Practical Help Library

  • Windows 10 Ransomware Protection

    Windows 10 Ransomware Protection

    June 22, 2021

    Windows 10 Ransomware Protection: a reader asks… I read your articles regularly, and am starting to get more worried about ransomware. I’m just a consumer with a computer running Windows 10. What should I do to protect myself? Just a word of warning to all you consumers out there: The cybersecurity industry is seeing a lot more evidence of ‘commoditized ransomware use”. What this means is that those big, splashy ransomware attacks against big business are already coming to the […]

  • Android Ringtone

    Android Ringtone

    June 16, 2021

    Android Ringtone: a reader asks… I just got a Moto G Power smartphone and it’s working great! One problem though, I downloaded a ringtone mp3 file, but can’t figure out how to set that as my ringtone. Can you help? Certainly! I’m assuming your smartphone is running Android 11. There are plenty of instructions online for how to set a ringtone for that (see further below). But there is a much simpler way to do this: Tap Files, then hunt […]

  • Doctor's Computer Freezes

    Doctor’s Computer Freezes

    June 15, 2021

    Doctor’s Computer Freezes: a reader asks… I’m a doctor and see patients all day long. I use my Microsoft Surface laptop to review charts, show patients information, etc. The problem that I have is that the computer screen goes dark after a few minutes, and when I want to use it again, it takes up to a minute before the computer responds. What can I do about this? It sounds like you are suffering from Microsoft Windows 10’s abysmal “Sleep […]

  • It's Windows 10's Patch Tuesday

    It’s Windows 10’s Patch Tuesday

    June 8, 2021

    It’s Windows 10’s Patch Tuesday: a reader asks… I have a Windows 10 computer. I know that Microsoft issues updates every so often. How should I treat those updates – urgently? Microsoft generally issues three kinds of updates to Windows 10: regular monthly updates on the 2nd Tuesday of the month (aka “Patch Tuesday”), important security updates on an ad hoc basis, and major version updates, usually twice a year. For most consumers I recommend you turn on automatic updates […]

  • I've Been Hacked - What Do I Do?

    I’ve Been Hacked – What Do I Do?

    June 1, 2021

    I’ve Been Hacked – What Do I Do? A reader asks… I fell for it, had a computer problem and gave someone remote access to my computer to fix it. Now my files are disappearing, I can’t get into my email account (wrong password), and I’m seeing purchases I didn’t make on my credit card. What do I do now? My computer isn’t connected in any way with my employer, so this is affecting just my personal life. First, take […]

  • New Malwarebytes Version

    New Malwarebytes Version

    May 27, 2021

    New Malwarebytes Version: a reader asks: I read your last article, but just saw a popup on my screen (Windows 10). It’s an update to Malwarebytes, which I have installed on my computer. Is this type of popup safe and should I update? Yes, if you have installed legitimate, commercial software on your computer, you should always keep it up-to-date. Malwarebytes.com releases new versions of its anti-malware protection software on a regular basis. This is to keep up with the […]

  • Don't Fall for Scams

    Don’t Fall for Scams

    May 25, 2021

    Don’t Fall for Scams: a Reader Asks: I’m worried, I’ve been getting calls from Microsoft Tech Support, and the latest one says my computer is infected and I need to let them fix it and install a “firewall” – which will cost me $500. Should I do this? A word of warning to all my readers: scams are at an all-time high and going up at a steep angle. The scammers are increasingly astute psychology experts who prey on our […]

  • Printer USB or WiFi

    Printer USB or WiFi

    May 19, 2021

    Printer USB or WiFi: a reader asks… I bought myself a new HP Officejet 9025. This replaces an HP Officejet 8620 printer that was connected to my Windows 10 computer with a USB cable. The new printer has Wifi and when I set it up I connected it to my home network. I added the printer to that computer and everything seems to be working fine. Do I need to connect it via USB – is there any benefit? I’m […]

  • Wonky Router in Virginia

    Wonky Router in Virginia

    May 17, 2021

    Wonky Router in Virginia: a reader asks… I have a home network with a router from Verizon (in Virginia). It’s been working fine for years, but recently has started acting up. Computers and devices won’t stay connected to it, and the internet speed is really slow. These problems are alleviated for a short while after I use your trick of unplugging it and plugging it back in. But sooner or later the router starts acting up again. Is there something […]

  • More Firestick with older equipment

    More Firestick with older equipment

    May 12, 2021

    Hi Chris, I’m in Nairobi, Kenya. I recently bought an Amazon firestick to help “transform” my basic Samsung UHD (Model PA51H4500AR) tv to something much more exciting. I think I am only halfway there as I was disappointed to note that the firestick does not work with my Sony DAV-TZ140 home theater. I ran to the internet for a solution and stumbled across an article you wrote in 2016. Although the article was really insightful, I was hoping you could […]

