ItsGeekToMe.co

Q: I have Avast Premium Security, which notifies me periodically of a tracking cookie, in anticipation of me registering for another program. Is there any way for me to recognize a tracking cookie?  – James M.Fort Walton Beach, Florida A: Whew!  Seldom have I seen a question so full of unasked questions.  Well, I think […]

Q: My question is regarding Windows Hello, which seems to be required to use the Microsoft Store. I do not have a PIN and I don’t know where to get one. The app just goes round and round with questions that go back to this PIN, even when I say I don’t have one or […]

Q: When you open a pdf file using Adobe Acrobat, the file’s actually open and you cannot change any attributes. I need to do this many times because files names are not as descriptive as I need them to be; some default names are actually cryptically non-descriptive. I have found that I can right click […]

It’s dealer’s choice this week, and I’ve selected a hot topic that I’ve wanted to talk about for a while now.  I’m talking about Artificial Intelligence, or AI for short.  AI is not exactly new – it’s been around in one shape or form for decades.  But recent developments in AI have made worldwide headlines, […]

Q: I have had lots of issues with [Internet Service Provider Name Redacted].  Is there a better Internet provider? Of course, I even had trouble sending this message.  – James W.Destin, Florida A:  When I first started this column back in 2007, I imposed some simple ground rules on it and on myself so that […]

Q: AdBlock suddenly began appearing while web browsing using Edge. I don’t remember ever installing it, so I decided to uninstall it. (I like to pretend that I have some control over this machine!) I couldn’t find it in Programs. Eventually I discovered it in something called Extensions and removed it. Whatever is Extensions? And […]

Issue #815 – Publication Week: March 5-11, 2023 Q: I just got a new computer in November, equipped with Windows 10. I purchased and installed Microsoft Office. My problem is that I cannot change the text color or add a background color fill in Excel. I am up to date according to Microsoft. I have […]

Q: Several months ago, probably after a Windows update, I started getting an ‘extra’ little picture/icon in my bottom tray, inside the search box. It changes daily, and maybe applies to something significant to that day. Today it is flowers and a present. I suspect that it is using bandwidth/memory/or something that I don’t want […]

Q: I recently upgraded my home office PC to a Windows 11 machine (Dell XPS 8950). However, when attempting to update printer drivers (my printer is an aging but still going strong HP Officejet Pro 8710), I found the HP Smart app that HP now requires for the update will not download/install from the Microsoft […]

Q: I am rather tech-ignorant. How can I download pictures from my very old iPhone 6s to my HP Envy computer (about 5-6 years old).  I do email them to myself then download to my pictures, but that seems like there should be an easier way. – Barbara V.Lone Rock, Wisconsin A: That you would […]