Podcasts:
Content:
How do I change my Windows Live Hotmail password?
I cannot get into the account summary page or options so I can get
to what I needed to change my password.
|
This is something that's also changed recently with Windows Live
Hotmail updates. As I've said before, if you use Windows Live Hotmail,
you should expect change. Sometimes small change, something dramatic
change, but change nonetheless.
Let's walk through how to change your password in the current
design.
Continue reading
How do I change my Windows Live Hotmail password?
Tech Questions?
Get Answers! -
Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter -
Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.
What does "There is a problem with this website's security certificate" mean, and what should I do?
I have a laptop that consistently has a problem when it accesses a
site online each and every time I get the same message from the site I
am visiting. The message is strange and I have no knowledge of how to
correct the implied problem.
The message is: "There is a problem with this website's security
certificate. The security certificate presented by this website has
expired or is not yet valid."
This message appears when I try to access my email account.
|
The problem is most likely not yours to correct. In the case you're
asking about, more often than not, it's a problem with the web site
itself.
Though you still need to be careful.
Let's look at security certificates on https connections, what they
mean and what you should do when faced with messages such as this.
Continue reading
What does "There is a problem with this website's security certificate" mean, and what should I do?
Tech Questions?
Get Answers! -
Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter -
Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.
Leo's Answers #155 - December 2, 2008
|
Leo's Answers
A Weekly Newsletter From
Ask Leo!
Leo Notenboom
|
|
|
Your explanation was great & advice will help others like me.
-JoAnn
Hello {!name_fix}!
If you're having problems with the formatting of this newsletter in
email it's always available on the web here: http://ask-leo.com/currentnewsletter.html
|
Share Me!
Do you know someone who would benefit from this newsletter? Forward
it to them! (See below for details.)
Did someone forward this email to you? Subscribe to get
Leo's Answers in your own inbox every week.
|
*** Contents
*** This Week's New Articles on Ask Leo!
Where did my folders go in Windows Live
Hotmail?
I'm getting several reports of people who are unable to access the
folders that they may have set up in Hotmail. Typically, the claim is
that the folders are "gone" after the Hotmail UI update.
I did a little looking into it, and found at least a couple of
possibilities that would indicate that the folders aren't gone at
all.
They're just hiding.
Continue reading:
"Where did my folders go in Windows Live Hotmail?"
http://ask-leo.com/where_did_my_folders_go_in_windows_live_hotmail.html
* * *
Why does copying a large file sometimes slow down or
fail?
In Windows XP, 250 GB Harddrive, 1GB Ram, I am experiencing a bog
down / hang-up when copying files larger than 10 MB; the PC will have
to be restarted to clear this. Any idea what could cause this annoying
problem?
|
These types of problems are very difficult to diagnose, even with
access to the machine. So what I'll offer is the list of things that
come to mind and what I'd look at in your shoes.
I'll also ask readers to contribute ideas as well.
Continue reading:
"Why does copying a large file sometimes slow down or fail?"
http://ask-leo.com/why_does_copying_a_large_file_sometimes_slow_down_or_fail.html
* * *
Just what is the Malicious Software Removal Tool that I keep
getting in Windows Updates?
This Malicious Software Removal Tool which Microsoft sends around
every month; usually, I download this tool and have it installed
automatically, but I really do not know what it is doing. Is it doing
it automatically or does it have to be activated?
I once downloaded this tool as a separate item and then I could run
it on it's own, however, I ended up in Windows Defender. Does that mean
that this tool is a part of Windows Defender and sort of an update? I
could not find anything about this in all my computer books.
|
Microsoft's "Malicious Software Removal Tool" is somewhat
mysterious. It shows up in Windows updates, apparently gets installed,
and then ...
Nothing?
Not quite. Let's look at what Microsoft says, how I interpret it,
and just what the MSRT does.
Continue reading:
"Just what is the Malicious Software Removal Tool that I keep getting
in Windows Updates?"
http://ask-leo.com/just_what_is_the_malicious_software_removal_tool_that_i_keep_getting_in_windows_updates.html
* * *
What kind of maintenance should I do to avoid software
rot?
