Ask Bob Rankin tag:askbobrankin.com,2009://2 2009-11-20T20:38:53Z Need tech support? Go ahead... Ask Bob Rankin about computers, viruses, spyware, search engines or almost anything about the Internet. Movable Type 3.21 Free Alternatives to GoToMyPC tag:askbobrankin.com,2009://2.1004 2009-11-20T16:42:46Z 2009-11-20T20:38:53Z If you need to access your own computer or someone else's from a remote location, you probably already know about GoToMyPC, which is often advertised on radio and TV. GotoMyPC's remote access service costs $20/month. But did you know that... Bob Rankin If you need to access your own computer or someone else's from a remote location, you probably already know about GoToMyPC, which is often advertised on radio and TV. GotoMyPC's remote access service costs $20/month. But did you know that you can do the same thing for free? Here's how...

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]]> Completely Erase a Hard Drive tag:askbobrankin.com,2009://2.1003 2009-11-19T14:14:59Z 2009-11-19T14:17:23Z When you replace a hard drive, what do you do with the old one? Most people give their surplus drives away to friends or charities. Some just throw them in the trash. But what about all the data on that... Bob Rankin When you replace a hard drive, what do you do with the old one? Most people give their surplus drives away to friends or charities. Some just throw them in the trash. But what about all the data on that old drive? Even if you deleted files or formatted the drive, your data might still be readable. Here's how to securely and completely erase every last bit of data from your hard drive…

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]]> External Hard Drive For Backups tag:askbobrankin.com,2009://2.1002 2009-11-19T04:11:14Z 2009-11-19T04:13:47Z "I'm planning to buy an external hard drive to use for backups. What hardware and software do you recommend for reliable and simple backups?"... Bob Rankin "I'm planning to buy an external hard drive to use for backups. What hardware and software do you recommend for reliable and simple backups?"

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]]> Free Teleconferencing tag:askbobrankin.com,2009://2.1001 2009-11-18T20:19:07Z 2009-11-18T20:21:35Z Voice teleconferencing remains a staple of business despite the proliferation of alternatives such as email, instant messaging, and webinars. When you want a meeting but can’t get everyone together in the same room, it’s natural to call for a teleconference.... Bob Rankin Voice teleconferencing remains a staple of business despite the proliferation of alternatives such as email, instant messaging, and webinars. When you want a meeting but can’t get everyone together in the same room, it’s natural to call for a teleconference. The problem is that teleconferencing can get expensive...

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]]> Windows 7 Libraries tag:askbobrankin.com,2009://2.1000 2009-11-17T13:50:15Z 2009-11-17T13:57:09Z When you open Explorer in Windows 7 you will see a tree of "Libraries" in the left sidebar. Libraries are a new feature of Windows 7 and may cause confusion among users of earlier versions. But Libraries are quite handy,... Bob Rankin When you open Explorer in Windows 7 you will see a tree of "Libraries" in the left sidebar. Libraries are a new feature of Windows 7 and may cause confusion among users of earlier versions. But Libraries are quite handy, easy to understand, and fun to work with. Here's how they work…

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]]> Geekly Update November 17 tag:askbobrankin.com,2009://2.999 2009-11-17T12:47:58Z 2009-11-17T12:49:07Z Here's your Geekly Update for this week, presented in small bytes. Get the scoop on gadgets & hardware, computer security, online happenings, social networking, web tech and search engines. Read on...... Bob Rankin Here's your Geekly Update for this week, presented in small bytes. Get the scoop on gadgets & hardware, computer security, online happenings, social networking, web tech and search engines. Read on...

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]]> Fake Antivirus Software tag:askbobrankin.com,2009://2.998 2009-11-13T19:23:02Z 2009-11-13T19:30:04Z "Recently I got a popup warning me that a virus had infected my computer, and I needed to download some antivirus program to get rid of it. I did so, and later discovered it was a very slick FAKE security... Bob Rankin "Recently I got a popup warning me that a virus had infected my computer, and I needed to download some antivirus program to get rid of it. I did so, and later discovered it was a very slick FAKE security tool that really messed things up. How can I avoid fake antivirus programs in the future?"

