Ask Bob Rankin

Free Alternatives to GoToMyPC

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:42:46 +0000

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

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:14:59 +0000

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

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:11:14 +0000

"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

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:19:07 +0000

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

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:50:15 +0000

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

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:47:58 +0000

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

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:23:02 +0000

"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

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:38:12 +0000

"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

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:43:33 +0000

"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

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:46:42 +0000

"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

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:03:52 +0000

"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

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:24:30 +0000

"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

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:56:18 +0000

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

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:59:21 +0000

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

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:03:38 +0000

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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The Droid Phone

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:38:04 +0000

There's a certain segment of the population that is addicted to gizmos and gadgets. They're always waiting for the Next Big Thing. Those people are anxiously awaiting November 6, 2009, when the Motorola/Verizon Droid smartphone will be released to the masses. If you can't wait to get one in your hands, here is a sneak preview of the latest in a succession of "iPhone killer" devices…

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Replace Your Power Supply

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:50:09 +0000

"The fan inside my computer's power supply has started making an awful noise, and I'm afraid it's ready to bite the dust. Is it difficult to replace a power supply?"

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Geekly Update October 27

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:40:12 +0000

Here's your Geekly Update for the week of October 27th, 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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Internet Explorer 8 Versus Firefox

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:05:35 +0000

Should you use Internet Explorer version 8, or the new Firefox version 3.5? Which is better, faster, easier to use? Read on for my comparison of the latest versions of the two most popular browsers...

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Microsoft Security Essentials

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:44:44 +0000

"I just read something about a new security tool from Microsoft, that's supposed to be better than Windows Defender, which I use now. What is your recommendation?"

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Backup Your Mobile Phone

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:00:07 +0000

"Recently I lost my phone, and along with it, all my contacts, music, text messages and apps. It's been expensive and time consuming to reconstruct everything, so I'm looking for a way to back up all the data on my cell phone. What do you recommend?"

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Windows Registry Errors

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:04:58 +0000

"When I start my computer, I always get some sort of 'error in registry' message. Things seem to work okay after that, but it makes me wonder if there is a problem that should be corrected. Will a registry cleaner fix this?"

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Geekly Update October 20

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:48:44 +0000

Here's your Geekly Update for the week of October 20th, 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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Is Your Hard Drive Dying?

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:19:21 +0000

How long will your hard drive last? Is it giving you subtle signs that a data disaster is looming? How will you know when it's time to buy a new hard drive? Here are some things you can look for...

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Transfer Programs from XP or Vista to Windows 7

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:37:37 +0000

"I'm moving to Windows 7, but I'm worried about transferring all my existing programs to the new system. I would be a major hassle to re-install all my programs… what do you recommend?"

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Print to File

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:34:05 +0000

"Often I compose a letter in Word, then paste the text into an email. But all the formatting (and sometimes images) are lost when my friends view it. Can I somehow capture in a file, exactly what WOULD appear on the printed page, then send that instead?"

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Windows 7 Upgrade Cost

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:42:57 +0000

"I've heard so many different stories about the cost of upgrading to Windows 7, that I don't know what to think. Can you clarify the Win7 upgrade price for me?"

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Geekly Update October 13

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:51:50 +0000

Here's your Geekly Update for the week of October 13th, 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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What Is a Fax Server?

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:51:43 +0000

"I work in a busy office, and often the fax machine is a major source of frustation and lost productivity. I'm no geek, but it sounds like a central fax server would save time and money. Can you get me started?"

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Surge Protectors

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:00:51 +0000

"I'm looking for a surge protector for my computer equipment and I'm wondering if those power strip models with built-in surge protection are any good. What should I look for when trying to protect my computer from lightning strikes?"

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