General Computer Tips

How to transfer your iTunes library & playlists to a new computer

photo credit: mac steve

If you use an iPod, iTouch, or iPhone and plan on getting a new computer, you will want to read this article! OR, if you use any of these devices and want to make sure your library stays safe, you will want to read this article!

Yesterday, I helped a customer setup a new Windows 7 computer and transfer email, favorites, and other data from his old Windows XP computer. Turns out that he also needed to move his iTunes library of more than 8,000 songs and almost 150 playlists!

There isn’t too much I panic about when I arrive at a customer’s home or office, but moving large, customized iTunes libraries is something that does get me a little nervous. In the past, I have had to open an iTunes XML file in a word processor and then use find and replace to enter the path to the storage location on the new computer. It was extremely difficult and tedious.

I am happy to report that I successfully transferred the entire 36 gigabyte library and playlists using Continue reading →

General Computer Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — 3 Comments
5
Jan 10

Track changes you make when troubleshooting

Already this week I arrived at homes and a business where the computer users described being on tech support phone calls for 12, 15, and one a whopping 22 hours!! All three users had zero resolution of their original problems and as you might imagine their problems grew by the end of the call.

Then they called me.

Not all phone tech support calls go Continue reading →

General Computer Tips / Internet Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — 5 Comments
2
Dec 09

Your friends CAN & DO send you malware

photo credit: Adam Tinworth

Probably the biggest single misconception I hear from computer users almost daily goes like this: “I never open anything from someone I don’t know, so I’m safe.”

I promptly offer a retort to this highly uninformed comment by saying that many security breeches occur because of an email or message (think Facebook, Twitter, etc) that appears to be from a friend or family member. The bad guys in the tech world know precisely how to manipulate the minds of unsuspecting computer users…it’s called social engineering.

And because they know that many computer users put a lot of credence into this false thought process, they work harder to make their messages appear to be from trusted people or companies.

Messages that appear to be from your friend can be used if their address was Continue reading →

General Computer Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — 2 Comments
14
Nov 09

Holiday Computer Madness

: photo credit: Hometown Invasion Tour

Every year for the last 7-8 years, I bring up a version of this tip to help save you time and money during the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years visiting season. Please follow the advice. I can guarantee that it will save you and your computer lots of grief.

With all the traveling done during the holidays, your computer is bound to be taken hostage by friends and family wanting to check their email or play a game or two. Unlike the TV, a computer can be victimized, unintentionally, by all this attention. When everyone returns home, you may not recognize your computer or have problems with the way it runs.

If you like the way your computer is running currently, set a few ground rules for the use of your computer (and please follow the same rules if you are the one doing the borrowing of a loved ones precious PC). In no particular order, here they are: Continue reading →

General Computer Tips / Internet Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — 12 Comments
11
Nov 09

5 Simple Rules to avoid SCD (Slow Computer Disease)

photo credit: jennconspiracy

I’ve written about this before, but it bares repeating on occasion for new visitors to the site and long time visitors who haven’t learned yet. The advice is simple:

Do not download free screensavers, wallpaper, email programs (Incredimail, etc), or games from the Internet.

Unless you are WELL versed in the origin of these items, they can easily destroy your computer’s ability to compute.

“Slow computer” is the most common computer ailment Windows users search for on the web. Sadly, slow computer disease (SCD*), does not have to be the pandemic it is because it is 100% preventable.

Here are my 5 simple rules to prevent SCD for Windows users: Continue reading →

Application Tips / Computer User Group / General Computer Tips / Macintosh / Ubuntu Tips — 2 Comments
11
Nov 09

How to print labels the EASY way! – Video Tip

I know I’m late for this year’s Christmas season, but you can learn and start using this tip TODAY to make next year’s Christmas card mailings a breeze.

Too many computer users have no idea what a database is, how to use it, and how to merge it with another program to create labels. Since printing mailing labels is only a once per year activity for many of you, learning how to do it again every single year requires too much time and frustration.

In this week’s tip, I take all of the mystery and hysteria out of creating and printing mailing labels. You will thank me every November when you need to print out your mailing labels. The tip centers around creating a word processing document where you can store, edit and print your labels quickly and easily. Watch the video as many times as you need to and you will NEVER be frustrated with printing labels again!!

If you can’t understand and utilize this tip to print your labels, get out your best pen and write them out instead.

General Computer Tips — 4 Comments
2
Nov 09

Should I backup?

photo credit: daryl_mitchell

Should you carry health insurance? Should you carry car insurance? Should you save for retirement? Should you eat every day? Does a bear…. Well, hopefully you get the picture. The answer is a resounding YES!!

You should backup, and depending on your computer needs and usage your backups should occur frequently (sometimes daily). Many computer users equate backing up their computers with their mother’s giving them castor oil. It’s no fun, but a necessary evil. What is castor oil any way?

Things you should backup on your computer include Continue reading →

General Computer Tips — 2 Comments
1
Nov 09

Deleting Programs and Files

photo credit: geoftheref

This tip conjures up some points from older tips, but needs to be reiterated. Follow these rules-of-thumb to keep your system clean and more importantly running smoothly.

Use these rules when deleting individual files:

Never delete files that you did not create.
If you can’t trace the origin of the file, leave it alone.
If the file sports one of the generic looking ‘windows’ icons (see picture), do not delete it (again unless you created it).
Do not delete files that exist in the Windows directory, unless you created it.
Instead of willy nilly deleting files, use the CCleaner tool

Use these rules when deleting programs or applications:

Always start with Continue reading →

General Computer Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — 2 Comments
1
Nov 09

Share YOUR Favorite Keyboard Shortcuts

I’m always amazed at how surprised computer users become when they learn about a keyboard shortcut. A keyboard shortcut is a combination of keys that you press on your keyboard to perform a particular function. If you learn them and practice them, they can shave hours off of the tedious maneuvering of the mouse.

These are my favorite and most used computer keyboard shortcuts:

Alt + TAB	Switch between Open Windows
Windows key + E	Open Internet Explorer
Windows key + M	Minimize all windows and show the desktop
Ctrl + C	Copy
Ctrl + V or Shift + Insert	Paste
Arrow keys	To scroll pages and place my cursor
TAB	Move between form fields (boxes)
F2	Rename a file or folder
Ctrl + F	Usually on the web to search for a word on a page
Windows key + R	Open the Run Command

Here are a couple more tips that Continue reading →

General Computer Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — 4 Comments
20
Oct 09

Why use free security software?

photo credit: kalandrakas

A customer asked me a question that I get asked quite often on the radio show and when I’m making my daily house or office visits. “Why do you use free products versus the larger commercial pay products for keeping a computer secure?”

My answer can be summed up in word: effectiveness.

Time and time again, the products I recommend prove themselves in the field as being thorough, effective, and unobtrusive programs. Unobtrusive is a big one for me these days as the leaders in security software (Norton, McAfee, etc) bloat their software beyond recognition and slow down even the fastest, newest machines. Norton claims that their newest versions are Continue reading →