FAQs & How-Tos

First, try the classic move: unplug your router, wait about 30 seconds, and plug it back in. That fixes it more often than you'd think. If it keeps happening, your router might be too far from where you're working, or it could just be getting old — routers don't last forever. If you've got a lot of devices on the network (phones, tablets, smart TVs, thermostats), they can crowd each other out too.

Still dropping? Give Jerry a call at 540.303.2410. He can check your setup remotely or swing by to take a look. Sometimes a simple channel change or a better router placement is all it takes. And check out our Slow Internet microcourse for more tips you can try yourself.

A slow computer is usually one of a few things: too many programs starting up when you turn it on, not enough memory, a hard drive that's almost full, or sometimes malware running in the background. Here's a quick checklist:

• Restart your computer (seriously — a lot of people just close the lid and never restart)
• Check how full your hard drive is (if it's over 90%, that'll slow things down)
• Look at what programs are running — press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager and see what's using the most resources
• Make sure Windows is up to date
• Run a virus scan

If it's still sluggish after all that, it might be time for a tune-up or a hardware upgrade. Jerry can take a look and tell you whether it's worth fixing or time to start fresh. Call 540.303.2410. Or check out our Upgrade vs. Repair microcourse to help you decide.

Yes — almost always. I know those update notifications are annoying, but they're patching security holes that hackers already know about. The longer you wait, the more exposed you are. Windows updates, browser updates, Office updates — let them install. Just save your work first and pick a time when you can let your computer restart.

The only exception: if you're in the middle of something critical (a big presentation, tax filing, etc.), it's okay to wait until you're done. But don't ignore them for weeks. That's how people end up with ransomware. Our Stay Safe Online microcourse covers more about staying protected.

Here's the trick: use a passphrase instead of a password. Think of a short sentence that means something to you — like "My dog Buster loves 3 treats!" — and use that as your password. It's long, it's got uppercase, lowercase, a number, and a special character, and you can actually remember it.

Even better, use a password manager (like Bitwarden — it's free). It'll create and remember strong passwords for every site, and you only need to remember one master password.

Want to learn more? I put together a quick Password Security microcourse that walks you through the whole thing in about 10 minutes.

Printers and Wi-Fi have a complicated relationship. Here's what to try:

• Restart both the printer and your router
• Make sure the printer is within range of your Wi-Fi signal
• Check that the printer is connected to the same network as your computer (not a guest network)
• On the printer's control panel, look for a Wi-Fi setup option and re-enter your network password
• On your computer, try removing the printer and adding it again (Settings → Devices → Printers & Scanners)

If none of that works, it might be a driver issue or a network configuration problem. Jerry can usually sort it out remotely. And if you want to understand printers a little better, check out the Printer Problems microcourse — it covers the most common headaches.

First, make sure you're going to the right place: office.com. Use the email address your organization gave you (not your personal email). If your password isn't working, click "Forgot my password" and follow the steps — you'll need access to your recovery email or phone number.

If you're locked out completely, your administrator may need to reset your password. For business accounts, that's usually Jerry. Give him a call at 540.303.2410 and he'll get you sorted out quickly.

One more thing: if you've been asked to set up multi-factor authentication (MFA) and haven't done it yet, that's probably why you're stuck. Jerry can walk you through it — it only takes a few minutes. And if you're using Teams as part of your Office 365 setup, check out our MS Teams microcourse to get comfortable with the basics.