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Articles by Patrick Marshall
Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile Review
Located at 540 N Michigan Avenue, the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile is an ideal home base for business travelers and tourists alike. (Check out our Chicago Travel Review for more tips and ideas). The hotel’s 46-story skyscraper integrates seamlessly into Chicago’s famed skyline. It blends modern comfort with a subtle nod to the city’s architectural heritage. As you enter the lobby, you notice a lively, colorful space with sleek furniture, modern artwork and plenty of natural light.
Exploring the Role of Skin Pigmentation in the Thermal Regulation of Polar Bears and Its Implications in the Development of Biomimetic Outdoor Apparel
All articles published by MDPI are made immediately available worldwide under an open access license. No special permission is required to reuse all or part of the article published by MDPI, including figures and tables. For articles published under an open access Creative Common CC BY license, any part of the article may be reused without permission provided that the original article is clearly cited. For more information, please refer to https://www.mdpi.com/openaccess.
Backing up to the cloud vs. external drives | Q&A with Patrick Marshall
Q: After upgrading to Windows 10, or after renewing my Norton account, the J: drive became disconnected. I suspect the Norton app as my computer only allows backups to the cloud, which take about 16 hours to complete. I want to get the J: drive back, so I can back up to an external hard drive, which is not so time-consuming. — Clarke Brant, Normandy Park A: The cloud isn’t a practical way to back up large files even if you have a relatively fast internet connection.
What do I need to upgrade to Windows 11? | Q&A with Patrick Marshall
Q: I have read articles that list the hardware requirements for upgrading to Windows 11 in terms of RAM, free disk space, etc. My existing desktop and two laptops all have at least twice the requirements. However, I recently stumbled upon an article that said unless you have purchased your computer within the last two or three years it probably cannot be upgraded. The reason? Something called a TPM chip. I checked my machines, and none of them have the chip.
Can Yahoo app listen to phone calls? | Q&A with Patrick Marshall
Q: Last weekend, I was talking with my son on my cellphone about an overseas trip he will be making with his family. He mentioned a tour they booked for a specific location. The next time I checked my Yahoo email (I have its app on my phone), there was an ad for tours to this same location. The ads continue to show up on the Yahoo homepage. Neither my husband nor I have ever searched for such a tour. It could be a weird coincidence, but I wonder what you think.
How to solve reboot problems | Q&A with Patrick Marshall
Q: I have had my HP Spectre x360 Convertible laptop for more than three years. Ever since I got it, it rarely boots up on the first try. It takes two to three hard reboots, then I’ll get the screen that says, “It looks like Windows didn’t load correctly.” It gives me the option of either restarting the machine, which to date has always worked, or Advanced Repair Options. I have tried the Advanced Options/Startup Repair, and I got a message that the problem cannot be repaired.
How to avoid phishing after online activity | Q&A with Patrick Marshall Original
Q: I have an iMac running macOS Ventura, and I use the Safari browser. Last month I opened a banking account at BECU. I started the process at a branch and followed up at home through their website. Later that same afternoon, I received a text message on my cellphone from becu@cnd.net. It stated: “BECU: cash withdrawal request on POS. This wasn’t you? Please click below link to cancel: toxbar.net.” I immediately suspected it was a phishing text, which I confirmed through BECU.
Turning off Gmail 2FA comes with risks | Q&A with Patrick Marshall
Q: For years, I’ve accessed my Gmail account on my iPad, and went to a public computer at the library to print from email. Lately, I can’t access Gmail from the library. I don’t have a cellphone, so the verification code goes to my home phone or my iPad, which I leave at home. The librarian explained I can print from my iPad, but this is inconvenient. What I want is for Google to leave my security decisions to me. I should be able to use a variety of devices to access my account.
How to fix a Dell desktop that keeps failing | Q&A with Patrick Marshall
Q: Since purchasing a Dell desktop recently I periodically find my screen goes gray and grainy. I do a hard reboot and the attached “Recovery” message appears saying, “It looks like Windows didn’t load correctly.” I restart and everything is fine until it occurs again. Are you familiar with this scenario and can you advise a solution? — Jeffrey A. Burke, Edmonds. A: I wish that problem was extremely rare. Instead, it’s just sort of rare. And the culprit is usually a corrupt system file or driver.
