 |
.Need tech support? Go ahead... Ask Bob about computers, technology, gadgets or the Internet! |
Search For Tech Help
|
Ask Bob Rankin search results: turn f lock off
Speed Up Your Laptop
"My laptop is only a year old, but it seems to be running slower than when it was new. And it's definitely a lot slower than my desktop for most things. What can I do to speed up my laptop?"...
Windows Taskbar Tips and Tricks
The Windows taskbar - that narrow strip of icons at the bottom of your screen - is a nuisance to some and a fertile world of productivity for others. Learn the non-obvious secrets of the taskbar, you'll be glad you...
Geekly Update February 3
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......
How Long Do Flash Drives Last?
Flash drives are an increasingly popular form of portable storage. Some people predict that flash drives will replace hard drives in time, just as optical disks replaced floppy disks. But are flash drives as safe as other mass storage media...
Are Online Backup Services Safe?
The recent hack of Google by Chinese espionage agencies has raised concerns about the security and safety of online backup services. Is the protection provided by Mozy, Carbonite and other popular backup services enough to keep your files safe from...
Digital Picture Frames
"I want to give my mother a digital picture frame, but she's a senior citizen and not so tech savvy. What do you recommend that works well and is easy to use?"...
Unlocked Cell Phones
"I want to switch to another mobile provider, but I love my current phone and don't want to buy a new one. How can I unlock my phone so it will work on any cellular network?"...
Geekly Update December 29
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......
Startup Programs
If you feel your computer is sluggish, what's going on? One reason could be your Windows startup programs. let's take a look at how to manage your startup programs, and pump some speed back into your system......
Internet Explorer 8 Crashes
Many users report that Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 locks up or even crashes their entire PC, under a variety of circumstances. They want to know why. Here's the scoop......
System Restore Not Working
"I tried to run System Restore and got this error message: 'System Restore did not complete successfully. Your computer's files and settings were not changed.' Uggh. Why does this happen, and what can I do about it?"...
Geekly Update September 29
Here's your Geekly Update for the week of September 29th, presented in small bytes. Get the scoop on gadgets & hardware, security patches, browser news, social networking, web tech and search engines. Read on......
What is Data Execution Prevention?
"I keep getting an error that says 'Data Execution Prevention - To help protect your computer, Windows has closed this program.' What is Data Execution Prevention, and why is it suddenly blocking programs that I've been using for years?"...
What Does System Restore Do?
System Restore is a great feature in Windows that lets you roll back the clock on system changes. Have you ever wondered how System Restore affects your computer's resources, performance and what's really going on behind the scenes? Read on......
Alternatives To Lifelock
"I'm considering LifeLock identity theft insurance, but are there other companies I should consider? And I've heard about do-it-yourself identity theft protection... is that a realistic alternative?"...
Secure Your Software
Is your computer really secure? If you have antivirus software, malware scanners and a firewall, you might think you'e safe from hackers, crackers and identity thieves. But chances are, you're missing one critical piece of the security puzzle. Read on...
Do Computers Get Tired?
"Sometimes my computer acts weird when it's been running for several days. I've heard about something called 'electron buildup' but I'm not sure I should take it seriously. Can electronic devices really suffer from fatigue if they're on too long?"...
Free AntiSpyware Programs
"Everyone seems to recommend a different free antispyware program. Which is the best for protecting me against spyware?"...
Today is DTV Day!
After many delays, the much-anticipated digital television switchover is today. Older TV's with analog receivers will display only snow -- unless you install an analog to digital converter. Here's the scoop......
Privacy Software
"I'm concerned about threats to my privacy while using my home computer. Can you recommend any good tools to help me use my computer and navigate the web safely, without compromising my privacy?"...
TrapCall Reveals Blocked Caller ID
"I've read about TrapCall, a service that claims to be able to reveal the true caller for calls where the callerID info is blocked or hidden. Does Trapcall really work? Are there any privacy concerns or gotchas?"...
Free Firewall Protection
"Everyone says that if you have an Internet connection, you should have a firewall. But can I use a free firewall, or should I pay for one of the commercially available firewall packages?"...
Parental Control Software
"I have pre-teen children who are just starting to get interested in the Web. What parental control software do you recommend?"...
USB Turntables
"I want to buy a USB turntable to convert some vinyl record albums to MP3 format. Are there any specific turntables you can recommend?"...
Solid State Hard Drives
"I'm checking out laptops, and some say they have a solid state hard drive. Is this a good thing? How does a solid state hard drive compare to a regular hard drive?...
Great Gadget Gifts
Are you going nuts over the selection of electronics that are available for this holiday season? There are so many choices -- cell phones, music players, PDAs, video cams and more. Read on for my personal recommendations to help you...
Is Free Wifi Illegal?
"Sometimes when I'm away from home, I'll park my car, fire up the laptop and get online with a free unsecured wireless signal. Is this legal?"...
Gmail - New Features
Google recently added some nifty new features to Gmail, their free web-based email service. Here's a look a what's new in Gmail......
AVG Review
Is your computer safe from viruses? Without the proper protection, your computer can catch a virus faster than you can recite your email address three times. Viruses can destroy files, compromise your privacy, and make you vulnerable to identity theft....
Accessing Blocked Websites
If you are a student, employee, or part of the military, you've probably experienced the frustration of not being able to access certain websites or even your webmail. Fortunately there are some things you can do to access these blocked...
Voyager Versus iPhone
"Some people are calling the new LG Voyager a potential iPhone killer. I'm considering buying the Voyager so I'd like your take on how it stacks up against the Apple iPhone."...