I have an older laptop (about 3 yrs old) running XP Pro w/SP3 and
IE7. I was a complete newbie when I first started receiving your
newsletter and my learning process has had me installing / uninstalling
many programs, applications, etc. Rather than clutter up my hard drive
with something I might use only once as a learning tool, or just once
in a while, I'll uninstall the program. Then I'll use disk cleanup;
search the hard drive for any remaining files or folders; use regedit
to delete any registry entries; maybe run CCleaner; defrag; and once
every couple of months run a check disk. Knock on wood and lighting a
candle to my little shrine of Redmond, my computer is humming right
along.
So my question is this: Is my preventive maintenance routine enough,
too much, or would you recommend something entirely different? I still
enjoy playing with different software but I'm also trying to forestall
my laptop's demise.
|
"Software rot" is what happens to your machine slowly over time as
you install and uninstall, and in some cases simply use, software.
Settings get left behind, files don't get properly uninstalled, and
things just get slightly messy. Eventually it can lead to some amount
of instability.
The question is, can it be avoided or delayed, and if so, how?
Continue reading:
"What kind of maintenance should I do to avoid software rot?"
http://ask-leo.com/what_kind_of_maintenance_should_i_do_to_avoid_software_rot.html
* * *
My computer was stolen. It's password protected, what files
can the thieves see?
My mid-tower computer was recently stolen in a burglary. The Windows
Vista home ultimate system was password protected at start-up. What
files can be accessed by those trying to enter the system?
|
It'll take a computer savvy thief about 5 minutes to gain access to
everything on your computer.
Yep. Everything.
Everything that you haven't otherwise protected, that is.
Continue reading:
"My computer was stolen. It's password protected, what files can the
thieves see?"
http://ask-leo.com/my_computer_was_stolen_its_password_protected_what_files_can_the_thieves_see.html
*** A Word from our Sponsor
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here.
*** Featured Comments
A sampling of some of the comments that have been posted recently on
Ask Leo!
* * *
My computer has started to shut down randomly, could it be the
fan?
Randy writes:
I've found that improper cleaning can cause more harm than good.
Regarding using a vacuum to clean the interior of your PC, this can be
dangerous since static electricity can be generated by the vacuum and
cause damage to PC components. A bit more troublesome but safer way to
clean the interior of a PC is with short bursts of compressed air
making sure that the can is not shaken or that moisture is expelled
from the can while cleaning.
Personally I've not had problems with careful use of a vacuum,
particularly for the exterior. But you are very correct, care and
caution are called for particularly when cleaning the inside.
-Leo
*
My computer has started to shut down randomly, could it be the
fan?
Bob writes:
Two things: 1. The dust can cause a lot of noise, too, depending on
how the fan is structured. 2. You forgot to mention that one doesn't
have to "lose all" when the computer shuts down. Any old hand will tell
you he saves what he is doing every few minutes, and sometimes every
few seconds. I automatically do a CTRL-S after virtually every editing
change, and every paragraph input. After "losing all" once, there's
really no excuse for getting caught a second time. Whatever the program
you're using, just think, "Would I want to have to type all this in
again?" When you do that, you'll automatically do a "save" often.
Yes, I confess to being a CTRL+S addict as well. Been burned too
many times. Even wrote an article on it:
My computer froze, and I lost my work in progress - what can I
do?
-Leo
*
My computer was stolen. It's password protected, what files can the
thieves see?
Rahul Mehta writes:
I find this password protection akin to that lock on the door of
your home. Enough protection against a casual passerby but pick-able to
a seasoned burglar. And of course total annoyance to you when you have
forgotten the key.
I totally agree with Leo that encryption is the real protection but
would add that do not leave the key on the machine itself. And don't
forget it either. Encryption works better when the key is long and not
easily guessable and that includes using difficult but words in a
common dictionary. That is a real temptation to leave the key somewhere
near by defeating the purpose.
Goes on to prove that it is not easy to protect your
possessions.
*** This Week's Most Popular
The ten most popular articles in the last 7 days on Ask Leo!
- How
do I make a new MSN Hotmail account?
