Safe Mode still exists and you can still use it..

No reader question today. Instead, I want to discuss Safe Mode, Windows’ stripped-down, minimum-driver environment. For years now, there’s been one quick way to enter Safe Mode—pressing F8. But that  trick doesn’t work for all Windows 8 PCs.

And even in older versions, it’s not always the easiest form of entry.

Safe Mode gives you a low-resolution, visually ugly, feature-limited Windows environment useful for diagnostic and repair purposes. You wouldn’t want to create a PowerPoint demonstration there, but if things are misbehaving, it can be a fruitful place to visit. For instance, if a program’s uninstall routine keeps failing, it just might uninstall properly in Safe Mode.

Among the things that standard Safe Mode cannot do is networking. However, because network and Internet access are needed for some diagnostic chores—such as malware scanning and updating drivers—Windows also provides an alternative Safe Mode with Networking environment.

The conventional way of entering Safe Mode still works in Windows 7 and Vista, and in some Windows 8 PCs. Boot the computer and start pressing and releasing F8 repeatedly. Once the Advanced Boot Options menu pops up, you can select Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking.

If that doesn’t work, here’s something specific to Windows 8:

1. Hold down Shift while selecting the Restart option on the Shutdown menu. This works with the Settings charm and—in Windows 8.1—right-clicking the Start button.
   
2. On the resulting “Choose an option” screen, select Troubleshoot>Advanced options>Startup Settings>Restart.
3. When the Startup Settings menu appears, type 4 for Safe Mode or 5 for Safe Mode with Networking.

Here’s one more path to Safe Mode, and it works in Windows 7, 8, and Vista:

1. In the Start menu’s Search field or in the Windows 8 Search charm, type msconfig, and launch the resulting program.
2. Click the Boot tab.
3. Check the Safe boot option
   
4. Select an option below that. Safe boot brings you to the standard Safe Mode. With networking does exactly what you think it does.
5. Click OK, then Restart.

One problem with this method: When you’re done and you reboot Windows, it will take you back into Safe mode. So while you’re still in Safe Mode, launch msconfig and uncheck the Safe boot option.

Update on how to get the most online storage

If 2014 isn't known as the year of wearables, it could be known as the year of cloud storage. Between updates to Google Drive and Dropbox, and revamped offerings from Apple's iCloud Drive, Amazon's Cloud Drive and Microsoft's OneDrive, access to cloud storage is now easier and cheaper than ever before.

Even with the cost of storage continuing to decline, free storage is something that's hard to pass up. Let's take a look at how to get free space from your favorite storage providers. If you want to upgrade to more than just the allotted free space, check out Sarah Mitroff's in-depth comparison of the big four cloud storage services.  Click here for the CNET article for more

Do not get ripped off on Black Friday...Part Four

The asterisk is there for a reason!

Well, asterisks. Keep watching the asterisks. This is especially important for cell phones and tablets, but it can apply to anything.

If a gadget is on sale for a very good price, look around that price for any asterisks (* symbols). This means there are additional terms to go with that very good price, and those terms might make that price seem much less appealing. Asterisk, by the way, is Latin for "strings are attached."

That cell phone on sale? *Requires two-year contract.

That tablet on sale? *Excludes these common variations more likely to be on the shelves.

That game system on sale? *Quantities limited, no rain checks.

The fault, dear shoppers, is not in ourselves, but in those stars.

Do not get ripped off on Black Friday...Part Three

Beware Unnamed Tablet Deals
There might be hundreds of different HDTV models out there, but most of them will be from recognizable brands. That isn't the case with tablets. Many, many Android and Windows tablets come from relatively unknown companies or are simply unbranded, and you can't be sure of what you're getting. If it says Lenovo or Acer or Toshiba, there's a good chance we've reviewed it (and you should check these tablet reviews to make sure). If it just says "Android tablet" and it costs less than dinner for four, there's a good chance it's a piece of junk.

