Word won’t save: a reader asks… I’m using Office 365 on a Windows 10 computer. Recently, I stopped being able to save a Word document into Dropbox, Word freezes. I also can’t copy text from a Word document into an email using the Windows 10 Mail app. Can you help? A little digging revealed that the reader was using Malwarebytes Premium, but had never updated since it was originally installed. So the user was on version 3.0.6 (the current version […]
Make a Ringtone: a reader asks… How do I make a custom ringtone for my iPhone from a song in my iTunes library? I use a Macbook. You can do this using iTunes on your Macbook. A ringtone is going to be a short loop of a song that repeats over and over. The process to do this is a little tedious, but it’s certainly doable. The process involves a few stages where you first choose a usable song (in […]
Slow Internet: a reader asks… My internet speed seems to be slowing down. At first it was only sometimes, but now it seems like everything is slow. I’m paying Verizon FIOS for high speed (75/75) but not getting much. I ran a speed test (http://beta.speedtest.net/) on my laptop and sometimes get less than 10/5, sometimes 30/25, but never anything even close to what I should be getting. What should I do? First question, how old is your router? See my […]
The Half-life of Tech: a reader asks… How come these expensive tech devices don’t last very long? I’m having to replace my Windows laptop every few years because it gets messed up and becomes unusable, and it seems like my various smartphones die within a couple years or less. I feel like I’m personally investing in filling up landfills with stuff that should last a lot longer. What gives with this? In a word, money. Companies that make consumer electronics […]
No Android Update? a reader asks… Hi Chris, unlike you, I have an Android-powered smartphone, a Samsung Galaxy S6. You’re always letting us know when the iPhone gets an update to iOS, but why don’t you tell us when there’s an update to Android? I have a pretty simple answer, but you’re not gonna like it. Because Android-powered smartphones rarely, if ever, get updates to the operating system. I touched on this in my article: Smartphones-What’s the Diff?, so let me […]
Not getting emails: a reader asks… I signed up for your email digest awhile ago, thanks! But I stopped getting them a few weeks ago. Did you stop sending them out? No, my weekly digest goes out every Friday morning. Here’s what happened: At some point, your email service notified you that your email box was full and that you had to delete some items to save space. Until you did that, your email service would reject incoming emails. When […]
Small Mac, big files: a reader asks… I read your note about working with a Mac that has a full hard drive, but can you recap the essentials for me? I have a huge Photos library on my 2014 Macbook Air with 256gb SSD. Ok, I’ve written about this general issue several times, in my articles More Space on Mac, Huge Apple Photos library, MacOS won’t start, and Locked up Macbook. When you click the Apple > About this Mac and […]
Wi-fi Passcode: a reader asks… Hi Chris, I have a problem. My computer automatically connects to my home Wi-fi network, but I have no idea what the security passcode is. So I can’t connect any other computers or smartphones or tablets to it. I don’t remember how I set it up in the first place, so I can’t just do that again. Can you help? I have a Windows 10 laptop and an iPhone 6s. Here are two ways you […]
Pair Airpods to Watch: a reader asks… I just got a new Apple Watch (series 3). I’d like to use it with my Airpods. Is there an easy way to set that up? Yes, direct from Apple (at https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204218) are the simple instructions to pair your new Apple watch with your Airpods. On the Watch, go to Settings > Bluetooth. Then with your Airpods (in their case) close to your Watch, see if they show up on the Watch screen and […]
iPhone Security: a reader asks… I’m looking at the new iPhones, it’s time for an upgrade from my old 5S. I’m considering the 8 or the X (on the Apple upgrade plan which I’m planning on switching to). I know it’s going to be a lot bigger than my trusty 5S and I’m prepared for that, but I’m a little bit concerned about the FaceID thingy in the X – I remember seeing a year or so ago that facial […]
Which Thumbdrive? a reader asks… Hi Chris, do you have a recommendation on what thumbdrive I should use to backup my files on my 2014 Macbook Air? I don’t have a whole lot, so I don’t think I need a really big external hard drive. thanks! There are plenty of cheap thumbdrives out there, but I should warn you that the quality can vary. I’d suggest you stick with good brand-name drives from companies like Kingston, Crucial, PNY and SanDisk. […]
Which Amazon Alexa? a reader asks… I’m a little confused about which Alexa device to get for my mom. She’s in an assisted-living facility and I’d like to get her one that works in her small, 1-bedroom apartment, so she can ask for the time, get the news and other stuff. Can you give me the low-down on the major differences between each of them? The most-common Amazon devices that have Alexa embedded are the Echo, the Dot, the Show, […]
iCloud storage needs: a reader asks… Hi Chris, can you tell me how much additional iCloud storage I need to purchase for my iPhone? I wish it was a simple answer, but it depends. Are you a photo hound? Do you have multiple iOS devices (iPads, iPhones, iPods) using the same Apple ID for iCloud? Do you have a Mac with OS X Yosemite and use Cloud Drive? Yes answers to any of these point the way towards upgrading your […]
Small Biz Hacker Protection: a reader asks… I have a small business and am getting worried about getting hacked. Not my website, my on-premises infrastructure. Everywhere I read about how hackers are starting to target people like me. I don’t have a lot of IT infrastructure, just a few computers, a file server and some laptops that my sales team uses all over the territory. Do you have a short and sweet hit list of things I should do/don’t? Short […]
LastPass/Browser Password Conflict: a reader asks… I’m a long-time LastPass user but now every browser I use asks me to save passwords and declares that they are secure. This has an advantage on IOS devices because LastPass requires a copy/paste. What is your view on this trend? I get this request on Chrome all the time, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it shows up on the new Firefox 55.0.3 I just installed. I haven’t bothered to look how to […]
