My brother asked this question earlier this week and at his suggestion, I’m sharing the answer here. He mentioned that he thought the search in Gmail wasn’t very good (which is preposterous since it has no match). He went on to explain that his searches weren’t finding items he had deleted. “au contraire”, I quickly retorted. I told him Google’s… Read More »How to get Gmail to show you search results from the trash – Video Tip
I have written and recorded many, many Gmail tips, but I came across this concise and informative Gmail tip about searching your Gmail account made recently by Google. Check it out!
In the almost 14 years that I have devoted to helping computer users, I have discovered a few computing standards:
Many computer problems can be solved by simply restarting the computer.
In the event of a mouse, keyboard, monitor, sound, printer or Internet problem, always triple check your cables to make sure everything is plugged in securely.
Much to the dismay of computer users, almost all problems were caused in some way by something we did or didn’t do…usually unknowingly or inadvertently.
Your neighbor/co-worker/family member/ cannot fix your computer.
Very few computer users backup their important data.
With these five basic rules established, use my basic troubleshooting tips for printers, sound, Internet (click here) and other problems BEFORE panicking and before calling tech support. You will be pleasantly surprised how either performing rule #1 above or using these guides can dig you out of a problem rather quickly.
I learned Microsoft Word in 1995 and still prefer Word 97 or 2000 over their newer editions, but unfortunately, those older versions no longer function well or at all with Windows 7 and 8.1. Furthermore, the upgraded editions of Word don’t always make things easier. An example is this tip on how to shrink a document that is a little too… Read More »Shrink Microsoft Word document to one page – Video Tip
If you are working on a new year’s resolution to walk or run more, or you just want to measure how far it was to walk from your hotel to the restaraunt, this tip is for you. There a million and one other uses for this tip as well.
The Gmaps Pedometer is an easy to use tool that a runner put together using Google Maps to be able to quickly map out distances on city streets. The creator did a remarkable job of preserving the simplicity of Google while marrying it with a useful set of tools for exercise folks and tourists. I didn’t mention it in the video, but if you are touring a foreign city and want to know why your dogs are so tired at the end of the day, pull up Gmap Pedometer to see how far you walked! It works for any city in the world.
I can’t believe I didn’t post this tip many years ago, but hopefully it will still help some newer iPhone or iPad users. If you want to take a quick picture of something, it is a pain to swipe and unlock your screen. And even a bigger pain if you are doing the right thing and using your fingerprint or… Read More »Quick Access to your iPhone or iPad Camera – Video Tip
Thanks to long time listener and web visitor, Daniel, for suggesting this week’s tip. I have been using this technique for more than ten years, but in order to learn it, you really must see it in action. Thus, it was a natural for our Video Tips, which are now almost 18 months old!
For Ubuntu and Windows users, you can quickly switch between open programs by pushing Alt+Tab on your keyboard. Macintosh users have a key called the “Command” key on their keyboards. By holding down the Command+Tab key, Mac users can switch between their open programs.
Why use the keyboard instead of your mouse? Time. I didn’t run any official tests, but I’m willing to bet that it takes at least three times longer to look at your task bar or dock (how many of you know what that is?), hunt for the application you need to switch to, then click on that program than it does to use the Alt+Tab or Command(Apple key)+Tab technique.
I know this doesn’t make much sense reading it, so click the play button on the video below and watch it in action! I show the Windows technique first, Ubuntu second, and end with the Macintosh tip. All told it’s about 2.5 minutes…2.5 minutes that WILL change your computing life. Pass this tip on to ALL of your computer buddies.
Microsoft released Windows 10 less than 2 weeks ago. I wrote a short article about whether or not to update to Windows 10 here, if you want to read it. In today’s video tip, I point out some of the changes in Windows 10’s Start menu (yes it is back you disgruntled Windows 8 users…me included), the Windows Explorer, now… Read More »Introduction to Windows 10 Changes – Video Tip
If you use Windows 7, Windows 8 or 8.1, you may have noticed a small Windows Logo icon in your system tray (space in the lower right corner by your clock). Microsoft announced yesterday, that they are following the trend Apple set (and Linux before them) and are offering their next version of Windows for free. It will be released on… Read More »Windows 10 Free Upgrade – Video Tip
I came across the following article from HowToGeek.com last week and wanted to share it with you. It drives the point I make constantly here at HelpMeRick.com…be careful what you download, where you download, and how you install downloads. The HowToGeek site has a paid staff that puts together these articles, and they are always thorough, well illustrated and easy… Read More »Great article from HowToGeek.com about downloading & Security
In the almost 14 years that I have devoted to helping computer users, I have discovered a few computing standards:
