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I'm one of today's best-selling computer book writers, with more than 15 million books in print.

This Web site keeps you up-to-date on my books, and your computers. Each week, I answer a reader's question on-line.

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Windows 7 For Dummies on sale!

Windows 7 For Dummies

Drop by Amazon.com for big discounts on Windows 7 For Dummies, as well as the Windows 7 For Dummies DVD bundle.

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Archive for 'Safety'

Why does Windows show my file names in green letters?

Q: My friend sent me a folder with zipped files. When I opened it on my computer, Windows showed the files’ names in green letters, rather than the normal black. And when I tried to copy the zipped folder, Windows sent me this error message: “Confirm Encryption Loss. Do you want to copy this folder [...]

Formatting a hard drive with NTFS

Q: I tried to create a System Image on my external hard drive, but Windows came up with this message: “This drive cannot be used to store a system image because it is not formatted with NTFS.” The hard drive already has some files. How do I format the drive to NTFS? A: Creating a [...]

Preserving your privacy in Windows

Q: I sometimes visit sites that I don’t want others to know about. How can I hide these from other people who may visit my computer? A: The more you work with your computer, the more your computer knows about you. In fact, Windows probably knows a lot more things about you than you suspect. [...]

How can I retrieve a forgotten Windows 7 password?

Q: My friend forgot his Windows 7 password. If I give him my Windows 7 System Repair Disc, can he restore his system to a point before he gave it a password? And will my System Repair Disc work on his computer? A: First, a lost password isn’t a problem in Windows 7. It’s no [...]

Did I kill my power supply or my motherboard?

Q: Yesterday I built a desktop computer from parts that I’ve acquired over the past few years. While installing software today, I noticed that the power source wasn’t plugged all the way into the video card, so I pushed it in more tightly, and bam: The computer suddenly shut off, and it won’t turn back [...]