Rick's Daily Tips

Q&A: How can I retrieve my Windows Vista Product Key?

Posted on April 7, 2013

Question from Michael C.: I have a 4 year old HP Desktop PC running Windows Vista and it has gotten slower and slower in recent months. It’s so slow now that I think I really need to start fresh and re-install Vista.

I have the Windows installation discs, but since I can’t find the case they came in I don’t have a clue what the Product Key is. I know I can find the Windows Product Key somewhere in the Registry, but I can’t seem to find it. Where do I look? Thanks in advance for your help.

Rick‘s answer: Michael, beginning with Windows Vista Microsoft started encrypting the Windows Product key in the Registry which means you won’t be able to find it that way. But don’t worry, there is a very easy way to get it. Simply download and run a free utility called Enchanted Keyfinder. Follow these steps: [Read more…]

Q&A: How do I create a Desktop shortcut to Windows Update?

Posted on April 5, 2013

Question from Karen P.: I read an article a while back on Computer Security and it recommended checking in with Windows Update every day to see if any new updates are available.

I’ve started doing that but it’s a pain clicking through the menus every time. Can I create a Desktop shortcut that’ll take me directly to the Windows Update utility?

Rick’s answer: Karen, I agree that keeping our PCs updated at all times is extremely important, but I don’t really see the need to check for new updates every day because Microsoft is pretty good at pushing critical updates to users in a timely fashion.

That being said, I think having a shortcut to Windows Update on the Desktop is a great idea. Here’s how to create one in Windows 7: [Read more…]

Q&A: How can I force photos to open in a new Internet Explorer window?

Posted on April 4, 2013

Question from Anita: Rick, I use Internet Explorer 9 on a laptop running Windows 7 (I know, everyone tells me I need to use Chrome, but I like I.E.). I like having my photos open in I.E. when I click on them but I hate it when they open in a window that’s already open and replace the web page that’s already there.

I hope you can tell me how to make my photos always open in a brand new window when I click on them?

Rick’s answer: I can Anita, and here’s what you need to do… [Read more…]

Why you should remove Adobe Reader from your computer

Posted on April 2, 2013

If it seems like you’re prompted to update Adobe Reader more often than you visit the grocery store, there’s a reason: It’s an inherently insecure program that requires more patches than a NASCAR driver’s racing uniform in order to keep hackers from breaking into your system.

Yep, hackers love Adobe Reader – which means you shouldn’t.

The good news is you don’t really need Adobe Reader on your computer at all, even if you tend to read lots of PDF files. If you use Google Chrome or Firefox instead of Internet Explorer, those browsers now display PDF files by default without having to load Adobe Reader at all. [Read more…]

Intelligent Ringer adjusts your Android phone’s ringer volume to match ambient noise level

Posted on April 2, 2013

intelligent-ringer Have you ever been in a quiet room and had your phone ring so loudly that half the people around you nearly jumped out of their skin? Or perhaps you were in a place so noisy that you missed an important call because you couldn’t hear your phone ringing?

Android phones have a feature that automatically adjusts the brightness of the screen to match the ambient light level, and now a free app called Intelligent Ringer does the same thing for the ringer volume.

Intelligent Ringer won’t change the ringer volume when your phone is in vibrate-only or airplane mode and you can adjust the sensitivity and minimum volume level to your own preference, making it conform to your own personal hearing capability.

You can read more about Intelligent Ringer and download it for free in the Google Play Store.