Ask Computer Dean

Ask Computer Dean All-around Computer & Electronic Support for your home, small & medium-businesses and other personal high-tech needs!

10/02/2026

💡 ASK COMPUTER DEAN — TIP OF THE DAY #322

📅 Friday, October 2, 2026

🌐 YOU DON'T NEED GOOGLE.COM TO GOOGLE SOMETHING!

Here's something I still see people do:

Open the browser…

Type google.com… Wait for Google… Click the search box…

THEN type what they're looking for. 😄

There's a shortcut!

In modern browsers such as Chrome, the address bar at the top is also a search box. Google calls Chrome's combined address-and-search field the Omnibox. Google Help

So instead of typing:

google.com

just click the address bar and type:

weather Vancouver tomorrow or how to cook salmon or Ask Computer Dean Facebook 😄

Then press Enter.

Your browser sends the search to whichever search engine you've chosen as your default. In Chrome, that default search engine can also be changed in Settings.

Google Help

And this works whether you know the exact website address or you simply know what you're looking for.

💡 ASK COMPUTER DEAN TIP:

DON'T KNOW THE WEBSITE?

JUST TYPE WHAT YOU WANT! 🔍

The address bar isn't just for addresses anymore.

CLICK. TYPE. ENTER. DONE.

10/02/2026

💡 ASK COMPUTER DEAN — TIP OF THE DAY #321

📅 Thursday, October 1, 2026

📋 COPIED SOMETHING EARLIER? TRY WINDOWS + V!

Most Windows users know:

Ctrl + C = Copy
Ctrl + V = Paste

But here's a shortcut you may like even better:
Windows Key + V

Instead of pasting only the last thing you copied, Windows can show your Clipboard History—a list of recently copied items that you can choose from. Microsoft confirms that Clipboard History works in Windows 10 and Windows 11; if it hasn't been enabled before, press Windows + V and choose Turn on. Microsoft Support
Imagine copying an address, then a phone number, then a paragraph—and suddenly realizing you still need that address.

Instead of going back and copying it again:

Press Windows + V and look for it! 😄

You can even pin frequently used clipboard items so they remain available. Microsoft notes that ordinary clipboard-history items are cleared when the computer restarts, while pinned items can remain. Microsoft Support

⚠️ One caution: Your clipboard may contain things you wouldn't want someone else to see. Avoid unnecessarily copying passwords or sensitive financial information, especially on a shared computer, and periodically clear Clipboard History if appropriate.

💡 ASK COMPUTER DEAN TIP:

CTRL + V PASTES THE LAST ONE.

WINDOWS + V LETS YOU CHOOSE! 📋

Try it today—you may wonder why nobody showed you this years ago!

09/30/2026

🧡 ASK COMPUTER DEAN — TIP #320
📅 Wednesday, September 30, 2026

NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION

Today's Ask Computer Dean tip is a little different.

Sometimes the most important thing we can do isn't to learn another computer shortcut or discover another smartphone trick.

Sometimes it's simply to take some time to learn.
September 30 is Canada's National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and here in British Columbia it is also a provincial statutory holiday. B.C. formally established September 30 as a statutory holiday in 2023. BC Laws

The day honours Survivors of residential schools, the children who never returned home, their families and their communities. It also coincides with Orange Shirt Day. Canada

🧡 So today's tip isn't about technology.
It's about using some of the incredible technology we have at our fingertips to:
📖 LEARN about the history and legacy of residential schools.
🎧 LISTEN to the stories and experiences of Indigenous Peoples and Survivors.
🔎 SEEK OUT Indigenous-created resources, documentaries, books and educational materials.
🧡 REFLECT on what Truth and Reconciliation means.

Technology gives us access to more information and more voices than any generation before us.

What we choose to learn from them is up to us.
💡 ASK COMPUTER DEAN TIP #320:

🧡 TAKE SOME TIME TODAY TO LISTEN, LEARN AND REFLECT.

Today is not simply another day off.
It's an opportunity to better understand an important part of Canada's history and its continuing impacts.
Every Child Matters. 🧡

09/30/2026

💡 ASK COMPUTER DEAN — TIP #319

📅 Tuesday, September 29, 2026

📧 EMAIL LOOKS SUSPICIOUS? STOP • CHECK • THINK!
Scam emails are getting much harder to spot.
Gone are the days when every fake email was filled with terrible spelling and obviously suspicious graphics. Today's phishing messages can look surprisingly professional—and may even appear to come from a bank, delivery company, government agency, friend or business you recognize. Canada's Cyber Centre warns that malicious emails can use convincing logos, relevant subject lines and increasingly polished language. Canadian Centre for Cyber Security

So before clicking anything, remember three simple words:

🛑 STOP

Don't let words like URGENT, ACCOUNT SUSPENDED, PAYMENT REQUIRED or ACT NOW rush you into doing something.

