About ShiftBackspace
ShiftBackspace started with a simple idea: tech help online is scattered, over-complicated, and often written by people who've never actually sat down and fixed the problem themselves. We wanted one place where you could find clear, practical, no-nonsense answers — the kind you'd get from a friend who used to write software for a living, not a content farm chasing keywords.
We started with Microsoft products — Windows, Office, OneDrive, Outlook, and the everyday errors and settings that send people searching for help — because that's where most people run into friction first. From there, we're expanding into broader consumer tech: gadget reviews, smart home setup, software tutorials, and home network troubleshooting.
Who's behind ShiftBackspace
Hi, I'm Dorsey Hollifield, the person writing and editing the guides on ShiftBackspace. I spent 8 years as a software engineer at a Seattle-area tech company before moving into full-time tech journalism, and I hold a B.S. in Computer Science. That background is what shapes how I write: I'd rather explain what's actually happening on your screen than throw jargon at you and call it a day.
Over the years I've reviewed more than 400 consumer devices and spent countless hours untangling Microsoft product quirks — the settings menus that hide the one toggle you need, the error codes that mean five different things, the "just restart it" advice that doesn't actually fix anything. I've made plenty of my own troubleshooting mistakes along the way, and those experiences are a big reason I started ShiftBackspace. I wanted to document the fixes, the shortcuts, and the plain explanations I wish someone had given me when I was starting out.
Today, I run a dedicated test apartment where I build and tear down smart home systems, and every device I review gets at least two weeks of real daily use before I write a word about it. I'm still learning too, and I'm comfortable saying when something is outside my experience or when you're better off contacting official support directly.
What you'll find here
- 🪟Step-by-step fixes for common Windows, Office, and other Microsoft product problems
- 🏠Smart home setup guides and home network troubleshooting
- 📱Plain-English software tutorials and how-tos
- 🛒Honest product and gadget reviews, including some affiliate links (see our Disclosure)
Our editorial approach
Articles are researched, tested, and periodically reviewed for accuracy as software updates and products change. If you ever spot something that looks outdated or wrong, please let us know — we'd rather fix it than leave it.
Get in touch
Questions, feedback, or a topic you want covered? Reach out any time at [email protected], or visit our Contact page.