Ask Leo! #612 – Anniversary, Anniversary Update, Marking Spam, Corrupt Files, and more…

13 Years!

Did someone say something about an anniversary?

No, not that one - this one: Wednesday is the 13th anniversary of Ask Leo!.

As is tradition, I've compiled a few of the odd questions we get over on my personal blog: Lucky 13. Interestingly there are fewer odd questions than ever this year.

I'M NOT ASKING FOR MORE.

Something tells me that much the "oddness" in the universe that might be directed at me has been diverted into our presidential campaign. There's no shortage of it there, this year. With luck things will return to normal next year. Smile

And again, as always, I want to express my deepest gratitude to you for being here, for subscribing, and for just generally supporting Ask Leo!. It's an honor to be doing this, and I'm grateful every day for the opportunities I'm given.

Full steam ahead into year 14!

Leo's Blog

Installing the Windows 10 Anniversary Update

The Windows 10 Anniversary Update can be installed manually. With the help of some time-lapse video I'll walk through that process, quickly.

Continue Reading: Installing the Windows 10 Anniversary Update
https://askleo.com/23074

Featured

What Happens When I Mark Something as Spam?

When I get an email from someone that I do not want to ever hear from again, I report it as spam. What really happens to it? Does my email service know what to do with it if it ever shows up again? Is there any protection for me? Does the person that sent the email know that I put it in the Spam folder?

There's no definitive answer on exactly what happens, for reasons I'll explain in a moment.

However, some general concepts apply when you mark something as spam.

The first thing we need to know is whether you're marking it as spam in an email program running on your machine, or if you're using an email service's web-based interface via your browser.

Continue Reading: What Happens When I Mark Something as Spam?
https://askleo.com/5330

Why, or How, do Files Become Corrupt?

How are files "corrupted" and why do they go "missing"? I had this happen recently and was told that it was not a virus that caused it: that it "just happens". Whatever! Windows had to be re-loaded.

Yes, it does "just happen".

That should make you a little nervous and perhaps motivate you to invest in that backup strategy you've been putting off.

The fact is, stuff happens. Things break. When things break, the failure can be catastrophic. Perhaps your machine won't turn on. Failures can also be much more subtle, not showing up for weeks or months, or perhaps never.

Continue Reading: Why, or How, do Files Become Corrupt?
https://askleo.com/3962

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Glossary Term

ellipsis

While not specifically a technical term, the word ellipsis refers to the "three periods" that are often used to indicate that something is continued or hidden. In its simplest terms, an ellipsis simply means "there is more".

Quite literally, three periods in a row – such as "…" comprise an ellipsis.

Ellipses are used frequently when something to be displayed is too long for the space allocated. For example, an ellipsis typically appears at the end of a menu bar that has more items than can be displayed. Clicking on the ellipsis causes the rest to appear. Ellipses are also often used to indicate that something has been hidden (such as a signature or replied-to original in Gmail).

In more general writing, ellipses simply indicate that there is more, that text is continued, either explicitly at some other location, or conceptually, as in an unfinished expression of a thought.

Glossary Terms are featured selections from The Ask Leo! Glossary.
Have a term you'd like defined? Submit it here.

Featured Comments

If I Could Tell You Only One Thing...

Paul Hayes writes:

I would also add two words to every conversation that every electronic media user should burn into their minds...NEVER AND FOREVER.

NEVER put out anything you don't want to share with the entire world...that includes partners both present, ex or soon to be ex, and future; parents, bosses and anyone else.......

And if you put it on social media you should expect it to be there FOREVER. PERIOD!

What External Drive Should I Get?

Randy writes:

Hi Leo,

I have a WD MyCloud device I use to back up 4 PC's in the house. It is connected to my router on a 1Gb port and works very fast. But it's designed to be always on so I guess I'm at risk of a crypto ransomware attack! Am I correct at thinking this? That any NAS device is at risk since it can be accessed via a possibly infected PC? Is there something software wise I can do on the WD MyCloud to deny access to this type of threat while still alowing my back ups?

Leo writes:

To be clear, only SOME ransomware reaches out to external drives or network connected drives. Not all - in fact perhaps even most - ransomware does NOT.

As long as you don't have a persistent connection to the NAS (i.e. it doesn't show up in File Explorer with a drive letter) then you should be OK. You can disconnect it if it does. (But then your backup program may also not see it.)

The second best solution is to leave things as they are so that you get backed up regularly, and then periodically copy one or more of the backup images to a disk you then disconnect.

The best solution is to not get infected with malware in the first place. :-) Remember, ransomware is "just" malware. Make sure you do what you need to do to remain malware-free.

Why, or How, do Files Become Corrupt?

John Alley writes:

In my over forty years using and repairing computers, I have never seen a fatal failure of a hard drive. Just saying!

Mark Jacobs (Team Leo) writes:

It happened to me once. That would have been one time too many if I hadn't had a backup.

Leo writes:

Oh, I have. On more than one occasion. :-)

Leo's Books

Backing Up 101 Saved! - Backing Up with Macrium Reflect - 2nd Edition Saved! Backing Up With EaseUS Todo
Saved! - Backing Up with Windows 7 Backup Saved! - Backing Up with Windows 8 Backup
Just Do This: Back Up! The Ask Leo! Guide to Internet Safety The Ask Leo! Guide to Routine Maintenance Maintaining Windows XP - A Practical Guide

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Leo A. Notenboom & Puget Sound Software, LLC.
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Posted: August 9, 2016 in: 2016
Shortlink: https://newsletter.askleo.com/7523
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I'm Leo Notenboom and I've been playing with computers since I took a required programming class in 1976. I spent over 18 years as a software engineer at Microsoft, and after "retiring" in 2001 I started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place to help you find answers and become more confident using this amazing technology at our fingertips. More about Leo.