Lately, I have showed many people how easy, not to mention vital, it is to backup your digital photos. When a computer crashes, the first thing the computer user does is panic…unless they have a good backup routine. With photos, there is no easier, safer way to backup than using Picasa. Picasa is a free photo management utility from Google… Read More »How to backup photos using Picasa – Video Tip
My high school daughter ran from the house today in a panic because she was running late and didn’t have to time to print something she needed for school. She uses a MacBook and OpenOffice, but had already shut the computer off and was out the door.
Interestingly enough, she uses and is sold on the utility and effectiveness of online apps as well. She uses both Google Docs and Zoho (which she likes better) regularly after I introduced her to them a few years ago. But this time around, she had her info on her hard drive. Had she uploaded or created the document in Zoho or Google Docs, she could have gone to school happily, sat down at any computer, logged into her account and printed the document.
Needless to say, I think she will be uploading more of her documents to Zoho or Google Docs.
I mentioned online appsRead More »Students and online apps
On Sunday (1-10-10), my YouTube channel hit one million views! Sure, I wish it was my first million dollars, but it is my first million of anything.
In one of our sporadically held morning, brainstorming sessions, Adam (co-host) mentioned that it might be a good idea to try and put some of the video tips I make on YouTube as a way to cross promote HelpMeRick.com and take the video load off of our hosting service. That morning was December 1, 2006. That evening, I created the Castellini on Computers YouTube channel (CastTV) and uploaded the first few tutorials.
Today, just over three years later, the channel now hasRead More »Thanks for my first million!
Back from a short hiatus, I answer questions today from Doris (who paid a dollar to guarantee that I answer her question and be first), Liz, Patsy, Papan, Len, Emily, and Nick. Topics, in order, were saving pictures from email, enabling javascipt, transferring data to a new laptop, computer freeze, MsMpEng.exe problem, troublesome USB flash drive, configuring AVG to scan Gmail.
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 usingRead More »How to transfer your iTunes library & playlists to a new computer
Name: Diana
From: Colorado
OS: Windows 7
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I recently purchased a laptop and have a message saying there are 27 Windows update to download. Is it essential to download all these?
As unbelievable as it sounds, yes, even on a new computer with a new operating system, Microsoft has already releasedRead More »Email of the Week – 023
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 goRead More »Track changes you make when troubleshooting
In addition to charge exorbitant prices for checked baggage these days, many aiports have also yanked free terminal wifi. However, this holiday season, Google teamed up with Boingo and offered free wifi for selected airports around the country starting around Thanksgiving and ending in mid-January. Today, I’m flying home from one of the free hotspots in the Austin airport. Unless,… Read More »Free Airport WiFi
Raymond paid a buck to be first this week followed by questions from John, Natalie, Bonnie, USSRover, Stan, Cailin, Parag, Doc, Anne, Dane, Tim, Joanne, Dane and Jana. They asked about Windows 7 email problems, meaning of default, unrecognized laptop hard drive, Find function in OpenOffice spreadsheet, how to know when you are being scammed, improving laptop performance, backing up… Read More »Rick Answers His Email – Episode 071
OK, I admit that shopping online is not that exciting or unheard of almost 10 years into the 21st century, but it still amazes me. And I am always surprised at how many people still tell me that they have not ever shopped online and do not intend to start.
My work attire consists of shirts with my HelpMeRick.com logo and Dockers pants. Fortunately, my pants size has remained the same for at least the last 12 or so years, and since I haven’t grown taller in that time either, I know exactly what to get…no need to enter a dressing room. For me, shopping for anything in a store might as well be aRead More »I ordered pants tonight