Daily Archives: March 13, 2023

• Tooling around with laptops and other useful gear

  Posted on March 13, 2023 at 02:45 CDT by Ben Myers • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 20.11 • 2023-03-13

  HARDWARE

  

  By Ben Myers

  Portable computers have evolved from the Compaq luggable suitcase to laptops now weighing three pounds or even less, needing special handling and tiny tools.

  Today’s notebook, subnotebook, and tablet computers demand an array of small tools, sometimes unique to a brand and model. My small kit for the road can handle the screws found outside and inside many laptops, but I needed more and better help.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.11.0, 2023-03-13).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  Hardware Cleaning, Newsletters, Repairs, Tools

• How to participate in the forums

  Posted on March 13, 2023 at 02:44 CDT by Will Fastie • Comment in the Forums

  FROM THE FORUMS

  

  By Will Fastie

  Plus member Chuck wrote to say he wasn’t sure how to make a post in our forums.

  The comment proved a bit alarming. We have links all over the place to get to the forums. We even have a huge area in the right sidebar of the site, devoted to the forums. This includes simple and advanced search features as well as other helpful sections.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.11.0, 2023-03-13).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  From the Forums Forums, Newsletters

• Biniware Run — All your eggs in one basket

  Posted on March 13, 2023 at 02:43 CDT by Deanna McElveen • Comment in the Forums

  FREEWARE SPOTLIGHT

  

  By Deanna McElveen

  We all have that set of things we do every time we sit down at our computers. Open this, open that, read that webpage, check that stock price, etc. Why not put it all in one place?

  Dicu Alexandru is a Romanian developer whose software portfolio includes the wildly popular Windows Firewall Control, which was purchased — along with his website — in 2018 by Malwarebytes (lucky dog!). Having many more ideas in his head, Dicu has continued to develop free software for the world to enjoy. I would just be sipping cocktails on a beach somewhere if Malwarebytes had bought my business — but you go, Dicu!

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.11.0, 2023-03-13).

  Freeware Spotlight Deanna's Freeware Spotlight, Desktop tools, Menus, Newsletters, User Interface, Windows

• My encounter with Verizon

  Posted on March 13, 2023 at 02:42 CDT by Will Fastie • Comment in the Forums

  INTERNET

  

  By Will Fastie

  I had two support encounters of note in the past 60 days, but the one with Verizon is worth noting.

  Second by second, it seems the systems we use are getting more complex.  That’s natural evolution and, for the most part, to be embraced.

  But the complexity of our systems in conjunction with the Internet to which we all connect also continues to rise. Even those who consider themselves experts will need help.

  Here are my two support stories.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.11.0, 2023-03-13).

  Internet Metro by T-Mobile, Networks, Newsletters, Routers, smartphones, Synchronization, Tech support, Verizon

• Ensuring you can recover

  Posted on March 13, 2023 at 02:41 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Anyone reading the title of this edition of Patch Watch may think I’m talking about a Windows update issue.

  But no matter what your technology, I want to remind you that having a backup means that you will be able to recover.

  A good friend of mine, totally ensconced in the Apple world, reported that her older Apple computer running Monterey was not a happy camper. She had been traveling and did not want to install updates. Once at home after her travels, she attempted to update. That’s when the “fun” started.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.11.0, 2023-03-13).

  Patch Watch backup, Group Policy Editor, Intel, Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts, Reinstall, Upgrade blocking, Zero Day