Many programs on your computer access the internet even though they don’t need to. They phone home for a variety of reason including telemetry and checking for updates.
I don’t need or want most programs phoning home for any reason. Still, they try.
With programs getting more invasive I thought it would be appropriate to show you how to block their access to the net.
[Read more…] about Blocking A Programs Internet Access Via The Windows Firewall
How-To's
How To – Linux Mint Virtual Machine
How to install Linux Mint as a virtual machine.
I do my day-to-day web activities is a Linux Mint virtual machine. This means web surfing, downloading, YouTube watching, etc. This is a quick guide on how I install and setup Linux Mint.
FYI – one of the great things about VMs is you can copy them to other computers. After setup I will copy my Linux Mint VM to my laptop for use one the road.
The steps:
– Download and install VMWare Player
– Download Linux Mint
– Create a new folder on a fast partition
– Create your new VM
– Install Linux Mint
– Configure power options
– Install VMware Tools
– Update
– Install extra software
– Anti-virus
– Configure Linux Mint
– Backup
(click for full-size)
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Tweaking Windows 10 Updated
It’s been a year since I’ve updated Tweaking Windows 10 and Windows 10 Privacy Settings.
In my humble opinion, not all that much has changed. At least, not for the way I use a PC. Screens look different, a few more options here and there…
For the Windows 10 Privacy Settings there were few significant changes. For the Tweak Guide, 9 of 21 web pages had changes, again nothing earth shattering. (FYI, pages 9, 10, 12-17, 19)
One thing I refused to put in the Tweak Guide at this point was anything related to Game Mode. I’ve yet to see any reliable benchmarks on this and in my own limited benchmarks I’ve seen no change at all.
If you have purchased a Win10 Tweak Guide and are due an upgrade, please forward your receipt to me.
Windows 10 Privacy Settings BETA
edit – guide is now final: https://www.tweakhound.com/2015/11/19/windows-10-privacy-settings-2/
PowerShell – Check For Meltdown and Spectre
IMHO this is a Geek tool for fun. Got Intel? You’re vulnerable.
[Read more…] about PowerShell – Check For Meltdown and Spectre
My Home Server – Windows 7
Here is my current setup. I will be attempting to switch over to a Linux server setup in the near future (just because).
This machine was my secondary workstation and has been repurposed for my home server.
This is a quickie article. No hand holding. If you do not know your way around Windows this article is not for you.
[Read more…] about My Home Server – Windows 7
Fix Windows 10 Network Browsing
After my latest computer build, parts swapping in/out old computers, and making a new/old home server I noticed network browsing was FUBAR. I double-checked everything I could think of. Everything worked last time I checked. I did some Googling and finally came up with the answer.
Fall Creators Update broke network browsing. Surprise, surprise:
[Read more…] about Fix Windows 10 Network Browsing
My Rescue Flash Drive
Creating a multi-scenario rescue USB flash drive. (Updated and expanded version of previous articles.)
*Edit – Tired of YouTube telling me I can’t embed videos on my own site because of background music.
PLEASE let me know if the embedded video at the bottom of this post is working.
[Read more…] about My Rescue Flash Drive
Clonezilla Ain’t Hard
I made a video of Clonezilla in action. My goal was to show Clonezilla is pretty easy to use.
I’ve made a handful of videos ever so please cut me some slack.
Video – Clonezilla Ain’t Hard
Software I Use
A while back someone asked me to do a freeware guide for Windows 10 like I have for other Windows operating systems. My heart just hasn’t been in it. While there is excellent free software out there in many cases you get what you pay for. I’m tired of talking about second best software I don’t use. So below is a list of the software I have installed across the 8 PC’s I have scattered across my house.
[Read more…] about Software I Use