I found an interesting article here that talks about some of the new features in Windows 7 coming out Oct.22nd. I'm recommmending this new operating system from Microsoft. So far all testing has shown that it outshines Vista by leaps and bounds.
Of course with any new operating system, some of your old programs, and hardware, may not work right off the bat. With Windows 7, that seems to be less of a problem than in the past. However, keep that in mind when planning for an upgrade. Sometimes waiting a few months after the release date is a good idea.
Good information to have at hand when you are ready to make the change!
Thanks for reading, and I hope this helps!
If you need computer, network, or website services, feel free to look at our website at www.wtsaz.com. You can also click on the image at the bottom of the page to get there.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
How to avoid spyware and viruses
Spyware and Viruses are some of the most common problems I see out there. You can avoid most of them with a few simple steps.
Email: Opening an attachement in an email is one way you can get a virus. A good rule of thumb to use is that if you don't know who it's from, or what they are sending you, don't open it.
Websites: While there are "Drive by" installs of spyware from websites, there is another common way to get spyware from them. Ever see those pop-ups that offer a product, especially the ones that tell you your computer is infected? Most of those are scams that install spyware on your computer. They won't go away until you buy the product. How to avoid those? Click the X at the top right of the window, or better yet, down next to your start button, locate the rectangle that has it's name on it, and then right-click and select close.
Cleanup: Cleaning viruses and spyware can take time, and there are a few things you can do yourself.
Thanks for reading, and I hope this helps!
If you need computer, network, or website services, feel free to look at our website at www.wtsaz.com. You can also click on the image at the bottom of the page to get there.
Email: Opening an attachement in an email is one way you can get a virus. A good rule of thumb to use is that if you don't know who it's from, or what they are sending you, don't open it.
Websites: While there are "Drive by" installs of spyware from websites, there is another common way to get spyware from them. Ever see those pop-ups that offer a product, especially the ones that tell you your computer is infected? Most of those are scams that install spyware on your computer. They won't go away until you buy the product. How to avoid those? Click the X at the top right of the window, or better yet, down next to your start button, locate the rectangle that has it's name on it, and then right-click and select close.
Cleanup: Cleaning viruses and spyware can take time, and there are a few things you can do yourself.
- Either purchase antivirus, such as Symantec, Mcafee, or ESET. Or get a free product. 2 that are recommended are AVGFree, or Avast. The free products are free for a reason, but do offer reasonable protection. My choice for the products you can purchase is ESET. It doesn't slow your computer down, and in my testing, catches almost everything that comes at it.
- For anti-spyware, there are 2 free products that will take care of most spyware for you. Spybot search and destroy, and Adaware. Spybot has an "immunize" feature that will block known bad websites and software, and Adaware has a good realtime agent.
Of course, any anti-virus or anti-spyware is only as good as the latest update. Make sure you update and scan your system regularly. This will help keep it in good running condition.
Thanks for reading, and I hope this helps!
If you need computer, network, or website services, feel free to look at our website at www.wtsaz.com. You can also click on the image at the bottom of the page to get there.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Do you really need a new computer?
I get the quesion from customers all the time. Should I get a new computer?
My answer? Maybe. I today's economy, buying a new computer is the last thing most folks want to have to do.
Usually folks ask me that question because their computer has gotten slower over time, or they are having trouble with something that they've learned to live with, and are finally tired of it.
In both of these cases, fixing the problem, or simply cleaning up the computer will make it run like new again. A service call by a professional computer service can do that job in 1-3 hours depending on what needs to be done, and sometimes takes even less time!
If you call some of the big, national companies for service, it can get very expensive. Using a local computer service company not only keeps the local economy healthy, but will also save you some of that hard earned cash.
On the other hand, if you really, really, want a new computer (or the one you have just donesn't work), there are some great deals out there. I'll help you find them, and you pay what the store charges. There are a few things to look for when buying a new computer, including warranty that you'll want to make sure you have.
The bottom line is: I won't sell you a new computer just because you might think you need one. I'll help you find the most cost effective solution that fits what you need.
