Home computer repair is not brain surgery! Most computer repairs can be broken down into two specific areas, software and hardware. Now I do admit that in some people's hand, a screwdriver can be a dangerous object. But if you can change a light bulb without shocking yourself, I'd bet you could swap out a computer part. Software gets a little trickier but is still within the grasp of most computer users.
I've been involved in computer repair in one way or another for over 25 years. The three major repairs I get called for on a weekly basis are:
Spyware/Malware Issues
Hardware failure (power supplies, hard drives, and ram usually)
Computer boot problems (lost password, toasted OS, hardware failure)
All of these can be quite a challenge depending on the value and risk of losing important data, which can be anything from tax records to photos. Any computer can be repaired; it just depends on time and budget. But not all data can be rescued. If a hard drive suffers a catastrophic hardware failure, data recovery is doubtful (unless you want spend 100's if not 1000's of dollars for special services).
So the best scenario in any home computer repair solution is have a good backup of your important data before you start any repair. I never work on anything for over an hour without immediately backing it up on another media (USB thumb drives are only about $30 for up to 5 gigs of storage and CD or DVD prices are under a buck). I learned the hard way very early in my computer using experience. It's much easier to deal with any home computer repair if you don't have to worry about important data. *Please, backup your data right after you finish this article and start doing it on regular basis.
When you have a secure backup, the home computer repair is a matter of a little investigative work (to determine the real issue - sometimes Windows will point you in the wrong direction) and coming up with a good solution. Let's look at the best way to prevent each of the three most common computer repairs and if you already have the problem, some possible solutions.
Spyware/Malware - Two good preventive measures to eliminate Spyware and Malware is to keep your OS (normally Windows) up to date on security patches from your friends at Microsoft. This is pretty easy to do if you turn on Automatic Updating in your Security Center (go to Control Panel, click on Security Center, then check that Automatic Updates is turned on). The other is to make sure you have a good Anti-Virus software installed and it gets updated automatically. These two programs give you about a 93% solution.
Another 5% can be addressed with Anti-Spyware software such as Windows Defender (free from Microsoft, just do a search for it on your choice of Search Engine) or Spybot, a free program from www.spybot.info that does a good job too. Where's the last 2%, well there is no 100% solution I'm sorry to say. Although common sense on where you surf, what email you open, and where you click can generally keep you safe.
What if you are already infected? Well, there are manual ways of removing Spyware/Malware programs but they aren't pretty and involve a whole lot of searching around and rebooting in safe mode. If you search on the offender (normally most have a common problem) you can find a manual solution. If you would rather skip all that hassle, the most effective commercial program I've seen is SpySweeper. Last time I looked it was only $30 per year and could save you a lot of time and pain. You can find it here: www.webroot.com
Hardware Failure - OK, not a lot of prevention available for this home computer repair. Keep in mind that most modern computer components have a 3-5 year mean failure rate. Depending on how much you use or leave your computer on each day, this time period can expand. I have several testing computers that are very old (plus 7 years) that don't get used often.
But one point I do want to make is that almost every customer I call on for a hardware failure issues had warning signs before the final crash. Strange noises, computer freezing up, frequent re-starts, etc. are causes for alarm. Don't wait until the computer literally dies, if any of these events start occurring, go to the proactive mode and replace the power supply, hard drive, or ram. Which one? That's a challenge, I've found that some diagnostic programs can be helpful, but a lot of the time it's experience.
Basic rules of thumb; Freezing, rebooting can be both flaky power supply and RAM going bad. Power supplies slowly loose ability to supply enough wattage, so if you run fine for the first 30 minutes that's another tip it could be the power supply. RAM just gets flaky due to constant heating and cooling. It will usually start dying slowly too. Both are cheap to replace but the power supply has anywhere from 8 to 10 plugs you get to keep an eye on when changing out. Any power supply above 250 watt will be fine for most computers, 300 watt is better. Match the power supply or RAM exactly or look up the motherboard requirements if you want to jump up in speed or wattage.