How to sync email between Apple devices | Q&A with Patrick Marshall
Q: My old MacBook Pro and iPhone emails synced well until I spilled coffee on the computer. I can receive and send emails, but when I delete an email from the computer, it remains on my phone. Oddly, when I delete an email from the phone, it is deleted on the computer. I’ve deleted and added the account multiple times on the phone and computer. Any ideas? — James Keany A: I suggest checking the sync settings on your iPhone. Specifically, launch the Settings app and then click on Mail.
Using multiple Apple IDs on an iPhone | Q&A with Patrick Marshall Original
Q: I have two Apple IDs on my iPhone. One I created for purchases from iTunes, and the other is the one set up for backups. I never intended to have two. I’d like to combine them into one, but don’t want to lose my backups or all my music purchases. Is there any risk in just switching to one of them? — Mark Bennett A: According to Apple, there’s no way to merge two Apple IDs. The products that are linked to one Apple ID can’t be moved to another.
How to change Edge default browser settings | Q&A with Patrick Marshall
Q: I am a Microsoft 365 subscriber and I love it. However, after an automatic update from Microsoft, Edge often becomes my default browser. I use and prefer Chrome. I have tried many workarounds to uninstall Edge, including those on MS forums, but they don’t seem to work. I am able to make Chrome my default browser again, but when I receive and click on links, they default to Edge. Any ideas?
Is running old operating systems risky? | Q&A with Patrick Marshall
Q: Microsoft no longer supports Windows 8. I have an old Lenovo that cannot be upgraded to even Windows 10. What are the real-life risks of running older programs and making online purchases on Windows 8? The computer is password-protected and running Defender. — B. Orrico A: The real-life risk is that since your operating system is no longer receiving security patches and updates, you may be targeted by malware that exploits a vulnerability in the operating system.
How to recover iPhone data | Q&A with Patrick Marshall
Q: I was to connect my iPhone to my laptop for the first time since I got my phone two years ago. iTunes asked me if I wanted to set up as new device or restore to previous backup. Little did I know that restoring to previous backup would erase all my cherished photos and videos. I did not have them backed up to iCloud or a drive, and my phone was pretty much wiped clean except for notes. I refuse to believe there isn’t some way to recover these cherished memories.
How to reduce spam email | Q&A with Patrick Marshall
Q: I’ve started to receive more junk mail in my regular email and junk email. I delete the emails or try to “unsubscribe” to no avail. Is there a way to block all this nonsense? — Ron Oyer A: I see that you’re using a Hotmail account. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s free. But when you pay for email service you may find that you get more security and less spam. More security comes from end-to-end encryption.
Help for landing on suspicious websites | Q&A With Patrick Marshall
Q: A few weeks ago, I Googled a product I was interested in purchasing. One webpage had a list of companies with links. When I clicked on a link, I was taken to a webpage written in a foreign language. I hit “back” immediately and returned to the previous page. I don’t know if that webpage in the foreign language was about the company I was researching or something nefarious.
How to address router privacy concerns | Q&A with Patrick Marshall
Q: Our city is installing and will run and administer a gig-speed fiber network, so we will no longer be dependent on Xfinity and the like. In anticipation of the network coming to my neighborhood, I started researching the offerings our city has for in-home wireless (monthly equipment rental) versus buying my own wireless router. I finally settled on getting a Wireless 6E mesh system, and after scouring reviews of various models, picked out the ASUS Zen Wi-Fi ET8.
How can a couple use one phone for 2FA? | Q&A With Patrick Marshall
A WALMART shopper sued the retailer in 2018 claiming self-checkout security cameras breached California privacy laws. The customer made a shocking claim that the cameras could see the biometric information of shoppers and leave them vulnerable to identity theft. Joseph Carlos Velasquez sued Walmart claiming the self-checkout mechanisms force a...
How can a couple use one phone for 2FA? | Q&A With Patrick Marshall
Q: My husband and I have a shared email address for Xfinity/Comcast and we both have our separate Gmail accounts. The problem is that Xfinity will only send their two-step verification code to my phone via text message or, if by email, to my Gmail account. If I am not home or with him, he cannot view our shared email. I have explained this to Xfinity/Comcast and told them that this was unworkable. What can we do? — Brenna Louzin A: I, too, have struggled with two-factor authentication.
