Remember to take out the trash!

If you really like saving all of your email, you might seriously consider getting a Gmail account. With today’s emails sometimes weighing in at 5 megabytes and more, email programs (Outlook, Outlook Express, Thunderbird, etc) can get extremely sluggish. Sluggish performance eventually leads to corrupt data which means you lose all your email. You can take steps to avoid this, however, by following a few simple email...

Brain transplant

If I could impart one aspect of my computer knowledge to everyone who uses a computer, it would be the ability to understand file management. File management, in the computer world, means how information (files) are stored and utilized on a computer system. Understanding file management, means understanding: How to locate files (documents, pictures, spreadsheets, music, etc) on your computer. How to move those files from...

Use the Task Manager to troubleshoot program probl...

While Windows is far from a perfect operating system, it does provide some tools to help deal with its imperfections. One of the tools you can use to shut down a troublesome program without having to completely restart your system is the Task Manager. For instance, if a program happens to freeze or stops responding to your mouse clicks or keyboard strokes, try this technique before reaching for the power button: Push...

How to fix Windows Mail when you can’t dele...

I ran into a problem today with a Windows Vista machine that apparently isn’t unique. This tip only applies to Windows Vista users who use Windows mail. Problem: Can’t delete any messages in Windows Mail…which also prevents new messages from being read. Symptom: When you try and delete a message in Windows Mail, you get an “Internal Error” message then have to restart the...

Deep Cleaning Temporary Files in Windows XP

Temporary files are used by our computers to provide behind the scenes speed and function. When we use any program from Solitaire to programming a database, our computers are performing hundreds or thousands of duties behind the scenes…creating, modifying, and sometimes deleting files. The files left behind are known as temporary files. Temporary files are just that; temporary and expendable. Thousands of them can stack...

Troubleshooting 101

By now many of you have figured out that computers are unruly beasts. They seem to be fine one day and schizophrenic the next. As a person who troubleshoots computers for a living, I’m going to let you in on a little trade secret. When something on your computer seems to be a little left of center, stop and ask yourself three questions: Have I installed or deleted any software (computer program) in the last day or...

Desktop Shortcuts Make Computing Easier – Vi...

Learning to make Windows work for you instead of you working for it can yield many more happy and productive hours using your computer. One highly under utilized feature of Windows is the shortcut icon. Learning to use and manage shortcuts will give you a huge advantage with your computer. A shortcut is simply a ‘pointer’ to a location on your computer. Every entry in your programs menu of the start button is a...

How to get our newsletter

After several months, we think we have all of our newsletter issues corrected. If you haven’t been receiving our free weekly email newsletter, you can now subscribe simply by tying your email address into the box at the top left of any page on HelpMeRick.com. If you are using any kind of spam filter, you will need to add response26262629 @ zinester.com (delete the spaces before and after the @ symbol) to your accepted...

3 Reasons NOT to use Registry Cleaners

I know that downloading can be fun and pop-ups can be enticing. But when it comes to most system utilities (programs supposedly designed to help your computer), just say “NO!” One of the worst add-on utilities you can get is the so-called “registry cleaner”. First, let me try to define the registry. Starting with Windows 95 and all versions of Windows since then, Microsoft has employed a large and...

Delete your email twice

No, I’m not so obsessive-compulsive that I do things twice. What I’m referring to in the title of today’s Shotgun/Email Tip is that almost all email programs require you to delete your email twice. Whether you use Outlook, Outlook Express, Windows Mail, Thunderbird, AOL, Yahoo, Gmail, or any of the myriad of other email services, when you delete your email, the email isn’t gone. Deleted email ends up...

How to Remove the Greeting Card Virus

Adam and I first mentioned this nasty little virus earlier this spring on our radio show. The email that spreads it poses as an electronic greeting card from your friend or relative. Because the email is so poorly constructed, is never from a known address, and the link it displays in the body of the message is a number (NEVER, EVER Click a link that is constructed of a number, ex: http://91.188.176.15/) we didn’t put...

11 years with my wife – 10.5 with my compute...

Every August 6th my wife and I celebrate our anniversary. Marriage certainly has its benefits. We have four wonderful kids. We each have great jobs that allow us to spend time together as a family. But, I have to admit that I got the better end of the deal. Every skill I have that makes me worth anything is a skill I have because of her. That is a total of one skill. I make no secret of the fact that I am not a carpenter,...

Microsoft Outlook not saving password any longer

I found this answer at this site:  Optimizing your PC   So, I haven't tried it or  had to use it, but the process seems plausible. In some cases Outlook doesn't save your password, even if you enable the option to save the password. This error is caused by a malfunctioning of the Protected Storage Space from Windows. To solve this problem, run the registry editor and navigate to the key...

How to get around Windows XP user password

A caller recently inherited a computer with a password enabled for getting into Windows. Here are two ways to disable or delete the required password. 1. Turn on the computer. 2. Immediately begin pressing the F8 key over and over in about half second intervals. 3. A menu will come up asking how you want to boot – choose SAFE MODE. 4. Windows will come up with two user accounts, click on the Administrator account. 5....

“NEW” Google Feature – Pass it o...

Reader, Chuck, wrote in and asked our opinion about this "new" feature from Google, which isn't new and isn't limited to Google. In fact, the feature has been around since the phone book was invented. Here's how the too frequently forwarded email starts: "Google has implemented a new feature which enables you to type a telephone number into the search bar and hit enter, and you will be given the...