Alan's Computer Stuff

all_about_your_facebook_archive

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2017-10-27T16:23:12+00:00

All About Your Facebook Archive I spend too much time on Facebook. I freely admit that. To really want to find out what all you have done on Facebook, you should look at your archive. Getting your archive it pretty easy. Click on the little down arrow in the upper right hand corner of a Facebook page and go to settings. At the bottom of settings is 'Download a copy of your Data'. Here is the instructions from

beginnings

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2017-01-03T19:24:56+00:00

On December 10, 2016 John Wright contacted me concerning a project. Over the holiday break I have some ideas I'd like to share with you if you have time. I think there is an opportunity to get low income institutions to buy into a Linux system if they were shown inexpensive technology that would bring them into the present century. Dec 10th, 11:51am Sounds good. I have a lab of Linux thin clients tied to a Windows server. There are a lot of options.

change_passwords

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2016-08-23T17:55:22+00:00

Stop. Using password tools, network penetration tools, and even network discovery tools on equipment and/or networks you don't own or have permission to access as an administrator is a crime in most of the United States. Prison and fines can be involved. Unlike what you read online, getting arrested for hacking does not lead you to the short path of high paying jobs in Internet Security. You were told.

changing_the_name_of_a_windows_account

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2026-01-16T18:38:42+00:00

Changing the Name of a Windows Account Press the “Windows + R” shortcut to launch the RUN utility. After that, type lusrmgr.msc and press Enter. This will launch the Local Users and Groups console in Windows 11. In the Local Users and Groups console, you will see the list of all user accounts. This list includes the default user accounts (Administrator, DefaultAccount, Guest, and WDAGUtilityAccount) and your account.

computer_tools

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2017-01-05T16:46:52+00:00

Computer Tools WinDirStat Will give you a graphic look at what is stored on your hard drive and why you are out of space. ISO Recorder by Alex Feinman. A quick download and works better than Nero or Windows. Belarc Advisor A nice tool to scan your computer and learn all about what is loaded on it.

dvd_on_my_tablet

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2017-01-05T16:45:32+00:00

DVD on my Tablet I want to take this movie with me on my trip. But a laptop is sooo 2004. So how do I play a DVD on my tablet? I could get a USB DVD drive and then a regular to mini USB converter and see if my tablet could spin the movie and actually play it without burning up the battery. Going to run about $130, and probably not work.

firefox_wants_to_open_all_of_my_pdfs

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2014-10-03T18:49:50+00:00

Firefox Wants to Open All of My PDFs Firefox 32 learns an old Microsoft trick and decides to be way too helpful. This is how to undo it. It would be nice if Mozilla/Firefox posted this, but they don't. It would be even nicer if they didn't make this choice for you with out your knowledge or at least tossed in a copy of U2's new album.

girl_scout_cookies

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2015-01-13T21:08:08+00:00

Cookie Time The girl scouts “online ordering” requires a personalized link for each person. Fill out the form below and I will email you a link to your personal cookie order page. Important Dates Cookie orders will be taken from now until January 27.

linux

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2017-01-05T16:41:20+00:00

Linux Computers The Pi Computer The Zero Dollar Lab Project Linux Desktops I have been experimenting with Linux for about ten years now. Back then, you read a lot about Linux, learned about Linus Torvalds and started using words like distro and abbreviating Microsoft M$. Then you either decided on a distro and found hardware that it would run on or looked hard at your hardware and then found a distro that would play nice with it, you hoped. The two killers were network and video. Hope and …

malware_and_spyware_tools

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2017-01-05T16:42:38+00:00

Removing Malware and Spyware “My computer is running slow.” - I hear this all the time. Chances are, said computer is infected with some sort of virus/toolbar/Spyware/Malware. Congratulations, you probably did it to yourself. Some of these pests people freely download. Shop at home toolbar? ✔ AOL any toolbar? ✔ Any desktop weather tool? ✔ Daily Bible Verse/Horoscope/Stock tip? ✔ Coupon printer? ✔

meeting_notes

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2017-01-03T19:42:42+00:00

Meeting Notes December 30, 2016 John and Alan, at the Gyro house. We talked about putting together a consulting practice to package a Linux based thin client lab for schools with limited resources. We reviewed the findings listed on the main page of

passwords

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2025-12-18T18:54:08+00:00

NIST’s New Guidelines for Passwords 2022 National Institute of Standards and Technology1 (NIST) NIST 800-63 was originally released in 2017 but has gone through various iterations and is constantly being revised. As of 2023, NIST has requested comments on their newest revision of 800-63 (Digital Identity Guidelines). And as recently as 2020, NIST revised their password guidelines to emphasize password length over complexity, salting and hashing stored passwords, MFA, and making it easier for us…

project_tracking

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2017-01-23T17:48:36+00:00

Project Tracking * 12-30-16 Initial planning meeting 1 hour * 1-5-17 Set up test pinet server on VMWare server, SLCHC County 1 hour actual. Setup ran for additional time thereafter. * 1-13-17 Finish setting up the server. Total time, .75 hours.

ransomeware

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2017-07-06T14:41:10+00:00

A short lesson on computer viruses July 2017 There are two types of viruses making the rounds and the news right now. Ransomeware and what is called “the Microsoft 800 scam”. One is very, very serious. One is a minor annoyance unless you call the 800 number.

