dontaskdavid.com • quick answers • fewer phone calls
If you’re about to ask me a tech question, start here. If this page doesn’t fix it, then yes… you may ask David.
Last updated: March 29, 2026
Tip of the Week — March 29, 2026
Shutdown and Restart are not the same. Restart fully reloads Windows and clears memory, while Shutdown (with Fast Startup enabled) can leave parts of the system in a cached state. If you're troubleshooting, always choose Restart — it actually resets things.
View previous Tips of the Week
Before you ask (60-second checklist)
- Reboot the computer (not sleep, not “close the lid”).
- Check Wi-Fi: are you connected to the right network?
- Try a different browser (Chrome / Edge) if a site is acting weird.
- Unplug/plug the thing (printer/router/monitor) for 10 seconds.
- Read the exact error message. Yes, the exact one.
When you should ask David immediately
- You see a ransom note, “your files are encrypted,” or weird popups.
- You clicked a suspicious email link and entered your password.
- The server is down, internet is down, or multiple people affected.
- You smell burning, hear clicking, or the PC won’t power on.
- You need access restored ASAP for business operations.
Top Questions (the ones everyone asks)
Reboot first. If it’s still slow, open Task Manager and see what’s using CPU/Disk. If Disk stays near 100% or the fan sounds like a jet engine, something deeper is going on.
Test on your phone too. If both fail, reboot modem/router. If only one device fails, forget the Wi-Fi network and reconnect.
Reboot printer and computer. Make sure it’s not paused and the correct printer is selected. If it’s a network printer, confirm you’re on the office Wi-Fi or VPN.
Yes. Updates fix security holes and stability issues. Skipping them is one of the most common reasons systems get compromised.
Totally believable. Updates, internet changes, credentials expiring, and background processes can all change behavior overnight.
Try another device on the same network. If everything is broken, it’s likely internet. If only your machine is broken, it’s probably local.
You can… until one site gets breached and everything else gets compromised too. Use unique passwords or a password manager.
Quick Fixes (try these first)
- Reboot properly: Start → Power → Restart (not sleep, not just closing the lid).
- Hard refresh a website: Ctrl + F5 (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + R (Mac).
- Check Wi-Fi: Make sure you’re on the correct network, not guest or neighbor Wi-Fi.
- Test another browser: If Chrome breaks, try Edge. If Edge breaks, try Chrome.
- Unplug/plug devices: Printers, docks, monitors, and routers fix themselves more than you’d expect.
- Try another device: Helps determine if the issue is your machine or the service itself.
- Read the error message: The exact wording matters more than “it’s not working”.
Need David?
Email: help@dontaskdavid.com
Phone/Text: 978-304-7680
If you’ve done the checklist and it’s still broken, include what you were trying to do,
the exact error message, and a screenshot if possible.