Computer Tips Archives - Page 95 of 225

How to avoid installing buggy Windows updates

Posted on February 11, 2023

As you probably know, Microsoft has released a lot of buggy Windows Updates in recent years.

In fact, numerous Windows 10 PCs were rendered either unstable or unable to boot up into Windows just by one recent buggy update.

I still recommend installing critical security updates as soon as possible in order to quickly patch “zero-day” security holes before hackers have a chance to exploit them to break into your system.

However, I no longer recommend installing non-critical updates until Microsoft has had time to squash any bugs that might be in the updates’ code. [Read more…]

Q&A: How can I force Google to always show American search results?

Posted on February 10, 2023

Question from Brett: I need your help with something if you don’t mind, Rick.

I travel frequently on business, often to other countries (mostly to western Europe but occasionally to South and Central America as well).

The problem I’m having is every time I click on my bookmark to load Google it takes me to the Google site for whichever country I’m in at the time.

I really need for my browser to load the Google search results for the United States at all times because only those results are relevant to the research I do for my job.

Do you know of a way to force Google to always show the American search results no matter which country I’m in at the time? [Read more…]

Q&A: How can I find out how much data each app on my PC is using?

Posted on February 9, 2023

Question from Gary: My ISP has notified me that I have exceeded the monthly data allotment for my Internet plan and that I might have to pay extra this month.

I don’t understand this because I only use the Internet for about 1 to 2 hours per day and I don’t do much streaming at all other than watching an occasional YouTube video.

I only have one computer using my WiFi connection. No phones or tablets use WiFi, just this one computer. There is nothing connected via a wired connection either.

I’m hoping you can help me find out what’s using all that data? [Read more…]

8 tips to make remote learning and video conferencing safe

Posted on February 9, 2023

Most educators can’t imagine their daily lives without video conferencing. It’s useful for everything from online lectures to sprint meetings for the whole team.

Because of its design, it can reach more students without requiring them to be physically present in classrooms. However, keeping outsiders out of video conferencing is just as crucial. [Read more…]

Registry Finder: A fantastic replacement for Regedit

Posted on February 7, 2023

Many of the tips I post on this blog involve making changes to the Windows Registry.

The problem is, Windows’ native Regedit Registry Editor can be a real pain to use.

One of my biggest pet peeves with Regedit has always been the way we have to navigate several layers deep into the registry tree using the mouse.

But thanks to a fantastic free utility called Registry Finder, you no longer have to. [Read more…]