Tech Questions & Answers Archives - Page 247 of 258

Q&A: How do you kill a stuck process in Ubuntu Linux?

Posted on July 31, 2013

Question from Keith: I recently built a computer from scratch and I decided to install Ubuntu Linux on it instead of buying a copy of Windows. It’s a pretty steep learning curve for me, but I’m enjoying it immensely.

I have a problem that I hope you can help me with. I’m using Firefox for my web browser and every now and then it hangs up, causing me to have to reboot the computer to clear it. Back in my Windows days I used the Task Manager to kill a stuck process, but something tells me that it won’t be quite that simple with Linux.

My question is this: How do you kill a stuck process in Ubuntu? Is there a Linux utility that I can download that works something like the Windows Task Manager?

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

Q&A: How can I force my laptop to connect via Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi by default?

Posted on July 30, 2013

Question from Bill T.: Rick, my office doesn’t have Wi-Fi installed at all. For security reasons my company requires everyone to connect our laptops to the network via Ethernet (we have a cable at each desk).

The problem that many of us have is our laptops ignoring the wired Ethernet connection altogether and connecting to an open Wi-Fi network from the building next door.

What we all do at the moment is turn Wi-Fi off, but what we’d really like to be able to do is leave it on and have our laptops default to a wired connection whenever one is available. Can you tell me what settings to change in Windows 7 to make this happen? Your help will be very much appreciated. Thanks!

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

Q&A: Notepad is missing from my Start Menu. How do I get it back?

Posted on July 29, 2013

Question from Kris C.: I use Notepad every day, but now it seems to be missing from the Start Menu. What happened to it and how can I get it back on there? My computer is an HP desktop with Windows 7 on it. Thanks.

Rick‘s answer: Hi Kris. There’s really no way to know why Notepad is no longer showing up on the Start Menu as there are many things that can cause that to happen. It’s very easy to put it back on there however (assuming that the program itself hasn’t been deleted from the hard drive). Here’s how: [Read more…]

Q&A: How do I turn on the Wi-Fi on my Dell Inspiron Mini 1010?

Posted on July 26, 2013

Question from Larry K.: Rick, I have a Dell Inspiron Mini 1010 laptop running Windows XP and I can’t figure out how to enable the Wi-Fi on it.

One friend told me to slide a switch on the front of the case to the right, but there is no switch to slide.

Another friend told me to make sure Wi-Fi is enabled in the BIOS (it is) and then to press F2 while the PC is booting up. F2 does nothing regardless of when I press it. Can you please tell me what to do? I’m at a total loss.

Rick‘s answer: [Read more…]

Q&A: Will switching from Windows 7/32 bit to 64 bit really give my laptop more memory?

Posted on July 23, 2013

Question from Shauntelle G: Hi Rick. I know this is probably going to sound stupid because I don’t know a lot about how computers work, but I have a question. I have a Toshiba Satellite L505 laptop with 3GB RAM and Windows 7.

I was told that upgrading Windows 7/32bit to the 64 bit version would give me more RAM. If so, how much more would it give me? Also, how can I find out which version of Windows 7 the laptop has on it?

Rick’s answer: Hello Shauntelle. First of all, your question isn’t stupid at all. You’ll never know if you don’t ask! Now, for the answer… [Read more…]