  • Ripping CDs to iPod or iMac

    Ripping CDs to iPod or iMac

    May 10, 2021

    Ripping CDs to iPod or iMac: a reader asks… We have a box full of CDs that we would like to download to our IPOD or to our IMAC Unfortunately, our computers do not have disc drives. How do we do this? Both your iPod and iMac use Apple’s Music app to play and manage your music library. Most likely that’s what you’re using, so here are two options for you: First, you could skip the importing of those CDs […]

  • A Better Microphone

    A Better Microphone

    May 5, 2021

    A Better Microphone: a reader asks… I’ve been using Zoom for awhile now and folks tell me my voice sounds echo-ey. I’ve got a desktop computer with a Logitech HD webcam that includes a microphone, and I also use my Lenovo laptop with built-in webcam. Neither are great but the desktop is particularly bad, although I hear everybody else ok. I’d never have known how bad my microphone was except a few folks have mentioned it. What can I do […]

  • Using Chrome Tabs

    Using Chrome Tabs

    May 3, 2021

    Using Chrome Tabs: a reader asks… I use Google Chrome and almost always find myself with 20+ tabs open at a time. These are websites I go to fairly often, such as email, shopping, banking, etc. While I know about the bookmarks function, is there an easier way to navigate with these? I have Chrome set to remember my open tabs so when I quit and restart Chrome all my tabs re-open. For awhile now, Google Chrome has had the […]

  • Setup Windows 10 in 2021

    Setup Windows 10 in 2021

    April 28, 2021

    Setup Windows 10 in 2021: a reader asks… I finally bit the bullet and purchased a new Dell laptop PC direct from dell.com. It is due to arrive in the next day or so. Can you give me some tips on how to set it up correctly? Thanks! I’ve written a number of articles on setting up new computers over the years, but it’s been awhile so here’s the latest for new Windows 10 computers in 2021. Firstly, you’ll want […]

  • Using MS OneDrive on Mac

    Using MS OneDrive on Mac

    April 26, 2021

    Using MS OneDrive on Mac: a reader asks… I have a recent Macbook and also have a Microsoft 365 account and subscription. That gives me a terabyte of cloud storage on OneDrive. How can I use this storage space to backup all my Mac’s personal files? I’ve already installed MS 365 and configured the default OneDrive folder. I’d like to add the Mac’s Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures and Video folders to OneDrive. Using MS 365’s OneDrive on a Mac adds […]

  • Telephone Service 2021

    Telephone Service 2021

    April 19, 2021

    Telephone Service 2021: a reader asks… I currently use Verizon for my home phone and Cox for my internet. Cox is offering me a bundle for telephone, TV and phone. Should I switch? I want to make sure my home phone works even in a power outage. The short answer is that it’s probably a wash in terms of which is better, Verizon FIOS telephone service or Cox Residential telephone service. Both use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology rather […]

  • Email Links on Websites

    Email Links on Websites

    April 13, 2021

    Email Links on Websites: a reader asks… I have a Windows 10 computer, use Google Chrome and Gmail, and do all my email at mail.google.com. I don’t use any app or program for email, just the website. The problem I have is that when I’m looking at other websites, sometimes they have a link in them to email someone. When I click on that link, I get an odd popup asking me which program to use for email. How can […]

  • Play iPhone thru Lightning

    Play iPhone thru Lightning

    April 12, 2021

    Play iPhone thru Lightning: a reader asks… My Pioneer Elite SC-79 that I’ve had for a few years suddenly stopped playing my iPhone music using the dedicated USB port & a standard lightning connector. I’ll turn on the receiver, turn the Source button over to ipod/USB, plug it into my phone and then after a minute or so, plug in the USB. I’m getting a readout NO DEVICE FOUND and nothing happens except sound from my phone & not my […]

  • Home Theater Sound Lag

    Home Theater Sound Lag

    April 3, 2021

    Home Theater Sound Lag: a reader asks… I have a home theater setup that works well except for one problem. The audio lags just a bit behind the video. Is this something I can fix? I use a projector (Epson Powerlite 3500), my receiver is a Yamaha HTR-5650, and my video sources are a FIOS TV One cable box (connected with RCA cables to receiver), a Sony Blu-ray player BDP-S550 (connected via HDMI to the projector, and an Amazon Firestick […]