On hard drives, boot failure with the message "no operating system" or similar is almost always a controller or hard drive (some hard drives have controllers on them that go south too). When you go to save or copy files and get an error can also indicate a hard drive issue. Noises of any kind coming from your computer can only be the power supply fan or hard drive. Sometimes you can low level format a drive and bring it back but with the cost being so low on new hard drives, why take a chance.
Boot Up Problems - Number one offender is Windows of any flavor. All versions use a "registry" to manage all software, user, and hardware settings. This is just a fancy database of settings but can easily destroy itself. Open files don't close properly when there's a software problem and there goes the database integrity. When you go to reboot, the registry is not readable or flat gone. In Windows XP, there are several files involved in the "hive" (5 to be exact). Any one of these can toast itself, but I always replace all five since they are so interdependent on settings.
The easiest fix, if you can access the Recovery Console, is to find a usable set of back up files and copy them to the current area of access. This sounds pretty simple but the directory structure is fairly long and you have to unhide the backup locations. If you go to Microsoft's knowledge base here you can read all about the Recovery Console and how to replace registry files: http://support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1 .
You can run the Recovery Console from Windows XP if it is installed or from your install CD if not. But what if you don't have an install CD (many computers manufacturers don't provide one anymore)? You can always use a bootable CD with an NTFS write enabled OS (like Linux) and do the same copying of files recommended in the Recover Console information. If that sounds too scary, you can always borrow some friends Windows XP install CD of the same flavor (Home or Pro) to use Recovery Console. OK, no friends have an install CD and no access or desire to Linux CD, now what?
Well, plan B is to take your hard drive out of the computer, change the little connector on the back of the hard drive to slave (most hard drives have instructions right on the case to show how), and connect it to a working Windows XP computer. Now you have access to the drive with an NTFS write enabled OS. Go back to the instructions on Recovery Console fix and get after it.
If the hard drive won't even light up or spin, well then you get to install a new one. Most of the new units have a CD that will handle all the details of adding the new hard drive. Then you get to use your Recovery CDs from the manufacturer to install the all the original software on the new hard drive. Don't have the restore disks? Check with the computer manufacturer and they'll sell you a set for under $20 usually. Make sure you give the exact model number to get the right software for your unit. Whenever I buy a new computer, if I don't get a set of recovery CDs, I order them right then and there. That way I'm ready for what ever happens.
So, now you have the basics on home computer repair for the three most common problems. It's not that hard for most people, just take it slow and read the instructions. Push comes to shove, find a friend who may have a little more experience to help. You buy the pizza and they provide a little experience and moral support.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Home Computer Repair - Do It Yourself?
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Hot Computers – Why need to buy an Android laptop...
Hot Computers
The arrival of products like the Archos 5 Media Tablet, and now the dual boot Acer Aspire One D520 is probably the beginning of machinery and more on Android-based we are on the shelves. The mobile version of the operating system does not get everything, which again only in motion and not for promotional work for all computers from Google at this time, however, because the jury also senior public body, it is inevitable that the laptop is not running the Android right way. So it's worth the chance of fame, wealth, and the street cred it sooner or PC Android a useful method to take a missing too?
The advantages of Android
1) It is easy
There's a reason Windows was not part of the first net book options and is why Apple is not as fast to a very mobile computers with OS X. They are fairly heavy pieces of software and whether the data in motion and speed of the system as if you stuck to HD video at the same time as editing in a multi-player death match. Android is starting speed and a lighter load on your hardware just does not exist with Windows, without examining some of the fear and confusion among consumers, hanging over Linux.
2) It is free
its okay. We are all here Cheapskates. Whether the financial part or sticking two fingers on the man or in between, it's good not to buy the badge company, is Microsoft. Give him a couple of years and we will probably say the same thing on Google, but for now, less money for free software means more money for your devices, or food and other such biological necessity led inconvenience.