recover_files_from_a_dead_computer

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2016-08-30T15:48:48+00:00

Using HiRens to Recover Files If you have not yet, download HiRens from . Save the ISO file and then burn it to a CD. If you do not have or like your current CD burning software, try ISO Recorder from Alex Feinman. Boot the computer you are working on to the HiRens CD. You may need to find the boot menu or change the BIOS to allow booting from CDs. When the computer boots, you may need to hit a key to boot from CD. Do so.

removing_real_anti-virus_programs

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2017-01-05T16:44:32+00:00

Removing Real Anti Virus Programs There was a time when McAffee Antivirus was the king. It was also shareware. It was also the DOS era. At the same time Peter Norton released the Norton Utilities and became a millionaire. Thousands of people had their life's work saved with the Norton Utilities Unformat right after discovering that the DOS command

repairing_your_browser

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2014-06-11T01:19:22+00:00

Cleaning Your Browser Many of today's malware and viruses attack your browser's search settings and/or home page. After you have everything clean, it is time to go into each browser on your computer (even Internet Explorer even if you never use it) and clean up the damage.

serious_computer_tools

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2026-02-23T15:01:08+00:00

Serious Computer Tools If you are not sure of what you are doing, now it the time to return to the Home page. You can do some serious damage to your data with some of these tools. Read the pages on each one BEFORE using them. HiRens Boot CD . My favorite utility CD. More than 30 different tools for just about everything that could go wrong on a computer. It is a liveCD that boots into either Linux, DOS, or WindowsPE

setting_up_a_new_computer_2026

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2026-01-16T18:34:24+00:00

Setting Up a New Computer 2026 Version Perhaps you have an old work computer. Or someone has given you an old computer. You want to wipe everything off of it and start over. This is how. This will wipe everything from the hard drive. This includes the installed

setting_up_a_new_computer

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2026-01-14T16:50:16+00:00

Setting Up a New Computer Congratulations on your new computer. Chances are very good this is not your first computer. This is how to move from the old computer to the new. 2014 Version Start with the Old Computer Assuming your old computer has not bitten the dust, get yourself a large USB drive or a USB Hard drive. The little pocket sized USB drives can be found up to 16Gb pretty easily. An attached hard drive is going to start at 320Gb and go to 2Tb. Yes, it is about $80 for a 500Gb to 1…

start

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2026-01-16T18:33:06+00:00

Return to aportman.com ---------- Setting up a New Computer 2026. Not to be confused with Transfering Your Files to a New Computer Changing the name of a Windows account in Windows 11. Password Tools A Short Treatise on Ransomeware July 6, 2017 Why is a $300 Printer Cheaper than a $99 Dollar Printer How to Turn Off Cortana - Will be replaced by turning off Microsoft Copilot Linux There are thousands of Linux pages and resources out there. This is mine. Malware and Spyware Tools …

the_pi_computer

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2017-01-05T16:41:32+00:00

The PI Is Alive July 12, 2012 Earlier this year,there was an announcement of a $25 Linux computer. I read about it and signed up for the waiting list. About three weeks ago, it arrived. It is called Raspberry Pi. I opened it up at work and fired it up. It took a bit to get going, but it runs fine for a computer that would almost fit in an Altoid tin. I am working on it now. It seemed silly to use my Windows & horse of a laptop to write about perhaps the smallest, cheapest computer available. O…

the_pocket_computer

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2017-06-20T15:05:20+00:00

The Pocket Computer So, what if you needed a computer that was completely separate from your other computer? You can do a lot on your phone today. But what if you want a full screen and a real keyboard? Enter PortableApps. I was working someplace where I needed/wanted applications I didn't want on my work computer. For that matter, installing applications (back when they were programs) was difficult as well. I found PortableApps and ran it and

the_zero_dollar_lab_project

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2017-01-05T16:41:58+00:00

The Zero Dollar Lab Project December 30, 2016 Beginnings Meeting Notes Project Tracking A very old friend approached me with a proposition. Create a plan to extend computers into low income institutions. In Senegal he saw Linux LTSP being used in places that had the barest of resources.

turn_off_cortana

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2017-01-05T16:41:00+00:00

How to Turn Off Cortana Cortana is Microsoft's “Digital Agent”, Micorsoft's words, not mine. And was introduced with Windows 10. Since Windows 10 is supposed to work on desktops, laptops, tablets, and phones, having a Siri like helper was built in. That would be great except for a few things: There are very few Windows phones, like none; Tablets are used differently than

website_building

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2017-11-08T17:48:46+00:00

Website Building Sample Contract: RTF format Suggested changes from the client's lawyer' Add the following at the end of the first sentence of section 3.1: The Designer will give the Client advance notice of the amount of any expenses prior to incurring them.

why_is_a_300_printer_cheaper_than_a_99_dollar_printer

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2017-03-10T21:27:02+00:00

Why Is a $300 Printer Cheaper than a $99 Dollar Printer? It is called Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Simply, how much does it cost to buy and run a printer over time. This is also way, for many printers, $100 toner is cheaper than $35 ink. This is frequently called the

wiki_on_a_stick

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2017-06-20T15:59:52+00:00

Wiki on a Stick I have been using Docuwiki for about ten years. You are looking at one now. One of the options Docuwiki offers is “Wiki on a Stick”. Docuwiki and an Apache server that will run on Windows, All in a nice tidy package. All you need to do is download the package, uncompress it, copy it to a USB drive. To start it, click on the run.cmd to start the Apache server and then go to