Welcome to Geeks in Phoenix, your one-stop shop for expert computer repair and tech support in Phoenix, Arizona. Whether you're a Windows whiz or just getting started, we've gathered many Geek Tips to help you get the most out of your Windows operating system. From Windows XP to Windows 11, our team has put together loads of tips, tricks, and tutorials to ensure your Windows experience is smooth and hassle-free. Check out our Geek Tips and unleash the full potential of your Windows device.
The following is a complete list of our Windows Geek Tips (all versions)
As laptop users, we must monitor our battery health to ensure optimal performance and longevity. Windows provides built-in tools to help monitor and check the health of your laptop battery. In this article, we'll explore the various methods available to check your laptop battery health in Windows.
In Windows, the MAC (Media Access Control) address is a unique identifier assigned to network interfaces for communications on a network. A MAC address consists of six (6) groups of two (2) hexadecimal digits, usually separated by colons or hyphens (XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX).
Are you currently facing the urgent need to close a program or scareware in Windows that is running in full-screen kiosk mode? This is a common issue when a scareware web page takes over your entire screen, making it impossible to exit. In this article, I will guide you through the steps to quickly regain control and close the program or scareware.
Are you looking to update the drivers inside your Windows PC for optimal performance? Keeping your drivers updated is essential for a smooth and efficient computing experience. In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through updating your Windows drivers while ensuring that your system runs smoothly and efficiently.
Did you recently purchase a Windows computer only to discover that you could not install desktop programs? If so, it could be that your Windows computer came with S mode enabled. In this article, I will show you how to switch your Windows computer running in S mode to the Windows Home version.
I don't know about you, but keeping my family safe on their Windows computers is priority number one. Sure, you can install anti-virus software and browser extensions, but what about the kids under 18? Here's how to set up Family Safety using Microsoft accounts.
Do you have an old Windows-based computer you no longer use? Maybe you got a new one and just do not know what to do with your old system. Here are a few creative ways to repurpose your old Windows-based computer.
Are you having problems with the network connection for your Windows computer? Does your Internet connection seem slow? If so, here are some tips on how to optimize the network connection in your Windows computer.
Have you ever encountered a situation where you are trying to install Windows on your computer, but the installation process does not find any available drives to install the operating system? This can be a frustrating experience, but there are several steps you can take to find a driver and complete the installation process. In this article, we will show you how to locate and install missing storage drivers when performing a clean install of Windows.
Do you have a program that automatically starts when you log in to Windows that you do not want to do that anymore? Or maybe you have too many programs starting when you log in to Windows? If so, here is how to edit the programs that autostart in Windows.
Are you looking for a program to play optical disks (BD, DVD, CD) in Windows? Maybe you are feeling frustrated by having to have multiple media players to handle the various file formats you encounter? If so, you'll be happy to know there's a solution: VLC Media Player.
Are you having video problems when trying to play a game? Maybe your screen goes blank for a second or two? If so, here is how to troubleshoot the graphics card in your Windows-based computer.
As our lives have become increasingly digitized, our computers have become the central hub for all our information and activities. But with all that use comes clutter, which can slow down our machines and even put us at risk for security breaches. That's why it's essential to regularly clean up our computers. Fortunately, there are several free tools available to help you keep your Windows computer running like new.
Are you looking for a program that tells you what apps are starting when you start up Windows? Or a presentation app for zooming and drawing on your screen? How about one you can use to find out what files, registry keys, etc., are currently open? These are a few of the free utilities included in the Sysinternals Suite by Mark Russinovich and from Microsoft.
If you're a Windows computer owner, you know that keeping your device running smoothly can sometimes be a challenge. However, with the proper maintenance habits and knowledge, you can easily avoid common mistakes that slow down your computer and extend its lifespan. Here is how to keep your Windows computer running smoothly.
Even though I am a computer technician, I still have the same email problems as everybody else. But I have learned a few simple things to avoid spam, phishing, and unwanted email. So here is how I deal with email.
One of the most useful items I use daily is keyboard shortcuts. Especially shortcuts that I can perform with just my left hand, allowing me to keep my right hand on the mouse. You can use keyboard shortcuts to open frequently used files, folders, and programs like File Explorer. Windows has a ton of built-in keyboard shortcuts (see links at the bottom of this article), plus you can create your own custom keyboard shortcuts. Here are my favorite left-hand keyboard shortcuts.
Having a Standard user account in Windows is great for security, as it prevents malicious software from installing. But what happens if you need to install software and do not have administrative privileges? Here is how to enable the local administrator account in Windows without logging in.
Are you having problems changing the location of your user files? Did you uninstall OneDrive, and now your personal folders are all screwed up. Here is how to manually change the default location of user files in Windows.
