I was recently asked about whether a router was needed to allow two home computers to access the Internet via one DSL account (similarly, it could have been a cable account). The alternative was that they would use a lower cost hub instead of a router. My answer, without any hesitation, was to get a [...]
DSL Modem Causes BSOD and Reboot
Reader Russ Tinley wrote about some problems he was having with his DSL modem, his desktop computer and his notebook. We corresponded on the subject and it made my newsletter as the article HOWTO: Stopping Blue Screen of Death Reboots. In that article, I wrote Reader Russ Tinley wrote about a strange problem he was [...]
Cable/DSL Router Problems
A friend was having a connection problem between their home network and their cable ISP. His computers were working fine for a while after booting, but then within 24 hours, they would lose their networking capability. Turning off the router and then turning it back on, and rebooting the computers always solved the problem. NOTE: [...]
Broadband Problems and Questions
Recently, I received two interesting questions from U.K. subscribers. I wrote about and answered the other one, which was about external hard drives, in this week’s email newsletter. In this question, subscriber Robin wrote about problems she is having with her broadband connection… Hi Terry I have a stand alone desktop computer with a Tiscali.co.uk [...]
Cable and DSL Speeds – What’s wrong with this picture?
I’ve read some recent mailing list comments that were complaining about the huge differences in upload and download speeds in residential Internet service pacakges from cable companies and phone (DSL) companies. The writers always point to the ISP’s commercial package offerings as proof that "they could give us highspeed uploads, too, if they chose." Unfortunately, [...]
A Look Inside PC Pitstop Optimize 2.0 | PCPitstop Optimize 2.0 Review
Product: Optimize 2.0 Publisher: PC Pitstop License: Commercial software, annual. Licensed for multiple-users on one computer or multiple computers one user Like many of the other downloadable programs that are designed to scan and fix computer problems, Optimize 2.0 from PC Pitstop is a program that can be run on schedule to routinely check for [...]
Ad-blocking in Sunbelt Personal Firewall
Reader Glenn Bryson wrote to me this week via the to ask: Message: Terry, Thanks for your very helpful advice. On your recommendation, I upgraded to Vipre antivirus and antispyware. Since then, I have a lot of ads blocked with this error statement: “Ad blocked here by SPF” Does this have anything to do with [...]
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