Recent Comments
Comment by Brian B on Should You X-Ray Your Computer? (March 18, 2023 12:37 AM)
Hi Bob, Can I just make one point to make it easier for dummies like me? You often give advice on software that allows users to check our machines an...
Comment by John Anderson on Should You X-Ray Your Computer? (March 17, 2023 04:28 PM)
I've been using Belarc to keep track of my computer for years. With the advent of a new desktop computer in 2021. Belarc currently shows two missing i...
Comment by lar p on Should You X-Ray Your Computer? (March 17, 2023 03:50 PM)
"When I saw the subject of your email, I thought you were going to talk about whether to put your PC through the airport x-ray machines. " same here ....
Comment by Mike on Review: PC Matic Gets a Zero! (March 17, 2023 01:31 AM)
I too upgraded a Windows 7 Laptop, to Windows 10. An Acer to be exact. I bought PC Matic and tried and tried to get it to run on that laptop with no s...
Comment by Kenny D on How Many Windows Keyboard Shortcuts Have You Tried? (March 16, 2023 04:31 PM)
I use Fn+F2 to put the PC to sleep ...
Comment by Hill on Should You X-Ray Your Computer? (March 16, 2023 12:50 AM)
Hold the option key, click on the fruit on the top right corner, and click system information in the menu that drops down....
Comment by Sylvia on How Many Windows Keyboard Shortcuts Have You Tried? (March 15, 2023 10:58 PM)
To remove all hyperlinks in a document at one time. Press Ctrl+A to select all text. Press Ctrl+Shift+F9. ...
Comment by David B. on Should You X-Ray Your Computer? (March 15, 2023 09:07 PM)
Great article, as always, Bob! :-) My friend has asked what similar provision is recommended for his Apple Mac. Can you advise, please? Thanks. ...
Comment by Charley on Should You X-Ray Your Computer? (March 15, 2023 05:53 PM)
When I saw the subject of your email, I thought you were going to talk about whether to put your PC through the airport x-ray machines. Only when I lo...
Comment by cropduster on Here's How to Speed Up Your Internet Connection (March 14, 2023 07:24 PM)
I switched over to T-Mobile as my service provider 2 years ago, so my internet connects through a nearby T-Mobile tower. My 'gateway' device operated...
Should You X-Ray Your Computer?
Do you know what's going on inside your PC? Most people don’t, and most of the time they don’t need to know. But there are occasions when a detailed inventory of a computer’s components comes in handy. Read on to learn some surprising reasons why you SHOULD know what's under the hood of your computer, even if you're NOT a techie. And also, some software tools that will let you “x-ray” your PC, so you can see what's inside without touching a screwdriver. Read on...
Posted by Bob Rankin on March 15, 2023 | Category: Hardware
How Many Windows Keyboard Shortcuts Have You Tried?
Windows 10 and 11 keyboard shortcuts can save time, wrist motions, and for some people, carpal tunnel pain. Keyboard shortcuts are combinations of two or more keys (or a key and a mouse button) that, when pressed simultaneously, perform a task that would normally require moving the mouse around, clicking, and possibly navigating sub-menus. There's even a useful super-secret keystroke that very few people know! Here are some keyboard shortcuts you should know, and try for yourself...
Posted by Bob Rankin on March 13, 2023 | Category: Windows-10
Your CD and DVD Discs May Fail Sooner Than You Think
If your precious memories or important files are backed up on CD, DVD or Blu-Ray discs, you might want to go looking for a medium that will protect your documents, photos and videos a bit better. Would you be surprised to learn that a U.S. government study concluded that standard optical discs have an expected lifespan of just 3 to 5 years? Would you like to learn about a data storage solution that promises 100, or even 1000 years? Read on...
Posted by Bob Rankin on March 06, 2023 | Category: Backup
12 Computer Facts That Are Not True
Did you know? At midnight on March 31st, the Internet will be temporarily shut down for the annual Spring Cyber Cleaning? Read on to get the scoop on this, Abraham Lincoln's opinion on fake news, and other dubious “facts” about computers and the Internet...
Posted by Bob Rankin on March 01, 2023 | Category: Reference
[PRIVACY] What's in YOUR Digital Dossier?
Thanks to the Internet and online search tools, it’s easy for ordinary people to collect copious quantities of information about nearly any person, place or topic. That is indisputably a good thing. However, when it comes to the multi-billion-dollar business of collecting and selling data about other people, that use of the Internet can take a sinister turn. Read on for the scoop on data brokers, how they operate, and what they may know about you...
Posted by Bob Rankin on February 27, 2023 | Category: Privacy
Here's How to Optimize Your Hard Drive
When things go wrong with your computer, the source of the problem is often in the hard drive. One of the best things you can do to prevent computer problems and improve performance is to keep your hard drive in tip-top shape. Here are some of the most important tasks for hard drive optimization, plus some nifty (and free) software utilities that make getting them done a breeze...
