Practical Help Library – Page 6 – Practical Help for Your Digital Life®

Practical Help Library

Ethernet Wiring at Home

June 13, 2022

Ethernet Wiring: a reader asked: I am getting an electrician to come and install ethernet wiring at my house. We’ve tried several different wifi solutions and none seem to give me a fast enough connection for video conferencing. Three questions: Should I install Cat7 cable or is Cat6 good enough? Also, should I buy the cable and wall plates/Keystone jacks myself? Is there anything else I’ll need? Cat7 costs 50% more than Cat6e, so for residential use it’s probably not […]
Unwanted Letterbox in Youtube

June 7, 2022

Unwanted Letterbox in Youtube: a reader asks… I use Adobe Premiere Pro to edit my videos and post them on Youtube. I upload videos either as 1080p or 720p. Usually this works fine, but sometimes I see letterboxing on the left and right side, even though my videos are 1920×1080 or 1280×720. Is there a quick and easy fix for this? Adobe Premiere Pro is a very powerful video editing tool, certainly overpowered for most casual videographers. But it is […]
Macbook Trick Unlock with Watch

June 2, 2022

Macbook Trick Unlock with Watch: a reader asks… I have a Macbook Pro with macOS Monterery. A guy I work with showed me a slick trick, but didn’t explain how it works. He unlocks his Mac just by opening the lid, yet his user account is password protected, just like mine (company policy). How did he do that? I’m betting he was wearing an Apple Watch, wasn’t he? Apple has been busy tightly integrating its line of products, so that […]
Maintaining your iPhone in Good Condition: 6 Tips

May 30, 2022

This is a guest article posted by Lisa Smith. There is no denying that iPhones are popular. According to Statista, in the United States alone, there should be more than 110 million iPhone users. Unfortunately, not everyone is keen enough to put effort into ensuring the device stays in good condition. Perhaps because they are okay with buying a new iPhone model as soon as one becomes available? Regardless, if you are concerned about the well-being of your iPhone, you […]
Stop Spam Texts

May 26, 2022

Stop Spam Texts: a reader asks… I’ve started getting a lot of spam text messages. I know that I can block text messages, but I’m getting a ton of these all from different sources. So I either have to do a dozen blocks a day, and still put up with all these text messages cluttering up my messages app (I use an iPhone by the way). Is there a better way I can stop these? There is but it’s drastic. […]
USB Ports at Airbnb

May 21, 2022

USB Ports at Airbnb: a reader asks… I’m going on vacation and will be staying at an Airbnb. The owner says that there are USB ports built into some of the electrical outlets. Is it safe to use these? Hmm, I’m going to defer to safety in my recommendation and suggest you bring your own USB chargers that plug into standard electrical plugs. You didn’t say where you are vacationing, so electrical voltage and plug type may be different – […]
QR Code for WiFi

May 9, 2022

QR Code for WiFi: a reader asks… Hi Chris, I’m a small business owner who provides a public WiFi network to my customers, separate from my private business WiFi. My staff gives out the password to customers on request, but this takes time. Is it ok to post a sign with the WiFi password or is this a security risk? Following your advice, my public WiFi password is long and not easily guessable, and I use WPA2. Congrats on keeping […]
Gmail Security Lockout

May 2, 2022

Gmail Security Lockout: a reader asks… I received an email from Google the other day declaring: “On May 30, you may lose access to apps that are using less secure sign-in technology. Google will no longer support the use of third-party apps or devices…” I have been accessing both my AOL and Gmail accounts on my 2015 MacBook Pro and iPhone 6 using the Apple Mail apps (in a combined inbox). I also have a dormant Google Chrome app that […]
PC Clipboard

April 26, 2022

PC Clipboard: a reader asks… I use a Windows 10 PC. I know that I can copy and paste things from one window to another by using Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V. That seems to work fine for most things, but it’s limited in that I can only paste the last item I copied. Is there a way to be able to copy more than one thing? You’re using the ‘invisible’ clipboard that works on all computers. You copy something to this […]
New Windows 11 Laptop

