Author: Joe

Posted on

How to use RDP Client with multiple displays

If you have multiple monitors you would like to use when connecting to another machine via RDP client you must first make sure that are using the correct version of windows on both computers. Here is a list of the versions of windows which support this feature:

Windows 7 Ultimate

Windows 7 Enterprise

Windows 8.1 Pro

Windows 8.1 Enterprise

Windows 10 Pro

Windows 10 Enterprise

**Please note both computers must be using an operating system on the supported list above.

Once you know you have the proper setup, configuring Windows 7’s Remote Desktop multiple-monitor feature is easy. To begin, Launch Remote Desktop Connection and select the system you want to connect to with multiple-monitor support from the Computer drop-down list. Then, click the Options button to expand the Remote Desktop Connection window so that you can see all the tabs. Next, choose the Display tab and select the Use All My Monitors for the Remote Session check box, as shown in Figure 2.

 

To complete the procedure, return to the General tab and click the Save button.

Posted on

Changing default app choices

Something many users have been complaining about is default app choices, i.e. browser, word processor, and so on – changing when updating Windows 10.

Here is a quick and simple guide to change the settings back to the way you want them;

Head to Settings > System > Default Apps. From here, almost every major default app – music, email, maps, calendar and so on – can be chosen based on the ones you have downloaded.

Posted on

Choosing Google over Bing in Windows 10

Microsoft has set Bing and as the default search engine in Windows 10, if you prefer to use Google. Here’s how you can change it;

Changing Edge over to Google is relatively simple. While using Edge, navigate to Google.co.uk (or Yahoo, or whatever your preference) and click the ellipsis button in the top-right corner. A drop-down menu will appear: select Settings, and then navigate down to click View Advanced Settings. From here, scroll down to ‘Search in the address bar with…’ and select Add New.

Some people have reported that Add New often has no results in it, suggesting that no new search engine can be added. To get past this, close and then reopen Edge and (hopefully) some results will have appeared.

Posted on

Changing privacy and Wi-Fi Sense settings (Windows 10)

Data security is incredibly important, especially as hackers become increasingly sophisticated and the number of cyber-attacks is constantly rising.

Windows 10 comes with a decent set of built-in protection measures, but you can never be too careful. One such feature that should be disabled by privacy-minded individuals is Wi-Fi Sense, which automatically shares the Wi-Fi password across all Windows 10 devices on the same account.

Microsoft updated Wi-Fi Sense to share less data, but switching it off is the ideal solution. To turn it off, go to the Start Menu, click Settings and then click on Network & Internet, then Wi-Fi, and head to Manage Wi-Fi Settings – turn off all the options in here.

Also in Settings, it’s possible to get an overview of everything else happening on Windows 10 in terms of privacy – unsurprisingly, under the Privacy section. In here, you’ll be presented with a bunch of toggles that adjust some privacy options to help keep everything under control – Well worth a read to make sure you are not sharing more than you thought

Posted on

A Guide to making secure but memorable passwords

Here is a simple way to making a secure but memorable password for every program and website you use:

Use three random letters, one memorable word and then three random numbers – It is important to note that to ensure your password stays memorable you only change the word part of your new password (which should also be a word relevant to the site or program you are using), here are a few examples;

jxtsell612 – for something like eBay or Gumtree.

jxtpics612 – for Dropbox

jxtfile612 – for Google Drive or Onedrive
This method ensures your password is strong and easily memorable as you only need to remember the word you associated with that site or program. If you would like to make your password even more secure you could change on of the letters to a capital letter and/or add a special character, so as an example i might use;

jxtPics612! – For dropbox (Change marked in red)

Now this password contains, lower case letters, upper case letters, special characters and numbers – Using all of these will ensure your password is highly secure and will meet the criteria of most sites and programs.

If you are going to use an upper case letter and a special character in your password it is important to keep the password consistent to keep it easily memorable so now the passwords would look like this;

jxtSell612!

jxtPics612!

jxtFile612!

Posted on

Ransomware

Ransomware is increasing in recent months and once your computer is infected it is highly unlikely you will be able to recover any data that has been infected, by far the best protection against this type of threat is awareness and precaution. Here is Red data’s guide on how best to avoid it and what to do if you think a computer may be infected;

What is ransomware?

Ransomware (a.k.a. rogueware or scareware) restricts access to your computer system and/or files and demands that a ransom is paid in order for the restriction to be removed – Paying the demand will not actually unlock your computer or files and is simply a scam to make money.

How best to avoid this type of infection?

•Install and use an up-to-date antivirus solution (i.e. Microsoft Security Essentials).

•Make sure windows is up-to-date.

•Avoid clicking on links or opening attachments or emails from people unless you already know them to be a trusted source.

•Enable smart screen in Internet Explorer.

•Have a pop-up blocker running in your web browser.

•Always backup your important files regularly.

What to do if you think a computer might be infected:

If you think a computer might be infected with ransomware you should turn the computer in question off immediately or you may risk the infection spreading over your network to other computers and devices. The next step is to contact and IT professional and explain the situation, they will then be able to quarantine your computer and diagnose it further and attempt to repair it without any risk of the infection spreading.

Posted on

Creating a signature in Outlook

Creating a signature in Outlook 2016 & 2013;
1.Create a new email message.

2.On the Message tab, in the Include group, choose Signature > Signatures.

3.Under Select signature to edit, choose New, and in the New Signature dialog box, type a name for the signature.

4.Under Choose default signature, set the following options for your signature:

In the E-mail account list, choose an email account to associate with the signature. You can have different signatures for each email account.
In the New messages list, choose the signature that you want to be added automatically to all new email messages. If you don’t want to auto sign your new email messages, accept the default option of (none). In the Replies/forwards list, choose the signature that you want to be added automatically (auto sign) when you reply to or forward messages. Otherwise, accept the default option of (none).

5.Under Edit signature, type the signature, and then choose OK.

 

Creating a signature in outlook 2007 & 2010;
1.Open a new message. On the Message tab, in the Include group, click Signature, and then click Signatures.

2.On the E-mail Signature tab, click New.

3.Type a name for the signature, and then click OK.

4.In the Edit signature box, type the text that you want to include in the signature.

5.To format the text, select the text, and then use the style and formatting buttons to select the options that you want.

6.To insert a picture simply “Click picture”, browse to a picture, click to select it, and then click OK. acceptable image file formats for pictures are; .bmp, .gif, .jpg, and .png.

7.To finish creating the signature, click OK.

Posted on

Extending/duplicating your display

Extending and duplicating displays:

Your computer may not automatically select the correct type of display settings you want when you try to connect a second screen or an external display like a projector.

Please make sure the second display device is already connected and powered on and then follow these steps;

1) click on the start button and navigate to the control panel
1a) If you are using windows 10 you can navigate to the control panel by right clicking on the windows icon and selecting control panel.
2) click on the “display” link
3) On the left hand side of the display window select the “change display settings” link
4) use the drop down menu to select either “duplicate displays” or “extend displays” depending on which you need.

Posted on

Time is running out for Windows Vista

Mainstream support for windows vista ended in April of 2012 but Microsoft will be ending its extended support of the operating system on 11/04/2017.

If you are using windows vista now is most certainly the time to upgrade your computer or operating system to a much more fluid and user friendly version like windows 7, 8 or 10 support for these operating systems is due to end in 2020, 2023 and 2015 respectively.