Plain-English home tech advice from TekStop in Prescott, Arizona.https://www.tekstopaz.com/https://www.tekstopaz.com/tekstop-becomes-home-tech-concierge/https://www.tekstopaz.com/tekstop-becomes-home-tech-concierge/TekStop is now TekStop Home Tech Concierge. What the new name means for the Prescott homes we look after, and the story behind the change.Tue, 29 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/smart-home-basics/https://www.tekstopaz.com/smart-home-basics/Lights that turn themselves off, a leak alert before the damage, the front door locked from bed. What a smart home really does, and where to start.Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/scary-pop-up-on-computer-what-to-do/https://www.tekstopaz.com/scary-pop-up-on-computer-what-to-do/Got a pop-up warning that your computer is infected? What to do first, what to never click, and how to tell a fake virus alert from a real one.Tue, 25 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/why-is-my-browser-so-slow/https://www.tekstopaz.com/why-is-my-browser-so-slow/Why is your browser so slow? The usual causes - extensions, cache, your internet connection, antivirus - and the fixes, in the order worth trying.Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/windows-10-end-of-support-what-to-do/https://www.tekstopaz.com/windows-10-end-of-support-what-to-do/Windows 10 security updates have ended, and the extension runs out in October. How to check for a free Windows 11 upgrade, and the honest math if you can't.Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/scams-going-around-prescott-right-now/https://www.tekstopaz.com/scams-going-around-prescott-right-now/The scams our clients are actually seeing this season. Fake Microsoft pop-ups, bank impersonation texts, Medicare calls, and the gift-card tell.Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/what-is-a-home-soc/https://www.tekstopaz.com/what-is-a-home-soc/What a SOC actually does, why software alone can't replace one, and how round-the-clock security monitoring became available to households.Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/cant-log-in-to-email-common-causes-and-fixes/https://www.tekstopaz.com/cant-log-in-to-email-common-causes-and-fixes/Locked out of your email? Wrong passwords, expired sessions and security holds are the usual causes. Here are the fixes, in the order worth trying them.Tue, 11 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/cost-of-a-slow-computer/https://www.tekstopaz.com/cost-of-a-slow-computer/Five minutes of waiting, several times a day, every day. The arithmetic on what a slow computer actually costs a household, and the cheap ways out of it.Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/why-is-my-wifi-so-bad-in-prescott/https://www.tekstopaz.com/why-is-my-wifi-so-bad-in-prescott/Prescott's old walls, long lots and limited internet options gang up on WiFi. Here's what's actually wrong in most local homes, and what genuinely fixes it.Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/how-to-fix-a-slow-computer/https://www.tekstopaz.com/how-to-fix-a-slow-computer/The honest checklist we run on slow computers: startup queue, storage health, browser weight and the 'cleaner' apps making things worse. Free fixes first.Mon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/password-managers-and-safe-password-practices/https://www.tekstopaz.com/password-managers-and-safe-password-practices/Why one strong password isn't the goal, what a password manager actually does, and a realistic security setup for a normal household (no paranoia required).Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/when-should-i-replace-my-computer/https://www.tekstopaz.com/when-should-i-replace-my-computer/The honest repair-or-replace math from people who profit either way: what's worth fixing, what isn't, and the one upgrade that buys old machines years.Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/what-is-the-best-vpn-and-do-you-even-need-one/https://www.tekstopaz.com/what-is-the-best-vpn-and-do-you-even-need-one/VPN ads promise privacy and security. What a VPN really does, who genuinely needs one, and how to pick without the hype.Sun, 01 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/is-sparklight-down-how-to-tell-if-your-internet-connection-is-working/https://www.tekstopaz.com/is-sparklight-down-how-to-tell-if-your-internet-connection-is-working/A two-minute diagnostic for Prescott-area outages. Figure out whether it's Sparklight, your equipment, or one misbehaving device before you wait on hold.Tue, 12 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/common-printer-problems-and-how-to-fix-them/https://www.tekstopaz.com/common-printer-problems-and-how-to-fix-them/Offline printers, ghost queues, streaky pages and the scanner that scans to nowhere. Here's how to fix the most stubborn machine in your house.Tue, 16 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/multi-factor-authentication-the-ultimate-guide-to-securing-your-accounts/https://www.tekstopaz.com/multi-factor-authentication-the-ultimate-guide-to-securing-your-accounts/MFA stops the vast majority of account takeovers. No jargon: what it is, where to turn it on first, and which second factor to pick.Sun, 16 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/how-to-choose-the-best-computer-repair-service-for-you/https://www.tekstopaz.com/how-to-choose-the-best-computer-repair-service-for-you/The questions to ask any computer repair service, the red flags to walk away from, and how in-home service changes the math.Wed, 08 May 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/who-is-the-best-internet-provider-in-prescott/https://www.tekstopaz.com/who-is-the-best-internet-provider-in-prescott/An honest local guide