General Computer Tips

Mozy Online Backup Redux

Rick — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 23:38:32 -0600

Last spring I introduced you to Mozy Online Backup. I have been using the service for more than a year now and couldn't be happier. In that time, I helped many clients (individuals and businesses) sign up as well. The service works great, offers peace of mind, and is extremely affordable. If you haven't read my original article about Mozy, make sure to read it and then watch the video on how to set it up. Like insurance, you hope to never use it, but you will be awfully happy when need it.

Holiday Computer Madness

Rick — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:13:36 -0600

Every year for the last 6-7 years, I bring up a version of this tip to help save you time and money during the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years visiting season. Please follow the advice. I can guarantee that it will save you and your computer lots of grief.

With all the traveling done during the holidays, your computer is bound to be taken hostage by friends and family wanting to check their email or play a game or two. Unlike the TV, a computer can be victimized, unintentionally, by all this attention. When everyone returns home, you may not recognize your computer or have problems with the way it runs.

You can do what I do

Rick — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:39:37 -0500

I love learning. My goal is to learn something new every single day I open my eyes. Luckily, I learn multiple new ideas, techniques, or facts every single day. When it comes to my job troubleshooting computers, I believe anyone can do it if they follow the formula I use.

You need to be able to be able to learn and learn quickly. Computers, software, peripherals and the infinite combinations of them change at a rapid pace. Learning to be flexible and adaptable is a must.
Remember and/or document solutions that you discover so you can use them again.
Work with as many different computers and situations as possible. Every computer is different than the next because of the way they are configured, what software is installed, whether the software has been updated, what security packages are installed, and more make every computer a unique challenge. The more of them you work with, the better your foundation becomes for the next one.
Read as many online troubleshooting blogs, tech newsletters, support pages, and magazines as you can possibly digest. And again, document and/or remember the information that you deem the most helpful or applicable to everyday computer users.
Hone your Internet searching skills (I use Google almost exclusively) so you can quickly find answers to problems you may have not yet encountered. When I say hone your skills, I mean learn how to properly word a search phrase and re-word it if necessary. Learn how to quickly scan the results of a search for the most logical and applicable result. Learn how to use tabs in your browser to make your searches and reading even faster. Learn how to discern which possible solutions apply to your specific situation. And finally, learn how to properly implement the solution you just found.
Learning to carry out a solution requires that you to learn how to safely and properly make use of tools like Windows Device Manager, the registry editor, the command prompt, task manager, computer management tool, anti-virus, and anti-spwyare scans to name a few.
Always keep track of the steps you take as you work towards a solution. By keeping track and leaving yourself some bread crumbs, you can often back track if a solution results in a dead end and you need to star over.
And most importantly, follow Harry Callahan's (Clint Eastwood) advice, "A man's got to know his limitations." Computer problems can eat up more time than a late night infomercial. Know when to walk away and re-evaluate a situation.

I've laid out most of the steps and techniques I use every day to solve computer problems. Feel free to use them and develop your own skills. When you decide that you need more help, follow Callahan's advice and then call in the professionals.

Your one stop troubleshooting spot

Rick — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:47:42 -0500

In the almost 14 years that I have devoted to helping computer users, I have discovered a few computing standards:

Many computer problems can be solved by simply restarting the computer.
In the event of a mouse, keyboard, monitor, sound, printer or Internet problem, always triple check your cables to make sure everything is plugged in securely.
Much to the dismay of computer users, almost all problems were caused in some way by something we did or didn't do...usually unknowingly or inadvertently.
Your neighbor/co-worker/family member/ cannot fix your computer.
Very few computer users backup their important data.

With these five basic rules established, use my basic troubleshooting tips for printers, sound, Internet (click here) and other problems BEFORE panicking and before calling tech support. You will be pleasantly surprised how either performing rule #1 above or using these guides can dig you out of a problem rather quickly.

The Magical Title Bar - Video Tip

Rick — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:34:30 -0500

The title bar is the long (usually blue) bar at the top of each program. The title bar contains three familiar buttons on the right; the minimize button (little bar), the maximize or resize button (middle button) and the often used "X" button to close a program.

On the left side of the title bar is a small icon in the far left corner that matches that of the program. The name of the current file (or web page on the web), and the name of the program also reside on the left side of the title bar. And even though one half to two-thirds of the bar is blank, it also has its functions.