🔎 CHECK

Look carefully at the sender's actual email address—not just the displayed name.
Be especially cautious about:

🔗 Unexpected links
📎 Attachments you weren't expecting
💳 Requests for payment or banking information
🔐 Requests to “verify” your password or account
📱 QR codes asking you to sign in somewhere

🤔 THINK

Were you expecting this message?
Does the request make sense?
If your bank supposedly sent it, don't use the link in the email. Open the bank's app yourself or visit its official website independently. If it appears to be from someone you know but the request seems unusual, contact that person another way.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre specifically recommends avoiding links and attachments in unsolicited messages and independently verifying suspicious communications. Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre

💡 ASK COMPUTER DEAN TIP:

WHEN IN DOUBT, DON'T CLICK!
Taking 30 seconds to verify an email is a lot easier than spending hours—or days—recovering from a compromised account.

🛑 STOP • 🔎 CHECK • 🤔 THINK

09/28/2026

💡 ASK COMPUTER DEAN — TIP OF THE DAY #318
📅 Monday, September 28, 2026

🔍 CAN'T FIND THAT FILE? SEARCH BY WHAT YOU REMEMBER!
We've all done it:

“I KNOW I saved that file somewhere…” 😩
But you can't remember the folder—or even the exact filename.
Don't start opening folders one by one. SEARCH instead!

🪟 Windows: Open File Explorer and use the Search box.
🍎 Mac: Use Spotlight with Command + Space, or search from Finder.

And here's the trick:
You don't always need the exact filename!

Try searching for something you do remember:
📄 Part of the filename
📝 A distinctive word associated with the document
🖼️ The file type—PDF, JPG, DOCX, etc.
📅 Approximately when you created or modified it
👤 A person's or client's name used in the filename

For example, instead of hunting through dozens of folders for:
“ComputerDean_Invoice_September2026.pdf”

try searching:
ComputerDean, Invoice, or September.

Then narrow the results from there.

💡 ASK COMPUTER DEAN TIP:
DON'T REMEMBER WHERE YOU SAVED IT?

🔍 SEARCH — DON'T HUNT!

Your computer is much faster at finding files than you are at opening 47 folders. 😄

09/27/2026

💡 ASK COMPUTER DEAN — WEEKEND DUO TIPS #316 & #317
📅 Saturday & Sunday • September 26–27, 2026

🤖 THIS WEEKEND, GIVE YOUR ANDROID PHONE A LITTLE TLC!
Your Android phone works hard every day. This weekend, spend a few minutes doing two simple things:

🧹 TIP #316 — SATURDAY
CLEAR UP SOME SPACE!
Running low on storage can become a nuisance, especially when you're trying to take photos, download something, or install an update.
Start by checking what's actually using your space.
⚙️ Open Settings
💾 Look for Storage — on some Samsung phones, try Battery and device care → Storage
🔎 See what's taking up the most room
🗑️ Remove things you KNOW you no longer need
Good places to look include:
📹 Large or old videos
📥 Downloads you forgot about
📱 Apps you haven't used in ages
🖼️ Unwanted screenshots and duplicate/unneeded photos
🗑️ Trash or Recycle Bin folders that still contain deleted items
⚠️ But don't go on a deleting spree!
Make sure important photos and files are safely backed up before removing them. And don't install random “phone cleaner” apps just because an advertisement says your phone needs cleaning.

💡 TIP:
KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DELETING BEFORE YOU TAP DELETE!

🔐 TIP #317 — SUNDAY
GIVE YOUR ANDROID A QUICK SECURITY CHECK!
Now that we've cleaned things up, let's make sure the phone is protected too.
Take a few minutes to check:
🔒 SCREEN LOCK — Use a PIN, password, pattern or supported biometric lock.
📍 FIND HUB / DEVICE-FINDING FEATURES — Google's device-finding tools can help locate, secure or erase a compatible lost Android device. Availability and naming can vary by device/version.
🛡️ GOOGLE PLAY PROTECT — It checks apps for potentially harmful behaviour and is normally enabled by default.
⬆️ UPDATES — Check that Android security updates and your apps are current.
And one more thing:
🚫 DON'T INSTALL APPS JUST BECAUSE A POP-UP TELLS YOU TO!
Stick with trusted sources and pay attention to the permissions an app requests.

