Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions and their answers. The Q&As are intended to be generic discussions, not specific advice. The information presented below is not warranted. We strongly urge you to verify all information before using it, as it may have changed, may not apply to your particular circumstances, and in some cases could cause damage to your computer or files. Should you have further questions, or need assistance, we are happy to help at our normal billing rates.
Q. Which programs should be updated to keep my computer running well?
A. Update your operating system, Office Suite, Adobe Reader, Anti-Virus/Security Software, Adobe Flash and Java. Please note that Java has had a lot security updates and issues recently, so some people are disabling it as a security measure.
Q. What anti-virus software do you like?
A. Norton Anti-Virus, Microsoft Security Essentials (free), ESET NOD, BitDefender.
Q. My computer is frozen. What should I do?
A. If possible, restart your computer normally. If that’s not possible, try holding down the Power button for 8-10 seconds. That should shut down your computer. Power on your computer and see if the problem is resolved. You will lose any unsaved information, so only do this as a last resort.
Q. I can’t print. What should I do?
A. Restart your computer. Power off/Power on your printer. If that doesn’t work, unplug/replug the USB cable going from your computer to your printer. If your printer is a network printer, try also unplugging/replugging your router.
Q. My computer has a virus. How do I get rid of it?
A. because a virus is a software program (set of instructions that can do anything, change anything, delete anything), there is no easy answer. Sometimes running a virus scan will do the trick. In many cases, a virus scan won’t be enough, and your computer may need minor to major repairs. Currently, there is no test to certify your computer is virus-free, so the only certain way to insure the virus is removed is to clean everything off your hard drive, reinstall your operating system, reinstall all software programs and copy your files back.
Q. My computer is getting older and it’s acting up. Should I repair it or buy a new computer?
A. if your computer is over 4 years old, we do not recommend repairing it in most cases. New computer prices have fallen dramatically over the past 10 years. Today a new PC can be purchased for $500 and up (sometimes even less). A new Mac starts at about $1,100.
Q. How do I keep my PC running well?
A. Periodically tune it up by running the following: Disk Cleanup, Disk Defragmenter, Check your Security Software, Check Your Firewall, Check Disk Health, Check Event Logs, Check Disk Space, Remove Unwanted Startup Programs, Test Restore a Few Backed Up Files.
Q. I keep getting pop-ups about updating Java. Should I update it?
A. Java has had lots of updates lately, many are a result of newly–discovered security issues. If you don’t visit any websites that require Java, you might consider uninstalling it as a security measure. One way to check if you need Java is to uninstall it, and see if any websites you visit have any problems. If everything works fine, you are probably ok without it. If not, the go to www.java.com and install the latest version. If you do use Java, then it is wise to keep it up to date.
Q. I get lots of pop-ups about updating software, how do I know if they are real or fake?
A. There is no sure-fire way to know if a pop-up is real or fake. To be safe you can go to the website of the software vendor and download updates directly. for Adobe reader and Flash, go to www.adobe.com, for Java, go to www.java.com.
Q. I can’t connect to my wireless network. What should I do?
A. Restart your computer. Try unplugging/replugging your router.
Q. I can’t connect to the Internet. What should I do?
A. Restart your computer. Try unplugging/replugging your modem and/or router.
Q. My wireless network signal does not reach all areas of my home/office, or works intermittently? What can be done to increase the signal strength and/or reliability?
A. Wireless networking uses radio waves to send and receive information. Radio waves are subject to interference by many factors. Some of the most common sources of interference are: microwave ovens, dense building materials (especially in kitchens), fluorescent light ballasts. plumbing, other wireless devices near you. Another reason why wireless signals don’t travel very far is the signal strength of consumer wireless devices is limited to prevent interference with your neighbors’ devices.
The most effective way to increase signal strength is to install additional wireless repeating devices in the areas where you want increased wireless access. Devices that are hard-wired to your wireless router are called access points (this is the only method we recommend). Devices that are not hard-wired to your wireless router are called repeaters and are not recommended due to their decreased reliability vs. wired devices.
