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Comment by Geoff on Can I Get Free Satellite TV? (March 18, 2024 09:51 PM)
Another great missive. Cheers...
Comment by Rad on Can I Get Free Satellite TV? (March 18, 2024 07:46 PM)
" See 'satellite television installation' in your local phone book." "Local phone book"? There is a local phone book? As far as I know, local phone c...
Comment by Renaud Olgiati on Can I Get Free Satellite TV? (March 18, 2024 06:37 PM)
When the Germanies were reunified in 1990, faced with having to add umpteen new regional channels in all the TV relays of both Western and Eastern Ger...
Comment by Jonathan on Can I Get Free Satellite TV? (March 18, 2024 06:36 PM)
We are lucky that we get about 16 or so channels over the air (OTA) with a small indoor wall mounted antenna. Try that option first, no expensive box...
Comment by Frank Wilson on Time to Break Up With Your Phone Company? (March 17, 2024 05:02 AM)
this has been by far the worst customer service experience I've ever had!!!!! #days and 12 hours later and still no better than when i started! STAY A...
Comment by Christopher on [HOWTO] UN-erase a File or Folder (March 14, 2024 01:48 AM)
Well said Ernest. The free version of Macrium Reflect is still available. If you're happy to pay insurance on your house then a backup regimen is the ...
Comment by Ralph Sproxton on [HOWTO] UN-erase a File or Folder (March 14, 2024 12:47 AM)
Hi, Bob. I'm surprised you didn't mention Recuva, by Piriform Software. It's free, and it does an excellent job. Friends and I have been using it succ...
Comment by Brian B on [HOWTO] UN-erase a File or Folder (March 13, 2024 10:59 PM)
@Ernest. Could not agree with you more. I also use Macrium Reflect, with a similar backup strategy to yours. I consider myself completely protected a...
Comment by Brian B on [HOWTO] UN-erase a File or Folder (March 13, 2024 10:50 PM)
@Adrian. A quick and easy answer to your question would be to copy any file you want to delete, to that external drive, and then delete it from your c...
Comment by Ernest N. Wilcox Jr. (Oldster) on [HOWTO] UN-erase a File or Folder (March 13, 2024 06:22 PM)
This goes a bit off-topic, but I think what I have to say here is related and valid. At $39.95, DiskInternals Uneraser is an excellent solution for d...

Can I Get Free Satellite TV?

A thrifty AskBob reader says: “Can I really get satellite TV for free? I've heard about free satellite TV channels one can receive with a free-to-air satellite receiver and dish. Is this true? If so, what satellite channels can I get, what equipment do I need, and is it legal?” The short answer is 'YES, NO, and MAYBE,' depending on your expectations. Read on to learn about free satellite TV options...

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Posted by Bob Rankin on March 18, 2024 | Category: Television


[HOWTO] UN-erase a File or Folder

An AskBob reader says: “I accidentally deleted two folders that contained some very important files. I tried some of those free undelete programs, but they didn't find my files. Can you recommend a more powerful data recovery tool? I'm willing to spend a few bucks if it really works.” Yes, I do have a recommendation. Read on to learn about this data recovery power tool...

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Posted by Bob Rankin on March 13, 2024 | Category: Hard-Drives


Geekly Update - 07 March 2024

Are hallucinating chatbots legally responsible for their own actions? Can large doses of Saturday Night Fever cure dementia? And is there a flying car in your future? Get answers in today's Geekly Update... it's jam-packed with the latest tech news. This issue is guaranteed to make you 146% smarter -- you'll see why. Read, think, and, comment!

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Posted by Bob Rankin on March 07, 2024 | Category: Tech-News


Free Phone Service With Ooma Telo?

Have you seen those commercials for a gadget called Ooma Telo that promises to replace your landline, virtually eliminate your phone bill, and give you crystal clear voice call quality? Read on to see if this home phone device lives up to the hype...

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Posted by Bob Rankin on March 06, 2024 | Category: Telephony


[SPEED] Is Satellite Internet Getting Faster?

If you live in a rural area, your Internet access options are limited. DSL, cable and fiber internet service are not available in many thinly-populated areas. Forget about 5G and even 4G cellular access. For many rural residents, Internet access boils down to a choice between miserably slow dial-up and slightly better satellite Internet access. The latter option is showing greater promise, though. Read on to learn about the pros and cons of satellite internet service...

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Posted by Bob Rankin on March 05, 2024 | Category: Wireless


What Happens to Your Digital Assets When You Die?

