Let me tell you how you can evaluate whether computer repair services you are going to pay for are overpriced or not! In fact, this is all about honesty and integrity with the professionalism. Whenever you hire someone to get your computer repaired, you should better agree on the price well before availing of the services. It would save you from prospective pricing issues. Here are some of the situations that would suggest you are paying more than what you have received! Let us take a look!

• The computer parts are old and refurbished and the computer service provider stresses on installing those old parts for a good amount of money.
• You’re not aware of the pricing and you have limited choices as to getting the services.
• The computer repair professional does not produce you any invoice for the new parts installed.
• The computer repair is not guaranteed by the professionals.
• You have to call for the computer repairs again and again.
• You are left with no discount at all.
• You do not know the original prices of the computer parts replaced.
• You aren’t well aware of what parts are malfunctioning and need replacement.

In addition to the above, there are some implied situations that would suggest you are being overcharged for the computer services. It is always better to resort to different computer repair service providers online and compare their quotes well before availing of the services.

There are several ways to know if your computer has been infected with a virus. If your computer is always producing pop up messages about advertisements or prompting you to visit fishy websites then it is highly likely that your computer has been infected by a virus.

Another symptom of virus infection is the slow down of the speed of your computer. If your computer becomes suddenly unable to start applications quickly then there is a high chance that your computer has been infected by a virus.

The third thing that you should look out for is constantly disappearing user files. This especially comes about with Microsoft word files where you might find some parts of your documents missing or wholly deleted.

If your Internet connection is very slowly there is a high chance that a computer virus is eating up the bandwidth of your network while it is accessing a server and waiting for commands. There may also be automatic opening of web pages as soon as you log on to the Internet. This is the work of viruses as they try to bring a computer system to its knees.

Some of the solutions are easy as downloading a new anti-virus software from the Internet. But some viruses do so much damage that you may need to take your computer to a specialist to get it working again. If you are in Arizona area, contact us so we can help you get rid of your computer problem. We are so confident that we will fix you PC or its free. And as a reader of this blog, we will give you a special discount on your first computer repair service.

Best Anti Virus Software Reviews: features to look for

Just like the various consumer products in the market, antivirus software has its pros and cons. The issue of quality reigns supreme in this market is achieved when the antivirus software strikes a balance between maximum security and ease in usability. Discussed below are some key features that have featured in several antivirus software reviews which should be instrumental when one is searching for an antivirus.

The best Antivirus Software should be able to protect a computer system from as many threats as there are. These include; malicious software, root kits, viruses, Trojans, worms, phishing scams, email-spam threats and key loggers as listed in antivirus software reviews sites.

Efficacy is also an issue when choosing antivirus software for your computer. Security organizations and software testers are used to establish the effectiveness of an antivirus. An antivirus should be able to quickly react to a threat by either quarantine or deletion method. Some of the most effective antivirus softwares have the automatic deletion feature where as soon as the software confirms the threat detected it is automatically deleted.

Antivirus software should be easy to install and use.  People should have an easy time finding the application file and be able to run and install it on their computers. The installation process should not contain unnecessary procedures and should be as direct as possible. The maintenance of the antivirus program should not be cumbersome. A user should have the ability to carry out a full clean up of quarantined objects as required to improve the overall running of the computer system.

An antivirus system should be developed to include features which offer additional functionalities such as a real time shield system. The owner should be able to understand the features included and how to activate them for optimal protection or real time defense against the threats.

A good antivirus system should have the ability to update itself by accessing the developer’s database. Virus signatures are updated every so often to ensure that the antivirus can provide protection from the latest threat.

The antivirus software developer should be able to offer help and support to the user. The user should be able to ask questions about the operation of the software and receive feedback from the developer.

Antivirus software should be able to combine the above features as mentioned in the criteria to ensure a more effective protection system depending on the needs of the user and the kind of threats they are susceptible to. Computer owners should keep themselves updated with the best Antivirus Software Reviews to ensure they are using the best antivirus software.

A. Taking care your PC.

I want to share some simple tips on how to care the computer, especially for computers with Windows operating systems.