Which iPhone: a reader asks… I have an iPhone 6s (on Verizon) and usually upgrade every other year. So I guess it’s time, but Apple’s announcement left me feeling confused. Should I get the iPhone 8 or the X? I make calls, do email, surf the web, and do a little social networking, but I don’t have or use a lot of apps on my phone. I don’t use an installment plan, just plan to buy the phone outright. Hmm, […]
Kaspersky? A reader asks… I recently bought a computer from MicroCenter and the sales guy recommended that I get Kaspersky Total Security. I did and installed it. This week I read about how the US Government is banning Kaspersky products from being used in federal agencies. Do I need to switch to another product? I have a Windows 10 computer, and don’t do a lot of online surfing. I do online banking, shopping and social media, as well as email. […]
Switch to iPhone: a reader asks… I read your article on switching from iPhone to Android at https://positek.net/switch-to-android/ but what about the other side of the equation? I have an older Moto smartphone and want to switch to iPhone. Anything I need to watch out for? First off, Apple has an app for that (of course!) the Move to iOS app on the Google Play Store. After you have purchased your iPhone and got it up and running, install the app […]
Locked Up Macbook: a reader asks… Hi Chris, my Macbook Pro (early 2011 with Yosemite) is running very slow and locking up on me all the time. Is there some way to fix it or should I just get a new laptop? Before I answer your question, let me first tell you that you should back up the files on your Macbook Pro as soon as possible. You can simply copy the files onto a thumb drive, or better yet […]
Switch to Android? A reader asks… I’ve been using an iPhone for a few years now, and am about done. I am ready to switch to Android and am looking for tips on how to make an easy transition. Can you help? While the iPhone is an excellent smartphone, we recognize that not everyone is happy and is perhaps thinking about or making the switch to an Android smartphone. Apple has a great guide for the reverse (going from Android […]
Your Company’s Website: a reader asks… I have a website for my small company that’s been hosted by one service provider (Bluehost) for awhile. They also provide me with email for my domain. I’m switching to another company, and they gave me an IP address to change my DNS settings so the website they’ve designed will show up under my domain name. But when I tried to switch the DNS (I’m using Network Solutions), the change won’t accept an IP […]
Simple Protection Primer for Win10: a reader asks… I have a home with a husband, 2 school-age kids, a dog and one computer. It’s a fairly new Windows 10 laptop PC. Everybody uses it, but we really can’t afford to have more than one computer. Can you give me a quick primer on how to best configure and use the computer to keep it (and us) healthy and sane? You’re asking for a prescription that just about every consumer is […]
NordVPN for iPhone: a reader asks… Ok, I read your article https://positek.net/vpn-for-iphone/ and am still convinced that I need to protect myself from snooping with a VPN on my iPhone, iPad and computer. I’ve looked at the options and settled on NordVPN. They have a 30-day money-back guarantee, and seem to be one of the better ones out there. What should I do next? I agree that NordVPN is probably a good choice for you, partly because they are generous with […]
FIOS Router Label: a reader asks… I have my internet service from Verizon FIOS and have their router (picture attached). I recently got a new laptop but have mislaid the paperwork that came with the router, meaning the password to connect to wifi. Can I find that info online or do I have to call Verizon? Neither. On the router, look for a label that will show you the Wi-Fi SSID (that’s the name of your Wi-Fi network) and the […]
Leave your PC on: a reader asks… I got a new Windows 10 desktop PC. Should I turn it off every night? Nope. As an update to my previous article Leave Windows Running, Windows (since the Windows 7 days) has been designed to be left running for extended periods. In fact, Microsoft schedules the automatic updates to happen in the middle of the night. Turning your PC off at night will keep this from happening, and for almost every Windows […]
Start using Facebook 2-Factor: a reader asks… My facebook account got hacked and it took me awhile to get things restored and back to normal. A friend told me that I need to turn on 2-factor authentication to protect my account. What is it and how do I do that? I suggest you read my article 3 Things to Know about 2-Factor Authentication (and some advice) to get an idea of what two-factor authentication is. It basically adds another (2nd) step […]
VPN for iPhone? a reader asks… I read an article on using VPN on an iPhone (at https://www.payetteforward.com/vpn-on-an-iphone-what-is-best-vpn-for-iphone-apps-services/) – what do you think about this? I last wrote about the VPN subject in April, check out https://positek.net/vpn-not-vpn/. But I’m going to take a fresh look at the subject, particularly in the arena of iPhones. The article you referenced is a decent, basic primer on VPN, but I’d be real hesitant about making decisions just based on it. I wouldn’t trust any […]
Add Google Sheet to Web Page: a reader asks… I have a wordpress website and I want to add a a table to a page. The table is currently a google spreadsheet. I’d like to be able to edit the spreadsheet (changing existing content) from time to time, and not have to update the website page for every change. Is there an easy way to do this? If your table is reasonably small, then the easy solution is to use […]
New All-in-One PC: a reader asks… I’ve been using an HP laptop for many years now, but I think it’s time to get a new computer. So what should I get? I use Outlook and Word, go on the internet, do very little online shopping, and print pictures transferred from my iPhone to my computer. My laptop sits on a table in my bedroom and has never moved, so I really don’t need a laptop. I’m getting older, so a […]
Avoiding the Echo Chamber: a reader asks… Hi Chris, I have a facebook account and use your recommended news aggregator, Flipboard to get my daily feed of current events and such. I also get the Washington Post and the New York Times in print, plus I have apps on my iPhone and read news stories there (more often than waiting for the print edition to hit my doorstep). One thing I’ve noticed is that as time has gone on, my […]
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