My computer is experiencing quite a few problems so I am hoping that you could assist with a resolution. First, Google Mail gradually slows down after a few minutes of usage and within 10 minutes it is completely unusable. In particular, the output on the screen cannot keep-up with my typing speed. This does not happen when using Google Mail on other computers. Researching the problem on the internet suggests that I should revert to an earlier version of Google, but I do not know how this is done. Second, when using Skype a message appeared inviting me to download a new version of Skype. I declined but it seems to have downloaded anyway and now whenever using Skype the blue screen of death appears making the computer unusable. Third, when I am done using the internet I always disconnect but leave the computer running. Several mornings I have come back to the computer finding that it has done a reboot with message informing that Windows has been updated which required a reboot of the computer. How can these updates be installed if there is no internet connection? Finally, I regularly use my laptop for internet banking and other transactions. Would it be easy to identify a fake banking site as some look quite convincing! The computer is running Windows XP. (more…)

As a matter of course, with any computers that I own every 12 months I always do a complete hard drive reformat and reinstall the operating system. However, on my current computer (an Acer Aspire One D260 net book running Windows XP) I am unsure how to complete this process as it does not have a DVD drive. When the computer was new I did backup everything to a 1 TB external hard drive but I do not know how to restore that backup onto the computer. Can you assist? (more…)

Whenever I record videos using the USB webcam connected to my laptop computer there is a high pitched screech being recorded on the videos. The same applies when I talk with friends on Skype – I can’t actually hear the screeching sound, but all the people I talk with mention the awful noise. They mention the noise does not happen when they speak with other people, so I assume that it’s coming from my computer. The computer is running Windows XP. (more…)

My computer is around 7 years old and slow and freezing on a regular basis. Are there any free downloads which I can use to fix this situation? The computer is running Windows Vista. (more…)

What is the best way to update and keep folders in sync between two computers? For example, I work on my desktop computer while at home, but then on my laptop when travelling. I use a USB flash drive with all the folders I may need when away but each time before I go away, and then again upon my return, I have to update all my folders on the USB flash drive or on my computer. I don’t keep the folders on my laptop as that would be yet another update to complete, so instead I just access the files from the USB drive while travelling. As you can tell, this is quite a cumbersome and time consuming process so there must be a better way! (more…)