Computer Tips Archives - Page 202 of 231

Make your mouse wheel work in the window that’s currently under the mouse

Posted on June 1, 2014

wizmouse You might have noticed that when you have two or more windows open at once, in order to scroll the contents of an inactive window you have to first click it to make it the active window. This can be quite annoying if all you want to do in that window is scroll the contents up or down a bit.

Well now there’s a nifty little free download that will make your mouse work the way it should have worked all along. It’s called WizMouse, and once it’s loaded your mouse wheel will scroll the contents of the window that’s directly under the mouse pointer without making that window active! What a time-saver! [Read more…]

Avoid malicious websites by installing the AVG Secure Search toolbar

Posted on May 21, 2014

Regular readers of this blog know that I’m not a fan of toolbars. Quite simply, this is because most of them are actually malware. There is one exception however, and that is the AVG Secure Search toolbar.

The AVG Secure Search toolbar helps prevent your computer from downloading viruses by scanning web pages for malware before you actually visit them, then warning you if malware is found. That way you can avoid visiting the page and unknowingly infecting your computer with the malware contained within the infected page’s code.

Installing the AVG Secure Search toolbar is easy. Here’s how: [Read more…]

Q&A: How do I remove the ‘Chrome Notifications’ icon from the task bar?

Posted on May 20, 2014

Question from Keith: Hello Rick. I recently noticed a new icon in the notifications area of my task bar when I use the Chrome web browser. When I hover my mouse over the icon it says “Chrome Notifications”.

I don’t need this icon in my task bar and I want to get rid of it, but I can’t figure out how to do it. Can you help?

Rick’s answer: Keith, you can indeed remove Chrome Notifications from your task bar. Here’s how: [Read more…]

Don’t wait for Microsoft! Add an awesome Start Menu to Windows 8.1 right now, for free!

Posted on May 19, 2014

Microsoft recently announced that a future update to Windows 8.1 will return the missing Start Menu (that should have never been removed in the first place IMHO) to the new Windows.

While this a very welcome change of heart on Microsoft’s part, who knows when the update heralding the return of the Start Menu will actually be coming down the pike?

If you really miss your Start Menu, you’ll be happy to know that you don’t have to wait for the guys and gals in Redmond to finally get around to sending it to you. Thanks to a handy free download called Start Menu Reviver, you can add an awesome Start Menu to your Windows 8.1 installation right now! Here’s how: [Read more…]

Why you should ditch Microsoft Security Essentials and Windows Defender

Posted on May 15, 2014

microsoft-security-essentials If you’re trusting Microsoft Security Essentials or Windows Defender to keep your PC free of malware, I strongly recommend replacing them with something more effective.

I applaud Microsoft for trying to do the right thing by providing malware protection to Windows users for free, but the protection they offer has been falling short of late.

Quite a few malware-laden PCs running either Microsoft Security Essentials or Windows Defender have found their way into my shop of late, and the number of infections found on those machines is nothing short of staggering. [Read more…]