April 18, 2022

New Windows 11 Laptop: a reader asks… I have a small business and am looking at upgrading our laptop PCs. It’s been awhile, but I’m partial to either Lenovo or Dell brands (as I see you’ve recommended elsewhere). While I’m comparing various models, what are the basic specifications that I should be looking for at this point in time? Specifically, processor, RAM, & storage space? We don’t do any ‘heavy lifting’ with our laptops, mostly just using Outlook and other […]
Emojis on Computer

April 12, 2022

Emojis on Computer: a reader asks… I really like how I can use emojis on my phone in just about anything, including email. But using them on my computer is not so easy! The only one I’ve found that works reliably is the smiley face using a colon : and a close parentheses ) together 🙂 – on my PC that turns into the smiley face which I use in emails. Is there an easy way to use other emojis […]
Update your Computer!

April 6, 2022

Update your Computer! a reader asks… Is it important to update my computer? Even with automatic updates turned on, I keep getting bugged to install updates to my computer and my smartphone, not just the operating system but also apps that I’ve installed. They come constantly, and I’m inclined to just ignore them when they pop up. Please, please don’t ignore update notifications. Your computer can quickly become unsafe if you are using outdated software. It doesn’t matter if you […]
Scams Galore

March 24, 2022

Scams Galore: a reader asks… I’ve noticed lately that I’m getting a lot more scam emails, phone calls and even text messages. Sometimes it’s hard to recognize them as scams. For example, this fake Paypal email. Is there a way to stop all this nonsense? The only way to stop this is to stop doing anything online (and/or in person). There’s just too much potential money to be made for scammers to stop dreaming up new ways to scam you […]
Outlook Glitch Solved

March 9, 2022

Outlook Glitch Solved: a reader asks… I use MS 365 with Outlook on my Windows 10 PC, and after a recent Windows Update notice that my applet list which usually sits below the list of favorites and folders on the left-side of Outlook is now a vertical bar to the left of the favorites and folders list. I’ve closed and reopened Outlook, restarted my computer and it’s still there. What can I do to fix this and put the applet […]
Old PC, New Life

February 28, 2022

Old PC, New Life: a reader asks… I have a 5 year-old Windows 10 PC that has been giving me trouble. I know these things are like kleenex, and should probably replace it, but I want to avoid that if possible. Is there anything I can do to breathe new life into my older PC? I’m pretty handy with a screwdriver and can follow instructions 🙂 Five years ago was still the early days for Windows 10 (it was released […]
Gmail Missing Mail

February 24, 2022

Gmail Missing Mail: a reader asks… I been using Gmail for years, and have lately been having trouble. Emails I expected (including your newsletter) aren’t appearing in my inbox. Several people have told me they emailed me but I haven’t received the emails in my inbox, and don’t see it in the Spam folder either. Can you help? I think the answer to your quandary is in the way that Gmail has configured their webmail interface at https://mail.google.com. Google changes […]
More OneDrive Tips

February 16, 2022

Hi, thanks for your article on moving the OneDrive location. I have different question – can I use OneDrive for all my personal files? Not just the Microsoft Office files. I’ve used Dropbox and Google Drive, but having 1tb of storage space on OneDrive means I could back up everything, and have it available to me anywhere anytime. So first, is it secure enough to use for everything? And second, how would I set this up to make it as […]
Verizon.net Email on Outlook

February 12, 2022

Hi, I have a Verizon.net email account, and I’ve been using it on Outlook 2013 using that on my Windows 10 PC. It’s been having a lot of trouble working ok, and I’m not sure why. Can you help? Let me start by saying that you shouldn’t be using an old version of Outlook. Old versions of application software are significant security risks, and you don’t want to lose control of your email account. Onto why you’re having trouble accessing […]
Move OneDrive Location

