One thing I love about the Internet is I can find the answers to my problems without calling anyone, schlepping to a repair store, and buy replacements of things no longer made like remote controls and mini appetizer forks made in the ’60s that my mom said she wished she had bought more of them and I surprised her with two sets.
Web sites have helped me solve software problems, get minor upgrades that improve or fix software, fix hardware problems like my PalmOS device and printer, download newer drivers that come in handy when I’ve upgraded my computer or operating system, research products so I can make informed decisions, and much more.
If you have problems with a specific product, try starting with the manufacturer’s Web site for answers. I had problems with Adobe software and almost always find the solutions on the company’s Web site.
Windows Process Libraries
ProcessLibrary.com
Security Task Manager
When you press Ctrl+Alt+Del to review the processes currently running, chances are high that you’ve run into at least one process you don’t recognize. These process libraries are like a dictionary for processes where you can look up a process and get details on it.
Tech Support Forums
Get free technical support through discussion forums. For most forums, you don’t have to register to read the postings, but it’s required if you want to post.
Urban Legends and Myth Busters
Snopes
How many times have you gotten panicky emails saying watch out for this! Watch out for that! I recall an email floating around with detailed instructions for removing a teddy bear icon in Windows. Heh. The file was as useless as a gall bladder that came with Windows, but it was no virus.
Instead, the teddy bear virus was a bad joke meant to cause mass hysteria. So when you get another one of these chain emails, here’s a place to go before following instructions or hitting “Forward.” The stories on Snopes are enjoyable to read as they often have a touch of humor.
Geeky Terms and Definitions
Acronym Finder
CompInfo Directory
Webopedia
WhatIs.com
Wikipedia
Need geeky words translated? This dictionary of Internet terms has thousands of words related to the online world of business, technology, and communication. I’ve probably used all of these resources at one time or another. Wikipedia has a lot more than just geek terms.
File Extensions
Almost every file format in the world
FILExt
WhatIs
As a power user, it’s still impossible to recognize many file formats. In fact, a friend of mine sent me a file and asked if I could get its contents. It was a format I didn’t recognize. So I went to FILExt and got my answer.
General Category aka Everything Else
PC Pitstop
http://www.pcpitstop.com/
PC Pitstop provides free PC diagnostic tools for tuning up your PC, testing download and upload speed, tests pings, checking disk health (requires IE browser), scans computer’s privacy, and more. The site also has a blog, forums, and articles / information.
Updated: October 1, 2019