Thanks for reading, and I hope this helps!
If you need computer, network, or website services, feel free to call, or look at our website at www.wtsaz.com. You can also click on the image at the bottom of the page to get there.
My answer? Maybe. I today's economy, buying a new computer is the last thing most folks want to have to do.
Usually folks ask me that question because their computer has gotten slower over time, or they are having trouble with something that they've learned to live with, and are finally tired of it.
In both of these cases, fixing the problem, or simply cleaning up the computer will make it run like new again. A service call by a professional computer service can do that job in 1-3 hours depending on what needs to be done, and sometimes takes even less time!
If you call some of the big, national companies for service, it can get very expensive. Using a local computer service company not only keeps the local economy healthy, but will also save you some of that hard earned cash.
On the other hand, if you really, really, want a new computer (or the one you have just donesn't work), there are some great deals out there. I'll help you find them, and you pay what the store charges. There are a few things to look for when buying a new computer, including warranty that you'll want to make sure you have.
The bottom line is: I won't sell you a new computer just because you might think you need one. I'll help you find the most cost effective solution that fits what you need.
Thanks for reading, and I hope this helps!
If you need computer, network, or website services, feel free to call, or look at our website at www.wtsaz.com. You can also click on the image at the bottom of the page to get there.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
The power of backups, and the backup of power?
Ok, so this is an old horse that's been beat to death repeatedly over the years... But it just keeps getting back up. Why? Because everyone has lost that proposal file, or invoice, or the family pictures at least once in their life. The data can be retrieved, but can get expensive fast!
What is a backup? Well a backup is really just a 2nd copy of any file, or files, that you don't want to lose. It can even be a backup of your windows installation and all the programs.
Simple backup: This is simply copying the files you want to another hard disk, USB thumb drive, or even burning them to CD. Remember all those pictures of the family? Windows XP has a built in option to "burn" them to a cd. Simply highlight the files you want, and right click. Select "send to" and choose your cd rom drive. Follow the prompts and it will burn them to a blank cd for you. You can also connect a USB thumb drive to your computer and simply copy the files there. This is a simple backup and works great for a small to medium number of files. This process is usually done manually. Meaning that you have to copy or burn the files yourself whenever you want to save them.
Compressed backup: This is a backup that compresses, or tightly packs the files into a single file that is then sent to another location such an external hard disk. This requires a program that will do the backup for you and also requires that same program to retrieve the files later if need be. The good news is that these programs can be setup to automatically do the backups for you! Windows comes with MS Backup that has limited options. You can also purchase various programs that have lots more options, and work well for businesses where there are alot of things to backup. More recently online backups have come into being that save your data on a server on the internet. These have proven very reliable, but there is a monthly fee. For home users and small businesses these can make alot of sense. But for businesses with large amounts of data to save, a local solution works better, both in cost, and in immediate access to the data if needed.
Imaging: This can almost be considered a backup. What imaging does is takes a snapshot of everything installed on your computer and creates a file on another device (external hard drive, etc). If your computer or server crashes, you can then "re-image" or write everything back to your computer and it will be exactly the same as when you created it. The thing to note here is that if you imaged your system a month ago, everything that happened since then will not be there. The good news is that imaging software for both home users and businesses can be automated to image once a day, or whenever you choose. You just have to have enough external storage to hold the files. Some of the the new imaging software available is comparable in price to the backup programs out there. The great news about this is that, in the event of a crash, you can be back up and running in about 1/4 of the time it takes to restore conventional backups!
WHEW! Had enough yet? Ok, take a deep breath, get a drink of coffee....
The backup of power? The heck you say! What is that? Simply put, it's a battery backup for your computer. What this does is, should you lose power at your location, it allows your system to run long enough for you to finish what you were doing, save your files, and power it down correctly. This saves damage to both the hardware and software. With the monsoons every summer in Arizona, this can be a lifesaver for any computer. System repair and replacement can get expensive in a hurry, not to mention lost time. Battery backups are also relatively inexpensive, relative to the size of your systems. Meaning that the more devices you need to power, the more power you need. Home users with a single computer can purchase a battery backup (or UPS) for less than $100.