3) Mobile Synchronization
Rather, it depends what kind of phone you have, of course, but it seems a little less love there is for Windows Mobile for Android smart phones to take second place in popularity, the phone should be NEXT YEAR behind Symbian OS. The beauty of most smart phones is that they gave all the songs on your computer a few twists, tweaks and APP are synchronized weird, but it will work in harmony if both run the same system. Just as it is. So, if you run on the Android mobile plan, then it is a very important factor.
4) Less malware
it’s a numbers game really. There is very little or not at all malicious software for Android, the same for all systems based on Linux. Not that these OS are necessarily smarter and safer in their own right, so there is no gene for the stuff in the first place. It's just not worth the attacker to spend time trying to develop software that only the chance of a small percentage of computers infected worldwide. There is simply no money. Not only can your laptop Android light from an operating system with a smaller footprint, but you do not need any anti-virus software for slowing down.
5) Head in the Clouds
If you live in the ecosystem Google anyway, so it make much sense when choosing a PC Android. If Gmail and Google Docs, the way you manage your world, then you may also find that navigating everything you is for your laptop to the Internet and a browser. Your home computer is still the main stay of your hub for all media and graphics, but if you are traveling friend is just for the office, e-mail and the Internet looks like, and then goes no further.
The way Windows
1) fewer applications
As you do not get as many other applications in the Android Market, as you do based on the iPhone App Store, it's just not as much software for Android net books. In addition, most Linux software is not on Google's OS because of problems in terms of performance standards established Java. One might therefore have a quick clarification on a few PCs, but end up with very few non-based applications on the Web that you actually run for them.
2) Knowledge
Are the benefits of Android really good, good thing? Most people are between Android and Windows and all questions that may have a Microsoft product to choose, he suddenly feels very different with the idea of learning a new operating system. It's all fun and exciting at first glance, but if something goes wrong and try to dig through menus of options that you cannot even know where they are, yet another matter. To make sure you are up for adventure.
3) Multi-tasking issues
A critique of the Google OS is that it is not so hot on multi-tasking. Well, that's all well and good on a cell phone, but moving it is very important and a fundamental principle of a computer. You can use your browser to a large extent on a laptop, but there are many times as you need to move two, three or more applications to open images, your work, email, or even watch some videos. And there are few things more annoying than a new computer, ride on a snail's pace at the minute that you start to grow.
4) HCL
There is a very limited number of drivers for Android over Windows for the same reason that there are a very limited number of malicious programs. It is simply not high on the agenda of the developers. Turn over boxes enough material on the shelves at Dixon et al, and you'll be glad if you can find support for Linux, let alone Android. Fortunately, if you do not see the little penguin friendly, there is a realistic chance that they collaborate with Google, takes over the core as well, but no promises. You can find yourself a few headaches in this department.
5) Windows will
The thing is, firstly, the latest Windows software is not wildly expensive - and often heavily subsidized in a new PC anyway - and, secondly, even net books are becoming very powerful today - as the problems of Windows are cumbersome, slow and expensive, the whole what it the year before one? Taking only these elements, Android still has the upper hand over Microsoft, but by the potential problems listed above and the balance begins to tip over.