Getting the blue screen of death when starting your Windows can be scary, to say the least. And not being able to get it running again can be incredibly stressful. So here is how to create a disaster recovery plan for your Windows computer.
Are you having problems with a username and password not working in your favorite browser? Or maybe the credentials for a network resource. Here is how to edit or remove autofill passwords in Windows and your favorite browser.
Would it be nice if you knew when the drive in your computer was starting to fail? That way, you would have time to back it up and replace it. Well, there is, and here is how to check the health of your Windows-based computer drive.
Having your computer get infected with a virus or malware can be an actual stressful situation. And finding software that can remove the infection can be even more stressful. So ...
For decades now, we have been compressing files and folders to make them smaller to attach to an e-mail or archive. I have used many archiving programs over the years, but the ...
Are you looking for a program that can create, edit and burn Compact Disk (CD), Digital Video Disc (DVD), and Blu-ray (BD) disks? One that has a simple to use interface but has ...
With the three top operating systems, it is hard to know exactly what file system your operating system will work with. One file system may be fully compatible (read and ...
Are you looking for an easy way to synchronize your files to another computer on your network? Or maybe you want to sync to an external drive or the cloud. If so, then take a look ...
When it comes to editing text-based files, everyone has used Windows built-in text editor Notepad. But it is pretty basic and has very few features. If you are looking for a program that ...
Being a computer technician, I used all sorts of different software during my day. One day I might be removing viruses and malware, the next day, I might be replacing a failed hard drive. So the ...
With more and more people working from home, keeping your personal computer safe and secure is important. There is always somebody out there that will want to get your information ...
Do you have two personal computers and would like to remotely access one from the other? Looking for a really easy way to do it? You can do just that for free with the personal version of ...
Many people took advantage of the Get Windows 10 upgrade promotion, and some did not. If you are one of those people that did not get your version of Windows 7 / Windows 8.1 ...
Looking for an e-mail program that has a ton of features? One that has a calendar, task scheduler and can handle multiple e-mail addresses? Then look no further than Mozilla Thunderbird.
For most people, there is nothing better than a brand-new computer. But of course, you cannot get a new computer every few months. But you can get that same feeling. Here is ...
Have you ever downloaded an ISO file and did not know what to do with it? More and more software companies are now distributing their software using ISO files. Here is what you can ...
Have you ever wondered where some of the ideas for Microsoft programs come from? You know, the apps that are on the cutting edge. There is good chance they started out in the ...
It happens to all of us. You get a pop-up on your computer screen or a phone call telling you that your computer is infected. More than likely it is bogus. So here is how to handle a ...
Did you know that there is a limit to how long a file name can be? Did you know that the folder name is also include in that limit? And what about the path? Let's take a look at long folder ...
Being a computer repair technician, I get asked allot of questions. Quite a few of them are about what software do I recommend. And since I am frugal, I will usually suggest ones that are ...
There may be a time when you need to run a program in Windows that does not have a shortcut to it. Usually it is a program that is not used that often. So here is how start a ...
With the recent outbreak of data encrypting malware, keeping your computer secure is a major issue. There isn't just one thing that you can do to secure your computer, but multiple ...
Are you having problems finding Windows drivers for your older hardware? Or have you had an update to Windows recently fail to install and want to manually install it? Then the ...
Even though we primarily work on Windows based computers, there are times when we need to access Mac formatted disks. And being able to do that from inside of Windows is ...
Got a video or music library and want to see how large it is? Maybe you downloaded a really big file and cannot remember where it is? If so, Space Sniffer may just be what you need.
Are you getting a low disk space warning in Windows? Or maybe you have been prompted to delete a previous version of Windows to gain some disk space? If so, here's how to quickly ...
You hear these all the time when you talk about computers: Megabyte, Gigabyte, Terabyte, 32-bit, 64-bit. For a novice computer user, these can be quite confusing. So, here's an ...
Do you have an old PC joystick or game controller you haven't used in a long time? Did the buttons or the gamepad start to stick? Here's how to clean up old PC joysticks and ...
Have you ever wanted to play an old video game from your past? Maybe play Pitfall on the Atari 2600 or Super Donkey Kong on a Colecovision? You can all that and more at the ...
So over the years you've been purchasing software on CD's / DVD's and now have quite the collection. So what do you do with all of the media you are no longer using? How about creating ...
Sometimes it is fun to go back and play the DOS video games I grew up with. But it can be tough since Windows doesn't utilize DOS anymore. But you can still run your old DOS games ...
The Microsoft Management Console (MMC) is a program that is used to create, save, and open collections of administrative tools, called Consoles. Consoles contain items such as snap-ins ...
Have you ever wanted to insert a letter or symbol into a Windows document that was not shown on your keyboard? Maybe a copyright, trademark or tolerance symbol? You can do just that ...
Do you have a company logo or a simple graphic that you would like to use often in a Windows program, like Microsoft Word or Excel? Maybe your line of work has special characters that you ...
