by Shane Grantham | Mar 2, 2022
To refresh about anything on a Microsoft Windows computer I use the F5 key. On an Apple computer use the command(key) R combination. I use this the most on web pages and my email. I think it works on other apps and programs but I’m drawing a blank now....
by Shane Grantham | Mar 1, 2022
Being in the Information Technology business, I have many computers. Some are regular stationary computers with large cases and some are all-in-one computers with the screen and computer in one unit. The other types are Raspberry Pi’s which are hobby computers...
by Shane Grantham | Feb 28, 2022
It only took three years or so but my Android smartphone hotspot is now functioning! On my previous smartphones I set them up for my laptops to use when I wasn’t near WiFi. And I wanted it working on my new one at the time. Setting it up was easy for me on...
by Shane Grantham | Feb 27, 2022
I got a phone call today from a long-time computer customer who has a Linux computer. They could print yesterday and today they can’t after sending an obituary article to their HP printer. Troubleshooting printers using remote control tools is challenging if the...
by Shane Grantham | Feb 25, 2022
Every couple days my Linux Mint desktop computer has hard drive problems where I can’t write files to the drive. Or it freezes in mid-use. Sometimes it won’t start Linux and I have to run it in recovery mode and then I run the manual file check utility on...
by Shane Grantham | Feb 23, 2022
This week I was presented with a tough challenge. A year-old Android smartphone was having difficulty downloading legitimate apps (Kroger and Great Clips). The message that continually displayed was “pending” without any error messages. We could let it sit for 10...
by Shane Grantham | Feb 17, 2022
Throughout my computer consulting career I have set up and improved the security for many Wireless (WiFi) routers. If it’s for a private company or home I use the most security possible to thwart intrusions. A feature that most routers have now is a Guest...
by Shane Grantham | Feb 13, 2022
Someone I know has two mobile hotspots which use the cellular towers in their area near Indianapolis. One is a personal and the other is work-related. These hotspots can be sensitive to where they are placed in your home or office in regards to signal strength to the...
by Shane Grantham | Feb 12, 2022
I was helping a computer client yesterday figure out a slow wireless connection to their work laptop. From what I can recall, the network had many wireless clients including smartphones, laptops, and desktop computers. They also added some repeaters throughout the...
by Shane Grantham | Feb 9, 2022
One of the things I do in computer maintenance for Microsoft Windows is check if your hard drive is on a optimize schedule. Optimizing can speed up Windows by putting all the parts of a file in a continuous location. In this way the read head of the hard drive...
by Shane Grantham | Feb 8, 2022
Last year I was visiting a new computer client at their location. We knew each other for many years and had connected on LinkedIn at some point. When I arrive on-site for the first time at a client, I always offer my business card to them. Today when I arrived and my...
by Shane Grantham | Feb 7, 2022
Today at one of my long-time computer clients I was working on a Linux laptop connected to an HP inkjet printer. My client couldn’t print to it and I began troubleshooting. The black ink cartridge was out of ink and the color one was missing. I got some new...
by Shane Grantham | Feb 3, 2022
I use email for my business and personal needs and I always forget how insecure it is. It can be read at the email host and possibly by people who intercept it along the way. One of the things I’ve heard is authorities can request access to your messages from...
by Shane Grantham | Jan 29, 2022
On a computer service call last year I was talking to a long-time computer client. He made the correct observation about me taking care of business. I’m an independent computer consultant who doesn’t have a steady paycheck as in a job. I only get paid...
by Shane Grantham | Jan 25, 2022
Email is my favorite way to communicate with clients. In emergencies I will use the telephone, but in most other situations it’s email. Lately, it has become annoying with the phishing and spam messages I receive. I’m afraid of missing a legitimate message...