💡 TIP:
CLEANER PHONE. SAFER PHONE. 👍
A few minutes of maintenance this weekend can make your Android phone easier—and safer—to use.

09/25/2026

💡 ASK COMPUTER DEAN — TIP OF THE DAY #315
📅 Friday, September 25, 2026
🤖 ANDROID PHONE? CUSTOMIZE YOUR QUICK SETTINGS!
Swipe down from the top of your Android phone.
See all those little buttons for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Flashlight, Airplane Mode, Do Not Disturb and more?

Those are your Quick Settings—and you don't have to leave them in the order the phone manufacturer chose!

Swipe down again to expand the panel, then look for an Edit ✏️ option. Depending on your Android phone and version, the exact steps may differ.

You can move the controls you use most to the front and move rarely used ones out of the way.

Some handy choices might include:

🔦 Flashlight
📶 Wi-Fi / Internet
🔵 Bluetooth
🔇 Do Not Disturb
✈️ Airplane Mode
🔋 Battery Saver
📱 Screen Rotation
📷 Screen Recorder, when available

💡 WHY BOTHER?
Because the controls you use every day should be the ones you can reach fastest.
No hunting through Settings just to turn something on or off!

💡 ASK COMPUTER DEAN TIP:
YOUR PHONE. YOUR SHORTCUTS.
PUT YOUR FAVOURITES FIRST! 🤖

Spend one minute arranging Quick Settings today—you may save yourself hundreds of extra taps later.

09/24/2026

💡 ASK COMPUTER DEAN — TIP OF THE DAY #314

📅 Thursday, September 24, 2026

📸 BACK UP YOUR PHOTOS — KEEP YOUR MEMORIES SAFE!

Think about what's stored on your phone right now.

Family photos. Vacations. Birthdays. Grandkids. Pets. Videos. Maybe even photographs of loved ones who are no longer with us.

Now imagine losing all of them because your phone was lost, damaged or suddenly stopped working. 😢

☁️ YOUR PHONE IS NOT A BACKUP!

If the only copy of a photo is on your phone, camera or computer, you really don't have a backup yet.

For photos that truly matter, I like having multiple copies in different places:

☁️ 1. KEEP A CLOUD COPY
Services such as iCloud, Google Photos or OneDrive can automatically protect your photos online.

🏠 2. KEEP A COPY AT HOME
A computer, NAS or external drive can give you another independent copy of your photo collection.

💾 3. CONSIDER A SECOND PHYSICAL COPY
For truly irreplaceable memories, another external drive stored somewhere else adds protection against theft, fire or another disaster affecting your home.

🔄 4. MAKE IT REGULAR — OR AUTOMATIC!
A backup you made two years ago won't protect the photos you took yesterday. Automate your backups whenever possible, and occasionally check that they're actually working.

⚠️ AND ONE IMPORTANT DISTINCTION…

Syncing and backing up aren't always the same thing.

Some cloud services synchronize changes between devices. Depending on the service and settings, deleting something in one place can also affect what's stored elsewhere.

That's one reason I prefer having more than one independent copy of anything truly irreplaceable.

💡 ASK COMPUTER DEAN TIP:

DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOU LOSE A PHOTO TO REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS. ❤️

Your equipment can be replaced.

Your phone can be replaced.

Your memories can't.

📸 BACK UP TODAY. TOMORROW YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID!

— Computer Dean

09/24/2026

💡 ASK COMPUTER DEAN — TIP OF THE DAY #313

📅 Wednesday, September 23, 2026

📎 SENDING AN ATTACHMENT? ATTACH IT FIRST!

We've probably all done this:

You carefully write an email…

“Please see the attached document.”

Hit SEND…

…and then realize:

😳 YOU FORGOT THE ATTACHMENT!

Here's a simple habit that can prevent it:

ATTACH FIRST. WRITE SECOND.

Before you start composing the message:

📎 Add the document or photo.
👀 Check that the correct file actually appears in the email.
✍️ Then write your message.
📧 Add or double-check the recipient.
✅ Take one last look before pressing Send.

Some email programs are smart enough to warn you if you write words like “attached” but haven't attached anything—but don't depend on it.

And there's another advantage to attaching first: you're less likely to accidentally send the wrong version of a document because you can verify the filename before getting distracted by writing the email.

💡 ASK COMPUTER DEAN TIP:

ATTACH FIRST.
THEN WRITE. THEN SEND. 📎

A five-second habit can save you from sending:

“Oops… here's the attachment!” 😄

Address

5251 Oak Street
Vancouver, BC
V6M4H1

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Ask Computer Dean posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category