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Is it faster to write to a drive that has lots of space than to one with less space?

2012-05-16T16:36:19-08:00

Is it true that writing to a disk drive having lots of empty space is faster than writing to one having less space? Suppose I have 1 GB of data to write and I have felt it is faster to write this data on to a disk drive having a space of 10 GB than on a drive having space of 5 GB. But I'm an electronics guy. Theoretically, the given amount of data should give the same amount of time to be written irrespective of the remaining space on the drive. Of course, given the empty space on the disks are greater than the size of the files being written to it.

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In this excerpt from Answercast #18 I look at the time it takes to copy files onto a disk with lots of space, compared to copying the same files to a more full disk.

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What IP address do I put in my browser to secure my router?

2012-05-16T16:20:12-08:00

Running a Toshiba Satellite laptop, Windows 7 Home Premium on a DSL Wi-Fi connection. I tried to secure your router per your book Internet Safety Book and when I put my IP address into two different browsers I finally gave up. They never connect to anything. The internet connection is fine. Now I need to look at my router and decide if I need to change the password, etc. What am I missing here?

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In this excerpt from Answercast #18 I try to diagnose a problem in securing a router, and walk through the steps needed to connect to that router through a browser window.

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What's your take on the online spying bill CISPA?

2012-05-16T12:39:55-08:00

I'm wondering what you think of CISPA an online spying bill for the internet where the private sector can send your private data to the government or to other businesses. Everything from your email, texts and so on. And do you think it will work?

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In this excerpt from Answercast #18 I look at a bill, being proposed in the United States, and give sources for finding up-to-date information.

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Answercast #18 - Exploding CDs, dangerous mice, spy bills, securing routers, fast copying and more...

2012-05-16T12:20:09-08:00

What's your take on the online spying bill CISPA?
What IP address do I put in my browser to secure my router?
Is it faster to write to a drive that has lots of space than to one with less space?
Why are my two anti-virus tools giving different results?
Is it okay to use hibernate to shut down my computer daily?
Can I plug all my router plugs into a switch to get more speed?
How do I get around being blocked from watching Youtube videos?
Will turning off programs save me from hackers when I get online?
Why did a CD disc explode in my computer?
Is it dangerous to use a wireless mouse or keyboard?

(Links will be updated as transcripts become available.)

Continue reading Answercast #18 - Exploding CDs, dangerous mice, spy bills, securing routers, fast copying and more...
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How do I get outgoing mail to display "Undisclosed-Recipients:;" in the TO field?

2012-05-16T10:30:00-08:00

When using BCC to send out emails from Outlook Express, the recipient should see "Undisclosed-Recipient;" in the TO field. However the recipients in my BCC list that I sent out see my own (the sender) email instead. Eventually it is showing as FROM: myemail@domain.com, TO: myemail@domain.com. How do I get it to display "Undisclosed-Recipients:;" in the TO field?

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I don't believe it's something you can force.

By that I mean I don't believe the exact phrase "Undisclosed-Recipients;" is any kind of standard, or something that you can put in place yourself.

I don't think it's even controlled by the sender of the email.

I'll show you what I do instead.

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How do I change my Hotmail alternate email address if I can't access it any more?

2012-05-16T09:54:01-08:00

I want to remove my alternate email address, to which I no longer have access. When I want to delete it from the Hotmail account the confirmation link from Hotmail will be sent to that alternate email. I tried adding the new alternate Email, but then Hotmail still sends the confirmation to the old alternate Email. How can I remove the old alternate Email if I no longer have access to it?

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I'll be honest and tell you that I know of no simple answer to this problem.

I'll also tell you that it's frighteningly common. Either through neglect or having been hacked many Hotmail account holders are left with invalid or inaccessible alternate email addresses.

Alternate email addresses that they can't remove or change.

While I'll discuss the only possible solution that I'm aware of, I want to use this as an opportunity to emphasize the importance of keeping your alternate email address keeping current and accessible.

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Can I just unplug my computer to shut it down?