Disable Vista UAC
"I'm getting popups on Vista saying "Windows needs your permission to continue." Is this spyware or something I need to deal with? If it's part of Vista, can I turn this annoying 'feature' off?"...
Low Disk Space Warning
"Windows is giving me a warning that says 'You are running out of disk space on Local Disk (C:).' My friend told me this is not important and offered to disable the warning popup for me, but I'm not sure....
Upgrade Your Computer Monitor
"I have a really old monitor with a small screen that's starting to flicker. I'd like to upgrade to something nice that will handle web browsing, office applications and online video. What do you recommend?"...
Gmail: Beyond the Basics
You've opened a Gmail account and now you can send and receive email on the web. Lots of email... 5.2 gigs and counting. But beyond all that space, Google's Gmail can give you better control over how you manage your...
What is a Mashup?
"I hear the term mashup being used to describe certain websites, but I'm not sure what it means. Can you explain what a mashup is, and where the word comes from?"...
Maps and Driving Directions
Thanks to online maps, there's no excuse for getting lost on the Internet. These excellent online mapping tools will get you from one place to another, and some are interactive. The new breed of online maps are aware of businesses,...
Facebook Privacy
"I've switched from Myspace to Facebook because I was unhappy with the privacy controls there, and I've been told that Facebook lets you control this much better. Would you please go over the Facebook privacy settings and recommend which ones...
Forgot Facebook Password
Did you forget your Facebook password? Having trouble logging in? Or did you forget the email address for your Facebook login? Maybe your email account is not working, so you can't change your password. Or maybe it's something with a...
Which GPS Should I Buy?
GPS systems are useful for finding your way around, but choosing the navigation system that's right for you might be just as challenging as traveling without one. Here are some guidelines on the best GPS systems so you don't get...
Daylight Savings Time
Daylight Saving Time (DST) arrives three weeks early this year (March 11), and will end one week later (Nov 4), to comply with revised Daylight Saving Time laws in many countries. Here's what you need to do to make sure...
Anonymous Web Surfing
Going online can be like taking a walk in the park after midnight. Behind every tree there may be someone getting ready to mug you. This article will tell you how to surf the web with a higher level of...
Hide Your SSID?
"I have a wireless network at home, which lets me get an internet connection on my laptop all over the house. But I'm concerned that neighbors or people driving by can hack into my computer. A friend said that hiding...
Dirty Mouse?
"When I click on the Windows Start button it jumps up and down like a jack in the box. Even worse are arrowed pop-up boxes, as it takes clicking on the arrow 4 or 5 times, before it calms down...
Red Fist Appears
"When on some websites, if I click on a link a "red fist" icon appears next to my pointer and I am not redirected to that link. What is this red fist, and how can I access those links?"...
Eat Your Cookies
I often get mail from people who misunderstand or fear browser cookies, so I've written a a guide that tells you everything need to know about these tasty little critters. Read on for a closer look at the good, the...
Hard Drive Makes a Clicking Sound
"My hard drive is making a clicking sound. It started recently and seems to be getting more frequent. Sometimes I hear a repeated click-whir sound and then the computer locks up. Does this mean my hard drive is going bad?"...
Identity Theft
Remember that 1995 movie "The Net", starring Sandra Bullock? Okay, I didn't see it either. Somehow I couldn't imagine Sandra as a software engineer after watching her in "While You Were Sleeping". But I digress... the movie was a story...
Red X appears instead of image?
"Sometimes in my emails or websites, the images do not appear, but a little red X shows up. Can you tell me please how to correct this?"...
Windows XP Security Tips
"Some of my geeky friends are telling me that Windows XP is full of security holes, and that I am putting my privacy at risk by going online with a Windows PC. Can you offer some tips to help me...
Cannot Access Secure Sites
I have Windows XP SP2, and within the past two weeks I have not been able to get into any secure (https) sites. I can get to the web page, but when I enter my userid and password, it says...
Do I Need a Firewall?
"I've heard conflicting reports on whether or not I should be using a firewall. Some people say they are only needed for dialup users. Others say you MUST have a firewall if you have a highspeed DSL or cable connection....
Internet Connection Fails
"I am using XP home with a cable modem connection, and quite often using while online, I get the error of can't find the server. I just lose my internet connection, and it says my TCP/IP needs resetting. How do...
What is RSS?
I keep hearing about RSS, XML and RSS feeds. I have only a vague idea of what they are, but then people start talking about RSS aggregators, and I get really confused. What are they talking about and why would...
Google Toolbar is Spyware?
I just got a new computer at work. On my last one I had downloaded the google toolbar. The tech people here have now blocked it because they say it contains spyware. Is this true? It was so convenient to...
Printing a .PRN file
"If I'm using my laptop away from the office and I choose to print something and select "print to file" (since I don't have a printer with me) it creates a .PRN file, but how can I print that file...
Turning F-Lock key ON automatically
On certain Microsoft keyboards, the function keys (F1, F2, F3, etc.) will not work normally unless you press the F-Lock key. Arrogantly flouting decades of keyboard convention, Microsoft markets "Natural" and "Multimedia" and "Office" keyboards that have the F-keys reassigned...
Search Tips
For best results, use just ONE or TWO keywords. This search engine looks for all words in any order. To search for an exact phrase, enclose the phrase in quotes. You may also use AND, OR, and NOT keywords to specify boolean expressions. For example:
"format drive"
spyware OR virus
phone NOT cell