Why you have to clear cache often | Q&A with Patrick Marshall
Q: Clearing cache to solve problems with one website also entails reentering information for many other websites that had no issues. One financial institution that I deal with makes website changes too often, and its response when I complain is, “Oh, just clear cache.” My response is that it’s a sign of lazy coding, and it should do a better job for customers. Is it fair to think the institution could code updates in a more customer-friendly way? Is there a way to clear cache selectively?
How to pick antivirus software | Q&A with Patrick Marshall Original
Q: I have a Windows laptop with McAfee antivirus through CenturyLink and twice it has been compromised. Also, I have two computers with a McAfee subscription. I am concerned it is not a good antivirus protection. What antivirus software do you recommend? — Karen Little A: I wish there was a clear answer to your question. A recent review of antivirus software, for example, listed 10 different “best” products.
How to detect radio frequency interference | Q&A with Patrick Marshall
Q: My 2-year-old HP running Windows 11 began locking up intermittently. I had it in a shop twice, and it worked perfectly at the shop. At home, it began locking up after working for several hours. The shop techs suspected interference in the home or neighborhood. Nothing has changed in my home, and my old Windows 10 computer works perfectly. I have a similar problem with my newer garage-door remote. I suspect radio frequency interference. Is there a way to stop this?
Cloud storage and screen saver file names | Q&A with Patrick Marshall Original
Q: We have a desktop PC with Windows 10. My wife just got a laptop with Windows 11. We have a subscription for Microsoft 365 Family, and both the desktop and the laptop have that installed. My wife would like to access the Documents folder on the desktop from her laptop, create and edit documents, and then save them — ideally to the desktop, as I back up the Documents folder regularly to two removable drives.
Bad links and T-Mobile’s 5G internet | Q&A with Patrick Marshall
Q: During some text message exchanges on a subject of mutual interest, my son forwarded to me a video clip with the URL address Youtu.be. As a regular reader of your column in The Seattle Times, this slightly different address construction raised a red flag. I did not open it fearing it could contain malware or spyware. I raised that issue with him and he said he took it straight off the YouTube website using the YouTube App on his iPad.
Worries about the LastPass hack and how to convert VHS tapes to digital
Q: You have been very bullish for online password vaults. With the LastPass security leak, are you still? It seems to me the safest place to have your passwords stored is off your main computer, on an encrypted thumb drive, with a printed list that is hidden in your home when not in use. But that’s just me. — William Forester A: Yes, I’m still bullish on strong password managers. And yes, LastPass is one of those. It also happens to be the one I use.
A slow iMac and malware links posing as USPS | Q&A with Patrick Marshall
Q: Thank you for your column. I always learn so much from it. Now I hope I can learn why my iMac keeps slowing down to a crawl. It’s a 2-year-old 2.3GHz Intel iMac with 8GB memory and a 1-terabyte hard drive. Not a race machine but you wouldn’t think it would take five minutes to start a Zoom meeting, three minutes to open Excel, or two minutes to open an email or a web page. It ran fine until earlier this year when the performance just started gradually degrading.
Why a smart light bulb isn’t working, plus a T-mobile puzzle
Q: I bought a smart light bulb that’s made in China to try out with Siri. I downloaded two apps, Smart Life (recommended in the directions) and Yeelight. They have a similar approach, and both say that after doing the various tasks the bulb will flash. That doesn’t happen. I have tried it in several sockets with the same result. Do you have any suggestions? — Ron Kessler, Seattle A: The first thing to try is to manually reset the bulb. Consult the instructions because the steps vary among brands.
How to fix Windows update issues, plus tips on old email addresses | Q&A With Patrick Marshall
Q: I receive an error message when I try to update my Lenovo Windows 10 laptop to version 21H2. A few years ago, I had an update problem with another computer, and Windows had an update repair utility that I downloaded to fix the problem. Microsoft support says to run the troubleshooter in the settings, but that’s not finding any problems. I’m certain I wasn’t imagining that utility. Any advice?
How to change Microsoft email address | Q&A with Patrick Marshall
Q: I have an Office 365 Family subscription. The email account associated with this Microsoft account, including Office and OneDrive, is an old Hotmail account that has long become inundated with spam. I recently created a new Outlook ad-free email account for $20 per year. I don’t intend to use this new one as my primary email account, but I want to associate it with my Microsoft account. How can I do so without risking losing the stored data?
