Ask Leo!

How do I automatically clean out my accumulation of backups?

Leo — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:35:56 +0000

Many backup programs allow you to specify that old backups be deleted. It's not always obvious how, so I'll show you in Macrium Reflect.

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Why is Microsoft Security Essentials constantly saying potentially unprotected?

Leo — Sun, 19 May 2013 20:00:08 +0000

The "potentially unprotected" warning seems fairly common in situations where you really are still protected. I'll cover several theories as to why it might appear.

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If I copy a file to another drive will it be fragmented the same way?

Leo — Sun, 19 May 2013 19:00:10 +0000

Fragmentation is about how a file is stored on a disk and is not preserved across a copy. In fact, in some cases you can defragment a hard drive using copy.

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How do I find who hacked my email?

Leo — Sun, 19 May 2013 18:10:36 +0000

It's natural to want to find who hacked your email and why. Begin by recovering your account and securing it. But then, just let it go. There's almost nothing you or I as individuals can do to find out who hacked you.

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What’s the easiest way to restore my machine to original factory settings if I didn’t get discs?

Leo — Fri, 17 May 2013 21:00:05 +0000

If you don't have installation or recovery media then you'll need to take additional steps to prepare for the day you might need to reset to factory settings. Additional steps using software that I hope you already have.

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Why doesn’t my external monitor work?

Leo — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:00:52 +0000

You plug a new monitor into a laptop with a broken screen and still can't see anything! You may need to tap a few magic keystrokes to turn it on.

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What does it mean when my email program asks if it should compact my email?

Leo — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:00:46 +0000

Compacting should be completely transparent. It makes files smaller and potentially makes access of email a little faster. There is one dramatic exception.

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Should I use Windows File Compression?

Leo — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:00:25 +0000

Windows File Compression automatically compresses files so that they take up less space. In the best of circumstances it can free up a lot of space, but all too frequently it's not as much as you might expect, and there is cost.

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Can I simply copy everything on my drive in case something bad happens?

Leo — Fri, 17 May 2013 01:00:06 +0000

There are in fact utilities that can do an actual clone of your computer, but I would prefer you move to a more traditional image backup system.

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What good are image backups if I can’t restore an old backup to my new machine?

Leo — Thu, 16 May 2013 23:00:17 +0000

Image backups are excellent protection against almost all forms of data loss. They're not really intended to make transferring to a new computer easier, though in rare circumstances they can come in handy for that too.

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