AutoPlay is the function of any operating system that controls what happens when you plug something into the computer. Whether it be a CD, DVD, digital camera, camera memory card, USB drive, MP3 player or other item, your computer reacts to it based on a preset of instructions. For reasons that number in the dozens, these instructions can change, be… Read More »How to fix and control AutoPlay in Windows 7 – Video Tip
Today, Adam and I embarked on another chapter in our long and illustrious audio career that spans more than a decade now of radio. podcasting, and video casting. As always, our quest is to share information about technology while having fun doing so and providing some helpful and useful information along the way. In today’s episode, we talked about the… Read More »Castellini on Computers Podcast with Rick & Adam
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
Many of my customers received the email pictured below, and didn’t fully read the email. Although, poorly worded and written in an alarmist way, it does say “Your current free version…“. Insinuating that if you are currently using their free and extremely slow security product, then you do need to update.
However, I do not recommend that Bresnan customers use this security software as I’ve found it Read More »You DO NOT have to download CA from Bresnan
Twice in the past week I came across clients who consider themselves computer illiterate (I abhor this phrase, but that’s a whole different issue.yet could operate Facebook games like a professional gamer. The two folks (one woman, one man and both well over 70) have difficulty understanding how email operates in terms of servers, providers, etc, have not learned how to copy and paste, think that Google is THE Internet, and would rather not learn more about their security software other than asking me if it is working.
However, through the course of my visit with each of them (again, separate households), they both had browser issues with Facebook. They logged in to Facebook after typing Read More »Why are Facebook games easier than general computer use?
I repurposed my EeePC Netbook for my nephew with a copy of Qimo Linux for kids and it works great. Not only does my nephew now have a computer that is secure & virtually trouble-free, but it also comes packed with great learning resources & games. It also allowed me to reduce my computers by one. I now carry my… Read More »Downsizing my tech
I forgot that I had this in my pocket! We have to have the worst openings to any show on earth, but in a way, it is the way we start all of our shows and then have not were to go but UP from there! And it was a fun show with lots of information about the iPhone antenna… Read More »Computer Help Show Podcast – 07-21-10
If you are a long time listener/newsletter subscriber, this article and the newsletter changes probably won’t affect you. Just in case, however, it wouldn’t hurt to take a look at this short 2 minute how-to video describing the changes and how Read More »Newsletter now changed
Right now, I carry an iPhone, an Asus EeePC netbook (running Ubuntu 10.04 NBR) on a daily work day basis. When I travel, I carry the iPhone and usually the EeePC. I also own a 13″ Toshiba laptop that I dual boot Ubuntu and Windows 7, but I only use the Toshiba only for teaching and presentations.
My thought process is:
As a traveling tech trainer and troubleshooter, my netbook is extremely handy to have with me when Read More »Re-thinking my mobile tech
Over the past few weeks, it seems that a large share of my clients were still using older, mechanical mice (the one’s with the ball underneath). I say older because almost all new mice are optical mice…either infrared or laser. These mice replaced the ball rolling against rollers in the mouse housing (that could quickly become dirty and cause erratic behavior of your pointer) with a light source that tracked your movements more accurately than the mechanical mouse ever could.
In addition to tracking better, never getting dirty, and having the ability to work on any surface (except glass), optical mice also allowed smaller chassis and helped propel a new plethora of cordless mice.
If you are in the market for a new mouse (and if you are usingRead More »Optical Mice