Your electrician or cabling contractor can install the wiring (Ethernet cable) between your wireless router and your access points.
Q. My wireless keyboard/mouse stopped working. what should I do?
A. Check the batteries in your keyboard/mouse. Unplug/replug the wireless receiver from your computer. Restart your computer. Most wireless devices have “connect” buttons on the device and the receiver. Try pushing the “connect” button on both the keyboard/mouse and the receiver.
Q. My wired keyboard/mouse stopped working. what should I do?
A. Unplug/replug the keyboard/mouse cable from your computer. Restart your computer.
Q. How do I keep my computer protected from viruses and malware?
A. There is no 100% effective solution that prevents all viruses from getting onto your computer. The best protection comes from being extremely careful about what links you click in email, and which websites you visit, along with always having anti-virus/security software. In addition, make sure your firewall is on.
You might also consider an additional anti-malware product like Malwarebytes, Spybot Search & Destroy, or Super Antispyware. Please note that the anti-malware products do not work with all anti-virus programs.
Q. I’m buying a new PC, should I purchase Windows 8 or Windows 7?
A. We like Windows 7 interface better. If you decide to get Windows 8, there are some utilities you can install-like Start8, that will give you back the Windows 7 Start Menu.
Q. I’m going to buy a new computer, laptop or tablet. What brands are most popular?
A. for desktop computers, Apple and Dell have good records. For laptop computers, consider Apple, Dell, Sony, Lenovo, Asus and Acer. For tablets, consider Apple, Samsung, Asus and Acer.
Q. I’m trying to decide whether to buy a tablet, a laptop, or a desktop computer. What are the considerations?
A. If you do not need to be mobile with your device, in most cases a desktop computer is better, because desktop computers are less costly, more reliable and run faster than laptops. If you need to be mobile, the decision comes down to laptop vs. tablet. If you’re going to use your device for more than 1-2 hours at a time, a laptop is more ergonomic. Another consideration is whether you need any software that is only available on a laptop.
Q. I need a new printer. What are the considerations?
A. The elements to consider are: monthly pages printed; photo printing; color vs. black and white; sharing the printer with multiple computers; whether or not you want to print from your tablet.
The 2 primary printer types are inkjet vs. laser. if you print photos, inkjet printers generally produce a better picture. If you print over 100 pages per month, consider a laser printer. While their initial cost is higher, their cost per page is generally lower and you may wind up saving significant money over the life of the printer. You can get a color laser printer for $299 and up. Inkjet printers start at about $50 for a basic model.
If you want to allow multiple computers, and/or your tablet to share the printer, consider a printer that can connect to your network via an Ethernet cable or wirelessly. For tablet printing, check to see if your tablet can print to your printer without requiring additional apps. For example iPads can print to printers that are AirPrint enabled, without the need for any apps.
Q. What brands of printers are most popular?
A. We have had very good luck with Brother, Canon and Epson printers. HP all-in-one printers have not been reliable in our experience.
Q. I need a new wireless router. What brands should I consider?
A. Apple, Netgear, Cisco, Asus, Dlink are some of the most popular brands.
Q. I need a USB hard drive. What brands should I consider?
A. Seagate, Western Digital, Maxtor, Buffalo are some of the most popular brands.
Q. How can I protect my files if something happens to my computer?
A. Backup (copy) your files to a cloud provider like Carbonite, Mozy or iDrive. We also recommend that you backup your files to a USB hard drive. Having several copies is good insurance against corrupted files, viruses, accidental deletion, computer theft. hard drive failure, etc.
Please note that it’s important to check your backups by doing test restores periodically to make sure the backup system is working. Too many people have setup backup systems and thought all was well until they need to retrieve a file, and found the backup system had stopped working.
Q. How do I create a strong password?
A. a good password is: 8 or more characters, has uppercase and lowercase letters, contains numbers, contains symbols. Many people use a passphrase, which is much easier to remember that a complicated password. For example: I love you! could be easily changed to 1L0v3y0u!, which meets all the requirements of a strong password, but is very easy to remember.