1. Computer’s Hardware maintenance
•  You should put your PC in a room with good air circulation flow. It is necessary to avoid overheating on your computer.
• Clean the dust on your computer regularly. You can use a brush, a vacuum cleaner or a compressor.
• Don’t forget to use a power stabilizer nor UPS ( Uninterrupted Power Supply )
2. Computer’s Software maintenance
• Do a back up on your computer system.
  Backing up your computer system is intended as a preventive maintenance action. It makes more easily for us to recover the system when the damage occured.
• Installing and running computer with Antivirus scan.
  You should run a virus scan on your computer periodically to protect it from virus infection.
• Do a Windows update, Antivirus and other software update.
  Please do the update whether manually or automatically.
• Perform optimization system
  You can use some of Windows default tools such as: Disk clean,Check disk and Disk defragmenter

B. Simple computer repair tips.
I’ll show you some computer problems,how to recognize their symptoms and how to fix it.

1. How to fix a “dead” computer
• Check your house or office electricity. Are they dead too? if Yes, so there are no problems with your computer. LOL
• Check your computer power supply wires with Multimeter. Switch the Multimeter to Ohm meter mode to check the wiring.
• Check the power supply cable coming into the mainboard, are they installed correctly ?
• Take a look at the power button, is there any damage ?
• Make sure that another hardware cables are properly installed on the mainboard.
• If all the above points are checked and the computer is still dead, the problem most likely occurs at the processor.
• If your processor doesn’t have any problems, it is possible that the computer mainboard causing the problems.
• If your mainboard is still in a good condition, the monitor must be the troublemaker.
2. BIOS problems
• Symptom : I can’t get into the BIOS
• Solution : The problems are usually happen when you got the wrong BIOS update. You can restore your BIOS by moving the thing called “jumper”. You can find the instruction on your computer manuals. The next step is to turn ON the Computer and wait for ten seconds. The BIOS will restore to normal condition. Don’t forget to move the jumper on it previous position after the BIOS turn to normal.
• Symptom : Several unusuall beep sound ( note : the computer’s monitor is normal )
• Solution : Beep sound indicates a spesific error message from the BIOS, usually it happens when the hardware such as Memory, VGA-card, Processor or data cable doesn’t installed properly.

I hope those tips help you. Of course if everything else fails, you can always call us on our number above and we will gladly help.

Its always best if your are always ready whenever a time like this ever happens. Here are a few tips that are handy when trying to remove a computer virus without any help from a paid computer technician.

Backup – create at least two copies of your files. Lock one copy into a CDROM and use the other to restore the files. If in case the backup gets corrupted or gets infected, you will still be able to restore all your files with the backup of your backup. If you have antivirus running yet you still got infected disable them and free up more CPU resources. If possible, execute all available options below at safe mode.

System Restore – If you are using Windows, the most easiest fix is to run system restore. While it is not a guarantee, some virus infected computers may be fixed. System Restore is located at:

Control Panel, Backup and Restore icon.

Application Fixes – These programs are available for download from various security companies which can be run immediately without ever going to any setup. They generally improve your computer’s performance and allows you to isolate any left viruses that were not detected. Since these are tiny applications they are designed for portability which may require multiple versions to be run in order to eliminated after the program execution. Here are some programs for immediate virus fix:
* Microsoft Security Scanner
* Combo Fix
* Norton Security Check 

Registry Editor – While some of the Application fix maybe able to remove a virus from staying resident, others may be able to attach itself to the boot process and loads itself after a PC reboot. When this happens the virus is loaded back into the memory leaving it free to do damage all over again. Registry edit is for advanced users only, do not attempt to change any part of the registry if you do not know what you are doing, i would advise to use MSCONFIG instead. To remove auto loading programs during computer reboot, you may uncheck them at MSCONFIG application located at

Start -> Run -> Type in MSCONFIG -> Startup Tab -> Uncheck any suspicious application.

If MSCONFIG is not available on your Windows version, you could manually edit them at the registry editor located at

Start -> Run -> Type in regedit -> then navigate to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

and remove any suspicious item in its entry.

And, somehow if all else fails, you can always call us at 480 217 9482 for an immediate fix.