-
How do I delete history items from my Google tool bar?
-
My desktop Recycle Bin has disappeared - why, and how do I get it
back?
-
I accidentally deleted my Recycle Bin in Vista - how do I get it
back?
- How
do I change my MSN Hotmail password?
- How do I
delete my Hotmail account?
-
Can I send text messages between a computer and a cell phone?
-
How do I put a picture into the caption of a picture on
myspace.com?
-
How do I resolve my MSN Hotmail sign in problems?
-
What are MSN HotMail's POP3 and SMTP settings for Outlook
Express?
*** Leo Recommends
Security Now
From the site:
"TechTV's Leo Laporte and [Steve Gibson] take 30 to 60 minutes near
the end of each week to discuss important issues of personal computer
security. Sometimes we'll discuss something that just happened.
Sometimes we'll talk about long-standing problems, concerns, or
solutions. Either way, every week we endeavor to produce something
interesting and important for every personal computer user."
I subscribe to a number of podcasts, as you might imagine. There are
few - very few - that get my attention nearly 100% of the time.
Security Now with Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte is
one of those podcasts.
And it's not because the co-host's name is also "Leo".
Continue reading: "Security Now"
http://ask-leo.com/security_now.html
•
Each week I recommend a specific product or resource that
I've found valuable and that I think you may as well.
What does my recommendation mean?
*** Popular Articles from the Archives
Three years after this article was
published, SVCHOST still causes problems, and confusion...
Where is it alright for svchost.exe to be?
I was told that the file svchost.exe should only exist in the
windows\system32 directory. I was also told that if I find it in
another directory, it is part of a virus. I have WinXP and found the
svchost.exe file in the windows\system32 directory. However, I also
found it in the windows\ServicePackFile\i386 directory and in the
windows\$NtServicePackUnistall$ directory. Is this a problem? Should I
delete the svchost.exe files in the non system32 directories?
|
Indeed, you were told correctly ... kind of.
I just took a look at my machine, and found all those copies and one
more. Fortunately they are not the result of a virus, and you
and I are quite safe.
Let's look a little more closely as to why.
Continue reading...
Where
is it alright for svchost.exe to be?
http://ask-leo.com/where_is_it_alright_for_svchostexe_to_be.html
*** Thoughts and Comments
From the "It Happens to Me Too" department...
The server that hosts the Ask Leo! web site is, essentially, a PC.
It's an industrial strength PC to be sure, but in it's heart of hearts,
it's just a PC (running Linux).
About three weeks ago we upgraded its RAM from 2 to 3 gigabytes.
Unfortunately after doing to the server, which normally would run for
months if not years without a problem, started to crash, hard, roughly
every other day. Replacing the RAM did not help. The next step would be
to replace the motherboard and chassis, including things like the power
supply. Unfortunately the system is old enough (Ask Leo!'s been around
for a while), that this was no longer an option at my hosting
company.
Perhaps you can guess where this is headed.
A) the extra RAM has been removed and we're back at 2 gig. The
server's been up for over 5 days as I write this, which is longer than
would have happened with 3 gig.
B) sometime next year, Ask Leo! will get an upgrade to newer, faster
hardware.
C) in the mean time, I'm slowly migrating some other sites on that
server to a second sever. (That server's been up for 384 days and
counting. 
)
I mention all this not for sympathy or ideas or anything like that.
It's a part of doing business, and of course it'll get dealt with.
I mention it because it's similar to many problems that I hear about
every day. I think it helps to realize that it's not just you, that
these types of problems happen all the time, and like mine, they're
often never explained. Yes, ultimately, I'll be moving to a new machine
because this one crashes if you add a gig of RAM, and we don't know
why. It shouldn't be that way; things should just work.
But the reality is, for my computers as well as yours, sometimes
things simply are what they are and we do what we need to keep
working.
'till next time...
Leo A. Notenboom
* * *
A selection of Leo's articles are available for free re-use at
http://articlesbyleo.com.
You can also subscribe to Ask Leo! on your Kindle.
Perhaps you'd like some Ask Leo! Stickers?