Benjamin Franklin famously said that nothing is certain except death and taxes. Sooner or later, we'll all kick the bucket, cash in our chips, or shed the mortal coil. Sure, you may have a will, but what happens to your digital assets – your data and online accounts? That's where digital estate planning comes into play. Think of it as having a backup plan to give those left behind, so they can access your data. Here’s what you need to know, and one VERY important thing you should add to your will. Read on...

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Posted by Bob Rankin on March 04, 2024 | Category: Reference


10 Free Windows Troubleshooting Tools

A computer operating system is a complex beast. If things go wrong with Windows, it can be difficult to track down the source of the glitch. But you can put away the screwdriver, sledgehammer (and chainsaw!) because there are plenty of free troubleshooters you can use to fix most problems. Read on for my recommended list of free Windows problem solvers...

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Posted by Bob Rankin on March 01, 2024 | Category: Windows


Computer Problem? Test and Fix it Yourself

Has your computer been acting strangely? If you've already ruled out viruses and gremlins, a more likely reason is an error caused by a hardware component that's flaky, damaged, or overheated. Here are some tips and tools to help you diagnose and fix those annoying or intermittent computer problems that just seem to pop up for no apparent reason...

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Posted by Bob Rankin on February 27, 2024 | Category: Hardware


Your Hard Drive Will Crash in 3, 2, 1...

A concerned AskBob reader says: 'Sometimes I hear a click-click sound from my hard drive, but it's only occasionally. Does this mean my hard drive is going to crash soon? Are there any tests I can run to check the health of my hard drive?' Read on to learn the tell-tale signs of impending hard drive doom, some things you can do NOW to protect your data, and what to do if it's too late.

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Posted by Bob Rankin on February 26, 2024 | Category: Hard-Drives


Saving Your Digital Bacon

Have you ever accidentally deleted a file? Do you sometimes wish you could go back in time (a week, a month or a year) to see an older version of a document or spreadsheet? Wouldn't it be great if your computer automatically created backups to help in both of these scenarios? Your wish could be granted, if you turn on this little-known feature of your operating system. Read on...

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Posted by Bob Rankin on February 22, 2024 | Category: Hard-Drives


How (AND WHY) to Clean Computer Clutter

Computers and cars have one thing in common: both tend to accumulate junk in hard-to-reach places. Cleaning out your car can be a messy, sweaty job with plenty of opportunities for back injuries. Cleaning out a PC is a more civilized affair. Here are some free tools to clean up your hard drive, improve system performance, and make sure your backups run smoothly. Ready to jettison the detritus? Read on...

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Posted by Bob Rankin on February 16, 2024 | Category: Hard-Drives


10 Things That Cause Computer Crashes

Have you ever experienced the dreaded Blue Screen of Death? Does your computer lock up, freeze, crash, or display cryptic error messages?. This sort of problem can be very difficult to diagnose, because many things can cause a computer to crash (and even burn!). Before you blame those mischievous gremlins, here are ten common causes of computer crashes and some tips on how to deal with them...

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Posted by Bob Rankin on February 15, 2024 | Category: Hardware


[HOWTO] Tame Your Overflowing Email Inbox

Is your inbox overflowing? Are important messages getting lost in the shuffle? Are you spending too much time managing your email? If so, it's likely you're not using filters to direct the flow of incoming emails. Learn how to automatically file messages in folders, forward them to someone else, or dump them straight into the trash. Oh, and if your Spam folder is gobbling up messages that don't belong there, I'll also show you how to solve that problem too...

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Posted by Bob Rankin on February 09, 2024 | Category: Email


Geekly Update - 07 February 2024

Is your toothbrush secretly plotting against you? Can robots be forgiven for their mistakes? What's the best plce to watch the upcoming solar eclipse? And how can you view the best part of the 2024 Super Bowl before the game even starts? Get answers in today's Geekly Update... it's jam-packed with the latest tech news. This issue is guaranteed to make you 146% smarter -- you'll see why. Read, think, and, comment!

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Posted by Bob Rankin on February 07, 2024 | Category: Tech-News


The Curious Case of the Accidental Spammer

An anxious AskBob reader says: “Several of my email friends are complaining that I’m sending them spam emails. I’ve looked in my Sent folder and nothing odd shows up there. How can this be happening? Am I spamming in my sleep? Is it possible that someone has hacked into my email account, or is there another explanation?” Read on for the most likely answers to this mystery...

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Posted by Bob Rankin on February 05, 2024 | Category: Email




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