Image via Wikipedia

At some point, all computer systems need to be maintained. Most of these tasks maybe done by an average computer user however, it would be much better if the task is handled by the experts. Computer maintenance must be done at least once a year for optimal computer performance. It is very important to know that these maintenance tasks involves opening of the computer system or the case. Dust build-up disrupts the airflow inside your computer resulting to a rise of temperature inside the computer system. The increase in temperature will affect the performance of the computer parts which will eventually damage them.

Computer repair and maintenance cost are measured in hourly costs. A typical PC repair service typically costs $75 per hour. Usually, these types of repair services lasts for more than an hour, costs will be computed an increment of 15 minutes. Other companies only charge a onetime fee of $100 regardless of how much time it took them to repair it. Rates also differ from company to another and on how immediate is the need for the service. Some companies offer coupons and discounts for first time customers.

Simple computer maintenance can include computer upgrade like adding additional memory or an additional hard disk, or a DVD drive, replacement of a video card, upgrade to a new processor, restoring a lost file to a simple computer cleaning. Installation of new components will usually take 1 hour or 2; older computer systems might take a while especially if the customer didn’t bring along the installation drives for the components to install.

Repairs can be more costly ranging from $100 to as much as $300 that includes a system overhaul and a reinstallation of the operating system. Most of these tasks include virus infections, spyware and malware issues, slow running systems and computer hang-ups, printer problems, internet connectivity, no audio and poor video performance issues. The cost of these services varies according to the severity of the problem and on how long the issue was fixed. A system reinstall can last up to an hour while hang-ups and other hardware issues could last 2 to 4 hours. Simple viruses and other malware problems can be fixed in an hour while severe infections would require you to reformat the pc and will about more than an hour to complete.

Windows Internet Explorer 9 has a streamlined look and many new features that speed up your web browsing experience.

Pin sites to the taskbar

You can access websites that you visit regularly by pinning them to the taskbar on your Windows 7 desktop.

Pinned site

Pinning a site is simple: just drag its tab to the taskbar—the website’s icon will stay there until you remove it. When you click the icon later, the website will open in Internet Explorer.

Whenever you open a pinned site, the website icon appears at the top of the browser, so you have easy access to original webpage that you pinned. The Back and Forward buttons change color to match the color of the icon.

For more information about adding and removing pinned sites, see Pin a website to your taskbar.

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Search in the Address bar

You can now search directly from the Address bar. If you enter a website’s address, you’ll go directly to the website. If you enter a search term or incomplete address, you’ll launch a search using the currently selected search engine. Click the address bar to select your search engine from the listed icons or to add new ones.

Search in the Address bar

When you search from the Address bar, you’ll have the option of opening a search results page or the top search result (if your chosen search provider supports the feature). You can also turn on optional search suggestions in the Address bar.

For more information about searching in the Address bar, see Search in the Internet Explorer 9 Address bar.

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Use Download Manager

Download Manager keeps a list of the files you download and notifies you when a file might be malware (malicious software). It also lets you pause and restart a download, and shows you where to find downloaded files on your computer.

Download Manager

For more information about Download Manager, see Using Download Manager in Internet Explorer.

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Work with tabs

You can open a tab by clicking the New Tab button to the right of the most recently opened tab. Use tabbed browsing to open many webpages in a single window. To look at two tabbed pages at the same time, click a tab, and then drag it out of the Internet Explorer window to open the tab’s webpage in a new window.

New Tab page

For more information about tabs and the New Tab page, see Using the New Tab page.

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Information that doesn’t slow you down

The new Notification bar that appears at the bottom of Internet Explorer gives you important status information when you need it, but it won’t force you to click a series of messages to continue browsing.

The Bad Side?

Internet Explorer only works on Windows Vista and Windows 7. It will not work with Windows XP and other Lower Version of Operating System.

Conclusion

I would say give it a month for the New Internet Explorer before you update yours. As a lot of you knows, Microsoft sometimes has still bugs on their software when they released it…(i.e. the Vista Phenomenon..)