Some of Leo's other sites: The Ask Leo! Store, Leo's Online Business Card, Forwarded
Funnies, Taming Email,
MovableType Tips, Leo's Blog, Buy Leo a Latte (or a Beer), A Letter To Myself, Dolls and Friends, Corgwn.com
*** Newsletter Administration
Do you have a question? A comment, perhaps? Visit http://ask-leo.com/ask to submit your
questions.
I'll be honest: I'll try to respond, but I get a
lot of questions every day - I just can't answer everyone.
Rest assured, though, that even if you don't hear from me directly,
every email gets read.
Leo's Answers Newsletter is a weekly publication of
Ask Leo! and Leo A. Notenboom. It's
also available as an RSS feed at this URL: http://ask-leo.com/newsletter.xml.
Archives of previous newsletter issues can be found on the Ask Leo! web
site, http://ask-leo.com/newsletter.html.
Forward Me! You're quite welcome to forward this
email in its entirety; it's a great way to help Ask Leo! grow.
But you should probably delete your unsubscribe link below, so your
friends don't unsubscribe you by accident.
You may forward individual articles from this newsletter
only if you include all and only the text of that
article as found in this newsletter, including any links therein. You
may not copy full articles from the Ask Leo! website - more on
that in my section on copyright: http://ask-leo.com/terms.html#copyright.
I'd sure appreciate it if regular readers got a subscription of
their own. You can sign up at http://newsletter.ask-leo.com.
Interested in advertising on Ask Leo! or in this newsletter?
Advertising
details here.
Newsletter contents
Copyright © 2008, Leo A. Notenboom & Puget Sound Software,
LLC.
Continue reading
Leo's Answers #155 - December 2, 2008
Tech Questions?
Get Answers! -
Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter -
Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.
Where did my folders go in Windows Live Hotmail?
I'm getting several reports of people who are unable to access the
folders that they may have set up in Hotmail. Typically, the claim is
that the folders are "gone" after the Hotmail UI update.
I did a little looking into it, and found at least a couple of
possibilities that would indicate that the folders aren't gone at
all.
They're just hiding.
Continue reading
Where did my folders go in Windows Live Hotmail?
Tech Questions?
Get Answers! -
Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter -
Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.
Why does copying a large file sometimes slow down or fail?
In Windows XP, 250 GB Harddrive, 1GB Ram, I am experiencing a
bog down / hang-up when copying files larger than 10 MB; the PC will
have to be restarted to clear this. Any idea what could cause this
annoying problem?
|
These types of problems are very difficult to diagnose, even with
access to the machine. So what I'll offer is the list of things that
come to mind and what I'd look at in your shoes.
I'll also ask readers to contribute ideas as well.
Continue reading
Why does copying a large file sometimes slow down or fail?
Tech Questions?
Get Answers! -
Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter -
Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.
Just what is the Malicious Software Removal Tool that I keep getting in Windows Updates?
This Malicious Software Removal Tool which Microsoft sends around
every month; usually, I download this tool and have it installed
automatically, but I really do not know what it is doing. Is it doing
it automatically or does it have to be activated?
I once downloaded this tool as a separate item and then I could run
it on it's own, however, I ended up in Windows Defender. Does that mean
that this tool is a part of Windows Defender and sort of an update? I
could not find anything about this in all my computer books.
|
Microsoft's "Malicious Software Removal Tool" is somewhat mysterious.
It shows up in Windows updates, apparently gets installed, and then
...
Nothing?
Not quite. Let's look at what Microsoft says, how I interpret it,
and just what the MSRT does.
Continue reading
Just what is the Malicious Software Removal Tool that I keep getting in Windows Updates?
Tech Questions?
Get Answers! -
Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter -
Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.
What kind of maintenance should I do to avoid software rot?
I have an older laptop (about 3 yrs old) running XP Pro w/SP3 and
IE7. I was a complete newbie when I first started receiving your
newsletter and my learning process has had me installing / uninstalling
many programs, applications, etc. Rather than clutter up my hard drive
with something I might use only once as a learning tool, or just once
in a while, I'll uninstall the program. Then I'll use disk cleanup;
search the hard drive for any remaining files or folders; use regedit
to delete any registry entries; maybe run CCleaner; defrag; and once
every couple of months run a check disk. Knock on wood and lighting a
candle to my little shrine of Redmond, my computer is humming right
along.