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]]> Consolidate Email Accounts tag:askbobrankin.com,2009://2.997 2009-11-13T17:38:12Z 2009-11-13T17:41:38Z "I have three email accounts, and it's a nuisance to check each one. I also have trouble keeping my address books in sync, and when I'm looking for a certain message, I have to check in three places. Is there... Bob Rankin "I have three email accounts, and it's a nuisance to check each one. I also have trouble keeping my address books in sync, and when I'm looking for a certain message, I have to check in three places. Is there an easy way to consolidate all my email accounts in one place?"

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]]> Fax Broadcasting tag:askbobrankin.com,2009://2.996 2009-11-12T15:43:33Z 2009-11-12T15:52:32Z "I need to send a weekly fax update to a large group of people. It's tedious to stand at the fax machine and enter each number. Is there software that can do this for me?"... Bob Rankin "I need to send a weekly fax update to a large group of people. It's tedious to stand at the fax machine and enter each number. Is there software that can do this for me?"

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]]> Windows Password Reset tag:askbobrankin.com,2009://2.995 2009-11-11T19:46:42Z 2009-11-11T19:49:57Z "I changed my Windows login password yesterday, and now I can't remember it! Is there any way to reset the windows password, so I can regain access to my computer?"... Bob Rankin "I changed my Windows login password yesterday, and now I can't remember it! Is there any way to reset the windows password, so I can regain access to my computer?"

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]]> Computer Overheating tag:askbobrankin.com,2009://2.994 2009-11-10T22:03:52Z 2009-11-10T22:05:16Z "My computer sometimes shuts down at random times. A friend said it's probably overheating. How can I find out for sure, and what can be done about overheating?"... Bob Rankin "My computer sometimes shuts down at random times. A friend said it's probably overheating. How can I find out for sure, and what can be done about overheating?"

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]]> Inexpensive Computer Upgrades tag:askbobrankin.com,2009://2.993 2009-11-09T21:24:30Z 2009-11-09T21:26:19Z "My computer is showing signs of age, but I can't afford a new one. What hardware upgrades do you recommend to improve speed and usability for those with older computers?"... Bob Rankin "My computer is showing signs of age, but I can't afford a new one. What hardware upgrades do you recommend to improve speed and usability for those with older computers?"

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]]> Geekly Update November 9 tag:askbobrankin.com,2009://2.992 2009-11-09T18:56:18Z 2009-11-09T19:02:37Z Here's your Geekly Update for the week of November 9th, presented in small bytes. Get the scoop on gadgets & hardware, computer security, online happenings, social networking, web tech and search engines. Read on...... Bob Rankin Here's your Geekly Update for the week of November 9th, presented in small bytes. Get the scoop on gadgets & hardware, computer security, online happenings, social networking, web tech and search engines. Read on...

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]]> AVG 9 Review tag:askbobrankin.com,2009://2.991 2009-11-03T14:59:21Z 2009-11-03T15:05:27Z AVG Technologies has been protecting computer users against viruses, spyware, and other malware since 1991. Its eponymous software, simply called "AVG" comes in a free version for personal "basic protection" use and a commercial version for "enhanced protection" use. The... Bob Rankin AVG Technologies has been protecting computer users against viruses, spyware, and other malware since 1991. Its eponymous software, simply called "AVG" comes in a free version for personal "basic protection" use and a commercial version for "enhanced protection" use. The latest release is version 9. Let's take a look at AVG9 and see how it measures up to the security challenges looming online...

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]]> Geekly Update November 2 tag:askbobrankin.com,2009://2.990 2009-11-02T22:03:38Z 2009-11-02T22:08:33Z Here's your Geekly Update for the week of November 2nd, presented in small bytes. Get the scoop on gadgets & hardware, computer security, online happenings, social networking, web tech and search engines. Read on..... Bob Rankin Here's your Geekly Update for the week of November 2nd, presented in small bytes. Get the scoop on gadgets & hardware, computer security, online happenings, social networking, web tech and search engines. Read on..

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