windows Vista?
Two previously standard folders, “Documents and Settings” and “Local Settings”, appear to be locked in Windows Vista. The reason: they’ve been moved.
Vista, or not?
Vista’s cool and all that, but is it a compelling upgrade?
Why can't I enable the Run command?
The option to display the Run command on your Start menu is controlled by options that themselves can be hidden. We’ll look at restoring those options.
How do I translate a URL to an IP address?
Mapping a domain to an IP address is very easy with several tools, both on your machine and on the internet. I’ll look at the two I use.
Where can I download Windows XP?
Windows XP can probably be downloaded from illegal file sharing sites, but a) that’s illegal and b) there’s no product key. There’s one alternative.
I'm being notified of an intrusion attempt, what should I do?
Intrusion attempts are actually common – you’d be surprised at how much internet traffic is due to infected machines trying to infect other machines.
Are You Ready for Your House to Burn Down? [rerun]
Hopefully it will never happen, but being prepared is a must.
How should I clean my computer?
A lot of time and thought goes into cleaning your hard disk, applications and so on. But what about the box itself and other attached peripherals?
Chkdsk runs on every boot, but fails, and my system is unstable. What can I do?
Chkdsk will run on boot if the system has detected problems with your hard disk. If it fails the problem may be serious and can result in instability.
How do I play this video file?
Video formats are a confusing mess. Fortunately there are a couple of ways that you can often get downloaded videos to play without too much fuss.
Out of Office Replies are Evil [rerun]
Yes, they are. Really.
Why am I getting password reset mails for my Hotmail account?
Getting unsolicited password reset requests for your Hotmail account could be someone trying to hack you, or it could just be a phishing attack.
Should I convert my FAT32 drives to NTFS?
FAT32 and NTFS are two different file systems or ways of storing data on hard disks. Each have pros and cons. I tend to prefer NTFS, and explain why.
Do I still need anti-virus software if my computer came with a security suite?
Many computers come pre-configured with security suites. I’ll look at why you might or might not want to keep them, and why they might not be free.
What does "check system fan" mean?
Your system fan is an important component of your system. If the fan fails your system could fail or some components could even be damaged.
Will Net Radio Survive?
If you listen to much internet radio, you may want to help save it.
I hear TV and Radio are converting to all digital. How will that affect me?
Digital TV is mandated to be deployed in the US within the next two years. Depending on how you get your signal, you may or may not be affected.
How should I backup my hard drive with several partitions to an external drive?
Backing up to an external drive is an easy way to make sure you’re covered in event of failure. But how should that external drive be configured?
How Can I Do Dictation on My Computer Using My Voice Recorder?
It’s tempting to want to record speech on the road and then automatically transcribe it to your PC. The technology’s not there, but alternatives exist.
All hail … the iPhone?
It’s a very cool device. And I’m not getting one.
How do I automatically redirect one web page to another?
It’s sometimes the case that you’ll want one URL to automatically forward to another. We’ll look at several approaches to redirecting URLs.
Why do I need a default browser?
The default browser is the application Windows uses to handle web and .html pages. There are ways to specify that a different application be used.
How do I maximize data transfer speed on my LAN?
Network performance tuning can be a black art but some simple decisions and configurations can easily set you up with a reasonably fast network.
First, Count to 10
In email the quickest response is not always the most appropriate.
What are alternate data streams, and are they a security risk?
Alternate data streams are a little known and little understood feature of NTFS that allows information to be effectively hidden within other files.
Why can't I get two access points to work at the same time?
Adding a second access point to your network is a great way to extend your range. But you’ll need to take care to avoid configuration conflicts.
Can my spouse really read my IM conversations?
It’s possible for someone on your local network to monitor and perhaps even log internet traffic. That could easily include your IM conversations.
How do I turn off Data Execution Prevention errors?
Data Execution Prevention, or DEP, can prevent certain types of malware exploits. Unfortunately not all programs are compatible with DEP.
The Catch with DRM-Free iTunes
It seems like a blunder, but was it a brilliant plan?
Will my system be faster if I make my C: drive a flash drive?
USB Flash drives are useful for many things, but not for running your system from them long term. We’ll look at why, and a Windows Vista alternative.
How secure am I on a VPN?
Connecting to a VPN can introduce risks as you expose your machine to others on that same VPN. Fortunately it’s easy to increase your personal security.
How do I get something to open automatically when I log in to Windows?
It’s often convenient to have something start automatically when you login. There are two places you can specify this that are pretty easy to use.
How do I use a printer that's on another machine on my network?
Once Windows Networking is enabled on your local network it’s relatively easy to share printers as well as files. We’ll walk through the steps.
Why do these firewall tests say I've failed? Should I be worried?
For various reasons firewall vulnerability tests can be alarming. Issues they report can be actual problems, or not, depending on your situation.
Protecting Your Computer
There’s no one-stop solution.
Why can't we catch spammers and phishers?
It seems like it should be easy to trace spam and phishing attempts to their origin. Sometimes it is, but it’s often a very complex and costly process.
How do I send a link in email?
Sending a link in email isn’t that difficult, but guaranteeing that everyone who gets it can just click on it is impossible.
What's a "docx" file, and how did I get one?
“.docx” is the new extension used by Microsoft Word 2007. There are a couple of approaches if you’re exchanging documents with users of older versions.
I lost Outlook Express, how do I get it back?
Outlook Express shouldn’t disappear from your system, and might not have. We’ll examine places to look, and steps to take if it’s gone.
The Attitude That Helps
Hate change? Afraid to learn new things? That’ll hurt you more than any lack of skills when it comes to technology.
How do you ask a question when you don't even know the right words to use?
New words and concepts come along at a frightening pace and we’re all somehow expected to know what words to use to ask for help. Here are some ideas.
How do I switch Windows Live Hotmail back to the old style MSN Hotmail?
Windows Live Hotmail is the new interface to your Hotmail account. You can currently switch back to MSN Hotmail, but that may not stay true.
Why does the defrag program crash on my machine?
Defrag organizes the data on your disk for faster and more optimal access. If it crashes it’s probably a problem with the disk’s data.
Where is the Run command on Windows Start Menu?
Depending on your configuration and customization the Run command may not be visible on the Start menu. It’s easy to make it show up.
What's with Microsoft's Patents?
Is Microsoft going to sue everyone? Who knows?
Why do I get "No profiles have been created." when I try to use "Send Link…"?
No Profiles means that a mail program has not been configured properly. The confusion is that it might not be the mail program you’re expecting.