So my question is this: Is my preventive maintenance routine enough,
too much, or would you recommend something entirely different? I still
enjoy playing with different software but I'm also trying to forestall
my laptop's demise.
|
"Software rot" is what happens to your machine slowly over time as
you install and uninstall, and in some cases simply use, software.
Settings get left behind, files don't get properly uninstalled, and
things just get slightly messy. Eventually it can lead to some amount
of instability.
The question is, can it be avoided or delayed, and if so, how?
Continue reading
What kind of maintenance should I do to avoid software rot?
Tech Questions?
Get Answers! -
Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter -
Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.
My computer was stolen. It's password protected, what files can the thieves see?
My mid-tower computer was recently stolen in a burglary. The Windows
Vista home ultimate system was password protected at start-up. What
files can be accessed by those trying to enter the system?
|
It'll take a computer savvy thief about 5 minutes to gain access to
everything on your computer.
Yep. Everything.
Everything that you haven't otherwise protected, that is.
Continue reading
My computer was stolen. It's password protected, what files can the thieves see?
Tech Questions?
Get Answers! -
Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter -
Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.
Leo's Answers #154 - November 25, 2008
Leo's Answers
A Weekly Newsletter From
Ask Leo!
Leo Notenboom
|
Excellent source of information. Thanks for your help.
-Kelly
Hello!
If you're having problems with the formatting of this newsletter in
email it's always available on the web here: http://ask-leo.com/currentnewsletter.html
|
Share Me!
Do you know someone who would benefit from this newsletter? Forward
it to them! (See below for details.)
Did someone forward this email to you? Subscribe to get
Leo's Answers in your own inbox every week.
|
*** Contents
*** This Week's New Articles on Ask Leo!
My computer has started to shut down randomly, could it be
the fan?
For some reason, my computer randomly shuts down a lot. It's been
happening even more and more. It started around the start of summer. It
usually would shut down for no reason. Yesterday, it said Over
Temperature. This shutting down thing is annoying. When I'm trying to
do work, I lose it all and the computer shuts down. I asked my cousin,
he said that it could be my fan. I haven't checked yet, I'm going to
ask you first, is it my fan? Or is it another problem?
|
Maybe.
The "Over Temperature" is definitely a clue, and the fan is a
definite possibility.
But ... let me tell you a little story about dust bunnies,
first.
Continue reading:
"My computer has started to shut down randomly, could it be the
fan?"
http://ask-leo.com/my_computer_has_started_to_shut_down_randomly_could_it_be_the_fan.html
* * *
How do I print or capture the information from a "blue
screen" error?
When I get an error it takes up the whole screen, and I lose my
ability to print. How can I print the actual page with all the error
information? There are a lot of numbers and it's very hard to copy them
all down.
|
Yep, that's a problem. How do you print when you can't print? How do
you copy to the clip board when there's no more clipboard?
It's a real, and honest problem that has no elegant solution.
Sometimes Windows has an error so severe it simply cannot continue
running at all.
Continue reading:
"How do I print or capture the information from a "blue screen"
error?"
http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_print_or_capture_the_information_from_a_blue_screen_error.html
* * *
What is "ping", and what does its output tell
me?
Sometimes when I search for solutions for my home networking
problem, I frequently see some people suggesting that I ping my PC by
IP and/or by computer name. What does PING command actually do? What's
the point of using this command? How do we read and understand the
results (sent, received, and lost) of the packets?
|
Ping is perhaps one of the oldest and most basic network diagnostic
tools. In concept the tool is very, very simple: it sends out an "are
you there?" kind of request, and expects to hear back a "yes, here I
am!" kind of response.
Very basic, very simple, and yet very powerful as a first line of
network diagnosis.
Continue reading:
"What is "ping", and what does its output tell me?"
http://ask-leo.com/what_is_ping_and_what_does_its_output_tell_me.html
* * *
How do I connect a monitor to my laptop and have it
work?
