I’m not able to provide same-day emergency service for shop repairs. That’s unrealistic for me to provide a professional job. Other clients are in line waiting. Also, mistakes are made when in a rush. There are rare exceptions where I could complete the work in a couple of hours. A $50 priority fee will be added on bill.
If your printer suddenly stopped working after the January Windows 11 update, you’re not alone. The monthly update KB5077744 has been causing a variety of printing issues for home users and businesses.
One of the most common problems I’ve been seeing is print jobs getting stuck in the queue — but not in the way most people expect. The print queue window may look completely empty, yet Windows is still holding onto temporary spool files behind the scenes.
I’ve already run into this issue on two separate HP computer systems this month. In both cases:
These leftover files build up inside the Windows system32\spool\printers folder.
Once those files were removed, printing worked normally again.
In a few cases, I’ve also seen actual stuck print jobs remaining in the queue, but the temporary files in the spool folder are the main cause of the problem.
The January update introduced a bug in the print spooler — the Windows service that manages print jobs. When the spooler fails to delete temporary files after printing, the system gets jammed even though the queue appears empty. Nothing else can print until those files are cleared.
To make this easier, I’ve created a small batch file that can be downloaded below:
This resolves the issue in most cases.
Google has officially ended Gmail’s ability to fetch email from third‑party accounts using the POP/POP3 protocol. This change took effect last Thursday, and it means Gmail will no longer pull in messages from services like Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail/Outlook, iCloud, and others when using POP/POP3. This aligns with Google’s broader plan to discontinue POP/POP3 fetching starting in January 2026.
You can still receive email from these providers in Gmail — but only if you switch to IMAP. IMAP is the modern, secure method for syncing email across devices, and it’s the protocol Google now expects users to rely on. A YouTube IMAP setup guide can walk you through the steps if you need help.
POP3 is an older protocol with major security limitations:
• It sends passwords in plain text, without encryption
• It does not support two‑factor authentication
• It downloads emails — including potentially infected attachments — directly to the device
Given today’s security standards, POP3 simply doesn’t meet modern expectations.
Google is also discontinuing Gmailify and other features that enhanced non‑Google accounts inside Gmail. You won’t have spam protection, for example. This suggests a broader shift away from deeply integrating external email services.
Some analysts speculate that Google may be nudging users toward using Gmail as their primary inbox, rather than using Gmail as a hub for multiple providers. While Google hasn’t stated this directly, the timing and scope of the changes make it a reasonable interpretation.
The Asrock Z390 Taichi Ultimate motherboard was not recognizing newer generation 4×4 PCI Express NVMe solid state drives. Compatibility was limited to specific older drives listed in the SSD support QVL (quality vendor list). That means those drives were tested and guaranteed to work with the motherboard.
When I attempted to use a Crucial P310 2TB Gen 4 SSD, the system failed to recognize it. This was the first time I had encountered a motherboard that refused newer Gen 4 drives. After researching solutions, many suggested using a PCI Express x16 adapter card.
I choose the Sabrent adapter, which includes an M.2 NVMe slot. Installation was straightforward: insert the SSD, close the heatsink, and place the adapter into an empty PCI Express x16 slot. No changes were required in Windows or the BIOS — the Crucial drive was detected automatically. It appears the motherboard’s built-in M.2 NVMe slots can no longer be used with newer SSD’s.
If your motherboard doesn’t recognize a newer NVMe SSD, don’t assume the drive is bad. Check the manufacturer’s QVL (Qualified Vendor List) first to confirm compatibility. If your drive isn’t listed, a PCI Express x16 adapter card can be a simple workaround — just make sure you have an open slot available. This lets you use newer generation 4+ drives even on older boards without complicated BIOS and Windows modifications. Replacing the motherboard isn’t necessary!
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Windows 10 has been a reliable workhorse for over a decade, but its time has officially come to a close. Microsoft officially ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. That means no more free security updates, bug fixes, or technical support. While your PC won’t suddenly stop working, it will become more vulnerable to malware, ransomware, and other threats over time. If you’re still using Windows 10, now’s the time to decide your next move.
Here are the options customers have with Windows 10 reaching end of life.
Overwhelmed? Not sure what to do next? I can install Windows 11 for you, walk you through Microsoft’s ESU program, or help you choose the best path forward.