Hot Computers
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Good Ways To Repair Your Computer At Home-HOT COMPUTER
HOT COMPUTER
Current time is the computer age. A 10-year-old child has a personal computer. In short, the number of computers in a focus on the number of family members. Likewise, it is natural that a computer will soon be able to deal with some technical or hardware problem. What will you do in this situation? Would you rather waste your money, the mechanics back to simple computer problems? We are sure many of you want to learn more about some of the ways in which your computer to protect yourself without help from the outside to learn? Many leading companies offer repair services. You have to go to repair your computer. These companies are all your computer can handle problems will be sorted at home. For example, they improve the programs and functions on your computer to make minor repairs can be made of tools due to the minimal number, you have several programs you install on your computer, but not to do so by your knowledge Software Limited. If you want to solve some of the integrated services or theater, they come with some additional preparation for your computer repair. First, they dress up in a special uniform and a vacuum around the area which housed the computer. Then the problem is perceived with special tools by using special methods. Tuition fees are also those companies for those who prefer their computers rather than on their repair. Computer users can also join together, those fees through the Internet. Even to-day computer repair books are readily available on the market that can guide you very much. As an example, if you want to retrieve data from a crashed hard drive. What will you do? This is a very simple problem and requires no external assistance. What you need to do is freeze, the only bad fall and tries to copy all the data on a double CD input. With this method you can about 75-80 percent of all data. These home care services do not cost very much. It costs only in the $ 19 to $ 25 per trip. In addition to the guidance and teaching computer users can also obtain knowledge about the repair of computers from one of the best media, the Internet. Numerous sites on the Internet give you online advice for the repair of your PC itself. Although they carry different tools that are needed in the repair process. So, you are still waiting for the engineers a simple computer problem? Do it yourself and save your money.
HOT COMPUTER
Is It Really Possible To Find A Viable Home Business For Free? - Free Computer Home Business-Is It Really Possible To Find A Viable Home Business For Free? (HOT COMPUTER)
HOT COMPUTER
Are there really many opportunities for free computer at home business that will help you make money immediately be? Today there are a lot of people want to know the answer to this.
Many people want to start a business for free and earning money immediately. When starting a business without a computer at home would not be possible, there are companies that you can start very cheap and affordable, and start making money very quickly.
Remember, often times get what you pay for what you. Therefore, if you free on the search for a home business, you will probably be with the quality it offers (or lack thereof) disappointed. Often these companies are paid for things as always for writing, completing surveys, which you can make about $ 20 per day if you're lucky.
If you really money with your company, you probably spend some money with pocket start-up costs. However, as you take the good, you will not be disappointed.
So, what are the best business opportunities to low-cost home computer, you can start money immediately? As I have said many times before, network marketing is one of the best ways to make money immediately. These companies are ready to sell a product, and do a good marketing system, a connection to start making money.
In addition, you can begin to affiliate marketing products, is making, including great free money. So that you sell, the price of the others had already developed it and you get a certain part of the final sale.
In fact, they usually have a website for your market and everything you need to do to send people to this site via your affiliate link and pay a certain percentage of the final sale. Sometimes you get 100% of the sale if they plan to cash in the backend.
Although these are the best ways to earn money quickly, eventually you will probably need to develop your own products and services to make much money. While you make money by selling other products, there is no substitute for the sale of their own.
If you sell your products, this allows you the freedom to create your own email list, create and sell products to them again and again. Follow these tips and you will start making money very quickly and with few opportunities for start-up costs. You might not be a good free computer business at home, but these proposals are certainly the best solution.
HOT COMPUTER
Monday, October 5, 2009
How to Make Sure Your Laptop Secure in Public Places
When working on site, either in a client's office or in a café, you need to protect your laptop, whether it's against the theft or cyber-Nosy Snoop tries to browse your iTunes library (or worse). As you probably did your business securely over a VPN to connect their internal network, what are your personal passwords and local files? Let's look at some good habits for access to computer laptop safe, then more advanced tactics.
Every laptop user should have hacked a healthy paranoia about the possibility of receiving stolen her laptop, or while using a Wi-Fi public airport or coffee. Stay safe and use some tools in the operating system your laptop's built in to ensure your safety.
Turn on your firewall. When you open a Wi-Fi, make sure that you have a firewall on your laptop and blocking unwanted incoming connections. In the Windows Control Panel, click Windows Firewall. On your Mac in System Preferences, go to Security and click on the tab "Firewall" to turn it on.
To protect your password - or unshared - shared folders. If you are at home, a folder of documents with other computers behind the firewall is a good idea. But if you're traveling, you may not want everyone to see in a position to your collection of photos from the family vacation. Ensure that your shared folders are password protected to do if you do not securely over a network. Even better would be to clear all the shares if you are in a public network.
