Rick's Daily Tips

Q&A: How do I change the DNS server settings to use ‘Open DNS’ in Linux Mint?

Posted on May 28, 2019

Question from Brad: I recently replaced Windows Vista on my old Dell desktop computer with Linux Mint based on your recommendation in this post.

I’m happy with the upgrade (and it really is an upgrade), but I need your help with something.

On my Windows systems I have the DNS server settings all pointing to Open DNS because it seems to work so much better.

I’d like to change the DNS settings on this machine too but I’m afraid I might mess something up if I just go in there changing things without knowing what I’m doing.

Can you give me step-by-step instructions for changing the DNS server to Open DNS in Linux Mint?

Thanks in advance for your help. PS. Love your blog!!!

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

Q&A: How can I delete unused images in WordPress?

Posted on May 22, 2019

Question from Dan J.: Hi Rick. I recently made the switch from Blogger to my own self-hosted WordPress blog with the help of your step-by-step guide to installing WordPress. I can honestly say it’s the best move I’ve ever made.

I need your help with one issue though. I have a habit of changing my mind about the images I use with my posts, sometimes more than once. The unused images always pop up in the Media Library when I go back to choose an image for a post.

How can I remove the images that I don’t ever plan to use from the media library?

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

Warning: If you use the ‘Ever’ photo storage app, your photos are being used for Face Recognition purposes!

Posted on May 22, 2019

Do you or someone you know use the popular “Ever” photo storage app?

If so, you need to know that according to this NBC News story the company behind the app is using your photos for face recognition purposes!

The company says they’re only using their customers’ photos to “train” the app, but who knows what’s really going on behind the scenes?

[Read more…]

Q&A: Can I run old DOS games on my Windows 7 PC?

Posted on May 16, 2019

Question from Darren S.: I have several old DOS-based games that I bought at a yard sale and I’d love to be able to play some of them on my Windows 7 laptop. Will they run on that computer? If not, is it possible to install DOS in a dual-boot configuration and run them that way?

Rick’s Answer: Darren, it is possible to run some DOS games under Windows 7 (as well as XP, Vista and Windows 8), but due to major differences in the way DOS and Windows handle memory and I/O you’ll need to run them within a DOS emulator.

There are several DOS emulators for Windows available, but I would recommend trying one called DOSBox first. DOSBox has been around for a long time and they seem to have a lot of the kinks in the emulation process worked out. [Read more…]