There's a reason iPads, Lenovo Yogas, and Samsung Galaxy Tabs cost much, much more than seemingly similar tablets. Major brands and major models roundly offer better specs, better build quality, and a better experience than unbranded tablets. It's easy to throw around enough components to run some version of Android on a 7- or 10-inch screen. It's hard to make a responsive, well-equipped, well-designed tablet. Even if the specs seem similar, once you look under the hood or hold it in your hands, the difference will become apparent.

This doesn't mean all brand-name tablets are great deals, though. You can still get a mediocre or even downright terrible tablet from a major manufacturer. You can also get a diamond in the rough with a no-name tablet. The problem is you can't know about that unbranded tablet until you put the cash down on it. A relatively inexpensive brand-name tablet like an Nvidia Shield Tablet or an Asus VivoTab Note 8 might cost more than the no-name model, but you can be sure we put them through their paces and are worth your money.

How to wipe your phone clean before you get rid of it

This post is inspired by the check I got from Gazelle today for selling my iPhone 5.  What you should do before you get rid of your old phone to make sure you leave no valuable information on it.

Before you start:

• Back up all your data, including contacts
• Remember to remove the SIM card and any external storage such as a microSD card
• Log out of services like email and social media, then clear the data from these apps if you can
• Perform a separate encrypt and wipe of data on the microSD card as well if you don't plan to use the card in a new device
• Keep the serial number of the phone or tablet on file for your records.

Android

Lexy Savvides/CNET 

The simplest way to wipe your Android device is to perform a factory reset. However, this often only clears data at the application level, and other information such as SMS and chat messages can be restored with some standard data recovery tools.

Instead, CNET's Dan Graziano has a full rundown on how to effectively wipe data on your Android phone or tablet which begins with encrypting your device first through the Settings menu.

You won't need any special tools, just a bit more patience than simply pressing the restore option within the settings.

Once the wipe is complete, remember to also revoke access to the phone from services such as Facebook and Google. To remove devices from your Google account, head to security.google.com/settings/security/activity, click on the model you have wiped, and press Remove next to the Account Access option.

iOS

Apple devices that support iOS 5 or later include hardware encryption when you set a passcode. If you perform a wipe using the method below, the encryption key is also overwritten which makes it very difficult for anyone who wants to recover the data.

Step one: Before starting the reset process, make sure to turn off all services, starting with Find My iPhone. Do this by heading to Settings > iCloud > Find My iPhone. Enter your Apple ID password when prompted.

Step two: Sign out of iCloud completely. Head to Settings > iCloud and find Sign Out at the bottom of the page. For iOS 7 devices, choose Delete Account.

If you delete all your data manually without signing out of iCloud, it will also delete the content from iCloud as well -- which is something you definitely don't want.

Step three: Turn off and sign out of other services including iMessage and Apple ID.

For iMessage, go to Settings > Messages > toggle the iMessage option. For your Apple ID, go to Settings > iTunes & App Store > tap your Apple ID email address and then Sign Out.

For added peace of mind you may also want to sign out individually of any other linked services and apps, such as Facebook or Twitter.

Step four: Start the wipe process. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. Confirm the selection.

Step five: If you have registered your device with Apple by its serial number, remove it from your support profile by logging in with your Apple ID at supportprofile.apple.com

Do not get ripped off on Black Friday...Part Two

Check the Price Elsewhere
Black Friday deals often look amazing when compared to suggested retail prices, which is almost always how ads describe any discount. Suggested retail prices aren't always applicable outside of Black Friday, though. Lots of products are readily available for well below the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) regardless of the time of year. You just won't find proof of that in the Black Friday ad.

If a sale looks great, look for the same product elsewhere. Look up other retailers, both online and in physical stores. An HDTV might have a $2,200 MSRP and be on sale for $1,400 on Black Friday, but you could just as easily find it available for $1,500 any other day if you look at another retailer that isn't pushing that model at that price for just that day.

Black Friday ads are designed to make the savings look unbelievable, and they almost always use the MSRP to show just how much you'll save. If you find out you're saving only 10 percent instead of 50 percent, you might think twice about braving the Black Friday crowds to get the gadget you want.