Category Archives: Hardware

Internet running slow? Here’s some tips

Posted on August 5, 2017 | Leave a comment

Does it seem your internet is running slow? Here are some tips to help speed things up:

Check your Internet Speed. Download Speedtest program or you can download their app here. This free program can scan to see what your speed of your Internet Service Provider. Once scanned, results will show your download and upload speeds in megabyte. If the number is low, consider contacting your ISP provider and see what your service includes.

Reboot your Internet Router and Wi-Fi. Depending on your setup, some folks have a router that includes the Wi-Fi feature built in it. If you have two boxes that are connected, you have one Internet Modem that bring the Internet to you via a cable cord, while the Wi-Fi router gives a wireless signal.

To reboot, unplug the power cord or cords, unplug connections, and wait for one minutes. Now reconnect everything. It will take a few minutes to start your Internet again. You should see lights blink indicating a signal.

Reset your router (video)

How to reset your router (article)

If this doesn’t work, you will need to contact your service provider and ask if they can release/renew your IP address, or check your service to see if there are any issues. (Once I had a wasp nest outside where the wires connected to my house!).

You can also renew/release your IP via the DOS command. This can be intimidating for the computer noob, but the instructions are clear.

Release/renew your IP address. (article)

Some causes of slow Internet is not the Internet at all but something on your computer. This could be a browser extension, a browser toolbar, malware, virus, or the router is going bad.

Malwarebytes– can help find malware on your system

It is also possible that if your connection is not secure, someone is using your connection for themselves. Add security if you suspect this.

Make sure your Wi-Fi is secured. Click this link for instruction on how to check.

Change your Wi-Fi password. This will vary depending on the Wi-Fi router model you have. Use Google by searching the make/model of your Wi-Fi router + change password. This will give you instructions on how to access your Wi-Fi settings through a web browser.

Another tip is if you own a smart phone, check to see if your Wi-Fi router has an app. I know Linksys and Netgear have apps that enable your phone to manage the router.

If you have questions, post in comments or send your question to email@learnthepc.net.

WordPress Tags: wifi, slow internet, router, reset, reboot, pc, computer, Internet, web, wireless, ISP

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Posted in computer, Hardware, Internet, maintenance, tip

Tagged wifi, wireless

Mouse Tips

Posted on August 31, 2015 | Leave a comment

When navigating the screen with your computer (PC) mouse, take note on the number of buttons that are available;

RIGHT BUTTON- This button provides the action of clicking, double clicking, and dragging the cursor to create action. Single or double clicking on an icon will open the file/program, or clicking and dragging will ‘highlight’ files/programs and even text in documents.

Use the

LEFT BUTTON- This button provides extra commands in the form of pop up menus. By ‘left-clicking’ on an icon, text, program, you get a pop up menu with commands such as Properties or Cut/Paste commands. This varies depending on what item you selected.

SCROLL BUTTON- This button moves like a wheel to navigate through web pages or documents in word processors. But it can do other things too;

Hover over a hyperlink and press the Scroll Button down like a button and it opens another tab.
In a browser, click the Ctrl key while scrolling and this will enlarge or make smaller the text.

A tutorial on Mouse properties;

WordPress Tags: mouse, pc, computer, learnthepc, technology, tutorial, tips, windows 7

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Tagged computer, learnthepc, mouse, pc, technology, tips, tutorial, windows 7

What do the F1-F12 keys do?

Posted on May 13, 2015 | Leave a comment

Ever wondered about the F1-F12 keys? Here’s what they do:

F1 I like to think of this as the ‘panic button’. It opens the help menu to anything that is open. If nothing is open, F1 opens your operating system help menu. The Windows button + F1 opens the help menu as well.

F2 Highlight the file or folder and click this button, and you can rename it. If you’re in MS Word, click Ctrl + F2 and you get print preview.

F3 Opens a ‘find’ feature in many programs that you want to look up text. This includes browsers and word processors. In MS Word, SHIFT + F3 changes the first letter of a word lower or upper case.

F4 This opens the address bar in Windows and Internet Explorer. Alt + F4 also closes the window/program that is open.

F5 This button refreshes a browser window. (Reloads). This also open the Find/Replace and Go To window in MS Word. F5 also starts a slideshow in Powerpoint.

F6 This button moves the cursor to the address bar in Internet Explorer. This works in other browsers as well.

F7 This button opens the spellcheck function in MS Word. In some laptops it increases volume.

F8 This important key is often used during computer start ups to start in Safe Mode. When the computer is starting, tap the F8 key. It should prompt you to enter Safe Mode.

F9 This button refreshes a MS Word document.

F10 This buttons activates the menu bar in open applications. Also used to enter CMOS Setup.

F11 This button enables you to enter and exit full screen mode of browsers.

F12 This button opens the debug function in browsers, and opens the Save window in MS Word.

There are other functions these keys can do, even on Macs. Some laptops use the F function keys for specific things like entering a partitions or startup features. It depends on the make/model.