How to fight email spam, end printer ink subscription and more | Q&A with Patrick Marshall
Q: I have a subscription to HP Instant Ink. A set of cartridges lasts me nine months to a year, so I figured I would be better off without the subscription. When I notified the provider, I was told if I drop the service by stopping the monthly charge, my current ink will be disabled. Can the provider do this by installing something on the last set and if so, can it be disabled?
Fixing computer and internet speed issues | Q&A With Patrick Marshall
Q: My Dell XPS 8900 has been taking a long time to boot lately. When the system was new, I replaced the C: Drive and added a D: Drive — both Samsung solid-state drives. Do SSDs slow down with age or use? —Eric Hammond, Port Ludlow A: It’s possible for SSDs to slow down. The most common cause isn’t age, however, but it is the SSD being too full. Try to keep 20% to 30% of the drive free. Another possible cause of lower performance is defragmentation.
How to troubleshoot email problems
Q: I receive about 50 junk emails every day. When I look at the sender address, it is ” …@SYNTAX_ERROR.” The emails do not have an error. Because the “from” address of SYNTAX_ERROR is not a domain name, I cannot block these emails. I was able to send them to the junk folder, but I still have to scan that folder for other emails that might not be junk. Can you help me find a way to block these emails?
How to get out of a USB error-and-repair loop
Q: When I insert a USB drive into my computer, I get an error message that offers to repair the drive. I accept the offer, and the computer quickly repairs the drive. Why does the drive repeatedly need to be repaired? — J.C. Kenner A: One of my drives recently started behaving similarly. I was able to prevent the error and repair loop by clicking on “Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media” in System Tray. I checked with Microsoft about this issue, but haven’t heard back.
Tech Q&A: From email marketing to speeding up downloads and uploads
Q: Does an email sender know whether I opened it before deleting it? — Greg Carlock A: There are email programs for marketers that will report not only whether an email was opened but other tracking information, such as link clicks and whether the mail was opened on a mobile device or a desktop computer. Here’s how it’s done. The email marketing program puts a 1-pixel, invisible image in your outbound emails.
How to fix browser and core-isolation issues | Patrick Marshall
Q: Since I installed Windows 11 on my Surface Pro 6, CNN videos wouldn’t play. I followed troubleshooting instructions in a YouTube video, but it still didn’t resolve the problem. On my work laptop, which has Windows 10, the videos play. What should I do to get the videos to play correctly on my Surface? — Sherry Wysong A: There’s no indication that Windows 11 is behind your problem. I have Windows 11 running on three computers and don’t have any problem with CNN videos.
Why you should always back up your data
Q: Since moving to Windows 10 a while ago, I frequently receive an error message when I try to open email attachments or even my own files. The message is: “This operation requires elevation.” How do I acquire this mysterious elevation? — Scott Norman A: That error message means that the user account you logged on with doesn’t have “rights” to those files. There are three ways to solve the problem.
How to keep autosave on in Word and stop media player from crashing
Q: I use Office 365. Every time I open a Word document, I have to turn on Autosave. A window pops up saying I have to first upload the document to OneDrive. So I click on the button and hit save — and Autosave is turned on. The problem is that the next time I open that document, I have to do the same thing all over again. Help! — Adele Kaars, Bainbridge Island A: It sounds like you’re not signed into your OneDrive cloud storage. There are two things to do, but you’ll only have to do them once.
Pros and cons of turning off computers, and how to solve Wi-Fi issues
Q: I recently bought a new computer, with a solid-state drive (SSD). I regularly have it on from 7 a.m. to about 10 p.m. I leave it plugged in 24/7. Is it OK to leave it on all those hours, or should I turn it off? I enjoy the constantly playing screen saver program. — Ward Folsom A: About 15 years ago PCs began to offer a “sleep mode” that would kick in after a specified period of nonuse. Among other things, the computer’s display would turn off, and the hard drive would shut down.
How to weigh risks of an old iPhone and invalid site certificates
Q: The iPhone 7 will not be supported after the fall iOS update. I have a perfectly functional iPhone 7 with over 90% battery life left. I don’t care about getting new features, but I would like to continue to use it and keep it safe after Apple stops support. Is there any software I can run, or any other way to get security updates? Or is this phone going to become too unsafe to use?
Pros and cons of Linux and how to deal with HP laptop battery issues Original
Q: Despite having spent my entire career in tech, I have always been a slow adopter (aka cheapskate, privacy freak and cynic) in my personal tech habits. Whenever I get a new computer, I do so to some lower-priced model that is being phased out. I bought my first Mac laptop in January 2007, and then replaced it with a late-2010 MacBook Air in 2014.
