Q: Dear Ken: Is there any feasible way that a National “do not spam” list could be created? – Bobby A: In a world where rules are created, they are only effective if the participants abide by the rules. In the case of the National Do Not Call list, the companies that are required ...

I heard that Dell settled a class action lawsuit and all Dell computer owners may have a claim in the settlement. I couldn’t find anything on the Dell Web site, so how do we find out if we have a claim in this settlement? – Todd Computers have always been a much more complicated consumer...

What’s the difference between 32-bit Windows and 64-bit Windows? – Spencer This question is one that is deeply rooted in technology and one that could easily take more space than is available in this column, but here is my digest version. In the computer world, bottlenecks are what cause...

A while back, you mentioned free Web photo storage and sharing sites… which ones are the best? – Kurt Uploading your images to a photo sharing site is a great idea for anyone that has a digital camera for a variety of reasons: It becomes an off-site backup of your precious photos It elim...

I am resisting the purchase of a new laptop with much needed hardware upgrades. My concern is moving current programs/ software etc. to the new unit. What can be done to download everything and install it in the new unit? – Richard Your question brings up one of the most important issues when ...

I want to start backing up my computer using one of those online backup companies, but the prices and options are overwhelming. How do I know if I can trust the companies not to look at my data and why are the price ranges so large? –Mel Let’s start by giving you kudos for thinking about...

What’s the best way to get rid of my personal information before disposing of an old computer? –Marcus When it comes to disposing of an old computer, whether you are selling, donating or recycling it, you’re biggest concern should be your personal information. Identity theft throug...

My computer is making strange grinding sounds, but not all the time. There is no rhyme or reason to when the noise occurs; it just seems to go in and out on its own. What can this be and what should I do? –Tom Most of us operate our computers in an environment where we can hear the normal whir...

How long should a hard drive last and are the new solid state drives going to be more reliable? –Peter Today’s hard drives are faster, store more information, and are more reliable than ever before, but just like any other electronic devices, they have the possibility of failing. Current...

What do I need to do to be safe before I start preparing tax returns on my computer? –Amanda The Federal Trade Commission estimates that nearly 10 million U.S. consumers annually are victims of identity theft and it’s no secret that computers and the Internet play a prominent role. Malic...