Power outages aren’t good things for any computer. When a branch fell on the power line behind my house, I heard a loud explosion. Then I heard all the UPS systems in the office start bleeting their warnings. Power was out, time to shutdown the computers and wait.
(more…)
March 10, 2014A Death in My PC Family
Comments Off on A Death in My PC Family
January 31, 2014Task Manager to the Rescue!I’ve used this trick so often, I don’t even think about it. In fact, I’ve done it on my son’s computer so often he knows it well. It’s the old “Kill a program by using the Task Manager trick,” and if you aren’t familiar with it, you should be.”
Comments Off on Task Manager to the Rescue!
January 10, 2014Sounds About RightGetting sound on your computer set to the correct level is an exercise in frustration. There are just too many locations for setting volume, and then not everyone who creates the sound really knows what they’re doing.
Comments Off on Sounds About Right
November 27, 2013Busy! Busy! Busy!Your computer is doing more than just sitting there waiting for you to type or move the mouse.
Comments Off on Busy! Busy! Busy!
November 13, 2013Wi-Fi Password ManiaOut of curiosity, I whipped out my phone while walking through my neighborhood. I opened the Wifi Analyzer app just to see how many Wi-Fi networks were in range. I was shocked at the results.
Comments Off on Wi-Fi Password Mania
September 27, 2013You Can’t Use a ScannerAnyone who’s used a copy machine can use a scanner. They both work the same way: Lay the material down on the glass. Punch a button. Soon you’ll have a digital copy. To scan things properly, however, takes a modicum of finesse.
Comments Off on You Can’t Use a Scanner
September 25, 2013Network Mass StorageA few months ago, I took the plunge. I spent some Major Coin to purchase a network diskstation, specifically the Synology Diskstation DS413. It’s my first major home office computer system upgrade since my old T1 line 10 years ago. September 20, 2013The Recycle Bin Doesn’t Affect RAM
Comments Off on The Recycle Bin Doesn’t Affect RAM
August 30, 2013The Miracle of File AssociationYou don’t even think about it. Click on a file icon and a program opens. Well, hopefully it opens. When it does, the process is called file association. It’s how all graphical operating systems know which files belong to which programs. It’s a process that makes your computing world a more sane place.
Comments Off on The Miracle of File Association
August 7, 2013From Folder to Directory and BackIn the command prompt world of DOS, folders were called directories. Once the transition to the glorious graphical goodness of Windows was made, directories became folders. They’re still the same thing.
Comments Off on From Folder to Directory and Back
|
Idiots abound. Apparently just about anyone these days can get a radio show and call themselves a “computer expert.” I love it when this happens, especially when these clowns dispense horrid advice.