Computer Help

03/29/2023

Turn off Search Highlights in Windows 10
It's that annoying little picture in the Search box on the left of your taskbar

In case you do not like the new Search experience, you can turn off Search Highlights as well. For that, Right-click an empty area of the Taskbar, Click Search, and Uncheck "Search Highlights". This would turn off the Search Highlights feature, together with the icon in the search bar, and return to the previous design.

12/14/2022

Don't fall for these Holiday Scams

The holiday season is here, whether you’re happy about it or are a grinch. It’s a time to shop, enjoy the festivities, and spend time with family, but make sure you avoid all the holiday fraud. Unfortunately, every year, thousands of people fall victim to scams.

12/01/2022

Need to speed up your computer? Setup a printer? Set up streaming TV? Get your iPhone/iPad to do what you want it to?

11/17/2022

To find all your Wi-Fi network passwords on Windows:
1. Right-click on the Windows icon in the taskbar on your desktop.
2. Click Windows Terminal (Admin). Or Windows Powershell (Admin).
3. Type in netsh wlan show profile and hit Enter on your keyboard to view every Wi-Fi network you've connected to.
4. Once you find the Wi-Fi network you want the password for, type in netsh wlan show profile "(Wi-Fi network name)" key=clear (for example, netsh wlan show profile "Netgear667" key=clear), and then hit the Enter key. The password will be next to Key Content

07/19/2022

Slow Windows 10 PCs Part 2
Thanks for all the replies to my post, many of you with your own suggestions on speeding up a slow computer. Certainly if Linux or Macs were more mainstream there would be less need for any advice.
While 8 GB RAM is a good baseline for Windows 10, I have recently been upgrading clients to 16 or even 32 GB! This makes sense if your computer is in good order and won't need to be replaced anytime soon. Not everyone needs the speed of extra memory, it is a subjective opinion and often depends on what you do with your computer.
When it comes to anti-virus programs, Malwarebytes Premium has been keeping me safe from harm for quite some time. It runs in the background, constantly on guard and will cost $35/yr with a 2 yr subscription. For my operation I combine that with Avast or Bitdefender wich both get along with Malwarebytes and having 2 layers of protection since I tend to browse far and wide. I think of them as cheap insurance against an attack.
More on browsers and staying safe in my next post.

07/18/2022

I often hear from people running Windows 10 that their computers are slower than they have ever been. What I do to speed them up is check for and remove any malware that may be present, see what is starting every time you boot the pc and disable programs not needed at startup. After that there are utility scans built into Windows to repair files that are broken, one is quick, the other takes awhile. Then there is taking a look at how much RAM you have versus how much your motherboard will handle and getting a price on additional memory if allowed to see if it is worth it to you for the extra speed it brings. While these things are in reach of pc savvy users, I am often asked to help, which I can do, on site or remotely (with the exception of adding RAM)
If you would like some help or additional clarification call or text me at (413) 210-9085

02/08/2022

Ransomware, scary and expensive but avoidable!
Ransomware attacks on individuals are not that common but they do occur. I just dealt with one a few weeks ago. What's your best defense? Not just anti-virus software but also making sure you have a regular back up of your documents, pictures, music etc.
With a backup copy, when you open the wrong email or react to that annoying pop up on your screen by calling the number they give you (NEVER do that) and they encrypt your files, you will have a solution by being able to replace the encrypted files they want you yo pay to get back with your backup copies!
Backup software is built right into Windows, do yourself a big favor and use it or whatever other back up solution you prefer

12/30/2021