Use HTTPS (secure connections to websites on the Internet), if possible. If you check your webmail like Gmail or Yahoo Mail, or visit a website with the option to make sure that https: / / (instead of http://) port to encrypt all information you provide here as your password. Most modern web mail and calendar programs such as Gmail and Google Calendar offers https: / / option.
Do not store encrypted passwords in your web browser without them. Of course, if you store your passwords in your web browser, you will win a lot of time together. However, if a thief, a colleague or family member uses your computer, it is also simply kill that person to connect to your accounts. Three weeks ago, I have way to save the passwords in your browser with a master password stored in encrypted form - to do so.
Lock up your laptop with an effective lock. If you often work in a public place and tend to your laptop unattended, invest $ 15 to $ 30 on a laptop lock physically anchor your laptop to the desktop. It is a simple way to deter thieves.
Always have a backup of your important data. Back up your computer to give you the things in the event of theft or hard disk failure or spill coffee. If your laptop is re-docked in the home or office, you use an external hard drive to store your documents. If you are constantly in motion, working a service of remote backup as Mozy or Carbonite over the Internet in the background and can restore your files from anywhere.
Run anti-virus and software protection against malicious software. For security reasons it is recommended for all computers, not just your laptop. Last week, Microsoft's new and free software Security Essentials. Download it and check your laptop on a regular basis.
The super-paranoid and technologically inclined hackers can use standard techniques for locking the files and records. These include:
Encrypting files and records. Through the use of free tools that you can encrypt an entire disk or just a folder full of files. If you encrypt data with a secret key to read the crowd into an unreadable format, the film attempts by thieves to private files. To decrypt, you need a master password. On a Mac, you can create an encrypted disk image using Disk Utility. Mac with File Vault (coming in the System Preferences, Security), which encrypts the contents of your files from unwanted kept out. Windows Vista and Windows BitLocker-7 provide the future application of data encryption. Otherwise, you can create a free utility called True Crypt to encrypt a folder or drive.
Protect your network traffic through the SSH tunnel. Another common technique is among the elite technology with an SSH tunnel or a secure connection to an external computer (such as your home server or desktop) to connect to the Internet. Since the network is already active, it seems that you encrypted information to a single goal to send: Actually, you use a trusted remote server as a proxy for your entire work network
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Buying the Perfect Computer - The FIRST TIME
Searching for that Perfect Computer can be about as much fun as purchasing a new car and about as frustrating also when sorting through the various brands while trying to decide which “bells and whistles” best fit your needs. Besides all that trying to return something that is so large can be both inconvenient and very difficult to do. So making the right decision the FIRST time is the wise path of choice.
For starters you’ll need to decide what you want to do with your computer. Are you into the video game scene or are you someone who likes to just surf the internet and occasionally do some book keeping with simple word processing software?
If you’re into video games you’re going to want a machine that can handle the high level of graphics and superior sound quality. On the other hand if you’re not into all that high adrenalin stuff you can probably get by with a less expensive system. Although, if you want to stay on the safe side I would recommend going with something more “high-end” so you don’t have to spend another large chunk of change to upgrade the system you just bought.
There are two basic routes you can take when purchasing a new computer.
1) Purchase a “Brand Name” Computer 2) Purchase a “Clone” Computer
A “BRAND-NAME” computer is one that is manufactured by a company that is recognizable by name.
Some Advantages/Disadvantages of “Brand-Name” computers include:
Advantages
Customer Support- If you are experiencing problems with your computer you will have the option to contact a representative of the company that you purchased the PC from to get help in solving your problem.
Customer support is probably the best reason to buy a brand-name computer.
Warranty- Having a warranty is always nice since it acts as a type of security blanket for you.
In case a part on your computer should fail you should be able to get the item fixed at no charge just as long as the warranty has not expired.
Read and understand a company’s warranty policy BEFORE you purchase a computer from them.
