Help and advice
Plain-language guides to the computer problems people ask about most.
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"Hey, are we still on for lunch?" The wrong-number text that ends in a crypto pitch
The stranger who texted you by mistake is not a stranger. How the wrong-number text works, the months-long con it opens, and the one reply that ends it.
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What to do with an old computer before you recycle, sell or give it away
An old computer holds years of passwords, tax returns and photos. Here is how to wipe it properly, and the sensible options for where it goes next.
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What should a laptop repair cost? A guide to fair prices
Typical US price ranges for the most common laptop repairs, what pushes a quote up or down, and how to tell when a repair is not worth doing.
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Sorry, wrong person. Anyway, want to download a game?
A mistaken Discord message from a friendly stranger who wants you to install a game. It is a known malware scam. Here is how to spot it by the second message.
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Slow computer? Seven things to check before you give up on it
Most slow computers have an ordinary cause that can be found in a few minutes. Work through this list in order, from the free fixes to the cheap upgrades.
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A simple backup plan for a home or a small office
Hard drives fail, laptops get stolen and ransomware happens. A backup you never have to think about costs little and takes an hour to set up.
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Should you buy a refurbished computer? When it is a bargain and when it is a mistake
A refurbished computer can be the best value there is, or somebody else's problem in a new box. The difference is who refurbished it and what they promise.
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Six router settings everyone should change, and how to find them
The router is the front door to your home or office, and most are left as they came. Six settings, twenty minutes, and the doors that matter are closed.
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Repair or replace? How to decide what to do with an old computer
A slow or broken computer is not always a lost cause. Here is a simple way to decide whether a repair is worth the money.
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Ransomware and a small business: what it is, and the three things that stop it
Ransomware locks every file a business has and demands payment. Small businesses are the usual target, and the protection is simpler than most people think.
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Printer will not print? Nine fixes to try before you buy a new one
Printers fail in a small number of predictable ways, and most are fixed in minutes. Work through these in order, and learn when a new printer is the answer.
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Photos and files taking over? How to sort out storage on your phone, computer and in the cloud
Phone full, computer out of space, and the cloud wants more money. How the pieces fit together, what to keep where, and how to stop overpaying for storage.
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Passwords and two-step sign-in, without the headache
You do not need to remember fifty passwords. A password manager and two-step sign-in on a few important accounts stop most break-ins.
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How to set up a password manager for your whole family
One evening of setup ends the texts asking what the password is, and means someone can always get into the important accounts in an emergency.
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Is your old PC still safe to use now that Windows 10 support has ended?
Windows 10 support ended in October 2025. What that means, how to check if your PC can run Windows 11, and what to do if it cannot.
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My email was hacked. What do I do, in what order?
A hacked email account is the key to everything else you own online, so the order of the steps matters. What to do in the first hour, day and week.
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How to move everything to a new computer without losing anything
Files are the easy part. Here is the full checklist for moving to a new PC or Mac, including the things people only miss after the old computer is gone.
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Microsoft 365 for a small business: which plan, and what you actually get
Microsoft 365 plan names are confusing and the differences matter. What each business plan includes and which one most small businesses should choose.
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Mesh Wi-Fi or a range extender: which one do you need?
Both promise to fix weak Wi-Fi. They work in very different ways, and choosing the wrong one wastes money. Here is how to tell which suits your building.
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Laptop battery not lasting? How to get more from it, and when to replace it
Every laptop battery wears out, but most wear out faster than they need to. How to check its health, the settings that help, and what a replacement costs.
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Is this email really from my bank? How to tell a real message from a fake
Scam emails now copy real ones almost perfectly. Here is what to check instead of the logo and spelling, and the one habit that keeps you safe.
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How to spot a fake virus warning, and what to do when one appears
Full-screen alerts that tell you to call a phone number are scams. Here is how to recognize them, close them safely, and what to do if you already called.
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Guest Wi-Fi for a small business: why customers should never be on your network
Letting visitors onto the same Wi-Fi as your computers, printer and card terminal is a risk you do not need. A guest network is free and takes ten minutes.
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How to fix Wi-Fi dead spots at home or in a small office
Slow or missing Wi-Fi in part of the building is usually a placement problem, not an internet problem. Work through these steps before you buy anything.
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The first day with a new Windows PC: eight things to do before you use it
A new computer arrives with software you do not want and updates waiting. An hour on these eight steps saves trouble for years.
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Email on your own domain: why a small business should not use a Gmail address
An address at your own domain costs a few dollars a month, looks established and keeps your email yours if you change provider. Here is how to set it up.
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Do you really need a password manager? What it does that your browser does not
Your browser already offers to save passwords. Here is what a dedicated password manager adds, who can get by without one, and how to choose.
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Computer will not turn on? What to check before you call anyone
A computer that does nothing when you press the button is usually fixable, often trivially. Here is the order to check things in.
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How to choose an external drive for backup
Hard drive or SSD, what size, and which connection? A short guide to buying the right external drive, and to using it so that it protects you.
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How to choose a laptop: the five things that matter and the ones that do not
Laptop listings are a wall of numbers, and most will not affect your day. Here are the five that will, and how to avoid paying for the rest.
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