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Riding Shotgun with Rick

It’s OK to shut computer off with the power button

We have discussed this topic many times, but I continue to hear from people who forget this simple troubleshooting step. When a problem arises that seems insurmountable or you can't move your mouse or type on your keyboard, shut the computer off at the switch.

There are two ways to shut your computer off when a problem occurs…actually three ways.

  1. Push and hold the on/off button in for at least fifteen seconds or until you hear the computer shut off (don't just push it once and let go…nothing will happen).
  2. Flip the switch on your surge protector. Yes, we should all use surge protectors…good ones.
  3. Reach around the back of the computer and pull out the power cable.

Once you shut your computer off this way, let it sit in the off position for a few minutes before turning it on again. If you are using Windows 95/98/Me, don't worry if it barks at you a little for 'not properly shutting down'. With any computer, this isn't the preferred method of shutting off the computer, but in a pinch it usually gets you out of a jam. 

Rick Answers his Email Videocast – 048

I was in Tucson, AZ last weekend so had to squeeze 17 questions in this week from Peggy (who paid to be #1), Rosemary, Chas, Thomas, Margie, Greg, Wally, Kathy, Chuck, Lenny, Kim, Paul, Mike, Clara, Anna, Dalynn, and Marguerite. They asked questions about Microsoft FrontPage, duplicate desktop items, converting VHS to DVD, kid Internet monitoring software, freezing computers, runtime… Read More »Rick Answers his Email Videocast – 048

Dell Sells $3 Million via Twitter

No one can ever deny that Dell knows how to market. In my opinion, only Apple does it better (Microsoft take a hint). Today, Dell revealed that they move merchandise faster and easier using the Twitter service. Read more in the Wall Street Journal article linked below. Dell Sells $3 Million Through Twitter – Digits – WSJ.

Windows 7 Will Launch in October

It appears, from this article, that Microsoft has chose October 22 as the official release date for Windows 7. After testing Windows 7 for the past 5 months, I can honestly say it is heads and tails above Windows Vista. However, I still stand by my previous comments that most basic computer users would be far better off with an… Read More »Windows 7 Will Launch in October

CBS News to broadcast online

Spurred on by the success of Twitter and its ability to quickly deliver news and events, CBS announced today that they will begin broadcasting all their evening news content and special news reports online. In an agreement with Ustream.com, CBS plans to begin the online simulcast in the next couple of months. CBS is the first network/news company to simulcast… Read More »CBS News to broadcast online

Bing Search Engine

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the new Wolfram Alpha search engine and it was news fodder all over the web for nearly 2 weeks. This week, Microsoft’s new Bing search engine is getting a lot of press. At first glance, the Bing search engine looks clean and fresh. Searching is ultra-fast and easy to read. Like Google,… Read More »Bing Search Engine

You are ignoring Web 2.0 – 12 articles to catch you up

Over the past few years, I have written and talked much about Web 2.0 or as it is sometimes known, cloud computing. You have ignored those articles and haven’t visited or tried the Web 2.0 offerings that are changing the way we use computers. Today, I’m going to give you a second change to get up to speed, because I will be writing more and more about Web 2.0 in the coming months, and I want you along for the ride!

Listed below is your HelpMeRick.com reading assignment for the day.

Rick Answers his Email Videocast – 047

Two more people, Lauren and Bruce, elected to pay for their questions to be featured at the beginning of the videocast this week. In addition to Lauren’s Vista SP2 question and Bruce’s email question, I answered questions from Romero, John, Brian, Yolande, Debbie, Bill, Bobby, Sheila, Ivan, James, John, and Don who asked questions about DVD installation, startup troubleshooting, reading… Read More »Rick Answers his Email Videocast – 047

Basic Computer Terminology

I'm Learning
photo credit: **CRT**

Throughout my week, I need to remember to define the terms I’m using with regards to technology. Too often, a message or lesson can be lost because I assumed that the learner knew some terminology they didn’t Today, I want to define some basics for you. Learn them and share them with all your computer buddies:

Browser – I tell folks to imagine that a browser is like a television set. Any brand of television (Sony, Panasonic, Magnavox, etc) does the same thing…displays a television program. Like a television set, a browser (no matter the brand) does the same thing…displays web pages. The most common web browsers are Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Apple Safari, and Opera. They all do Read More »Basic Computer Terminology