Tag Archives: computer repair

Do your computer really require repair?

April 7th, 2009 by admin under Tips and Tricks. No Comments.

computer repairAs experienced computer  users can easily make correct diagnosis out of symptoms exhibited bt their PCs, and the rest of us don’t have any clue whether something is really wrong with the computer. We know that some serious problems require an expert to fix the problem, most glitches can easily solve the problem without a need for a technician. So how do you come on conclusion whether you really require? Here are some tips on how to check whether you need a technician or not.

Learning to eliminate
Unless you are experienced at diagnosing what ails your computer, the best thing you can do is to try to determine the problem by elimination.  First, find out the symptoms and then consider the most possible causes and eliminate those that are not plausible.  This will help you discover the most possible explanation for the problem.  From there, you can decide whether or not your computer really requires repair.

Learning to scan
Many of the problems manifested by the computer are caused by malware such as viruses, spyware and adware.  As long as your computer and antivirus software are updated, you can perform a regular scan to check for any infection.  In most cases, common problems are solved this way, although others may require you to download patches to correct any errors and vulnerabilities.

No power
If your computer won’t turn on, don’t immediately assume you’ll need professional help.  Check if it’s connected to a power outlet and then check if there is power.  Next, check the power button and the connections for the cables.  If using a battery to run a laptop, determine if the battery has been sufficiently charged.  Only when you’ve checked all possible scenarios and still failed should you consider having your computer repaired.

Slowpoke computer
A slow computer may not always be a sign that it really requires repair.  It may be because you’re running a lot of programs that may be too much of a burden for the amount of memory your computer has.  Try to close programs you don’t need and delete stuff you have no use for.  Empty your recycle bin right after.  Defrag your system to re-organize your files.

If these steps still don’t fix your problem, it may either be because you need more memory or that there’s something in your system that requires a checkup from the professionals.

Missing drivers
This usually comes as a surprise, when your computer shows a message indicating that a device is missing.  If you are quite sure that drivers for hardware you’re using have already been installed, try to re-install them using the appropriate CDs.  In minor cases, that should fix the problem.  If the problem continues or if your computer exhibits even stranger symptoms, that’s a clear sign that you really need to have it repaired.

The need to reboot now and then
Frequent rebooting is often the result of a system freezing or hanging up.  This is when the computer screen just simply stops reacting to what you do and nothing you can do to the keyboard or the mouse seems to work.  The only way to make the system work again is to press the reboot button.  If this happens, then it’s a sign that you shouldn’t try to fix it yourself because your computer really requires repair.

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Tips to Maintain Your Computer and Keep Running Safely and Efficiently

February 27th, 2009 by admin under Computers, Laptops and Accessories. No Comments.

When you are using the NTFS filing protocol instead of the FAT32 for your computer, you should be able to get good performance from your computer by turning off the Windows Indexing feature. This will make your system to work faster but the downside is that when you are searching for specific files it may take more time to find them.

To disable Windows Indexing feature on your computer go to My Computer and right click on the drive you want to reset. This is commonly the C drive. Now select Properties option and remove a check mark from “allow indexing service.” It will take some time for Windows to finish this task, depending on the speed of your processor. Some systems have more than one hard drive if this is the case perform the same steps for each of your drives.

Once you have finished this with your drive/drives it’s a good idea to go ahead and empty your Recycle Bin and perform a Defragmentation on your drives.

Internet Safety Protecting Yourself

Never give your username or password to anyone who e-mails you and asks for it. This may sound funny but so many people do it. The receive an email from what they think is a reliable source only to later find out it was all a “phishing scam” In a common phishing scam, you get an email that looks official like from your bank or your credit card company. Usually the header will read something like “We need to verify your account information.” Or it might say “Please logon to your account and verify your setting”

You would be surprised how many people fall for this. Once you click on the link in the email you will usually end up at an official looking site. Then you will be asked to fill in your information to update your account and Walla they have your info and you can expect to have some serious problems within 24 hours.

If you believe that a company or business that you do on-line business with really does require your information, then simply contact them. This way, you will know where you are sending your information, and what it will be used for.

Another way you can protect your self is by installing an internet security program from a trusted name. There are many on the market these days and are relatively inexpensive. The one I recommend is Trend Micro Internet Security Pro. It works well and is not as cumbersome as Norton’s Internet Security which tends to slow your computers performance.

Computers are an expensive investment and keeping them running efficiently is crucial. If you are comfortable handling a small computer repair yourself, give it a try. If you’re not comfortable, take the machine to a local computer repair shop and allow the experts to do their job. In either case staying on top of current events within the computer industry is key in today’s fast moving computerized world.

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