Posted by Bob Rankin on February 22, 2023 | Category: Hard-Drives
Here's How to Speed Up Your Internet Connection
An AskBob reader asked me for tips to speed up his Internet connection. Unless you enjoy watching paint dry, a slow internet connection can be very frustrating, especially when you're trying to stream a movie, play an online game, or just browse the web. Sometimes the slowdown is beyond your control; the Internet is subject to traffic jams and congestion, just like any other highway. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to speed up your internet connection. Here's a bucket of tips and tools that can help you go faster on the information highway...
Posted by Bob Rankin on February 09, 2023 | Category: Networking
Have You Made These Identity Theft Mistakes?
Identity fraud affected over 27 million U.S. consumers in 2021, with losses over $28 billion. Spikes have been noted in 'new account fraud' and 'account takeover fraud' -- two of the most damaging types of ID theft. In addition, more than 1400 data breaches at major corporations had consumers vulnerable to phishing and other forms of fraud. I haven’t found stats for 2022 yet, but we can assume they’re equally dismal. Read on for my tips on avoiding fraud and identity theft, and see if you've made any mistakes that can make it easier for scammers to victimize you...
Posted by Bob Rankin on February 06, 2023 | Category: Finance
Sending a Mass Email? (read this first)
An AskBob reader says: 'I need to send occasional email updates to a large group of people. But I've heard that if you do it wrong, you'll get flagged as a spammer, or your emails may never get delivered. What software or services do you recommend to safely and reliably send emails to a list of people?' Read on for some good mass email options, and a few you definitely want to avoid...
Posted by Bob Rankin on February 03, 2023 | Category: Email
Geekly Update - 25 January 2023
Are you ready for flying cars and self-driving baby strollers? Do you want to know what your furry friend is really thinking? And is it time to worry about artificial intelligence taking over the world? Get answers in today's Geekly Update... it's jam-packed with the latest tech news. This issue is guaranteed to make you 146% smarter -- you'll see why. Read, think, and, comment!
Posted by Bob Rankin on January 25, 2023 | Category: Tech-News
Is This the Best Month to Buy a Car?
Do you know the best time of year to shop for a new or used car? And how is the global chip shortage affecting auto prices and inventory? Today I have some some tips for online auto buying that will help you save money and get the car you want. You may not even have to set foot in a dealer showroom. Read on...
Posted by Bob Rankin on January 23, 2023 | Category: Auto
Virus Alert: Real or Rogue?
A worried AskBob reader says: “Do I have a computer virus? My computer will sometimes stop and it says I have a virus, and I must call a number on the screen. Then supposedly they will walk me through the process to fix it. Is this true? I have antivirus installed but still, it pops up now and then.” Here's my diagnosis...
Posted by Bob Rankin on January 17, 2023 | Category: Security
[ALERT] Freeze Your Credit Files (all SIX of them)
Frequent and massive data breaches that reveal personal information on millions of consumers make it much easier for crooks to engage in identity theft. As individuals, we have little or no control over over data breaches, and what criminals do with that information. Even worse, the credit reporting agencies tasked with protecting our confidential information seem to think privacy is a joke. But we do have one important tool to defend ourselves. Today you'll learn how credit freezes work, and how they are different than 'fraud alerts' or 'credit locks'. Oh, and should you freeze ALL SIX of your credit files now? Wait... six? Yes, read on!
Posted by Bob Rankin on January 09, 2023 | Category: Privacy
AskBob's Best of 2022 - Part Two
Did you see Part One of my “Best of 2022” series? Today, I've got another group of ten very popular AskBob articles for you. These have been selected using semi-sentient AI software that I 'borrowed' from a secret underground laboratory, and with help from injectable nanobots, excerpts from high-profile data breaches, and a guy named Vinny, who knows a guy who lives near the police station in a major metropolitan area. I might possibly have used the AskBob server stats as well. I hope you'll read each one, leave your own comments, and share them with your Email, Facebook and other online friends.
Posted by Bob Rankin on January 03, 2023 | Category: Reference
AskBob's Best of 2022 - Part One
I want express my sincere THANKS to YOU and the 130,198 others who have subscribed to the AskBob newsletter since 2005. This year I celebrated the 17th anniversary of this newsletter, and there are over 3000 articles here now. Many of you are regular readers and contribute comments, which I love. And since I love numbers almost as much as words, I asked my robot to scan the server logs to find the most popular articles of the year. Here are ten of the top articles for you to review. I hope you'll check out each one, leave your own comments, forward this to a friend, and tell them to sign up for more AskBob in 2023!
Posted by Bob Rankin on January 02, 2023 | Category: Reference