Recent Comments
Comment by Bill Ferguson on How to Erase Your Hard Drive - Going Nuclear? (May 30, 2023 09:22 PM)
Forget all the fancy programs. Simply remove the HDD or SSD from your computer, put on a pair of safety glasses, go out to the back yard and place you...
Comment by Ernest N. Wilcox Jr. on How to Erase Your Hard Drive - Going Nuclear? (May 30, 2023 08:39 PM)
Steve, Use Bob's method of encrypt - reformat (full format) - encrypt, then re-format (quick-format's O.K. this time) the drive again and install Win...
Comment by Steve on How to Erase Your Hard Drive - Going Nuclear? (May 30, 2023 08:18 PM)
But what to do when you want to sell the PC but don’t wish to delete the Windows OS ? Is there a secure way to delete the personal data as on an iPa...
Comment by Eric on How to Erase Your Hard Drive - Going Nuclear? (May 30, 2023 08:17 PM)
Disassemble drive, remove disks, scratch disks surfaces radially several times. Will that work? It only takes a few minutes per drive....
Comment by Renaud OLGIATI on How to Erase Your Hard Drive - Going Nuclear? (May 30, 2023 07:51 PM)
Some years back I was put in charge of a number of PCs left behind when the French Embassy closed, and given to the Alliance Française educational bo...
Comment by hifi5000 on How to Erase Your Hard Drive - Going Nuclear? (May 30, 2023 06:09 PM)
Yes, do not just format a hard drive as that procedure does not erase files.I use Darik's Boot N Nuke (DBAN) to great success on the old-style hard dr...
Comment by Oldster on Rubber Bands, Duct Tape, and Hives - Your Guide to the Windows Registry (May 28, 2023 08:27 PM)
I have used the registry editor (regedit.exe) on many occasions to tweak or fix my system. I currently dual-boot Windows 11 with Fedora Linux (the KDE...
Comment by SamG on Rubber Bands, Duct Tape, and Hives - Your Guide to the Windows Registry (May 28, 2023 03:39 PM)
No matter how many times Restore is PERFORMED, in Windows XP-11, the restore files disappear. After a Microsoft OS update. Backup with Macrium works. ...
Comment by Bob K on Rubber Bands, Duct Tape, and Hives - Your Guide to the Windows Registry (May 27, 2023 05:53 PM)
Brian B: Restore Point, in my opinion, and from experience, is the worst piece of software ever written. Oh so true, so indubitably true. Thank you....
Comment by Dennis W. on Rubber Bands, Duct Tape, and Hives - Your Guide to the Windows Registry (May 27, 2023 05:06 PM)
Brian B. thank you for reminding me that I also have Macrium Reflect (for years now) running quietly in the background......
How to Erase Your Hard Drive - Going Nuclear?
How important is it to completely erase ALL personal data from a hard drive before disposing of it? Savvy users understand that deleting a file doesn't really make it go away. And even formatting a hard drive doesn't guarantee that your files are unreadable. So how can you be certain that every bit of your data is gone before selling, donating or disposing of your hard drive? Here's some good news on that front…
Posted by Bob Rankin on May 30, 2023 | Category: Hard-Drives
Rubber Bands, Duct Tape, and Hives - Your Guide to the Windows Registry
In some Windows troubleshooting articles you’ll find a suggestion to fix a problem that involves editing the Windows registry. There’s always a dire warning attached, along the lines of, “Do not attempt to edit the registry unless you know what you’re doing! One wrong registry edit can render your machine unusable!” That's true, but with a bit of caution, you CAN safely edit the registry. (Just beware of hives.) Here's what you need to know, and some helpful examples...
Posted by Bob Rankin on May 26, 2023 | Category: Windows
Geekly Update - 04 May 2023 (giraffes ahead...)
Has AI advanced to the point where mind reading is possible? Did passwords become obsolete this week? Is it safe to poke a robot? And can giraffes predict the statistical likelihood that your hard drive will soon fail? 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 May 04, 2023 | Category: Tech-News
So I Just Googled Myself...
Have you ever used Google or Bing to search your own name, address or phone number? In an age of powerful search engines, social media, artificial intelligence, and changing attitudes about privacy, you might be shocked to see what a casual searcher can learn about you. If you're okay with that level of transparency, then fine. If not, read on for some tips on what you can do about it...
Posted by Bob Rankin on May 01, 2023 | Category: Reference
Geekly Update - 27 April 2023 (What is reality?)
Can a virus enter your smartphone via the charging port? How can you tell a deepfake video from the real thing? Have you been impacted by a recent data breach? And is it possible to jumpstart your car without a battery? 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 April 27, 2023 | Category: Tech-News
It's Nice to Share, But...
Two trends are clashing on the Web today. Security is more important than ever to protect yourself against ever-increasing cyberthreats. “Sharing” is equally big, thanks to social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram which make money when you share your intimate thoughts, experiences, and other life-stuff with strangers. But security and sharing do not mix well. Here's what you need to know about oversharing and trauma dumping...
Posted by Bob Rankin on April 25, 2023 | Category: Social-Networking
Cable TV Too Expensive? Try These Free TV Options
I’ve written before about various options for watching TV shows and movies via online streaming services. The good news today is that while Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu and Youtube are constantly raising prices for their services, a bunch of free options are popping up. Read on to learn how you can get local television channels, movies and popular shows without a subscription or monthly fees...
Posted by Bob Rankin on April 24, 2023 | Category: Television
Forward Emails to Your Phone Via Text Message
You may not prefer to be notified (bothered) by your phone every time an email hits your inbox. But email from a spouse, child, boss, or other important contact may be something you want to know about right away. Here is a free, easy way to forward selected emails via text message when those things happen...
Posted by Bob Rankin on April 20, 2023 | Category: Email
Recover Deleted Files on Windows or Mac
'Yikes... I didn't mean to delete that file!' It happens to everyone... it could be a stray mouse click, a senior moment, or fumbling fingers. And the document, spreadsheet, or photo you just spent hours creating or editing is gone. Or maybe not. Fortunately, 'deleted' doesn't necessarily mean 'gone forever' on a hard drive. Here are some things to try when you want to recover a deleted file...
Posted by Bob Rankin on April 19, 2023 | Category: Hard-Drives
LifeLock: Will it Save Your Digital Bacon?
If you're concerned about identity theft these days, you're not necessarily paranoid. Frequent and massive data breaches provide scammers with the personal information they need to pull it off. If someone assumes your identity they can open new credit cards, raid your bank accounts, ruin your employment prospects, or even commit crimes for which you are blamed. With so much at stake, many people are paying $20 or more a month for identity theft protection services. But are they wasting their money? Here's the scoop...
Posted by Bob Rankin on April 18, 2023 | Category: Finance
Would You Click This Link?
Your mouse hovers over a link... your trembling finger is poised to click... but you stop to think. Is there danger lurking behind that link? Do you know how to tell right away if a website (or link) is going to lead you into a world of hurt? A single click can trigger an unwanted download, a malware infection, stolen login credentials, ransomware, or identity theft. Here are some practical tips and tools you can use to click smarter...
Posted by Bob Rankin on April 04, 2023 | Category: Security
REVEALED: How Creepy Marketers Get Your Email Address
Have you ever visited an online store, and later got an email from that website, even though you never provided your email address? I find this disturbing, and you probably will too, when you learn how and why this is happening. Read on to learn the source of mystery marketing messages...
Posted by Bob Rankin on April 03, 2023 | Category: Privacy
Fileless Malware: The Ghost in Your Computer
A clever but pernicious software technique that's been known for more than a decade is being adopted by today's malware authors, complicating the work of anti-virus developers and digital forensic analysts. Tracking down so-called “fileless malware” is to detection of regular malware what ghost-hunting is to catching a garden-variety burglar. Read on to learn about this resurgent threat and what you can do to stop it...
Posted by Bob Rankin on March 30, 2023 | Category: Anti-Virus
Geekly Update - 29 March 2023 (Are we doomed?)
Would you spend almost two hundred million dollars to add ten years to your life? Are you sharing too much with your mobile phone provider? When is a cropped photo NOT a cropped photo? And has artificial intelligence gone too far already? 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 March 29, 2023 | Category: Tech-News
Which is Fastest: Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile?
When choosing a mobile phone service, you want to know which one has a good strong signal and a fast 4G (or 5G) data connection, in the places where you live and use your cell phone. In their advertising, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile all make various claims about network coverage, reliability and speed. All of them claim to ‘best’ in some way. But is there a way to honestly compare which one is best where YOU live and work? YES! Read on for that...
Posted by Bob Rankin on March 27, 2023 | Category: Wireless