Tech Questions & Answers Archives

Q&A: What’s the difference between System Updates and Software Updates?

Posted on July 10, 2026

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Question from Mike: Can you explain the difference between ‘System Updates’ and ‘Software Updates’?

Rick’s answer: I’ll be happy to do my best, Mike. Thanks for asking.

In a macro sense, both of those types of updates are ‘software updates’ since it’s code to some body of software that’s being updated.

However, there are indeed differences between the two from a general usage perspective. [Read more…]

Q&A: How can I straighten a crooked photo with Windows 11?

Posted on July 9, 2026

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Question from Eileen: I took some pictures with my new phone and downloaded them to my computer (HP desktop with Windows 11).

All the photos look fine when I view them on the phone, but on the computer several of my favorites are crooked.

Is there a way to straighten them without installing an extra program? [Read more…]

Q&A: Why does Microsoft sell Office for Macs even though Apple is a competitor?

Posted on July 9, 2026

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Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

Question from Claude: I was looking at the various options for buying Microsoft Office on Amazon the other day and I saw they’re selling Microsoft Office that runs on Macs.

That really surprised me since Microsoft and Apple are direct competitors of each other.

Why do they make a Mac version of Office when that obviously encourages people who would buy a Windows computer to run MS Office on to buy a Mac instead? [Read more…]

Q&A: Can you use two motherboards to make a computer that’s twice as fast?

Posted on July 4, 2026

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Question from Kyle: I won a storage auction and there were four identical desktop computers in there.

I hooked them up and found they all work.

I know these are old, slow machines. That got me to thinking.

Would it be possible to install the motherboards from two of these computers in a custom case and have them work together as a single computer that runs twice as fast as one of them runs? [Read more…]

Q&A: Is this email from PayPal real or am I being scammed?

Posted on July 3, 2026

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Question from Rita: I hope you can help me Rick, and I really could use a quick answer.

I received an email that appears to be from PayPal. It says a buyer has sent me $122.56 for an item that was purchased from my Etsy store.

I really need to find out whether this email is real or a fake. [Read more…]