Is your Windows-based computer having trouble connecting to the Internet? One of the most frequent issues I get doing computer repair is the loss of network connectivity. Don't worry. There are several things you can do to restore your network connection. Here are three things you can do to restore network connectivity.

Check your network hardware

The first step in restoring network connectivity on your Windows-based computer is to check your network hardware. Start by ensuring that your modem and router are powered on and properly connected. Check the indicator lights on the modem and router to confirm that they are functioning correctly. If you're using a wired connection, make sure that the Ethernet cable is securely plugged into both your computer and the router or modem. If you're using a wireless connection, verify that your computer's Wi-Fi is turned on and that you're connected to the correct network.

If your network hardware appears to be functioning correctly, try power cycling your modem and router. To do this, disconnect the power cables from both devices, wait for about 30 seconds, and then plug them back in. This can help resolve temporary network connectivity issues caused by glitches in the hardware.

Reset your network adapter(s)

If you recently installed or uninstalled software before losing your network connection, some of your TCP/IP settings could have been changed. TCP/IP is the Internet protocol suite used for the Internet and networks in general. Resetting them back to default is easy, and there are two ways of doing it.

Reset the TCP/IP stack and Winsock interface using an administrator command prompt

There are two ways to reset your network adapter(s): simple and advanced. The procedures are similar for all current versions of Windows, with a few differences. Just click on the link below for your Windows version.

Resetting your network adapter in Windows 11

Resetting your network adapter in Windows 10

Reinstall your network adapter(s)

Sometimes, the network adapter settings, wired or wireless, may get corrupted and cause a loss of network connectivity. Uninstalling and then reinstalling the driver(s) will reset it back to manufacturer defaults. Just right-click on the Start menu and select Device Manager from the Power User menu. Once Device Manager is open, expand the network adapters section. From there, right-click on the adapter you want to reinstall and select Uninstall.

Do not delete the driver when reinstalling the network adapter

When the Uninstall Device prompt comes up, make sure the Delete the driver software for this device box is unchecked, as you want to keep the driver, and then click on Uninstall. Exit Device Manager and restart Windows. When Windows restarts, it will discover the network adapter and automatically install the driver(s) with the default settings.

In conclusion, restoring network connectivity on your Windows-based computer may involve checking your network hardware or resetting/reinstalling your network adapter(s). By following these three tips, you can effectively diagnose and resolve network connectivity issues, keeping your computer connected and online.

I know that change is good, but sometimes I just fear it. A case in point is my smartphone. I liked my original Droid; it was small enough to fit in my pocket and did everything I needed it to do. But it started to show its age, and newer Android apps wouldn't run on it, so I decided it was time to get a new phone. And the move was relatively easy.

The biggest problem I was facing was the installation of my apps. Some of them were installed before Google created the Android Market, now known as Google Play. I had sync 'd my old Droid with my Google account, so some of my apps were shown as installed inside of Google Play. And there was a couple that was not, and I would have to install them manually.

Both of my Droids appear in My Devices in Google Play

Since my Droid survived so long (over four years), I decided to go with a newer version, the Droid 4. The first thing I did was add the Droid 4 to my Google account and then go over to Google Play. It was now listed in my devices, and I could install apps on it. I went to Apps > My apps, and all of my apps showed up.

Apps show they are installed but not on what device

But when I selected one, it would show it as installed but didn't show what device it was installed on. When I clicked on the 'Installed' button, I was given a list of my devices to choose from. From there, it was pretty easy to get the apps I had on my Droid installed on my Droid 4.

When installing Google Play apps, you have a choice of which device

The next thing I had to do was get my photos, music, etc., off my Droid and on to my Droid 4. Everything was on the micro SD card in my Droid, and since the Droid 4 did not come with a micro SD card, I just powered off both devices and moved my existing 16 GB micro SD card from the Droid to the Droid 4. When I started up the Droid 4, all of my data was found. I simply connected my Droid 4 as a mass storage device to my computer via a USB cable and moved files in between the internal storage and the micro SD card.

List thing I did was manually install the apps that were not listed in Google Play. Once that was done, I had to do some configuration on the apps I had just installed. This took the most time of all. But when it was all done, my Droid 4 was ready to go and working great.

So you just got a new computer and are ready to go. You're going to install programs and transfer files to it. But before you personalize it, you should do a few things first. Here are five things you should do first when you get a new computer.

Register your new computer

Here's one that almost everyone, including myself, postpones until a later time. The problem is we never get around to it; we keep putting it off. But if something ever goes wrong with your new computer, you will be glad you did. This is one of those 'do it right now' items. Then you can forget all about it and hope you never need it.

Get the latest Windows updates

You might think that your new computer is up to date, being brand new. But the fact is you don't know when the manufacturer made the operating system image used on your hard drive. Windows 8 had updates available before it even went on sale. Run Windows Update to check for updates; odds are there are some available. You may have to run Windows Update more than once to get all the updates. But doing it right now will get your new computer entirely up to date before you start installing your programs.