2012-05-16T08:51:24-08:00

I have been having problems with the button on my computer which turns it on and off. I have stopped shutting down my computer because I have difficulty turning it back on. I just restart it every morning but I really don't like leaving the computer on all the time. If I were to cut the power to the computer and then plug it back in the next morning, would I need to use the on/off button and would I be damaging anything?

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Yes, you may damage your computer.

By just pulling the plug you run a good risk of corrupting data on your hard drive, and a very small risk of actually damaging hardware.

I'm not sure what kinds of problems you're having with the power button, but even that needs to be used correctly, or you could end up with ... well, you could end up with the very problems you're seeing.

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Has LastPass had a security breach?

2012-05-14T16:36:21-08:00

I recently installed LastPass on my desktop PC. However, through one of my other newsletters, or Googling, I caught an article regarding a suspected security breach on LastPass fairly recently and I started reconsider the whole cloud storage approach for specifically my password information. The alternative I'm considering is Roboform. Now, I know from past newsletters you've praised both software and I understand it's also personal preference, but what is your take on the breach and storing passwords away from your own system? I look forward to your response.

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In this excerpt from Answercast #17, I look at the proactive nature of LastPass's security practices, including their high levels of encryption.

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Is there an easy way to share photos with my family that's free?

2012-05-14T16:19:57-08:00

I use Windows 7 and I'm looking for an easy way to share photos with my family members. I've tried Dropbox and JustCloud, but both seem more interested in premium upgrades than in an easy system. I used Windows Live Cloud until my account was hacked. 2 GB is plenty for my needs; just something easy and free.

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In this excerpt from Answercast #17, I suggest staying with Dropbox. It gives 2 GB free and is still an easy solution.

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How do I tell if my computer is capable of having a wired internet connection?

2012-05-14T15:59:16-08:00

Is the Acer Aspire 1ZG netbook capable of having a wired internet connection? Or what might it need to have one?

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In this excerpt from Answercast #17, I suggest looking for an ethernet cord connection on an older machine. It's probably there.

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What can I do about a pop-up that says, "Internet Explorer has stopped working?"

2012-05-14T15:40:54-08:00

What can I do about a pop-up that I get every two seconds that says, "Internet Explorer has stopped working?"

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In this excerpt from Answercast #17, I look at reasons why Internet Explorer might occasionally stop working, but every two seconds?

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Why is my important folder suddenly gone and not in the recycle bin?

2012-05-14T15:32:13-08:00

Last week, I was working on a folder from one of my customers which contained communication going back many years. On Saturday, I intended to look something up in this folder and it's gone. I just do not know how and when. Especially in view, if I delete a folder, then it appears under deleted folders, but this specific folder is gone, disappeared. Every minute this week, I've checked and checked, however, nothing.

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In this excerpt from Answercast #17, I explain where I would go looking for a missing folder: in my backup!

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Why do I get an error that says "The requested operation requires elevation"?

2012-05-14T14:45:17-08:00

I just purchased an HP G6Z laptop that was assembled in China. The description reads "Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit." My only complaint to date is when I loaded an instructional CD, I was unable to open it because I got the following error message, "Error executing file. Setup.exe the requested operation requires elevation." When I searched your website, all indicators suggest that I have a Windows Vista program. All my paperwork, however, indicates that it's genuine Windows 7. Is it possible? I've just started researching this and have not yet contacted HP.

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In this excerpt from Answercast #17, I look at an elevation error that is common in both Windows 7 and Vista machines, and point in the direction of a cure.

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Can I delete the paging file if I'm using an SSD drive with 8GB of RAM?

2012-05-14T11:40:40-08:00

There seems to be a debate all over the web and I can't seem to get a straight answer. I know you covered page file on your website. But can it be disabled, even deleted, if you're using an SSD drive? According to some forum pages, they go so far as to say it's useless along with super fetch and hibernation all in an attempt to free up space for a 60 GB SSD. I thought this would be plenty of space when I ordered my laptop only to see it have 30 GB free the day I received it in the mail. Using Windows 7, 64-bit, and it has 8 GB of RAM.

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In this excerpt from Answercast #17, I talk about freeing up disk space from the paging file and what may cause you to decide to turn it back on again.

Continue reading Can I delete the paging file if I'm using an SSD drive with 8GB of RAM?
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