Blog Archives

• Hello! Has anyone seen 2004?

  Posted on August 2nd, 2020 at 23:12 Tracey Capen Comment on the AskWoody Lounge
  

  PATCH WATCH

  By Susan Bradley

  Have you received the May feature release of Windows 10 — aka Version 2004?

  So here it’s the start of August — 68 days after the release of Microsoft’s newest Windows — and I have not seen Win10 2004 offered to any of my home PCs. These are my unmanaged machines: a home-built SilverStone small-form-factor desktop, a Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon laptop, an older Surface, and a newer Surface Go.

  On every one of my systems, Windows Update taunts me with a message that effectively says “your machine isn’t worthy.”

  Read the full story in AskWoody Plus Newsletter 17.30.0 (2020-08-03).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Patch Watch AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Patching experience survey, Upgrade blocks, Virtual tech shows, Win10 2004

• Is powerline networking secure?

  Posted on August 2nd, 2020 at 23:08 Tracey Capen Comment on the AskWoody Lounge

  LANGALIST

  By Fred Langa

  An AskWoody Plus reader questions whether data is safe when traveling over common AC electrical circuits.

  Plus: Yet more tips from your fellow subscribers on hard-drive destruction, salvaging — and maybe even revival!

  Read the full story in AskWoody Plus Newsletter 17.30.0 (2020-08-03).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, LangaList AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Drive distruction, Drive salvaging, Powerline-networking security

• Troubleshooting kernel panics and testing Mac hardware

  Posted on August 2nd, 2020 at 23:05 Tracey Capen Comment on the AskWoody Lounge

  APPLE MAC

  By Nathan Parker

  Most of the time, the macOS operating system “just works.” On healthy machines, users rarely experience major system issues.

  But occasionally, macOS will experience a kernel panic — the Apple equivalent of the Windows blue screen of death. In most cases, a kernel panic is caused by some flaw or incompatibility in an application or the operating system. But the source of frequent kernel panics could be in the hardware. It’s a good idea to run a hardware test to rule out that possibility.

  Read the full story in AskWoody Plus Newsletter 17.30.0 (2020-08-03).

  Apple, AskWoody Plus Newsletter AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Diagnostics logs, Kernel panics, TechTool Pro

• Freeware Spotlight — Bloatbox

  Posted on August 2nd, 2020 at 23:00 Tracey Capen Comment on the AskWoody Lounge

  BEST UTILITIES

  By Deanna McElveen

  Managing privacy and removing bloatware in Windows are two of those important but annoying tasks for keeping a safe and clean system.

  Remember my review of Spydish? It’s one of my go-to utilities for running a quick check on privacy settings. It also lets you thin out some of the less useful apps included with Windows. Do you know anyone still using Zune?

  Recently, we heard that Belim from Mirinsoft was going to add a bloatware extension to Spydish. But apparently, there was a change in plan. Instead, Belim created a standalone gem called Bloatbox.

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Best Utilities AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Bloatware removal, Privacy settings, Spydish

• Index for Plus Newsletter Jan – June 2020 now available to everyone

  Posted on July 27th, 2020 at 12:29 woody Comment on the AskWoody Lounge

  Many of you have asked for an index to recent articles in the Plus Newsletter.

  Tracey just put together a list for the first half of the year. You can see it here (no Plus Membership required).

  In case you missed ’em, the 2019 articles are indexed here.

  There’s a lot of gold in them hills.

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter AskWoody Plus Newsletter index

• Technology in a pandemic

  Posted on July 27th, 2020 at 01:15 Tracey Capen Comment on the AskWoody Lounge
  

  COVID-19

  By Susan Bradley

  We all have good years and bad, but 2020 has been rough on everyone.

  The pandemic has damaged world economies, caused untold disruptions to our education systems, put millions in financial peril, and tested our ability to socialize responsibly — and it’s not over yet.

  In the face of those difficulties, I’ve been impressed and encouraged by how people have adjusted their personal lives, their work, and their businesses. And much of that adaptation involves technology. Interestingly, quite a bit of that tech is not based on Windows.

  Read the full story in AskWoody Plus Newsletter 17.29.0 (2020-07-27).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Privacy, Security AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Digital signatures, Online shopping, Video conferencing, Virtual socializing

• Tales from the trenches

  Posted on July 27th, 2020 at 01:10 Tracey Capen Comment on the AskWoody Lounge

  LANGALIST

  By Fred Langa

  Following my recounting of decommissioning a failing hard drive, readers share their real-world tips on drive destruction.

  If there’s a creative way to ensure that an old drive never gives up its secrets, it would appear AskWoody readers have tried it. But a nail gun?

  Read the full story in AskWoody Plus Newsletter 17.29.0 (2020-07-27).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, LangaList AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Drive shredders, Hard drive disposal

• Choosing an email provider: Your biggest decision

  Posted on July 27th, 2020 at 01:05 Tracey Capen Comment on the AskWoody Lounge

  Small-business websites

  By Will Fastie

  Despite the popularity and widespread use of texting, email remains critical for business communications.

  Business email is universal, ubiquitous, and not necessarily tied to a specific person or phone number. Its long-form nature, broad capabilities, and nearly automatic communications archiving are unmatched by other forms of correspondence.

  All of which makes choosing an email provider one of the most important decisions you’ll make when establishing your business’s online presence.

  Read the full story in AskWoody Plus Newsletter 17.29.0 (2020-07-27).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Small Business Computing AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Business email, Email providers
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