How do I hook up a monitor to my laptop? I can not get the monitor
to work.
|
I see people struggle with this all the time. It's actually somewhat
frustrating, since the answers are actually simple, just not
obvious.
You need to know the magic keystroke.
And you need patience. Just a few seconds worth, but you absolutely
need it.
Continue reading:
"How do I connect a monitor to my laptop and have it work?"
http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_connect_a_monitor_to_my_laptop_and_have_it_work.html
* * *
How do I print my email with the latest Windows Live
Hotmail?
Since Hotmail's recent change of format, we are unable to print
emails from our inboxs. The right hand side of the page is cut off and
only the first page prints.
|
I had a suspicion that I knew what Hotmail had done, and sure
enough, I went to check and said to myself "they didn't!"
They did.
The answer is not to use the print button, but to use the print
button instead.
Now in case that's not clear , let me
explain.
Continue reading:
"How do I print my email with the latest Windows Live
Hotmail?"
http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_print_my_email_with_the_latest_windows_live_hotmail.html
*** A Word from our Sponsor
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Advertisement.
Ask Leo about advertising
here.
*** Featured Comments
A sampling of some of the comments that have been posted recently on
Ask Leo!
* * *
What is the .NET Framework, and do I need all these versions?
Bill Yourconis writes:
I have had the experience you mentioned in this answer. I thought
that if version 3 included parts of 1 and 2, then why not uninstall
.NET 1 & 2? The result: several programs wouldn't run until I
re-installed .NET 1 & 2. I agree: keep them all. You just do not
realize what you have until you lose it!
*
How can I get the old Windows Live Hotmail back?
Linn Barringer writes:
Leo, Excellent, full-bloodied, completely deserved, totally
customer-focussed (though they might not see it that way), justifiable
rant.
I would also like to remind people that there's no such thing as
"free" even if it looks free. And if it looks free, what does it say
about a business that has its own domain name like mydomain.com yet
still uses mycompany123(at)aol.com or even worse,
mycompany345(at)hotmail.com. How unprofessional is that? Great
article.
*
Are
automatic updates a good thing?
Bill Nelson writes:
I have Automatic Updates enabled and like the feature, except for
one irritating behavior. Some updates require a restart to take effect.
I understand that, but I don't understand why Microsoft insists on
doing the restart without permission. They give a brief notice and then
do the restart. Several times, I've been working on something and have
been called away from the computer momentarily. I know I should save
before leaving, but I don't always remember. I hate it when I return to
discover that the computer has automatically rebooted and I've lost
what I was working on. Is there any way to disable this behavior and
give me the notice so I can initiate the reboot when I'm ready for
it?
The way to deal with this is to have Automatic Updates set to notify
you but NOT install automatically. That way you can choose when to
install the updates that are available and handle any possibly required
reboots.
-Leo
*
Google Mail - Free Email that works and leaves you in control
Chris writes:
"I now have a nice pebble and rocks background when I log in to
GMail." That's funny cause that was actually my first and only choice
this morning.. :)
You also forgot to mention that GMail uses colorful labels instead
of folders, but they act just the same with the plus of looking like,
just that: labels. Add those to the filters, and you get a nice,
colorful, organized inbox like I do.
Also, GMail allows you to attach email accounts to your primary
GMail account. By this, I mean you can give gmail the username and
password of any of your other email addies and you can now compose or
reply to emails, using any of those accounts in the "From:" field! I
can reply as my .edu account, my @gmail account, or my @msn
account.
Also, my college just transferred all their student email accounts
to GMail's email service.. That tells ya something right there about
reliability and use.
I still hope that they're backing up all that email somehow, though,
outside of GMail.
-Leo
*** This Week's Most Popular
The ten most popular articles in the last 7 days on Ask Leo!
- How
do I make a new MSN Hotmail account?
-
How do I delete history items from my Google tool bar?
-
My desktop Recycle Bin has disappeared - why, and how do I get it
back?
- How do I
delete my Hotmail account?
