Phil Stillman Tech Support & Computer Services

🔒 Don’t Get Locked Out! The Importance of Updating Your Microsoft Account Info
We’ve all been there—you get a notification to update your security info and think, “I’ll do it later.” But "later" can quickly turn into a nightmare if you lose access to your account!

Why does it matter? Your Microsoft account (Outlook, Hotmail, Xbox, or OneDrive) is often the "master key" to your digital life. If you forget your password or someone tries to hack your account, Microsoft uses your recovery email and phone number to verify it’s really you.

The Hard Truth about Recovery:
If your security info is outdated (e.g., an old phone number you no longer have or a work email from a previous job), the recovery process is strictly automated. * Microsoft support agents cannot manually reset your password or change your security details for you.

If you can't pass the automated verification form, you could permanently lose your emails, photos, and purchases.

3 Minutes Now = Saving Hours of Stress Later:

Sign in to your Microsoft Security Dashboard.

Check your "Advanced security options."

Ensure you have at least two forms of recovery (like a mobile number and an alternative email address).

Take a moment to check your settings today. Future-you will thank you! 🙌

Locked out by a Blue Screen asking for a "BitLocker Key"? 🔐💻

If your Windows 11 computer just restarted and is asking for a 48-digit recovery key, don't panic! You haven't been hacked—it’s a known issue with some recent Windows updates.

How to find your key:
1️⃣ Grab a phone or another computer.
2️⃣ Log into your Microsoft Account here: https://account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey
3️⃣ Look for the "Key ID" that matches the one shown on your blue screen.
4️⃣ Type in that 48-digit string, and you’re back in!

Pro Tip: Once you're back in, make sure to run your Windows Updates again. Microsoft has released a fix to stop this from happening a second time! 🛠️

Why is my computer so slow?
In 2026, the most frequent culprits for a slow machine are: Too Many Startup Programs: Many apps automatically set themselves to launch when you turn on your computer, eating up memory before you even start working.

Web Browser Bloat: Modern browsers use significant resources, especially if you have dozens of tabs open or several active extensions.

Storage Bottlenecks: If your hard drive or SSD is more than 90% full, the operating system struggles to find "scratch space" to run efficiently.

Thermal Throttling: If your computer gets too hot, it will intentionally slow down its processor to prevent hardware damage.

Common Issues Specific to 2026
Recent reports indicate some specific trends currently affecting users:
Windows 11 App Crashes: Recent updates (like KB5074109) have caused issues with apps becoming unresponsive when saving to cloud storage like OneDrive.

Hardware Scarcity: A global shortage in $DDR5$ memory and CPUs has made it harder and more expensive for users to upgrade their older machines, leading more people to struggle with aging hardware.

Having computer issues? Call us today for a computer repair. We offer free pickup & delivery in the Westerly area.

🚨⚠️ **Got a “Virus Warning” Pop-Up? DON’T PANIC!** ⚠️🚨

You’re browsing the web and suddenly…

🔴 “YOUR COMPUTER IS INFECTED!”
🔊 Loud beeping noises
📞 “Call Microsoft Immediately!”
⛔ “Do NOT shut down your computer!”

Take a deep breath. 😮‍💨
It’s likely **scareware** — a fake alert designed to scare you into clicking or calling.

Here’s what to do instead:

✅ **DO NOT click anything in the pop-up**
Not even the red ❌ — sometimes it’s fake.

📞❌ **Do NOT call the phone number**
Microsoft, Apple, and legitimate companies do NOT display pop-ups with phone numbers.

🖥️ **Close your browser safely:**
➡️ Windows: Press **Ctrl + Shift + Esc** → Open Task Manager → End the browser task
➡️ Mac: Press **Command + Option + Esc** → Force Quit the browser

🔄 **Restart your computer**

🛡️ **Run your antivirus scan**

If the pop-ups keep coming back… or you already clicked something… don’t be embarrassed. It happens every day.

💻 Phil’s Tech Support helps remove scareware, malware, and browser hijackers safely and affordably.

📩 Message me before clicking anything suspicious.
Better safe than sorry!

Stay safe online 🔐
— Phil’s Tech Support

Having computer issues? Call us today for a computer repair. We offer free pickup & delivery in the Westerly area.

Try our Free Cyber Security Training Program Online.

Cyber Security Training

It’s tax season & nothing is more frustrating than trying to get things done on a slow unresponsive computer. Give us a call! We will pickup your computer (in the Westerly area), give it a tuneup and deliver it to you, ready to get those taxes done.

It’s Tax season! Do you have access to the files you need? We are doing some Data Recovery this week for a client that needed some files off of drive that failed.

Free Pickup & Delivery in the Westerly area!
Need your computer repaired?
We are now offering free pickup & delivery for computer repairs in the Westerly, RI area.