Clicking on the little icon in the far left (once) will produce a menu that allows you to minimize, move, resize, maximize or close the window. This comes in handy when a window is shoved to one side and the right hand buttons are not visible. Double-clicking on the little icon closes the window/program.

Use the blank part of the title bar to move and position the window. This only works if the window is in the less than maximum position. Just click and drag the title bar and the whole window follows. This technique is helpful if you need to position two windows for dragging and dropping files. Also, double-clicking your title bar will automatically maximize the window.

Remember to use the minimize button to 'shrink' the window to an icon on your desktop so that you can access your desktop or a window/program behind the current window. This keeps the program running and to restore it back to the original position, simple click on it one time from the task bar.

The middle button on the right side of a title bar changes between the maximize button (one square) and the restore button (two overlapping squares). The maximize button will fill the entire screen with the program window. The restore button makes the program windows less than maximum.

You many not necessarily use all these techniques every day, but keep them in mind and they will come in handy from time-to-time.

Watch the short 3 minute video below for a good visual tour of how these functions work.

10 Skills EVERY computer user should have (or learn)

Rick — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:23:54 -0500

I originally posted this list in January 2007. However, through my keen observation skills, I discovered that all computer users have not yet read and digested this information. For this reason, I'm posting it again because I won't stop working to educate computer users until every computer user knows these 10 skills.

Computers have become almost a main stream household appliance. Whether you have been using a computer for fifteen years or one, these skills should be second nature:

Cut, Copy, Paste
Print just what you want (word processing, email, web)
Backup your address book
Select (highlight) text or files
Properly uninstall unwanted programs
Burn a CD
Download files from the Internet
Use MSCONFIG ; Another MSCONFIG tip
Search the Internet
Attach Files to an email

#11: Learn how to best utilize HelpMeRick.com

If you already know how to do these skills, please pass this article along to someone who doesn't...help me help other computer users.

Give Solitaire or FreeCell a Break - Video Tip

Rick — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 19:42:34 -0500

Solitaire seems to be a game that is synonymous with computers. Microsoft planted the game in Windows not only for entertainment, but also for new computer users to learn mouse skills (drag, double-click, etc). Some computer users have branched out to FreeCell and like it better than Solitaire.

However, have you tried playing Minesweeper?

Minesweeper appears difficult upon first look. And yes, it does require some brain power, but isn't that partially the purpose of our computers...to use our brains? If you do like a challenge and using logic and something different than clicking on cards or sitting in front of a TV, give Minesweeper a try.

The object of the game is to avoid the 'mines'. You do this by first making a random guess and clicking one time on the board. If you are lucky, you didn't hit a mine. Now you have to use the clues the game gives you to figure out where the other ones lie. The clues come in the form of a number (usually 1-5). The number indicates how many mines border that particular square. One hint to commit to memory is that one square (if it isn't along the edge), borders eight other squares. Keep that in mind and like FreeCell, every game is winnable. (see the video below for a video lesson on this fun game.)

Give it a try. My best time so far on the beginner level is 29 seconds and 326 seconds on intermediate level. Call us up and let us know what your best times are, leave a comment here, but most of all have fun!

How to setup Mozy Online Backup - Video Tip

Rick — Thu, 15 May 2008 17:32:56 -0500

Your best defense against computer problems is a solid backup strategy. If you search our site for backup, you will find many articles relating to this important topic. However, in the past year or so, IF you have a high speed Internet connection, another compelling backup option has emerged. That option is online backup. Backing your data up automatically to a server on the Internet can be affordable, safe, and painless.

In today's tip, I demonstrate how to sign up for Mozy Online backup, install the product and configure it. Mozy offers 2 GB of free space and unlimited backup space for $4.95 per month.

Other good online backup options to consider include:

Online backup should not be your only backup option, but it does offer a very solid tool to add to your backup regimen. Again, you need to have high speed Internet connection (fast DSL, Cable or Fiber) as online backup services will not work with dial-up services.

3 Important Steps to practice when confronted with a computer problem

Rick — Tue, 13 May 2008 21:06:27 -0500

Throughout my week I receive many exasperated calls from computer users and encounter flustered users when I visit their home or office. In the almost 13 years that I've been helping people with their computers, I have found that many problems can be resolved quickly IF the following three steps are practiced:

AVG Free Antivirus 8.0 Upgrade - Video Tip

Rick — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:15:53 -0500

AVG released a new version of their popular AVG Anti-virus on Wednesday. An alert web site visitor alerted us to this yesterday, and I immediately downloaded and have been testing it since then. Here are some important facts you