Tech Questions & Answers Archives - Page 2 of 258

Q&A: How can I delete all of my Gmail messages at once?

Posted on October 27, 2025

Want to get my easy to follow Tech Tips in your email?

Question from Kenny: I love your site man. Too cool!

I hope you can help me with a Gmail question.

I have over 7000 messages in my Gmail Inbox and about as many in my “Sent Mail” folder.

I’d like to wipe out all those old messages and start fresh, but it would take forever to go through there and delete them a page at a time.

My question is do you know of a way to delete all of my Gmail messages at once? [Read more…]

Q&A: Is it legal to sell ‘free’ software?

Posted on October 24, 2025

Want to get my easy to follow Tech Tips in your email?

Question from Gordon: I have a very simple question for you, Rick: Is it legal to sell free software?

I’m asking because I just bought a DVD off of eBay that contains several software programs for troubleshooting and maintaining a PC, but I have just found out that ALL of it is freeware that’s distributed under the GNU GPL License. [Read more…]

Q&A: How can I prevent unauthorized (or accidental) purchases from the Google Play Store?

Posted on October 23, 2025

Want to get my easy to follow Tech Tips in your email?

Question from Michelle: I sometimes hand my phone to my 9 year old son so he can play a game.

Well, I recently found out that he sneaked into the Google Play store and bought several games without my permission.

We had a long mother-son talk and he assured me that he won’t do it again, but I’d really like to make sure he (nor anyone else) can ever do that again. Is there something I can do to prevent this from happening again? [Read more…]

Q&A: What’s the quickest way to delete browser cookies?

Posted on October 21, 2025

Want to get my easy to follow Tech Tips in your email?

Question from Mark: What is the quickest way to delete browser cookies? Thank you.

Rick’s answer: Mark, this is easily the shortest and most concise question I have ever received, and my answer is almost as short:

With your preferred web browser active on the screen, simply press the Ctrl+Shift+Del key combination and your browser will immediately display a window or tab from which you can quickly delete the stored cookies or any other browsing history data. [Read more…]

Q&A: How do I find the Control Panel in Windows 11?

Posted on October 21, 2025

Want to get my easy to follow Tech Tips in your email?

Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

Question from Kerry: I have a Windows 11 question for you if you don’t mind.

I used to be a Windows guy, but several years ago when Microsoft stopped supporting Windows 7 I decided to switch to a Mac.

Well, my Mac recently bit the dust and I decided to switch back to Windows. Long story short, I ended up buying a new Windows desktop computer with Windows 11 on it.

Back when I was using Windows 7 I could open the Control Panel from the Start menu, but that’s apparently not the case with Windows 11. I’ve looked high and low and I can’t find it anywhere.

I’m pretty sure Windows 11 still has a Control Panel because I think I remember seeing it mentioned on your site a while back. Can you tell me how to find it? [Read more…]