Internet Archives - Page 11 of 14

Q&A: Why does my laptop shut down our Wi-Fi network every time I turn it on?

Posted on September 22, 2018

Question from Ronnie M.: Hi Rick. I have a really strange problem that I need help with.

We’ve had Xfinity Internet for years and the Wi-Fi has always worked perfectly until recently.

A couple of weeks ago my Dell laptop started causing our Wi-Fi network to completely shut down every time I turn it on.

The Wi-Fi can be working perfectly on our other computers, on our phones and on the kids’ Xbox, but within 5 minutes after turning on my laptop the Wi-Fi stops working on everything in the house. The devices still show an active connection but we can’t do anything on the Internet.

The crazy thing is I don’t even have to be using the Internet on my computer for this to happen.

In fact, I don’t even have to have a web browser open. It just happens. But the Wi-Fi starts working again on the other devices just as soon as I shut my laptop down.

Do you have any idea what could be causing this? I thought it might be a virus but I have three antivirus programs running on my computer and none of them are finding anything.

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

6 of my favorite websites and blogs: How many of them do you read?

Posted on April 5, 2018

As you well know, the Internet is a massive repository of information on virtually any topic you can think of.

In a nutshell, whatever it might be that interests you, you’re sure to find plenty of websites and blogs that cover it in various levels of detail.

Like you, I have a short list of favorite places on the web that I visit regularly for the latest news, information and tips on the topics that interest me the most.

I thought you might be interested in some of them, so I have listed my top six favorites below (and surprise – not all of them are tech related): [Read more…]

How to mute ALL auto-playing audio in your web browser

Posted on September 19, 2017

One of my biggest pet peeves is audio that starts blaring from my computer’s speakers just as soon as I visit a web page.

It makes no difference whether its coming from an ad, a cute video or simple background music, if it starts playing on its own, I don’t like it.

In fact, I dislike it so much I immediately hit my browser’s “Back” button when music or some other sound starts playing just as soon as the page loads unless I REALLY want to view the content on the page. [Read more…]

Q&A: Why do some websites think my brother’s PC and my Mac have the same IP address?

Posted on October 22, 2016

Question from Merrill D.: I’m a member of two different gaming forums that I post on almost every day.

My little brother wants to sign up for them too but when he tries they always tell him his IP address already has an account associated with it (I assume that it’s my account).

Why do those websites think our computers both have the same IP address? We have Charter Internet and a modem/router combo box if that makes a difference.

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

WikiCancel.org – Detailed instructions for closing hundreds of online accounts

Posted on September 19, 2015

The Internet makes it possible to use thousands of wonderful online services and access enough information to fill warehouses full of encyclopedias on virtually every subject known to man.

Many of these resources only become available to you after signing up for an online account, but what happens when you no longer need or want to use a service or access the information provided by a specific website?

Closing an online account should take no more than two or three clicks of the mouse, and it usually is really that simple. The trick however is finding the place on the website where you need to begin the clicking. [Read more…]