   I have receive a lot of inquiry recently from my customers to see if its a good idea to switch with Verizon right now since they already have an Iphone 4. Few things to consider first before you make a decision:

—Verizon Iphone is not doing the 4G, w/c will be  slower to At&t Iphone.
     At this time its using 3G although Verizon has always advertise their 4G lite
 
—As you know Verizon is a CDMA technology w/c if you travel abroad a lot, you can’t  mostly use it since most other country doesn’t use CDMA technology
 
—You can’t use the Verizon Iphone for both Data and Calls Simultaneously, w/c means that if you are in a call, you can’t browse or chat at the same time.

 Overall in my personal opinion,  AT&T network right now is slow and keep dropping calls. But i think it’s worth to wait first before you jump-in to the hype of Verizon Iphone4. I would say, wait till July of this year..because APPLE will release a new IPHONE 5  w/c will correct all of this.

 

Basic protection for surfing, searching and social networking

Millions of people around the world use AVG Anti-Virus Free for their basic online activities. Whether it’s surfing the Internet, conducting web searches, or simply keeping up with friends on Facebook, AVG Anti-Virus Free has got you covered.

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 2011 allows you to:

• Surf and search with confidence AVG LinkScanner’s® real-time protection
• Stay protected on social networks with AVG Social Networking Protection
• Enjoy a faster running PC AVG Smart Scanning works while you’re away and runs in low-priority mode when you return
• Stay up-to-date with the latest threat information from the AVG Community Protection Network and AVG Protective Cloud Technology

        DOWNLOAD AVG 2011 HERE

Ultra VNC is free software that enables a remote computer to be displayed on your computer screen. In addition, you can take control of the mouse and keyboard of the computer being monitored. The software could be aptly described as remote computer support software. It means that you can work on a second computer, as if you were sitting in front of it. Moreover, you can share control of the second computer and thus keeping the other user involved in the process. If necessary for an interruption free session the program goes a step further and allows the director to disable the keyboard and mouse of the other computer. Ultra VNC is a superb online computer training device and a great long distance troubleshooting tool. Acquire the free software by searching on Google for Ultra VNC. The search results will quickly guide you to a download site. After downloading the software to a suitable folder you can install the software like any other program. During the install process you have several options which you can select. The basis of the software is the server and viewer features. The server element should be installed on the remote PC while the viewer installed on the local machine. By installing the server software with default settings and a password you are ready for a connection. By entering the Internet address of the remote machine you will be connected to the remote PC. You may be asking, “How do I know the location of the remote machine.” Every computer connected to the Internet has what is known as an IP address. An IP address is a twelve digit number you can easily obtain via a search engine. Get the remote computer user to do a search on Google for, “My IP address” and voila…they will easily discover their 12 digit address which they can relay back to you. If you are regularly connecting to the same computer there is another more efficient method of making a connection. On the Internet there are sites that provide free permanent Internet addresses. One such site is dyndns.com. Go to this site, create an account and you will learn how to attach a permanent domain name to the remote computer.

 Some extra features of this superb software are: the client machine can shut down and restart the remote PC as well as open the task manager or transfer files between the two computers. There is also a chat function which will allow you to communicate via the keyboard if it is not practical to use the phone. It is a Windows based utility and in terms of operating speed compared to similar software, Ultra VNC comes up trumps. Not only is the software useful over long distances, it works very well on a local area network where the resident tech support person can have easy access to computers on the company network.

 

Navigating Routers and Firewalls

 

One hurdle that needs to be addressed when connecting to a remote computer is a passageway throughprotective firewalls and routers. On a router there is provision to provide a path through a designated port. By accessing the control panel on the router of the remote computer the feature will be listed as port forwarding, virtual server or could be labeled as gaming and administration. The default port for Ultra VNC is 5900. By assigning a TCP port with 5900 and saving the configuration a path through the router will enable you to connect to the VNC server. Because the Windows firewall restricts communication between the remote computer and the Internet, you might need to adjust settings to allow Ultra VNC to operate. Get to the Windows firewall by opening the Networking in the Control Panel. Right click your Internet connection icon and select Properties. Under the Advanced tab you will find the firewall settings. By selecting Exceptions you can add the VNC software to the list of ports and programs that are allowed to bypass the firewall security. It is preferable to select the software option rather than the port because the firewall is only open while the program is waiting to receive the connection.