What are the Adware and Spyware you mentioned?
Too often the answer is "They are the reason your computer has slowed down and your security needs attention." or "They are why your home page has been changed and privacy is at risk for your data."
The "ware" in those words means software; so adware is advertising software, including everything from pop-ups at legitimate web sites to the more aggressive (and illegal) kind that install to your computer without your permission. Spyware is software that harvests tracking and profiling data about your internet usage by collecting information about when and where you click. This also can be done legally, or in illegal ways that mislead you or violate your privacy and data security. In both cases a large gray area is centered around whether or not the invader has your permission. Either way, ill effects like the two mentioned above are a frequent result. <TOP>
What are Trojan Horses and Malware?
More than simply servicing your technology, I want to be certain that you are completely satisfied and comfortable with your Computer Medics service experience. I aim to do this by visiting your home or business and repairing your PC or Network on-site whenever possible!
After providing a free initial diagnosis and an estimate, I can complete many upgrades or repairs on-site; ensuring that your computing system again works properly before I leave. In almost all cases, the work can be completed in a single visit. All this for a price that is competitive with what many shops charge for carry-in service. I do not charge for travel to and from your home or office, and we always begin with a free consultation. <TOP>
Fighting Back
Lost data, unusable systems and identity theft are some of the severest consequences. The good news is that Computer Medics is ready willing and able to thoroughly inspect, clean and safeguard your system, using state-of-the art data security tools. Remember that your Anti-Virus software is only as effective as its most recent update. AV alone is not the total protection scheme you need against the current range of offenders. Call us about your system security concerns and let us equip you to compute and surf the web more securely! <TOP>
Why has my PC stopped booting?
I am often called on because a customer's computer has begun to show its age. Customers want to know if they are then forced to by a new PC, and what exactly went wrong. My job is to find out, and advise them accordingly. I don't want to see my customers throw good money after bad, so when repair costs would overinflate the owner's investment in aging PC hardware, I try to help out with informed decision making. <TOP>
How was my PC damaged?
Generally, the things that accelerate a PC's aging are some combinations of heat and dust (and sometimes liquids), and an unstable voltage supply affecting to its internal components. The two parts that tend to age fastest are the power supply unit (or PSU) and internal hard disks. The PSU is where the AC power cord plugs into the computer case, and typically includes a blower fan for venting damaging heat buildup. How PSUs respond to environmental dust is another matter. Some computer cases traps a dust throughout their interiors, others show high concentrations of dust at one or two internal locations; in this second scenario the PSU can be the main dust trap. Dust and power outages (and their accompanying voltage spikes) are a PSUs main vulnerabilities. The damage can be cumulative or sudden depending on individual circumstances. When a PSU fails, the computer may be unbootable, or if it does boot it can deteriorate quickly as a result of the PSU malfunction. In many instances, timely installation of a replacement unit in can solve the problem. <TOP>
Why has the hard drive failed?
Internal hard disks are a tightly sealed, wallet-sized metal housing crammed with high-tech disk platters and sophisticated drive electronics in an internally dust-free setting. They are manufactured in special dust-free labs to protect their 5,000 to 15,000 revolutions-per-minute spinning disk platters from any friction. Hard disks vulnerabilities include heat buildup, physical shock and uneven electrical voltages. Some are marketed with relatively short service life expectancies. Damage that leads to hard disk failure is usually cumulative, over time, but often means an unbootable PC; sometimes with data loss. Modular replacement can correct these failures too, sometimes with the added dimension of having to decide whether to try to recover lost data. The data in these cases includes user-generated data files like documents and pictures, and installed software programs; including the PC's (Microsoft Windows, in my practice) operating system. <TOP>
How expensive is the repair?
You can see how cost might stand in the way of an effective solution when one or more of these components fail, but each instance is different, so an expertly informed decision is critical to weighing the factors accurately. There is often little or no cost to our customer when we recommend a whole new PC as the solution. In those situations, Computer Medics is happy to see our customer get a fresh start, with the hope of future business based on our fair and expert service when their old PC failed. Whenever feasible, we are equally happy to restore that ailing PC; giving it (and the customer's computing career) a new lease on life! <TOP>
Should I get the new Vista operating system
The answer to that question will vary from user to user depending on which, if any, of Vista's new and improved features offer them a better computing experience. That promise of a better computing experience in turn depends on how stably and efficiently the updated features are presented in the new version. The driving question becomes "Are there functions which you currently use or plan to use that are better implemented in Vista?"
Issues of stability and efficiency typically cause delays in the release of any new operating system and this one was no exception. No matter how refined new software has become when it is finally released, some deficiencies will only surface through real world user experiences after its release to the market. This means there is an added risk factor in making the jump to the new platform before its strengths and weaknesses have become more clearly visible. Will migrating before then be worth that risk?
Here are the facts: Vista comes in four varieties; two Home Editions (Basic and Premium), Business Edition and Ultimate. Vista Home Basic's advertised strengths are its improved convenience, security and usability over what XP provides. This is the result of a redesigned interface (look and feel of the desktop and navigation controls) and of building in some enhancements that have previously required installing additional software. If you are able to work fluently and securely in your current operating system version, Vista Home Basic's changes may add up to little more than cosmetics.
Vista Home Premium includes more advanced usability updates, including three dimensional and transparent overlay visual effects to make the desktop and windows more accessible and visually appealing. Home Premium edition also adds updated support for laptop PCs, centering on power saving and presentation capabilities. Other Home Premium edition features include a shared online workspace/meeting space with other Vista users, DVD creation and High Definition movie creation tools, plus Windows Media Center which offers additional controls for organizing and viewing entertainment and other digitized media content.
Business edition omits the new media creation and multimedia supports in favor of the visibility, workspace, laptop, security and networking enhancements. All editions have in common advanced versions of Windows Firewall, Internet Explorer 7 and Windows Defender for more secure Internet access. Deciding if Vista's new features are for you might require a closer look at some of the above topics by visiting Vista's home page.
Unless you are buying a new and certified Vista ready PC, another question is your PC's hardware readiness. The same website offers an installable program for automatically scanning your system's Vista readiness. You can also consider these stated minimum requirements:
- 800 MHz processor and 512 MB of system memory
- 20 GB hard drive with at least 15 GB of available space
- Support for Super VGA graphics
- CD-ROM drive
It is important to note that meeting the minimum requirements for an operating system upgrade is a very limited exercise, comparable to riding in a jetliner with an engine missing. It is guaranteed to reduce your satisfaction and enjoyment of the ride. Add 20% more processor speed, double the amount of system memory, double the hard drive capacity, ensure up to 16x the available graphics memory on today's older PC's, add a DVD drive and you will reach the officially recommended hardware capabilities for all editions above Home Basic. A final note is that inevitably, all these issues will be better understood after one year in the marketplace; when significant numbers of new PC buyers' Vista experiences become known. <TOP>
