Newsletter Archives

• How to fix problems with Microsoft’s Phone Link app

  Posted on February 17, 2025 at 02:45 CST by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 22.07 • 2025-02-17

  WINDOWS 11

  

  By Lance Whitney

  Phone Link pairs your iPhone or Android phone with Windows, but it doesn’t always cooperate. Here’s how to fix technical troubles that may pop up in the process.

  I often use Microsoft’s Phone Link to sync my iPhone and Android phone with Windows so I can access mobile calls, messages, contacts, and photos from my phone directly on my PC. I especially like to write and answer texts using my desktop keyboard and mouse rather than my phone’s tiny virtual keys. But Phone Link can sometimes misbehave.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (22.07.0, 2025-02-17).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  Windows 11 Android, Bluetooth, iPhone, Newsletters, Phone Link, Settings, Troubleshooting

• Using the ipconfig command to troubleshoot network problems

  Posted on October 14, 2019 at 01:05 CDT by Tracey Capen • Comment in the Forums

  NETWORK TROUBLESHOOTING

  By Lance Whitney

  When you’re having trouble connecting to a network, Windows’ command-line option IP Configuration can reveal helpful information.

  Network-connection problems can crop up anywhere and in various ways: at home, at a hotel, connecting to a network printer, opening webpages, and so forth. Connection issues can be relatively simple or complex. For example, you might have an IP-address conflict, where two devices are trying to use the same address — and the solution is a quick IP refresh. Or your system could have trouble resolving addresses: you can connect to a site or server via its IP address but not through its name. That might require some deeper digging.

  Read the full story in AskWoody Plus Newsletter 16.37.0 (2019-10-14).

  Troubleshooting AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Ipconfig, Networks, Troubleshooting

• How do you know if File History is really working?

  Posted on July 8, 2019 at 01:05 CDT by Tracey Capen • Comment in the Forums

  LANGALIST

  By Fred Langa

  For that matter, how do you know if any of your backups are working?

  The best proof is a nondestructive, no-overwrite, test-restore of one or more of your backed-up files. Here’s how, using Windows’ File History as the example.

  Plus: Full and partial fixes to a recurring and seemingly patternless boot failure.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 16.25.0 (2019-07-08).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, LangaList AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Backup, boot failures, File History, test-restores, Troubleshooting

• Top 10 free troubleshooting tools for Windows 10

  Posted on August 29, 2016 at 07:06 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  If you have problems with Windows 10 (and, eh, who doesn’t?) here are my ten top picks for fixes.

  InfoWorld

  Other Troubleshooting, Widnows 10