February 2, 2022

Move OneDrive Location: a reader asks… I use Microsoft 365 and have the OneDrive app installed. On my PC I have two internal hard drives, one that holds my operating system and one where I store my personal files and data. When I setup MS 365 and installed OneDrive, it installed it in my personal folder space, which is on the C: drive. How can I move that to the other drive? When you install either MS365 or the separate […]
Tech Updates

January 26, 2022

Tech Updates: a reader asks… Do I need to apply updates to my computer, smartphone, tablet, etc. as soon as they become available or can I delay things? Annoying as always, keeping your technology up-to-date is a chore, but a necessary one. Some things get updated once a year or so, some once a month, some even more often. The main reason for keeping up-to-date is for your own security. Out-of-date software, firmware, operating systems, etc. are a security concern, […]
Speech Recognition

January 19, 2022

Speech Recognition: a reader asks… I’d like to explore how I can write on my PC. I’m recently retired and over my career there was never a need to learn to type, so I didn’t. I always had a secretary who took shorthand and not only transcribed what I dictated, but also cleaned up what I said so it looked good on paper. Has computer technology advanced to that point yet? I’m considering writing a book, so I looked into […]
Auto-iMessage from my iPhone

January 10, 2022

Auto-iMessage from my iPhone: a reader asks… My mother is forgetting a lot of things lately, and I’d like to remind her to take her pills every day. We both have iPhones and I’ve been sending her a text message to remind her. That works just fine except that sometimes I forget to send her the text. Since I’m saying the same thing every time, is there a way to schedule a repeating text message? I can’t find any way […]
Zoom Tip, Permissions

January 3, 2022

Zoom Tip, Permissions: a reader asks… Like many people during the pandemic, I use Zoom a lot. Recently I upgraded to a Pro account and now have a lot more choices about things I can do. I can’t seem to find all the controls and permissions options, esp. for my participants. Do you have any tips? Zoom has a ton of features and capabilities, and most people barely scratch the surface of what they can do with Zoom. So kudos […]
Converting Old Video

December 27, 2021

Converting Old Video: a reader asks… I have some old VHS tapes, and a VCR to play them, which has 3 RCA out plugs along with an S-Video out. What I’d like to do is convert them to mp4 files. Is there an easy way to do this on my Mac without spending too much money? You will need some sort of hardware converter to get the video from your VCR into your Mac, and some software to turn the […]
Stop the Windows 11 Nag

December 21, 2021

Stop the Windows 11 Nag: a reader asks… I read your Windows 11 Now or later article and am putting off upgrading my PC for now. The only problem is that I keep getting these popups saying to install Windows 11. Is there an easy way to stop those popups? Yes! Microsoft isn’t exactly subtle when they want you to upgrade to the latest version of Windows. Not all PCs in use today are eligible for the upgrade, but if […]
Apple/iCloud Family Sharing

December 10, 2021

Apple/iCloud Family Sharing: a reader asks… My family all uses Apple devices. I have an Apple account for me, and my husband has his own. We have two kids who are just now getting old enough to need their own accounts, plus another baby on the way. So far, the kids have been using my iPhone and iPad and I’ve let them add music and apps, but that’s getting old. It’s time for them to have their own. So we’re […]
Firestick in Canada

December 6, 2021

Firestick in Canada: a reader asks… I have a home theatre consisting of the following equipment: a Benq PE 7700 projector, a Sherwood Newcastle R-863 receiver w/surround-sound speakers, a Cambridge DVD player, and a new Amazon 3rd Gen Firestick. I’ve been trying to figure out how to get this all working together with the new Firestick and am not having any luck. I tried a converter box, but that isn’t getting me what I need. Can you help? Ok, you […]
The Right Macbook Air Options

November 30, 2021

The Right Macbook Air Options: a reader asks… I have a 10 year old Macbook Air (256gb hard drive-getting full) and it’s time to replace it. I see the new Macbook Airs are limited to only two models, one with a 7-core GPU and one with an 8-core GPU. I use my current Macbook Air as a desktop (with a separate monitor, wireless keyboard & trackpad) as well as mobile. I like to create & edit the occasional movie video, […]
Slow Computer – Fix or Replace?