This way you’ll have a good understanding of the procedures to follow in case a problem should arise.
Pre-installed Software- Many companies will include software packages that are all set up and ready to go for you on your computer.
Although, a disadvantage of buying a brand-name computer with software pre-installed is that you usually end up with more than fits your needs and usually just results with the wasting of space on your storage device.
Additional Support- Most brand-name computer companies are also able to provide you with web sites that may provide you with current software updates, user manuals, or basic troubleshooting help.
Disadvantages
The use of Proprietary parts- the term Proprietary refers to products that are unique to an individual company and that company only.
So if a part was to malfunction on your computer after warranty and you needed to replace it you could not just go to your local computer store and purchase any old part even if it was intended for the same function as the item that failed.
You would be forced to buy the exact same item that came out of the computer or else the computer would more than likely cease to function correctly.
Having to buy proprietary parts usually involves the need to place an order which means you’ll have to wait for the part to arrive or you’ll have to send your computer into the company or an authorized dealer of that company for repairs.
People with a home based business would probably not be too happy with that situation at all.
Integrated/On-board parts- In the computer world when you hear the word integrated or on-board it means that a particular part such as the modem or sound port where you plug in your speakers, is built-in or part of the computer main board (Also known as the Motherboard).
This means that if any of these items should fail, you can’t just remove them from the computer and replace them with a new part. They are usually soldered directly to the main board and are stuck there.
Although, some computers do provide a way to disable a malfunctioning device which will allow you to install your own store bought device to take the place of the broken part.
From a computer technicians point of view this is not always easy to do.
It just depends on what brand of computer you currently have. Meaning some are easier to work on than others.
A “CLONE” computer is a clone or a copy of its brand-name counterpart with the exception that instead of company specific or proprietary parts, the items used to make a clone computer are from several different companies instead of only one.
This is a good thing because it means that they will probably use components that are interchangeable with many different brands and are easy to come by if needed.
Some Advantages/Disadvantages of “Clone” computers include:
Advantages
Cost- compared to brand-name computers the clone will generally be easier on your pocket book when purchasing one with similar features as its brand-name counterpart.
This is most likely due to the money that is saved by not offering the high-end customer service. Although, that may not be the only reason for the lower prices.
Easily Accessible Replacement Parts- Since the clone computer was built with parts that are not any one company specific, you can buy parts for the clone computer that can be used even if the brand is different from the one that was in the computer when you originally bought it.
NOTE: Before you buy any parts, it is necessary to make sure that the replacement parts are compatible with your particular computers system requirements.
Either consult the manual that should have came with your computer or get help from a knowledgeable friend or repair person.
Disadvantages
Warranties- Unless you purchase a service plan you will typically not have as an attractive warranty as you would with a brand-name computer company.
Whatever you do just make sure you understand how long the warranty is for and as to what kind of repairs the warranty covers before you make the purchase.
Customer Support- With brand-name computer companies you are usually provided with a 24-hour toll free number that you can call if you have questions or concerns with your computer.
Clone computers are more than likely not going to have a 24-hour help service, but rather you will be forced to only be able to call during regular business hours.
Also, it is more than likely that there will not be any one website that you can go to in order to find out information concerning troubleshooting questions you may have.
For service it may be necessary to take the computer back to the store that you bought it at or you may have to do some research on the individual parts that went into the computer and visit the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting tips.
Finally, if all else fails you can certainly take what you have learned from this article and being that you know what you need now, but don’t know where to go and get that “Perfect Computer”, the best resource at your disposal are the very men and woman that work at your local electronics shop.
It is their duty to help you get hold of that “Perfect Computer” that best fits your needs. All you need to do is tell them what you plan on using that computer for and they should be more than happy to help you from there.
Dan devotes much time working on his internet ventures. He currently has a T-Shirt store at http://www.cafepress.com/giftsandtshirts and an ebook store at http://online-book-store.net/ that caters to his visitors.
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