Let's face it, some of the software we use on a daily basis has become subject to security vulnerabilities and exploits. Software manufacturers do their best to develop and test fixes / patches ...
When it comes to repairing Windows based computers, there seems to be a couple of problems that I get allot of requests for help with. One of them is when a computer cannot get updates ...
When it comes to computer repair, the most common problem I find is browser corruption. Malicious web sites with infected flash ads are the most common way a browser can get corrupted.
Internet browsers are prone to getting compromised. It can happen by opening an infected e-mail to viewing a malicious ad on a web page. But knowing how to get your browser back ...
In repairing computers for a living, the one thing I find myself doing constantly is cleaning up and resetting web browsers. Removing adware, malware and viruses can really screw up ...
Does it seem like your computer takes forever to boot up? Waiting for your Windows based computer to boot can be quite frustrating. But there are a few things you can do. Here is how ...
One of the things I like to do when I go on vacation is taking panoramic photos. Since my camera doesn't actually take panoramic photos, I have to use software to stitch images together. One of the best image stitchers I have found yet is ...
When it comes to communication, e-mail is by far the fastest and easiest way to exchange thoughts and ideas. But it can also be one of the fastest ways to spread viruses / malware too. But you can protect yourself and your ...
Every computer repair technician has a digital toolbox, more than likely several. They are either on a CD / DVD or USB drive and contain programs that we use on a regular basis. Here are a few of the programs that I have in my digital ...
External storage devices like flash drives or hard drives are so convenient for carrying data between computers. Just plug and play, as they say. But did you know it's not the same for when you unplug your drives? Here's how to safely ...
Coming on the heels of the Windows 8.1 Update, Microsoft recently released the Windows 10 Technical Preview. With this new version of Windows, Microsoft is combining elements from Windows 7 and Windows 8 / 8.1 to ...
Most computers (laptop & desktop) nowadays come with a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) as standard equipment with a Solid State Drive (SSD) as an option. Each drive type has its pros and cons: HDD's are cheaper and have more storage, ...
I've been doing virus / malware removal for a while now and have seen allot of different types of infections. The latest trend is to target your Internet browser. Whether it is Internet Explorer, Chrome or Firefox, it can get ...
E-mail has really changed the way we communicate over the last couple decades. The days of pen and paper letter writing are gone. But e-mail does have a negative side: the unwanted e-mail know as Spam. Billions of pieces ...
It seems whenever I tell someone that I repair computers for a living, I almost always get asked the question "What do you recommend for anti-virus software?". I tell them that I use a layered approach to security, not relying on just one ...
One of the most frequent issues I get doing computer repair is loss of internet connectivity. Yes, a good portion of can be attributed to viruses / malware. But there are times when something, plain and simple, goes wrong. A couple of ...
With the cost of Microsoft Office going up, not to mention the subscription / non-subscription thing, it's nice to know there are alternatives out there. One of the best office alternatives has to be OpenOffice. And it just so happens that ...
Doing computer repair, I fix a wide range of problems. One problem that I am seeing more and more often are systems that go into sleep / standby mode and cannot come out of it. The cause varies from computer to computer, but the ...
Virus removal can be a tricky thing, so a good anti-virus program is a must. And remember that you can only have one anti-virus program installed at a time because they will conflict with each other and degrade system ...
As a computer repair technician, I do a fair share of data recovery. One of the most asked questions is "How can I recover a file that I accidentally deleted?". For simple recovery of deleted files on a Windows based computer, I always ...
Do you have an old Windows based computer you would like to get rid of but want to make sure that all of your data is securely erased? Or maybe you would like to wipe all of the data from your hard drive and perform a clean ...
Have you ever opened a filling cabinet just to find the folders just scattered around? The files are all over the place and you cannot find what you're looking for. The same thing can happen to the folders / files on your Windows based ...
As a IT consultant, I'm always looking for great sources for the latest technical
information. I need ebooks that are easy to use, focused on topic and have a
practical application. And it just so happens that one of my favorite sources
...
Like allot of people, I use Microsoft Outlook as a PIM
(Personal Information Manager). And being in the computer repair
industry, I need to keep all of my personal data (contacts, calendar, etc.)
synchronized and up to date on both ...
When it comes to a complete set of website development tools, nobody does it
better that Microsoft. From web server (IIS), database
server (SQL), framework (.NET) and development tools (Visual
Studio), Microsoft has quite ...
As some of you know, I like working with videos (especially the YouTube
Geek Tips). But each video source (screen
capture, smartphone, camcorder, etc.) has it's own format and converting
them to other formats can be hard. But that ...
Being in the computer repair business, I find myself going between my
workstation, netbook and smartphone quite often. I need to be able to view /
edit files on all of my devices and have the changes synchronize back. I'm ...