to cable, fiber, fixed wireless, satellite and cellular internet in the Prescott area, and how to pick the right one by address.Tue, 05 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/how-to-setup-your-wifi-router/https://www.tekstopaz.com/how-to-setup-your-wifi-router/A plain-English router setup guide: placement, naming, passwords, guest networks and the three settings that matter, minus the jargon.Sun, 01 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/prepare-for-school-with-peace-of-mind-essential-child-online-safety-tips-for-parents-in-the-cyber-age/https://www.tekstopaz.com/prepare-for-school-with-peace-of-mind-essential-child-online-safety-tips-for-parents-in-the-cyber-age/Parental controls that survive contact with a clever 12-year-old, the settings worth using, and why the WiFi router is your strongest ally.Mon, 21 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/computer-cleanup-software-the-snake-oil-of-the-tech-industry/https://www.tekstopaz.com/computer-cleanup-software-the-snake-oil-of-the-tech-industry/PC cleanup and 'speed-up' apps promise a faster computer and mostly deliver pop-ups. Why cleanup software is snake oil, and what actually helps.Tue, 30 May 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/how-to-reset-your-computer-with-windows/https://www.tekstopaz.com/how-to-reset-your-computer-with-windows/When software problems won't quit, a Windows reset can start you fresh. How to reset your computer safely, with or without keeping your files.Mon, 15 May 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/5-quick-fixes-for-wifi-problems/https://www.tekstopaz.com/5-quick-fixes-for-wifi-problems/Five fixes that resolve most home WiFi complaints: restart order, router placement, band steering, extender audits and the forgotten firmware update.Mon, 17 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/how-to-clean-your-computer/https://www.tekstopaz.com/how-to-clean-your-computer/Safe physical cleaning for laptops and desktops. What to use, what never to spray, and why dusty high-desert homes need it more often.Mon, 03 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/in-home-computer-repair-near-me-get-your-devices-fixed-fast/https://www.tekstopaz.com/in-home-computer-repair-near-me-get-your-devices-fixed-fast/When your computer goes down, you don't have to haul it anywhere. What in-home computer repair looks like, and how to get devices fixed fast.Wed, 15 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/how-to-turn-on-bluetooth-in-windows-11/https://www.tekstopaz.com/how-to-turn-on-bluetooth-in-windows-11/Turn on Bluetooth in Windows 11 in under a minute, from Settings or Quick Settings, plus what to check when the toggle is missing entirely.Sun, 25 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/roaming-signatures-top-5-features-of-the-new-microsoft-outlook/https://www.tekstopaz.com/roaming-signatures-top-5-features-of-the-new-microsoft-outlook/Outlook roaming signatures are finally here. Our five favorite features in the new Microsoft Outlook, and what they mean for your inbox.Sat, 03 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/what-is-wave-browser-and-should-you-remove-it/https://www.tekstopaz.com/what-is-wave-browser-and-should-you-remove-it/Wave Browser usually arrives hidden inside another download. What it is, how it got on your machine, and the exact steps to remove it.Tue, 05 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/12-password-best-practices/https://www.tekstopaz.com/12-password-best-practices/Strong, unique passwords are the first line of defense. Twelve password best practices in plain English, from length and reuse to managers and MFA.Tue, 31 May 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/3-benefits-to-on-site-computer-repair/https://www.tekstopaz.com/3-benefits-to-on-site-computer-repair/Three reasons on-site computer repair works so well: nothing to unplug, you watch the diagnosis happen, and house problems get fixed in the house.Thu, 17 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/3-easy-steps-to-migrate-off-cableone-sparklight-email/https://www.tekstopaz.com/3-easy-steps-to-migrate-off-cableone-sparklight-email/A legacy cableone.net address won't last forever. 3 steps to move to Gmail or Outlook without losing your mail or the accounts tied to it.Sat, 13 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/virus-removal-tutorial-how-to-remove-computer-viruses-for-free/https://www.tekstopaz.com/virus-removal-tutorial-how-to-remove-computer-viruses-for-free/A step-by-step tutorial for removing computer viruses with free tools, covering safe mode, scanners and browser cleanup, plus the signs it's time to call for help.Mon, 13 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/prescott-computer-repair-expectations-versus-reality/https://www.tekstopaz.com/prescott-computer-repair-expectations-versus-reality/What people expect from computer repair in Prescott versus what actually happens on a visit. Timelines, costs, and the myths worth retiring.Tue, 03 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/what-is-icloud-tekstop-i-t-services-talks-about-the-cloud/https://www.tekstopaz.com/what-is-icloud-tekstop-i-t-services-talks-about-the-cloud/iCloud, explained in plain English: what Apple's cloud actually stores, what it costs, and how to keep photos and backups from quietly filling it up.Tue, 04 Feb 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://www.tekstopaz.com/function-keys-on-your-computer-keyboard-explained/https://www.tekstopaz.com/function-keys-on-your-computer-keyboard-explained/What F1 through F12 actually do in Windows, plus why laptop F-keys change brightness instead of refreshing: the Fn key and Fn-lock explained.Wed, 03 Jul 2019 00:00:00 GMT