Last month I asked the Grand Junction Computer User Group members to help me come up with ideas for future meetings, and they came through in spades! I received almost a few dozen ideas and questions. Some of the suggestions were more questions than entire presentations, so this month, I’m going to write out those questions here with their answers!… Read More »Questions from Computer User Group Members, Answered!
Update: This tip has been on my site for more than 5 years, but I’m editing it a little and including an email I received today that demonstrates the real world implications of my tip. Keep in mind that friends and family don’t purposely send you problems, but read on to understand exactly what I mean. Probably the biggest single… Read More »Your friends and family CAN & DO send you malware and viruses
CutePDF has been one of my favorite computer utilities for many years. This small (free) utility lets you create a PDF (portable document format) file from anything that you can print. I use it to save web pages, online shopping receipts, and many other items that I might be tempted to print to paper. Instead, I print it using CutePDF… Read More »How to download and install CutePDF Free – Video Tip
Business Week published an article in 1975 touting the virtues of and dawning of the paperless office. Sadly, except for the paper industry, we still aren’t there 35+ years later! In the past 40 years, paper use has tripled. In the United States alone, we use more than 400 million ink cartridges per year. I do not consider myself an… Read More »How to save money on paper and ink
Catching up on my reading, I ran across yet another article outlining how easily unsuspecting web users can be duped into infecting their machines and voluntarily giving up their own hard earned money. You MUST read this article, IF you want to keep yourself, your wallet, and your computer safe. Wired published the article I was reading today in their… Read More »Web surfing 101…again
Every now and then, I like to bring up tips that appear elementary, but are seldom used. This week’s tip falls into that category.
In my travels, it astounds me how many computer users forget that more than one computer program can be run at a time. The trick is not necessarily running multiple programs, but keeping track of where they are.
If you are using a word processor, for example, and you want to check a reference on the Internet or some other program in your computer, don’t close the word processor. Instead, minimize it so that it appears on the taskbar and then start your other program.
In January, this web site and my business will turn 13 years old. In that time, I have worked on thousands of computers ranging from the oldest DOS machines to the newest gaming and Mac monsters. My youngest client in that time has been 5 years old and my oldest was a 94 year old author writing a book for the first time on a PC. When your work in any field for a certain period of time, you start to spot patterns and consistencies.
After incubating the idea in my head for about six months, I want to share with you (and anyone you forward this article to) my opinion of how to use computer technology with the bare minimum of issues and cash. The following would be my advice to a computer user who truly wanted to follow my advice, no questions asked, based on my knowledge and experience.
Spring has sprung and along with your other spring cleaning chores add these five computer cleaning techniques to keep your computer clean, cool, and happy.
When I meet a client’s computer for the first time, I go through a little routine to check for problems, improve performance, and speed up boot times. You can do it to your own computer too.
Due to many circumstances, busy scheduling, and a couple of short trips, I have been noticeably absent from posting new articles here at HelpMeRick.com the last few months. Thanks for continuing to search for and use the information found within these virtual walls to help make your computer life just a little easier. During these past few weeks, I have… Read More »Longest hiatus is over