Category Archives: Windows questions

Questions and answers specific to Windows machines and applications

New ‘NetFlix’ phishing scam

Posted on March 4, 2014 by quill

There is another variation on the bank account phishing scam – this time targetting NetFlix customers and with the potential for a lot of harm. A pop up screen or email claiming that your Netflix account has been suspended, with … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer Questions and Answers, Security, Viruses and malware, Windows questions | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Can I build a gaming computer for under $1000 (Feb. 2014 edition)

Posted on February 21, 2014 by quill

Feb. 2014 An exercise in budget computing is to build a computer that will give acceptable gaming performance for under $1000.  In the past year we have seen hard drive prices skyrocket, then come back down to near normal pricing, … Continue reading →

Posted in General Computer, How-To, PC Gaming, Upgrading | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Don’t Click on the Fake Java Updater

Posted on December 17, 2013 by quill

It’s rearing its ugly head again – the fake Java Update sites are salting reputable websites with poisoned banner ads, which take you to a “Update your Java now” message. These pop up even if your Google Chrome settings are … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer Questions and Answers, Security, Viruses and malware, Web News | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Don’t fall for a parasite – watch your installers

Posted on May 3, 2013 by quill

Parasites … nobody wants them. But you almost certainly have at least one, in your computer.  Did you ever wonder how a Ask, Yahoo, AVG or other browser search toolbar suddenly appeared on your computer screen? Or why instead of … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer Questions and Answers, Internet and Networking, Viruses and malware, Windows questions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Q. How do I remove Visual Bee or Conduit from my browser?

Posted on April 29, 2013 by quill

VisualBee or VB or Conduit Search are search “aids” for web browsers and a toolbar; but you should avoid these.  They are rogue search engine redirectors that are included with downloads of various shareware installers (you have to be careful … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer Questions and Answers, General Computer, Viruses and malware, Windows questions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Zero Day Java Exploit – Disable Java Now

Posted on January 12, 2013 by quill

There is yet another series of malware out which exploits holes in the Oracle (Sun) Java language, including the most recent version (Java 7 Update 10) as of Jan 12 2013. Disable Java in your Web browser now. After the … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer Questions and Answers, Internet and Networking, Mac questions, Security, Viruses and malware, Windows questions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Q. How do I get rid of ib.adnxs.com

Posted on October 13, 2012 by quill

ib.adnxs is browser redirect malware that installs into your browser, and sends your web searches to different sites instead of where you want to go. It will persistently popup its own addresses in your browser.  It will change your home … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer Questions and Answers, Security, Viruses and malware, Windows questions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Q. How do I remove Scour Search from my browser?

Posted on October 3, 2012 by quill

Scour is a search “aid” for web browsers and a toolbar; it is a rogue search engine redirector that is included with downloads of various shareware installers (you know, the ones you have to be careful enough to unclick the “Install … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer Questions and Answers, Viruses and malware, Windows questions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Q. Can I get a good gaming laptop? For under $700?

Posted on September 19, 2012 by quill

First things first.  There is no such thing as a real gaming laptop – not if you mean a laptop machine that is portable, battery powered, and has game performance comparable to a desktop machine with a good graphic card … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer Questions and Answers, General Computer, PC Gaming, Upgrading | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Q. Will my computer run games on the highest settings?

Posted on September 19, 2012 by quill

The answer is, it depends. It depends on the graphic card:  Gaming is 90% about the performance of the video card (GPU). As long as you have adequate RAM and a reasonably modern CPU, then the video card Graphic Processing … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer Questions and Answers, PC Gaming, Performance, Upgrading | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Q. I am getting a FBI notice on my screen saying I have to pay?

Posted on August 30, 2012 by quill

This is a bogus FBI (or other organization) “ransomware” scam, which tries to scare you into paying a “fine” because they have allegedly done something illegal on their computer. If you don’t pay, the virus then locks your machine so … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer Questions and Answers, Viruses and malware, Windows questions | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Q. How do I get rid of Babylon search in my browser?

Posted on August 15, 2012 by quill

Babylon is a search “aid” for web browsers and a toolbar; it is a rogue search engine redirector.  It resists attempts to uninstall it.  Do NOT go to the Babylon site and use their uninstaller, it leaves code on your … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer Questions and Answers, Viruses and malware, Windows questions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Q. Should I upgrade the power supply in my computer?

Posted on July 21, 2012 by quill

If you are installing a new graphics card, you may be considering upgrading the Power Supply Unit (PSU) of your computer to support the card. Graphic card manufacturers provide recommended minimum power supplies. These minimums already include their assumption of … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer Questions and Answers, How-To, Performance, Windows questions | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Q. What do I need to burn DVDs and CDs?

Posted on July 20, 2012 by quill

DVD-Rs are a good format for backing up data files and for distributing data and software. Because files on a DVD-R cannot be changed once burned (and therefore cannot be deleted or affected by viruses or hard drive breakdown) I … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer Questions and Answers, General Computer, Mac questions, Software, Windows questions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Q. Are there free alternatives to Photoshop?

Posted on July 19, 2012 by quill

Photoshop is the top professional image editing / photo retouching program, but it is expensive.  There are some cheap and free alternatives available: Adobe Photoshop Express (online image editing, requires sign up at Adobe’s site) http://www.photoshop.com/tools/overview The GIMP is open source … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer Questions and Answers, General Computer, Mac questions, Software, Windows questions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment