Articles in Category: Administration
Items related to Leo, Ask Leo! and overall website and related operations and administrivia.
Why do some unsubscribes require me to retype my email address?
Retyping your email to unsubscribe is an unnecessary barrier to being removed
from an email list. With today’s technology, it should not be required.
How do I pick a wireless USB adapter?
Picking a wireless USB adapter is fortunately not a huge problem. It is
often good to go with a recommended solution, so you know you’ll be able to get
support.
Why isn't Malwarebytes Anti-malware recommended as standard security more often?
Malwarebytes for standard security is best used as a first step in a cleanup
job. It’s a great program to pull out when you suspect you have a problem.
How do I get my backup program to put the backup where I want?
Getting backup files where you want requires a proper backup program.
Windows backup on Vista computers has difficulties in that direction.
Why are hibernate and standby so difficult to get right?
Hibernate and standby are difficult to get right because there is a lot
involved in shutting down and recovering a computer system.
How do I get this video camera to work with Windows?
Getting a video camera to work in Windows requires the correct drivers.
You’ll run into problems if they are not available.
Why does some email arrive with the wrong sent time?
Email with the wrong time on the sender’s computer can result in a strange
sort order on the receiver’s end.
Will backup programs run if my computer is hibernating or in standby?
Backing up in hibernate or standby is generally not possible, unless your
backup program has a method of waking the computer up before the process
starts.
Is web-based email more secure than using a PC email program?
Web-based email is probably not more secure than running a PC-based
program… but as always, backing up is!
Why does Internet Explorer keep stopping and restarting?
Internet Explorer restarting over and over could be caused by a number of
things from add-ons to hardware acceleration.
Is there a way to test a machine that won't boot to see if the BIOS is the problem?
Testing for a BIOS problem is probably not possible on a computer with a
problem this severe. It may need professional diagnosis.
Can I upgrade my motherboard and CPU and have Windows just reconfigure itself?
Upgrading a motherboard and CPU can be tricky if you need to preserve data
and settings. I have one possible suggestion for a work-around.
Does getting a BluRay drive for my computer require a hardware upgrade?
A new BluRay player should just work although hardware may need to be
upgraded depending on video and CPU requirements.
How do I get Windows Explorer to sort in the correct order?
Windows Explorer sort order can be set by clicking on the column headers. It
works the same in application’s Open and Save dialog boxes.
Is there a difference between a USB Flash Drive and USB External Hard Disk?
USB Flash Drives and USB External Hard Disks can be used on your computer in
much the same way. There may be a few formatting requirements.
How do I make pop-up tooltip balloons stay up longer so I can read them?
Pop-up tooltip balloons can sometimes disappear before you have a chance to
read them. There are a few ways to capture them before they go away and no need
to stress over it.
Why are all my files automatically being compressed?
Automatically compressed files may or may not slow down a computer. It
depends on the speed of the disk and processor.
Why can't I send mail from my hotel room?
Hotels and other locations that provided internet connectivity, both free and as an add-on service, often take steps to avoid being exploited by spammers. This can affect your ability to send email.
Why is my new computer's internet access slower than that of my old computer?
A new computer’s internet access can be slowed down by the internet
connection itself or by trying to run too much software. There are a few
places to look.
How do I correct "An object could not be found" when closing a folder in Outlook?
Closing Outlook folders can be a problem if Outlook’s PST file is corrupted
somehow. Scanpst may fix the errors.
Can I create a backup image of Linux using Macrium or Acronis?
Backing up Linux computers with Windows backup programs (such as Macrium
Reflect or Acronis) is possible, but not necessarily practical.
How do I backup a website?
Backing up a website is an important step in web development. The best
method is to design locally.
Where can I best register an anonymous domain?
Registering an anonymous domain will hide your personal information from the
easily accessible public records, but it does not insure complete anonymity.
Why are there so many odd certificates listed in my browser?
Understanding certificates in your browser is tricky and deleting them not recommended. They are “by definition” supposed to be secure.
My touchpad stopped supporting multi-touch features. How do I re-enable them?
Touchpad multi-touch features are enabled through the drivers installed on
your computer. The place to go is the manufacturer’s website.
