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Computer Tips

Fake Security Alerts & other Internet Bad Guys CAN be prevented

Over the past few years, the majority of my professional time has been digging computer users (Windows users only) out of jams where they were infiltrated by fake security software or spyware. Two things you need to know about this type of infection:

  1. No matter what type of security software you use and how much you paid for it, IT CANNOT PROTECT YOU IF YOU INVITE THE BAD GUY INTO YOUR COMPUTER.
  2. It is preventable.

Over the years, security and keeping computers running clean has been a common soap box for me. Listed below are just a handful of the articles youRead More »Fake Security Alerts & other Internet Bad Guys CAN be prevented

Good bye Windows XP

Today, I am writing this blog post from a favorite coffee shop of mine in-between customer visits…using my iPad and no peripherals. Thirteen years ago when XP just came out, the computer world was elated with the new system and its capabilities. However, there was very little wifi at the time, high speed internet was still not mainstream, and laptops… Read More »Good bye Windows XP

World Backup Day 2014

The last few years since this day came into existence, I found out about it AFTER the day passed. This year, however, I found out the date BEFORE so I can celebrate it with you. Any long time visitor to HelpMeRick.com knows that I frequently get on my backup soap box and answer many questions about backup on my radio… Read More »World Backup Day 2014

New Email Attachment Handling in Gmail – Video Tip

Recently, Google made some changes to attachment viewing and handling in Gmail. Instead of just downloading or viewing an attachment, Gmail users can: Preview attachment Print attachment Save attachment to Google Drive Open attachment in alternate program Download attachment In the short video below, I outline these changes and how to get them to work for you. Also, I demonstrate… Read More »New Email Attachment Handling in Gmail – Video Tip

How to make your iPad or iPhone Easier to Read – Video Tip

Last year when Apple upgraded their iOS operating system that runs millions of iPads, iPhones, and iPods, there seemed to be a collective sigh. Many people love Apple products because they don’t change things up too drastically, too quickly. Although not a drastic change, the most striking was the look of iOS 7. Fonts are thinner, taller, and there is… Read More »How to make your iPad or iPhone Easier to Read – Video Tip

Setting your email privacy setting in Gmail – Video Tip

This week Google announced that Gmail customers have the option to receive email from Google+ (their social media site). Don’t be taken in by media hysteria, you can decide whether or not you want this enabled or not. I don’t like that Google implemented this feature with the default setting set to the most loose security (letting anyone contact you… Read More »Setting your email privacy setting in Gmail – Video Tip

How to restore the missing toolbar or ribbon in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel) – Video Tip

Recently, I have been answering the question of how to restore a missing toolbar or ribbon from Microsoft Office tools like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. This tip works for any of the Office tools 2007 or newer. Usually, the toolbar goes missing because of an errant click or keyboard combination. In the video below, I show how to restore the… Read More »How to restore the missing toolbar or ribbon in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel) – Video Tip

How to use the Spotlight Search feature on your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad (iOS7) – Video Tip

Just a few weeks ago I shared a tip on how to use the incredibly helpful and handy Spotlight search feature on iOS. Since then, Apple updated the iOS to iOS 7 for iPads, iPhones and iPod touches and changed the access to Spotlight…this video shows how to get to it now. Spoiler: you just drag your finger down from… Read More »How to use the Spotlight Search feature on your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad (iOS7) – Video Tip

How to use the Spotlight Search feature on your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad (iOS 4-6) – Video Tip

Apple long ago perfected system search on their computers and laptops with a system called Spotlight. Spotlight is quickly accessible and searches automatically for documents, settings, applications and other items and displays the results as you type. It is so good that Microsoft started copying the feature in Windows Vista and came close to duplicating it in Windows 7 and… Read More »How to use the Spotlight Search feature on your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad (iOS 4-6) – Video Tip

How to switch away from iGoogle AND be happy about it! – Video Tip

More than a year ago, Google announced the demise of iGoogle on November 1, 2013. iGoogle gives users the ability to create a customized page with all the digital items that are important to them. You can add score and sport tracking, financial portfolios, weather watching, email at a glance, news of your choice, and much more. All customizable and… Read More »How to switch away from iGoogle AND be happy about it! – Video Tip