USB port economy is important! If you’ve bought your Logitech Mouse and Keyboard separately from each other, you may have connected each receiver (USB bud) to your computer to get them to work. But that occupies 2 of your USB ports, which can be a heavy commitment on some laptops… You need to check out … Read more
Let’s say you have a special voicemail message. Maybe it’s critical to a lawsuit you’re involved with. Or perhaps it’s a precious memory from a long-lost friend. If it’s important to you, then it needs to be protected! Don’t take your voicemail for granted, as it can be deleted or lost, like computer data. If … Read more
Recently, I got a warning from my cellphone provider that I’d crossed a data usage threshold. My smartphone had consumed almost 2GB of data in a single day. This was exceptional for me, so I did the detective work to figure out what happened. As it turns out, the Amazon Shopping app was the culprit. … Read more
A lot of people ask me for help with their Wi-Fi signal. They want better coverage in their homes, and they are often ready to go out for something expensive to fix it. But before I recommend buying a pricey Google Wi-Fi set or a Netgear Orbi WiFi system, there are a bunch of free … Read more
“I can’t get my old monitor to connect to my new computer!” This comes up a lot, when someone is trying to connect old tech to new tech. Because display connectors have evolved over the years, your new PC may not offer the right port for your 10-year-old monitor. But you don’t have to buy … Read more
An ISP in Wales recently solved their town-wide DSL problem by locating and disconnecting a resident’s old TV. It’s an extreme example of a common problem with DSL service: DSL signal is very touchy and vulnerable to interference. And that interference can be caused by so many different things along your phonelines. If you have … Read more
1TB or 2TB flash drives are not cheap! If you’ve seen an ad or an offer for a Terabyte Flash Drive for a low price ($20-30), it is a scam. While terabyte-sized flash drives are finally coming to market, they are still expensive (~$150-200). “Fake” flash drives are for sale, though, on Amazon and similar … Read more
For many years, I’ve recovered data from defunct computers for my customers. But having changed to a remote support role, this service is one of the few things I can no longer offer. So, I think it’s time I describe this process in detail, in case some of you are comfortable doing it yourself. Update … Read more
Once or twice a year*, your computer needs dusting! Their grills and cooling elements attract dust, and too many years of particulate build-up can lead to overheating and shorter lifespans. An inexpensive can of compressed air is all you need to knock loose any accumulated dirt. Here’s an example of what to buy: https://www.amazon.com/Falcon-Compressed-Disposable-Cleaning-DPSJB/dp/B0000AE67M Shoot … Read more
When a phone gets wet, many people immediately rush to get a bag of rice. Don’t do this. Resting a soaked phone among dry grains of rice does very little to draw out moisture. And it can encourage starchy particles to get up inside your device, worsening its condition. I know this may hard to … Read more