Are there problems if you put too many large files on your desktop?
Putting files on your desktop isn’t a good idea in general. While it can cause a few technical problems, there are certainly more efficient ways to organize your computer.
Can I use a USB 3 drive on a computer that supports only USB 2?
Using USB 3 on a USB 2 computer is absolutely an option! There is a lot of
compatibility built into the way USB is designed.
What’s a Good, Inexpensive VoIP Solution for People in the US to Call Me Overseas?
A good inexpensive VoIP can be hooked up in several ways to a fast internet
connection. We look at a few popular VoIP services.
What should I do first with my new computer?
First steps with a new computer would be to insure it is set up just the way
you like, and then take recovery images of the new machine.
How can I share contacts between two email accounts?
Sharing email contacts is not as easy as you might think. I’ll walk through
a few ways it might be set up.
How do I remove documents listed on the Adobe Reader menus?
Adobe Reader drop-down menus are actually a “recently viewed documents” list.
There are a few ways to update the list.
Pages I visit are being obscured by a survey; how do I fix it?
Pages obscured by a survey might be legitimate ads… or it may be a virus.
Time for a thorough scan.
Is sending an encrypted attachment a reasonable approach to email security?
Encrypted attachments in email can increase the level of security for
sensitive communications, but only if done right.
Can I prevent a machine from ever sending mail?
Blocking all email on a machine is going to be tricky. There are some other
ways to do online banking securely.
Can I determine which of my contacts gave me a virus?
Which contact gave a virus can be hard to guess unless you can follow the clues from the
email or instant message that delivered it.
Can I use a Universal Printer Driver to connect to my printers?
Universal printer drivers may or may not work. The best bet is to go to the
printer’s website and see what drivers they have available.
Microsoft Security Essentials got a bad rating. Should I switch?
The Microsoft Security Essentials rating recently released was testing the
tool in a way that ignored basic security practices. You can draw your own
conclusions.
How do ISPs control my bandwidth?
ISPs control bandwidth with very extensive routers. The equipment owned by
the ISP keeps track of exactly what data is being sent to and from your
internet connection.
What are the security ramifications of moving a file to another disk?
When data security is important, such as when file encryption vaults are used, it’s equally important to understand that something as simple as a file move might leave unexpected file remnants.
Which is better for computer longevity, turning it off when not in use, or leaving it on?
Computer longevity from turning it off or leaving it on is a question
without a real consensus of opinion. Not dropping it is really the best
plan!
How often do I need to run complete anti-malware scans?
How often you run scans for malware depends on the type of person using the
computer. You don’t want too many automatic programs running.
How can I read an epub formatted book on a Kindle?
Reading Epub books on Kindle is possible after conversion to Kindle’s MOBI
format.
Can I backup TrueCrypt volumes with my backup software?
Backing up TrueCrypt volumes should be possible with any backup software,
especially when backing up the unmounted volume.
If I upgrade to Windows 7 will restoring a backup made in XP cause problems?
Restoring an XP backup to a partition of Windows 7 running virtually on a Mac can be
complicated. One way or the other, back up everything to start!
Can I get my Windows 7 unsupported hardware to work by using Windows XP in a virtual machine?
Hardware unsupported by Windows 7 will have a hard time running in a virtual
machine. There currently is no good solution.
If I have Windows preinstalled on a machine and I get a new machine how do I move Windows to it?
Moving Windows to a new machine is (mostly) not possible unless you’ve
purchased a retail version of the operating system.
Can I take the old hard drive out of a failed laptop, put it in an enclosure and connect it to my new laptop?
Taking an old hard drive to a new computer can easily be done with a USB
hard drive enclosure. There are a few things to watch out for.
Where can I get a copy of Windows 8 to download and try?
Trying out Windows 8 does not seem to be the same as trying out Windows 7.
There is currently no link available for a trial download.
How should I protect my equipment from power outages?
Protecting equipment from power outages can be done with a large battery
called an Uninterruptible Power Supply.
Can I Network Two PCs Without Network Cards?
Networking without network cards is a reverse hack. You’ll be much more
successful in the long run using established networking equipment.
