Rick's Daily Tips

SourceForge expands into the ‘Sneakware’ business

Posted on July 18, 2013

If you check out the tips I post on this blog on a regular basis, you surely know by now that I love telling my readers about all the great free software that’s out there to make our computing lives safer and more enjoyable. I love trying out new programs and apps and then sharing them with all of you if I find them to be beneficial in some way.

Whenever I recommend a piece of software, I always try my best to find a download site that offers an easily identifiable direct download link. Unfortunately, that task is becoming harder by the day as more and more sites begin sneaking other programs, apps and toolbars into the installer routine.

I call this unwanted software “sneakware” because they literally sneak these programs past unwary users and onto their computers while the software that you intentionally downloaded is being installed. [Read more…]

How to change the ‘Registered Owner’ in Microsoft Windows

Posted on July 11, 2013

microsoft-windows If your PC was either purchased used or “inherited” as a hand-me-down system, you probably keep seeing the previous owner’s name pop up from time to time as the “Registered Owner”. And I’m guessing that you probably find that a bit irritating.

It’s actually pretty easy to change the Registered Owner setting in the Windows Registry. But before I show you how to do that, it is incumbent upon me to tell you the following… [Read more…]

Q&A: Can I replace the power switch on my Compaq Presario SR2163WM myself?

Posted on July 9, 2013

Question from Devon A.: Hi Rick. I have a Compaq Presario SR2163WM that still works great, but I went to turn it on yesterday morning and the power switch broke. The button is still more or less in place but it doesn’t activate the switch when you push it.

I actually have two questions for you:

1 – Can the switch be replaced?

2 – If so, can I do it myself or should I take it to a shop?

Rick’s answer: Devon, you can indeed replace the power switch on your PC yourself, but finding one might be a problem since that’s such an old model. But I have a hunch that you won’t need to replace it at all. [Read more…]

How to ‘claim’ your blog on Technorati

Posted on July 9, 2013

Technorati can be a great source of high quality traffic to your blog, but only if they are aware that your blog exists. You can submit your blog to the Technorati Blog Directory via a process called “claiming” your blog.

Claiming your blog will add it to the Technorati Blog Directory and ensure that it shows up when users click on the tags that you have designated as being relevant to your blog. Your claimed blog(s) will also show up on your Technorati profile page.

Although it’s not very difficult to “claim” your blog on Technorati, there are a number of steps involved: [Read more…]

Q&A: Why does my PC beep and refuse to boot into Windows?

Posted on July 8, 2013

Question from Mika T.: I have an older Compaq EVO D510 desktop PC with 2GB RAM, 120GB hard drive and Windows XP Professional. I love this computer because it’s the first one I ever owned and I’d really like to keep it running if at all possible.

Here’s the problem: It was working fine till I turned it on one morning and it refused to boot up. It gives one short beep followed by two long beeps, then nothing. Is this a problem that can be fixed without shelling out a ton of cash?

Rick’s answer: Mika, the beeps you hear after pressing the power button are actually an error code that’s being output by your computer’s Power On Self Test (aka POST). That beep code on a Compaq PC typically indicates a problem with the video circuitry. [Read more…]