SSD cloning, Apple updates and printer failures | Q&A with Patrick Marshall Original
Q: I read your Q&A about solid-state drive (SSD) cloning. The reader was cloning their SSD and asking about wear and or errors on the SSD. In your response, you stated that, “I suspect that you must be backing up sensitive data to go to so much trouble for creating clones of your drive and storing them off-site.” I also regularly clone my C drive.
How to fix cellular, internet connection issues and Hotmail problems
Q: Are you aware of anyone in Kitsap County who can set up a network in my house? I am in a cellphone and internet dead spot in Poulsbo.
How to remove Windows Widgets and find apps that manage device batteries
Q: A week ago, without warning or permission, Microsoft installed a news sidebar that takes up 25% of my screen. How do I eliminate it? — R.A. Virant, Bothell A: I’m guessing that you’re referring to the Windows Widgets, a customizable page of apps that offer a variety of apps on topics including weather, sports, news, stocks, photos, traffic and more. The Widgets panel is installed by default in the taskbar at the bottom of the screen.
Can passwords stored in the cloud be retrieved after laptop dies, and how to reduce spam emails
Q: My elderly father-in-law used his old laptop for 11 years before it stopped working. His Google account where he stored his files, emails and all his other important stuff was in the cloud. Since his computer auto populated his password each time he went online, he felt there was no reason to remember the password or to write it down. To make matters worse, the backup phone number where Google would send a text to change or recover the password was an old phone he no longer had.
Can system folders in Windows 11 be moved and how many writes can an SSD handle?
Q: I have a new HP laptop with Windows 11, a 256GB solid-state drive (SSD), and a 1TB standard hard drive. The SSD is labeled Windows (C:) and the HD is labeled DATA (D:). It’s apparent that programs should run on C and data should be stored on D. However, Windows 11 does not allow the Desktop, Documents and Pictures folders to be anywhere but C:\Users\username\OneDrive.
Fiber cables, internet speeds and botnets | Q&A with Patrick Marshall
Q: I’m an Xfinity/Comcast subscriber. They’ve recently either added or upgraded the fiber cable throughout our neighborhood. One of the linemen said it would allow for faster speeds. But the line from the street to the house and the cable running through the walls hasn’t been upgraded since it was installed 20 or more years ago. Does that old copper coaxial cable present limitation to the service?
How to rid a device of a hard-to-identify virus, and tips to move photos from a phone to a PC
Q: I was recently placed in CenturyLink’s Consumer Internet Protection Program for the second time because of reports of malicious traffic coming from my home network. In both instances I used McAfee Antivirus, Malwarebytes, and finally the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool on all of my connected PCs to identify and fix this problem. In each instance, no malicious software was found.
Can photos be transferred from an Android phone directly to a laptop? | Q&A with Patrick Marshall
Q: I need help saving my photos. I have an Android phone that uploads photos from the phone to my Google Photos account. I haven’t been able to transfer photos directly from my phone to my laptop (primary storage site), so the only way I can get them is to download them from the Google account to my laptop. After I do that, I want to delete them but I’m afraid if I delete them from the Google Photos account, I’ll delete them everywhere. I do back up photos to my Dropbox account.
Checking Wi-Fi connections while traveling, troubleshooting printers | Q&A with Patrick Marshall
Q: I just returned from a Caribbean cruise on MSC Cruises. I pre-purchased their internet package. I have a Windows laptop with McAfee protective software. I also have an iPhone. I accessed the airport Wi-Fi before taking off to Orlando from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and had Wi-Fi problems with my laptop and iPhone. On the Alaska Airlines flight, I could not connect my laptop to the plane’s internal Wi-Fi server. My iPhone worked perfectly. At the Orlando airport everything worked fine.
Can Cortana and Xbox be deleted from Windows 10, and how can buffering be eliminated from TVs connected to the internet?
Q: I use Windows 10 and have half a dozen items I would like to delete like Xbox, gaming and games, and Cortana. These either have an uninstall button that is not active or I am referred to “programs” but they are not listed there. Where can I get at them? I have very large disk space, it’s mainly about dumping things I never use. — Jim Carroll A: I hear you, especially about Cortana. Fortunately, Microsoft has stopped enabling Cortana by default in Windows 11.
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