Newsletter Archives

• A VPN dissenter speaks out

  Posted on August 23, 2021 at 02:44 CDT by Fred Langa • Comment in the Forums

  LANGALIST

  

  By Fred Langa

  A reader strongly disagrees with Fred’s recent recommendation about using virtual private networks (VPNs) to increase online security; that reader’s colorful letter leads off this column.

  Today’s second reader-requested topic covers battery-monitoring apps for PCs and smartphones, including the extensive (but hidden) battery health report that’s built into every copy of Windows 10.

  The third reader-requested topic looks at daisy-chaining charging devices — say, charging your phone from your laptop while the laptop itself is charging from a wall socket.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.32.0 (2021-08-23).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, LangaList AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Battery charging, Battery management, LangaList, VPN

• Office updates fail … and fail, and fail

  Posted on January 6, 2020 at 01:10 CST by Tracey Capen • Comment in the Forums

  LANGALIST

  By Fred Langa

  Hard-to-remove “stealth DLLs” and other leftover components of a previous software installation can break Windows Update.

  Here’s how to completely remove those errant bits, breaking the never-ending cycle of never-succeeding updates.

  Plus: A reader seeks fully hands-off automation for applying the “80/20 battery charge” rule.

  Read the full story in AskWoody Plus Newsletter 17.1.0 (2020-01-06).

  LangaList Application uninstalls, AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Battery management, Registry cleaners, Windows reset