-
I accidentally deleted my Recycle Bin in Vista - how do I get it
back?
- How
do I change my MSN Hotmail password?
-
Can I send text messages between a computer and a cell phone?
-
How do I put a picture in a comment on myspace.com?
-
What are MSN HotMail's POP3 and SMTP settings for Outlook
Express?
-
How do I resolve my MSN Hotmail sign in problems?
*** Leo Recommends
Google Mail
Free Email that works and leaves you in control
The fact that I'm recommending a free email service at all will come
as a shock to most of my long time readers. I've long ranted against
using free email services being used as the sole repository for
your important information. Most people read that as being "against
free email", but it's really "against putting all your eggs in someone
else's basket and only in someone else's basket".
Free email accounts have a place in your overall email strategy.
And one of the reasons I recommend GMail, Google's free email
service is that it allows you to take control of your email in ways
that the other services will not. In fact, I can see situations where
GMail might be your primary email account.
Just never your only email account.
Continue reading:
"Google Mail - Free Email that works and leaves you in
control"
http://ask-leo.com/google_mail_free_email_that_works_and_leaves_you_in_control.html
•
Each week I recommend a specific product or resource that
I've found valuable and that I think you may as well.
What does my recommendation mean?
*** Popular Articles from the Archives
I don't know if it's fame or fortune
people are after, (both are difficult to achieve), but this continues
to be a frequent question. Hopefully people are simply following their
passion.
How do I become a computer programmer?
My son wants to become a video-game programmer or designer. What
advice do you have?
|
This is a very common question. Particularly with video games, kids
really enjoy playing them, and are often drawn to the potential of
creating them as well. There's even a series of TV commercials that
play on exactly that scenario.
I've hired a lot of programmers in my career. I've also not hired
even more. So I definitely have some thoughts and advice.
Continue reading...
How do
I become a computer programmer?
http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_become_a_computer_programmer.html
*** Thoughts and Comments
First, a very Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the United States
celebrating the holiday on Thursday. (And a very happy Thursday to
everyone else ). We're expecting guests and a fairly full and frenetic
time, so my apologies in advance if next week's newsletter turns out a
little lighter than usual.
I hope that with my formal recommendation of GMail this week that
I'm clarifying my position on free email accounts somewhat. I'm not
against 'em, per se, and I'm not even against any particular service
for that matter. What I am concerned about are people who have lots and
lots of important information that's kept only in a free email
account. Stuff happens. I hear about it all the time.
Frequently there simply is no recourse, and all that data is gone
forever.
It's a tired old song, but backup, backup, backup. It's the only way
to be sure.
That's why GMail. Aside from being very good in so many other ways,
its flexibility of access makes backing up and using it safely a
snap.
'till next time...
Leo A. Notenboom
* * *
A selection of Leo's articles are available for free re-use at
http://articlesbyleo.com.
You can also subscribe to Ask Leo! on your Kindle.
Perhaps you'd like some Ask Leo! Stickers?
Some of Leo's other sites: The Ask Leo! Store, Leo's Online Business Card, Forwarded
Funnies, Taming Email,
MovableType Tips, Leo's Blog, Buy Leo a Latte (or a Beer), A Letter To Myself, Dolls and Friends, Corgwn.com
*** Newsletter Administration
Do you have a question? A comment, perhaps? Visit http://ask-leo.com/ask to submit your
questions.
I'll be honest: I'll try to respond, but I get a
lot of questions every day - I just can't answer everyone.
Rest assured, though, that even if you don't hear from me directly,
every email gets read.
Leo's Answers Newsletter is a weekly publication of
Ask Leo! and Leo A. Notenboom. It's
also available as an RSS feed at this URL: http://ask-leo.com/newsletter.xml.
Archives of previous newsletter issues can be found on the Ask Leo! web
site, http://ask-leo.com/newsletter.html.
Forward Me! You're quite welcome to forward this
email in its entirety; it's a great way to help Ask Leo! grow.
But you should probably delete your unsubscribe link below, so your
friends don't unsubscribe you by accident.