November 3, 2021

Slow Computer – Fix or Replace? a reader asks… I have a Lenovo C340 Type 4773 S/N: {redacted} that’s suddenly become very slow with lots of “not responding” messages. I recently started getting bootup messages “Start PXE over IPv4”, which forced me to go into the Boot options, then exiting to get the system back up and running. If I leave the system running overnight, the next morning I get a message saying “the operating system cannot be found” and […]
Facebook Hacked?

October 28, 2021

Facebook Hacked? a reader asks… My Facebook account has been hacked. I think someone managed to guess my password, and logged into my account, then changed the password and email address. I can no longer log into my own Facebook account. I’ve tried using https://www.facebook.com/hacked and https://www.facebook.com/help/203305893040179 but have not been successful at regaining access to my account. I’ve reported that my account was hacked numerous times but Facebook (the company) has done nothing. What else can I do? Short […]

Subscribe to My Weekly Digest

"I'm all about helping you deal with our 21st century high-tech digital world so you can enjoy a healthy and secure digital life!"

Subscribe to my free weekly email digest and occasional alerts:

First name

Last name

Email (required)

If you provide your mobile telephone number (optional), we will neither share it with anyone else, nor use it for anything other than appointment booking confirmations and other work-related needs. No marketing!

GDPR Compliance By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website.

By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time. Subscribing requires double opt-in - you will receive an email with a confirmation you must accept before you will be added to our mailing list and/or text communications list.

About Me

Hi! I'm Chris Gardner, Your Tech Coach giving you Practical Help for Your Digital Life® since 1996. My job is to translate geek-speak into clear and concise advice and give you easy-to-understand how-to's and instructions about your consumer technology products and services.

Browse my library with over 1,000 of the types of questions and answers we all have about our consumer technology. Better yet, use the search bar above or pick a subject or keyword below to see a list of related posts you can read. And please sign up for my free weekly digest and occasional email alerts!

If you don't find the answer to your question in my library, ask me a question - anything about consumer technology. I answer questions large and small, from how to use Siri on an iPhone to how to protect your computer, tablet or smartphone. I take arcane language from manuals and translate that into easy-to-follow instructions. This gives you better ways to use your consumer technology - helping you get more out of the gadgets and services you already own and use.

I provide all the above, supported by my readers who find my answers valuable (patronage model). Please consider supporting me by sending any amount via (send to @PosiTek), or via (send to Support@PosiTek.net), or via using any credit card (no Paypal account required), or by mailing a check or cash to PosiTek.net LLC 1934 Old Gallows Road, Suite 350, Tysons Corner VA 22182.

I am not a non-profit, but your support helps me to continue delivering advice and consumer technology support to the public.

If you need more immediate or direct support, please see my 1-on-1 Tech Support page. I don't profess to know everything about everything, but I'm great at finding and giving you exactly the right answer in the way you need to hear it. Give me a try and let Your Tech Coach help you get your technology working for you, not the other way around!

Need more help using this website? Click here!

Our Very Small Print

Click to Read

The information presented on this website and referred to in various social networking channels are the considered opinions of the authors. We accept no advertising, kickbacks or any sort of remuneration for any commercial products or services that we recommend or suggest. Furthermore, posts or links to external websites or other content do not imply endorsement, unless explicitly stated.

Any elements on this website that may be linked to or displayed, including trademarks and product/service images, are for educational purposes only under fair use copyright law. PosiTek.net LLC purchases licensing for commercial imagery used on this website via Shutterstock.com and any other imagery is licensed for our use via:

Creative Commons License

Such work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Further information can be found in our copious small print: Terms of Service and Privacy Notice policies.

There are currently 1291 Reader Comments on my articles, care to join in? Comment at the bottom of any article.