Tag: Technology

WTAM 1100 – Protect Windows XP, Look Forward to 10

Play Audio – WTAM 1100 Newsradio – Tech Tuesday – November 4th, 2014

WTAM 1100 Newsradio Cleveland OhioWhile Microsoft support for Windows XP ended on April 8th, there are still some owners who are holding onto their Windows XP systems for a while longer. Either they have a proprietary business app that’s only designed for the older operating system, or they simply don’t want to move onto Windows 8 quite yet, those systems still need protecting in an online world full of malicious software.

For tips on helping keep Windows XP, here’s the Geek Squad guide on what to do if you want to keep Windows XP after support ends.

Eventually, even the most stalwart Windows XP users will need to upgrade as 3rd-party software support wanes and old hardware begins to fail. Fortunately, Microsoft is be making their next operating system more inviting to those users.

Find our more in Meet Windows 10, a Geek Squad UK guide to the features Windows users will most be interested in when it arrives in the latter half of 2015.

WTAM 1100 – Windows 10 Coming in 2015

Play Audio – WTAM 1100 Newsradio – Tech Tuesday – October 7th, 2014

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WTAM 1100 Newsradio Cleveland OhioMicrosoft showed off their upcoming Windows 10 operating system, due sometime mid to late 2015. The return of the Start menu, and better compatibility with 2-in-1 devices were some of the many features announced.

For more, check out Geek Squad UK’s Meet Windows 10 article.

WTAM 1100 – Finding Lost and Misplaced Files

Play Audio – WTAM 1100 Newsradio – Tech Tuesday – October 7th, 2014

WTAM 1100 Newsradio Cleveland OhioNo matter how expensive your computer is, the most valuable thing on it is usually your data. When you lose a document, photo or other work, it can cause your heart to skip a beat. In many situations, the file isn’t gone forever, just misplaced, accidentally moved or renamed.

In this week’s Tech Tuesday segment on WTAM 1100‘s Wills and Snyder in the Morning show, Bill Wills and I discuss how to start your search for that wayward data. We also talk about data backup plans, and how Geek Squad’s Data Recovery Agents can help even when your files are really missing.

For more information, check out my Geek Squad Intelligence Blog article It Was Here a Minute Ago: Tips on Finding Lost Files.

Star Tribune – Step Up Your Online Security Smarts

Every time a news story hits about online accounts being broken into, it’s a reminder to take a look at just how secure your own accounts are. Katie Humphrey of the Star Tribune explains the different levels of online security you can setup.

In a perfect world, our accounts would be perfectly locked down. But there are some considerations to take into account when setting up your security.

How tight you lock down depends on your patience. “It’s security versus complexity,” said Derek Meister, an agent with Best Buy’s Geek Squad. “How complicated do you want to make that door lock before it becomes a pain for you to go through the door each day?”

Read more here.

WTAM 1100 – 5 Tips for Improving Laptop Battery Life

Play Audio – WTAM 1100 Newsradio – Tech Tuesday – September 23rd, 2014

WTAM 1100 Newsradio Cleveland OhioLife doesn’t always provide a place to plug in when you’re on the go. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to help get the most battery life out of your Windows laptop.

LaptopHere’s a quick rundown on the 5 tips shared with Wills & Snyder in the Morning on WTAM 1100 Newsradio.

Keep Updated – Software updates not only help keep your computer safe, they can also fix issues with apps that aren’t behaving correctly and chewing up battery life. If you continuously have issues with your PC, don’t forget to check for driver updates at the manufacturer’s support site, including updates to the BIOS that can help with the charging system.

Check Your Power Settings – Windows allows you to configure when the screen and computer go to sleep, helping to save battery life when the computer is left on. Check that these settings are set optimally for how you use your device by visiting Control Panel, then Hardware and Sound, then Power Options.

Dim the Screen – One of the biggest battery drains on most devices, including smartphones, tablets and laptops, is the screen. Dimming the display can significantly improve battery life. Change your screen settings on Windows 8 by bringing up the Charms bar, then Settings, where the brightness will be displayed towards the bottom.

Turn Off Bluetooth – Most new laptops come with a Bluetooth radio built-in. Even if no Bluetooth devices are connected to the laptop, this radio will draw from the battery. Turn it off when not needed.

Disconnect USB Devices – Every USB device attached to your laptop uses a small portion of your power, including USB flash drives. If you don’t need it currently, disconnect that device. Keep in mind that connecting your smartphone to the laptop will allow access to the files, but will also drain battery life as the phone charges itself off the laptop.