  • My Font's Too Small/Big

    My Font’s Too Small/Big

    March 29, 2021

    My Font’s Too Small/Big: a reader asks… I use both Google Chrome and Gmail, and sometimes the new Microsoft Edge on my Windows 10 laptop. Every once in a while something seems to happen that makes my font size in the web browser either shrink down a lot, or grow horribly large. I know about the zoom control in Chrome, and am certainly not using that! What could be causing this? Could a hacker be changing this for me? I’m […]

  • iPhone Control Panel Pops Up

    iPhone Control Panel Pops Up

    March 25, 2021

    iPhone Control Panel Pops Up: a reader asks… I have an iPhone 12 and have noticed that randomly the control panel appears. I don’t know why this happens. There doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason as to why this happens. I know to swipe down from the top-right “ear” on the screen to call up the control panel, but it sometimes appears without me doing that. I’ve racked my brain trying to figure out if I’m accidentally tapping […]

  • Firestick & HD Copyright Protection

    Firestick & HD Copyright Protection

    March 22, 2021

    Firestick & HD Copyright Protection: a reader asks… I’ve been trying to get my Firestick to work with my home theater system. First I connected it directly to the TV and it worked fine, but the audio only came out through the TV speakers. I then connected it to my Onkyo receiver, but then the video didn’t work there. What am I doing wrong? I’m guessing that the issue is HD Copyright Protection (HDCP). Since the Digital Millennium Copyright Act […]

  • Sending Zoom Recording to Facebook

    Sending Zoom Recording to Facebook

    March 12, 2021

    Sending Zoom Recording to Facebook: a reader asks… I use my iPad to do live sessions on Zoom. I do have a Zoom Pro account, I have recorded sessions, but do not see Facebook as an option to send to. How do I get these recorded sessions to my Facebook page from my iPad so others can access on demand? When you record a session using Zoom for iOS, you can only “Record to the cloud”. That stores the Zoom […]

  • Zoom Audio for Two

    Zoom Audio for Two

    November 19, 2020

    Zoom Audio for Two: a reader asks… I read and followed your previous article about using earbuds to listen to Zoom, which has helped immensely, thank you! I have a set of Skullcandy earbuds connected to an audio extension cord which is plugged into the headphone port of my desktop PC. If I’m listening to Zoom alone, no problem using the earbuds to hear better.  But if my husband and I are listening together, only one of us could hear […]

  • Samsung/Firestick Snafu

    Samsung/Firestick Snafu

    August 20, 2020

    Samsung/Firestick Snafu: a reader asks… I have a Samsung DVD player with surround sound (HT-D355K) and a Samsung TV (UA30D5000PRXZN). I’m trying to get an Amazon Firestick to work. I plugged the Firestick into my TV and ran an optical cable from the TV to the DVD Player. When I select the D.IN option on the DVD player, I get stereo audio coming from the Firestick and can’t find a way to get Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. What can I […]

  • Win10 AutoCorrect Frustration

    Win10 AutoCorrect Frustration

    August 10, 2020

    Win10 AutoCorrect Frustration: a reader asks… I have a computer with Windows 10 and I’m often typing non-standard words into various apps like Word, Outlook, etc. Windows auto-corrects that word and I have to backspace and re-correct it, since the auto-correct wasn’t, in fact, correct. For example, it auto-corrects HSA (e.g., health savings account) to HAS. I looked in the Windows 10 auto-correct settings and there’s no way to add words to the auto-correct dictionary. How do I do that? […]

  • If your PC runs Windows 7, get out your Wallet

    If your PC runs Windows 7, get out your Wallet

    August 6, 2020

    If your PC runs Windows 7, get out your Wallet: A reader asks… Is there a way I can get my Windows 7 computer to work faster without spending a lot of money? In a word, nope. Microsoft officially retired Windows 7 in January 2015, and fully retired it in January 2020. In those 5 years, Windows 7 only got basic security updates, no feature updates, fixes or improvements. Now you get nothing, and Windows 7 is a full-blown security […]

  • Is this fake?

    Is this fake?

    July 31, 2020

    Is this fake? A reader asks… I’ve been getting some suspicious-looking emails lately, and I’m not sure if they’re fakes or real emails. Is there a quick way to tell? I’ve included an example. In the example you provided, the biggest indicator that it’s a scam is in the From: address. You will see that it says “Bank of America” followed by an email address that is definitely not B of A. You don’t need to look any deeper – […]

  • Quick fix for shrunken text

    Quick fix for shrunken text

    July 24, 2020

    Quick fix for shrunken text: a reader asks… I have a Macbook with macOS Catalina and am using Safari to look at websites. All of the sudden, Safari is showing webpages very small. What happened and is there an easy way to fix this? Yes, Safari, like most apps on your Mac, has a “zoom” feature where you can enlarge or reduce the size of the text on the window. This doesn’t actually change the font size, just the viewing […]

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