And one last tip on battery backups... Never, ever, ever plug a laser printer into a battery backup. It will use all the power that the battery backup can provide, and lower it's life dramatically. Just don't do it.
In conclusion, saving headaches is what backups are all about. I started my computer business to help people with those headaches. No I don't carry Tylenol since I'm not a pharmacist, but I do help get you setup to keep your systems running and recoverable if the unthinkable happens!
Thanks for reading, and I hope this helps!
If you need computer, network, or website services, feel free to look at our website at http://www.wtsaz.com/
What is a backup? Well a backup is really just a 2nd copy of any file, or files, that you don't want to lose. It can even be a backup of your windows installation and all the programs.
Simple backup: This is simply copying the files you want to another hard disk, USB thumb drive, or even burning them to CD. Remember all those pictures of the family? Windows XP has a built in option to "burn" them to a cd. Simply highlight the files you want, and right click. Select "send to" and choose your cd rom drive. Follow the prompts and it will burn them to a blank cd for you. You can also connect a USB thumb drive to your computer and simply copy the files there. This is a simple backup and works great for a small to medium number of files. This process is usually done manually. Meaning that you have to copy or burn the files yourself whenever you want to save them.
Compressed backup: This is a backup that compresses, or tightly packs the files into a single file that is then sent to another location such an external hard disk. This requires a program that will do the backup for you and also requires that same program to retrieve the files later if need be. The good news is that these programs can be setup to automatically do the backups for you! Windows comes with MS Backup that has limited options. You can also purchase various programs that have lots more options, and work well for businesses where there are alot of things to backup. More recently online backups have come into being that save your data on a server on the internet. These have proven very reliable, but there is a monthly fee. For home users and small businesses these can make alot of sense. But for businesses with large amounts of data to save, a local solution works better, both in cost, and in immediate access to the data if needed.
Imaging: This can almost be considered a backup. What imaging does is takes a snapshot of everything installed on your computer and creates a file on another device (external hard drive, etc). If your computer or server crashes, you can then "re-image" or write everything back to your computer and it will be exactly the same as when you created it. The thing to note here is that if you imaged your system a month ago, everything that happened since then will not be there. The good news is that imaging software for both home users and businesses can be automated to image once a day, or whenever you choose. You just have to have enough external storage to hold the files. Some of the the new imaging software available is comparable in price to the backup programs out there. The great news about this is that, in the event of a crash, you can be back up and running in about 1/4 of the time it takes to restore conventional backups!
WHEW! Had enough yet? Ok, take a deep breath, get a drink of coffee....
The backup of power? The heck you say! What is that? Simply put, it's a battery backup for your computer. What this does is, should you lose power at your location, it allows your system to run long enough for you to finish what you were doing, save your files, and power it down correctly. This saves damage to both the hardware and software. With the monsoons every summer in Arizona, this can be a lifesaver for any computer. System repair and replacement can get expensive in a hurry, not to mention lost time. Battery backups are also relatively inexpensive, relative to the size of your systems. Meaning that the more devices you need to power, the more power you need. Home users with a single computer can purchase a battery backup (or UPS) for less than $100.
And one last tip on battery backups... Never, ever, ever plug a laser printer into a battery backup. It will use all the power that the battery backup can provide, and lower it's life dramatically. Just don't do it.
In conclusion, saving headaches is what backups are all about. I started my computer business to help people with those headaches. No I don't carry Tylenol since I'm not a pharmacist, but I do help get you setup to keep your systems running and recoverable if the unthinkable happens!
Thanks for reading, and I hope this helps!
If you need computer, network, or website services, feel free to look at our website at http://www.wtsaz.com/
Welcome!
Welcome to our new blog. Keep checking back as we'll be adding new content as often as we can.
If you need computer, network, or website services, feel free to look at our website at www.wtsaz.com
If you need computer, network, or website services, feel free to look at our website at www.wtsaz.com
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