Q: When Apple introduced its iOS 8 operating system in September, I think it caused problems on my iPad. I need to delete two apps whose files are corrupted, but I can't get rid of them.

When I delete the apps from my iPad, I believe they are sent to the iTunes cloud. Then, when I go to the iTunes App Store to reload new copies of the apps, I see the cloud symbol next to them. If I download them, I think I'm getting my corrupted files back. How do I delete these apps?

Larry Smith, Middleburg, Fla.

A: What you've described is not what happens when you delete iPad apps. But, in your defense, a lot of consumers are confused about the role of the "cloud" and Apple has added to the confusion by using similar cloud icons that have different meanings. The App Store uses an icon of a cloud with an arrow jutting downward to identify apps you've previously purchased that you can download again at no additional cost. Separately, Apple's iCloud service uses an icon of a cloud without an arrow to signify storing consumer data online.

When you deleted the two potentially corrupted apps from your iPad, they were eliminated, not saved to iCloud. When you download those apps again, you got new versions from the App Store, not old versions from iCloud.

You successfully deleted the corrupted apps, so any remaining iPad problems have a different cause. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to fix most iPad problems without disturbing your apps or data.

First try a system reset. Press the power button at the top right of the iPad and the home button below the center of the screen at the same time. Wait for the screen to go dark or for the Apple logo to appear, then release the buttons. The reset only takes a couple of minutes.

You can also do a system restore. Start up iTunes on your computer, then connect the iPad to the computer via USB cord. When the iPad icon appears in the iTunes menu, click on it to bring up the iPad menu, then choose the "summary" tab. At the bottom right of the resulting menu, click the "back up now" button for manual iPad backup onto the computer. After that's completed, click the "restore backup" button. The backup and restore process takes about 20 minutes.

Q: Thanks for trying to answer the question about why my PC running Windows 2000 Professional can't get online anymore (see tinyurl.com/kzjyumc). But I've checked my modem and wireless router, and they seem to be working. Could something have changed in the PC's Windows settings or at my Internet service provider?

Marty Brown, Minneapolis

A: Try using the Windows 2000 "Directory Services Restore" feature to return the settings to the way they were on an earlier date (see tinyurl.com/k5bab3u). If that doesn't work, ask if your Internet service provider has installed any new networking software recently.

E-mail tech questions to steve.j.alexander@gmail.com or write to Tech Q&A, 425 ­Portland Av. S., ­Minneapolis, MN 55488. Include name, city and telephone number.