Activate or install anti-virus software

Almost all computer manufacturers will pre-install some anti-virus software. It's usually only a 30 to 60-day trial subscription and will run out before you know it. If you plan on keeping it, buy a full subscription now and be done with it. If you want to use other anti-virus software, including the built-in Windows Defender, now is the time to change it.

Remember to uninstall the anti-virus software that came with your new computer before installing any other. Windows Defender can detect when another anti-virus program is installed or uninstalled and will disable or enable its real-time scanning. Remember that having two or more third-party anti-virus programs running on the same computer will significantly decrease performance.

Set up a backup system

Establishing a reliable backup system is crucial when you get a new computer. Whether it's an external hard drive, a cloud-based service, or both, regularly backing up your data can save you from a potential disaster in the future. Set up automatic backups to ensure that your important files are always protected.

How to backup your Windows 11 computer using Windows Backup and File History

How to backup your Windows 10 computer using Windows Backup and File History

Uninstall unnecessary bloatware

Many new computers come with pre-installed software, also known as bloatware, that you may never use. Review the programs installed on your computer and remove any you don't need. This can free up valuable disk space and improve your computer's performance.

By following these five steps, you can ensure that your new computer is set up for success. Taking the time to update software, install security measures, set up backups, and remove bloatware will help you get the most out of your new device. Enjoy your new computer!

Do you have a laptop or desktop computer you don't use anymore? Maybe it got really slow or even stopped working altogether. It seems like everyone has at least one nowadays. I'm talking about the one in the garage or closet that's doing nothing but taking up space and collecting dust. Here are a few ideas on what you can do with an old computer, working or not.

A laptop and desktop computer ready for recycling

What you can do with your old computer if it does work

Give it away

If your old computer is still working reasonably well, giving it to a family member or friend is a great idea. I recommend that you get all your data off of the computer and then create a new user with administrative privileges. Log off and then log back in as the new user and delete your original user profile. If you want to be sure your data cannot be recovered, run a disk defragmenter like Defraggler and then use CCleaner to wipe the free space.

Sell it

eBay and Craigslist can be great places to sell your old computer. If you have the original installation media or have made the recovery media, you can just reformat the hard drive and reinstall Windows. Just make sure you securely erase all of your data first. If you don't have the original installation media, you can clean it up. Just like giving it away, create a new administrative user, log off, and back on as a new user. Then delete your old user account and uninstall any software you don't want going with the computer.

Donate it

As long as your old computer runs reasonably well, why not give it another life by donating it to your local school, church, or senior center. Or you can donate it to a non-profit organization like Goodwill and get a tax write-off. Either way, it will get reused. Just make sure you have or make the installation/recovery media, securely wipe the hard drive(s), and reinstall the operating system before donating it.

What you can do with your old computer if it does not work

Recycle it

Just tossing your old computer in the trash is a no-no. In fact, in some states, it's illegal. The materials used to construct it, like lead solder, can contaminate the ground in which it's buried. There are companies that will recycle the materials from your old computer. Just do a search for 'pc recycling' for a company in your area.

Part-it out

The odds are there are some parts of your old computer that can be reused. Here's a list of some of the components that could easily be reused:

How to tell if your hard drive is SATA or PATA

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 the Apache Software Foundation recently released a new version of their free productivity software, OpenOffice 4.

The main screen inside of OpenOffice 4

For those who are not familiar with it, OpenOffice is a suite of office productivity programs that rivals Microsoft Office. It has everything you could need for creating great-looking documents, spreadsheets, and slideshow presentations. Here's a complete list of all of the programs included in OpenOffice 4.

OpenOffice 4 has some significant improvements over previous versions. A new Sidebar contains the most commonly used functions for that program, which can be docked, floating, or completely hidden. There is also much improved compatibly with Microsoft Office documents. The drawing, graphics, and gallery functions have also been enhanced, along with the copy & paste and drag & drop functionality.

The new Sidebar inside of OpenOffice 4 shown docked and floating

OpenOffice does use Java, but it's not required for installation, as it can be added later on. Compatibility with other document formats is pretty impressive, but Star Office is no longer supported. OpenOffice can automatically load/convert and convert/save Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and Design Science Mathtype documents. The only file types that it cannot save to is the Microsoft Office 2007 - 2019 .???x formats.

And since OpenOffice is open-source, there are hundreds of third-party extensions to expand on the functionality of the applications. Add in a copy of GIMP or Paint.NET, and you have a complete and free desktop publishing package.

OpenOffice 4 is available for Windows, Linux, and Mac operating systems. For more information on OpenOffice 4, just follow the links below:

Apache OpenOffice Open Source Project

Download OpenOffice 4