Newsletter Archives

• Breaking and entering with Linux: What you see

  Posted on September 27th, 2021 at 02:42 Ben Myers Comment on the AskWoody Lounge

  HARDWARE

  

  By Ben Myers

  In my first “Breaking and entering” article, you saw what to do step-by-step to get an unbootable system into legacy boot mode and how to prepare a UEFI USB stick with Linux Mint.

  Now, boot your system with that Linux USB stick.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.37.0 (2021-09-27).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Hardware AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Diagnostics, hardware, Linux, Repairs

• Breaking and entering with Linux

  Posted on August 30th, 2021 at 02:41 Ben Myers Comment on the AskWoody Lounge

  HARDWARE

  

  By Ben Myers

  Use Linux on a USB stick to diagnose a Windows system.

  My working premise here is that your Windows system will not boot, not even in safe or any other degraded mode. You have no idea what’s going on, and it is premature, time-consuming, and sometimes futile to rip a computer open to see what is inside. The solution is to boot another operating system from a USB stick and use it to explore and diagnose problems.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.33.0 (2021-08-30).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Hardware AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Diagnostics, hardware, Linux, Repairs

• The Trusted Platform Module has just become important

  Posted on July 12th, 2021 at 02:43 Ben Myers Comment on the AskWoody Lounge

  HARDWARE

  

  By Ben Myers

  Microsoft has said that the Trusted Platform Module 2.0 is a firm requirement for Windows 11. Why?

  The leak of an early version of Windows 11 forced its hasty announcement by Microsoft, rather than the usual smooth, well-orchestrated effort supported by thorough technical information about the requirements to run the new operating system. The eye candy of a perky and pretty Mac-like desktop wallpapered over many technical details, some still unclear. It is somewhat ironic that an operating system intended to be trusted was leaked.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.26.0 (2021-07-12).

  AskWoody Plus membership, Hardware, Windows 11 AskWoody Plus Newsletter, hardware, security, Windows 11

• Why Wi-Fi 6, aka 802.11ax, for wireless?

  Posted on June 21st, 2021 at 02:43 Ben Myers Comment on the AskWoody Lounge

  HARDWARE

  

  By Ben Myers

  Now that there is broad availability of routers compatible with the new Wi-Fi 6 standard, it’s easy to ask, “What’s in it for me?”

  There is a myriad of devices that are compatible with the 802.11ac specification, from laptops to cell phones to tablets to Internet of Things (IoT) devices. But the 802.11ac spec is not without limitations.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.23.0 (2021-06-21).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Hardware, Wi-Fi 802.11ax, AskWoody Plus Newsletter, hardware, Networking, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi 6

• Anatomy of a malware

  Posted on May 10th, 2021 at 01:08 Ben Myers Comment on the AskWoody Lounge

  ISSUE 18.17 • 2021-05-10

  SAFETY

  

  By Ben Myers

  Things are not always as they seem. What might appear to be a devastating, PC-destroying piece of malware can sometimes be a spoof.

  Recently, a client gave me his laptop, which displayed a frightening message as soon he logged in. This variety of malware is all too popular. Here is a step-by-step process to remove it, expecting that the antivirus software installed in the computer cannot do its job. Along the way, you will see where malware is often hidden.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.17.0 (2021-05-10).
  This story also appears in the AskWoody Free Newsletter 18.17.F (2021-05-10).

  AskWoody FREE Newsletter, AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Hardware AskWoody Plus Newsletter, hardware, safety, security

• New PC? Lost your Microsoft account password?

  Posted on April 26th, 2021 at 01:10 Ben Myers Comment on the AskWoody Lounge

  ISSUE 18.15 • 2021-04-26

  MICROSOFT

  

  By Ben Myers

  If your dog ate your Microsoft account credentials, Microsoft will welcome you to the tenth circle of hell.

  You probably don’t want to hear this, because you’ve been nagged this way before; but make sure you have a safe record of your user credentials for every online account you maintain. Just do it.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.15.0 (2021-04-26).
  This story also appears in the AskWoody Free Newsletter 18.15.F (2021-04-26).

  AskWoody FREE Newsletter, AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Microsoft 365 AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Microsoft, passwords