Ask Leo! #576 - Terminology, Blue Screens, ISPs Monitoring You, a question for you, and more... - Confident Computing

Windows 10 Survey

Have you upgraded, installed or tried to upgrade or install Windows 10? I'd like to ask for your help.

Since people tend to reach out to me only when they have a problem, that makes it difficult for me to judge what's happening out in the rest of the world.

So, one of the best ways for me to find out is to ask.

If you've upgraded, installed or tried to upgrade or install Windows 10 - successfully or not - would you please visit this link for a very brief survey on your experience?

Either way I think it'll be very educational. I'll share the results in a couple of weeks.

Thanks!

Leo's Blog

Terminology Matters

Continue Reading: Terminology Matters
https://askleo.com/20821

Featured

I got a blue screen error, what should I do?

I was surfing the net with Google Chrome. No other applications open (Norton was running in the background). All of a sudden I got a blue screen with a frowny face and the message: "Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. We're just collecting some error info, and then we'll restart for you. If you'd like to know more, you can search online later for this error: MEMORY_MANAGEMENT."

The computer shut down and then restarted and I re logged in and everything seems to be fine. I'm not sure how to interpret the error message and am not sure where the "collected data" went. Would like your advice on what to do next – do I pursue the MEMORY_MANAGEMENT topic or ignore the event or something else?

In short: back up regularly (you're doing that already, right? ), and carry on like nothing happened.

Until, or unless, it starts happening more often. Then things get complicated.

Continue Reading: I got a blue screen error, what should I do?
https://askleo.com/20757

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Can my ISP monitor my internet usage?

Can employees at a local telephone ISP read my e-mails and monitor my web surfing and tell others about what they read/see?

Yes. Yes, they can.

The real question is, would they? Probably not. And yet … there are new concerns that they might occasionally even be required to.

If it's of real concern to you, what might you do? I do have some ideas.

Continue Reading: Can my ISP monitor my internet usage?
https://askleo.com/3004

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Previous Issue

Glossary Term

botnet

A botnet is a collection of computers infected with malware that perform tasks on behalf of someone else, taking instructions on what to do from another computer elsewhere on the internet.

The most common example of a botnet would be a network of computers infected with malware which is instructed to send spam.

How do I adjust the brightness of my screen in Windows?

Mel writes:

WOW! I bought a refurbished HP laptop. The display was very dark. I thought I had gotten a unit that might be dying. Of course it came without a manual. I downloaded a manual online. Nothing I did could bring the brightness up to par. UNTIL I read your comment. I tried the fn key with the symbols for brightness (f9 and f10 keys). That didn't work as it was at max brightness. But I did notice the f11 key had some weird symbol on it which said "Ambient Light" when I pressed it. Bingo! Case solved. Might be something simple for everyone else, but this was driving me up a wall. Thanks to you, your instructions got me going in the right direction. Thought I should include this if anyone else is having a similar problem.

Thanks so much. Mel

How do I get a .mobi ebook onto my Kindle?

Doreen F. writes:

Dear Leo,

I am so, so grateful for your explanation on how to transfer a mobi book to my Kindle Paperwhite using the Kindle E-mail address No matter what I tried I had been unable to move the downloaded book to my device. Your simple, clear directions helped me get things working properly! Thanks bunches!

Thank You! (For being here)

KAHSR writes:

Happy Thanksgiving to you also Leo.

Thank you for all you do for all of your readers. I have been one for so long my beard is now 18" long and gray as a ghost. When I started reading you teachings it was about 1/2" long and red as could be. Sadly true story :).

Because of you I am an avid BU/Image nut. I use three BU/Image systems including one out there in the cloud someplace. Yes, it has saved me twice in the last several years so a great big thank you for getting through my thick skull that "YES" it can happen to you. Ah funny thing I just that flash on my screen that Macrium Reflect is running my BU as I am typing this. The Image will run at 4:30PM.

So thanks for all you do for all of your reads! If anyone happens to read this I sure hope you BU your files because it WILL happen to you. I prefer having an Image also (well Images) I run an Image daily to a 3 Tb External Drive. Yup, Thank You Leo :)

Percy writes:

Thank You Leo,

It's because of your website and newsletters that many of us are considered the 'expert' or 'go to guy/gal' when family or friends have problems with their computers and devices. Of course your name and website gets mentioned, but I think some folks may believe it's for techies. Nothing is further from the truth but all you can do in the end is lead the horse to water. I receive a refreshing drink each week from your newsletters to carry me further along the road of computer knowledge and appreciate your hard work. So Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours Leo and God bless.

Leo's Books

Saved! - Backing Up with Macrium Reflect - 2nd Edition

Saved! - Backing Up with Windows 7 Backup

Saved! - Backing Up with Windows 8 Backup

The Ask Leo! Guide to Routine Maintenance

Maintaining Windows XP - A Practical Guide

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