You may forward individual articles from this newsletter
only if you include all and only the text of that
article as found in this newsletter, including any links therein. You
may not copy full articles from the Ask Leo! website - more on
that in my section on copyright: http://ask-leo.com/terms.html#copyright.
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details here.
Newsletter contents
Copyright © 2008, Leo A. Notenboom & Puget Sound Software,
LLC.
Continue reading
Leo's Answers #154 - November 25, 2008
Tech Questions?
Get Answers! -
Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter -
Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.
My computer has started to shut down randomly, could it be the fan?
For some reason, my computer randomly shuts down a lot. It's been
happening even more and more. It started around the start of summer. It
usually would shut down for no reason. Yesterday, it said Over
Temperature. This shutting down thing is annoying. When I'm trying to
do work, I lose it all and the computer shuts down. I asked my cousin,
he said that it could be my fan. I haven't checked yet, I'm going to
ask you first, is it my fan? Or is it another problem?
|
Maybe.
The "Over Temperature" is definitely a clue, and the fan is a
definite possibility.
But ... let me tell you a little story about dust bunnies,
first.
Continue reading
My computer has started to shut down randomly, could it be the fan?
Tech Questions?
Get Answers! -
Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter -
Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.
How do I print or capture the information from a "blue screen" error?
When I get an error it takes up the whole screen, and I lose my
ability to print. How can I print the actual page with all the error
information? There are a lot of numbers and it's very hard to copy them
all down.
|
Yep, that's a problem. How do you print when you can't print? How do
you copy to the clip board when there's no more clipboard?
It's a real, and honest problem that has no elegant solution.
Sometimes Windows has an error so severe it simply cannot continue
running at all.
Continue reading
How do I print or capture the information from a "blue screen" error?
Tech Questions?
Get Answers! -
Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter -
Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.
What is "ping", and what does its output tell me?
Sometimes when I search for solutions for my home networking
problem, I frequently see some people suggesting that I ping my PC by
IP and/or by computer name. What does PING command actually do? What's
the point of using this command? How do we read and understand the results
(sent, received, and lost) of the packets?
|
Ping is perhaps one of the oldest and most basic network diagnostic
tools. In concept the tool is very, very simple: it sends out an "are
you there?" kind of request, and expects to hear back a "yes, here I
am!" kind of response.
Very basic, very simple, and yet very powerful as a first line of
network diagnosis.
Continue reading
What is "ping", and what does its output tell me?
Tech Questions?
Get Answers! -
Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter -
Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.
How do I connect a monitor to my laptop and have it work?
How do I hook up a monitor to my laptop? I can not get the monitor
to work.
|
I see people struggle with this all the time. It's actually somewhat
frustrating, since the answers are actually simple, just not obvious.
You need to know the magic keystroke.
And you need patience. Just a few seconds worth, but you absolutely
need it.
Continue reading
How do I connect a monitor to my laptop and have it work?
Tech Questions?
Get Answers! -
Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter -
Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.
Google Mail - Free Email that works and leaves you in control
The fact that I'm recommending a free email service at all will come
as a shock to most of my long time readers. I've long ranted against
using free email services being used as the sole repository for
your important information. Most people read that as being "against
free email", but it's really "against putting all your eggs in someone
else's basket and only in someone else's basket".
Free email accounts have a place in your overall email strategy.
And one of the reasons I recommend GMail, Google's free email
service is that it allows you to take control of your email in ways
that the other services will not. In fact, I can see situations where
GMail might be your primary email account.
Just never your only email account.
Continue reading
Google Mail - Free Email that works and leaves you in control
Tech Questions?
Get Answers! -
Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter -
Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.
How do I print my email with the latest Windows Live Hotmail?
Since Hotmail's recent change of format, we are unable to print
emails from our inboxs. The right hand side of the page is cut off and
only the first page prints.
|
I had a suspicion that I knew what Hotmail had done, and sure enough, I
went to check and said to myself "they didn't!"
They did.
The answer is not to use the print button, but to use the print
button instead.
Now in case that's not clear , let me
explain.
Continue reading
How do I print my email with the latest Windows Live Hotmail?
Tech Questions?
Get Answers! -
Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter -
Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.