Do you want to clean up and optimize your computer but just don't know where to
start? Maybe you want clean out all of the temporary Internet files for security
purposes. Or clean up all of the temporary files from other applications to free
...
Do you need to touch up some photos? Maybe create some cool looking graphics? Or
convert some images to different formats? You can do all of this and more for
free with GIMP.
Last year Google introduced the Android Market
for Android apps and later Google Music for streaming music.
Recently Google added a couple of more products to their
catalog and combined them with the Android Market and ...
You would think that doing computer repair for a living, the last thing I would
want to do is try out a beta operating system. But I have to admit that I love
playing around with new operating systems (been doing it since Windows
....
If you have been following our blog, I have written about creating websites for
free with the Microsoft Web Platform or Microsoft
WebMatrix. And with creating a website, you need to think about
search engine optimization ...
Have you ever wanted to see what programs start up when your computer boots? Or
maybe defrag your pagefile? Or how about finding out what files, registry keys,
etc. are currently open? You can do all this and more for free ...
Google recently introduced a new music service into
their catalog of products called Google Music. With
Google Music you can store all of your music to your account
on Google's servers and stream it back to your
favorite ...
Have ever wanted or needed to run a different operating
system then what you currently have installed on your computer? Maybe
you want to run an old Windows 95 game or maybe
try out Linux and just don't have another ...
By now, you have probability started hearing the buzz about
Windows 8. Maybe it's the new interface, Metro,
which brings touch screen ease of use and the simple tile look
of the Windows 7 phone to the desktop. Or maybe it's the ...
With all of the talk nowadays about moving from personal computers
to smartphones and tablets, I was wondering if
I could have the best of both worlds. I wanted to know is if I could
run a version of the Android OS on my ...
If you're a hard core computer user like me, you have
your system running 24/7. No screen saver
or power saver options (I just turn off the monitors when
not in use). I need to be able to walk into my office and have it
ready ...
Have you ever wondered how to create a blog,
content management system (CMS) or e-commerce website?
You can do just that and more with Microsoft Web Platform.
You can create your own web app using ...
Microsoft recently introduced Office Web Apps,
a cloud based version of their popular productivity suite.
Office Web Apps is part of Windows Live and
includes versions of Word, Excel,
PowerPoint and OneNote. You can ...
One of the most useful items I use on a daily basis are
keyboard shortcuts. Especially shortcuts that I can
perform with just my left hand, allowing me to keep my
right hand on the mouse. You can use keyboard
shortcuts to ...
A client recently asked me if I knew of any alternative to
Microsoft Office. As a firm believer in open source software,
I told him about OpenOffice.org 3 from Oracle.
It is a complete office software suite with a word
processor, ...
In this article, I share my five favorite tips for maintaining your Windows based computer.
In this article, I am going to spotlight Microsoft Security Essentials
(MSE). This is not Microsoft's first venture into the ant-virus market, but it
is probably the best. Having used the some of the more well know anti-virus
software ...
I have recently been looking for a digital photo editor that is comparable to
Adobe Photoshop and can read RAW format photos from my Nikon D40. But it also needs to able be to run on the
Intel Atom processor in my Acer ...
In this article, I would like to tell you about CodePlex, an Open Source Project
Community hosted by Microsoft. Open-source software
is computer software that is available in source code form for which
the source code and ...
In this article, I would like to share with you a handy application for text
editing called TextPad. If you have ever used Notepad,
you will love TextPad.
One of applications you can integrate into Windows Explorer is Image Resizer.
With a right click on a picture, you can quickly resize a photo without ...
I am into digital photography and like to organize and work with digital RAW image files in Windows Explorer (much as you can with JPEG images). But Windows does not have support for this format built-in. Well, I am glad to say I have found
...
I recently came across one of the best web browsers I have ever seen, Lunascape. What sets this browser apart from the rest is that is can use any of the three browser engines available, Trident (Internet Explorer), Gecko ...
In this article, I would like to show you how to use Remote Desktop
Connection. With Remote Desktop Connection, you can
have access to a ...
Task Manager provides information about programs and processes
running on your computer. It also displays the most commonly used performance
measures ...
Here is a list of free Internet Security programs I recommend
for those who are on a budget. Keep in mind that free software often comes with
...
The following is a general guideline to detecting and removing a virus from your
computer. As always, have a good working backup before
attempting any of these procedures.
One of the software tools I use quite often client systems is SpaceMonger.
SpaceMonger is a tool for keeping track of the free
space on your computer.
Windows logo key keyboard shortcuts (based on Windows 7)
Windows General keyboard shortcuts
Windows Natural (Windows logo key) keyboard shortcuts
Windows Dialog box keyboard shortcuts
Windows Accessibility keyboard shortcuts
Windows explorer keyboard shortcuts