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
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
