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PCs or “Personal Computers” have been typified with the Windows operating system. In reality, it’s a pretty general name, and could be applied to any computer. But for the sake of continuity, we’ll stick with PCs and Windows being nearly one and the same. So what is a PC? It’s a computer with all the standard parts such as a power supply, hard drive, motherboard, memory, CD/DVD drive, CPU, some fans and a case. Add in a Windows operating system and you’ve got yourself a PC. The benefit of a PC is compatibility, parts availability, lower price point, and customization. Customization is the key word when dealing with PCs. You can usually find a wide variety of customized cases if you have a desktop or a laptop PC. On top of that, Windows – which is the most widely used operating system – has so many custom programs, games, and such a wide variety of ways to personalize the look and feel of the computer that it really becomes a personal expression. When it comes to computer repair, PCs are the easiest to work on, but they also have the most problems. Since so many people have PCs, it’s the most prominent type of computer we work on. This is good for you, because it means we can get your computer fixed quickly and efficiently, with parts usually available in the shop or able to be ordered in a moment’s notice. Price and availability make the PC repair process that much easier. If you are having a problem with your PC, be it either a virus which is popping up every minute, a blue screen error message which shuts down your computer, or if your PC just won’t start, please give us a call and talk with one of our experienced technicians. Or, find a more specific problem in our menus to get more information.
When it comes to computer repair, virus removal is a very common task. The ability to remove a virus successfully is a basic skill for any technician. With our unique in-house developed methods, we are able to isolate and remove a computer virus without damaging your operating system or documents.
• Diagnose your computer for virus activity
• Check for virus activity, rootkits, worms, trojans and other malicious programs
• Locate and Isolate all viruses on your computer
• Remove all viruses, clean and optimize system
• Advise how to keep your computer protected
Virus removal is the technical skill of being able to remove malicious programs from an operating system. For PCs, Windows virus removal is a constantly changing field. There are such a large number of new viruses coming out all the time that it takes skilled, knowledgeable technicians to get the virus removed correctly and permanently. Your current antivirus program might protect you from most viruses, however it is very difficult for these antivirus programs to protect you from the very latest virus. Virus definitions that your antivirus downloads are traces of actual computer viruses, so until the antivirus company sees the new virus, they don’t know how to find them in the first place. This comes down to zero-day viruses being the most damaging to home and business users, as there is almost no way for the protection you have to know the program is a virus.
Viruses are programs, just like anything else running on your computer, except they’re designed to perform malicious tasks, and replicate themselves in some way to spread across the internet. You might get pop-ups, fake virus scans showing infections, or notice your web search redirecting to odd websites. These are all obvious signs of a virus, however there are also not so common signs, if any at all. Some viruses hide dormant on your system, checking a server on the internet periodically waiting for a command to attack. Some may alter your system to hide all your files and make you think you have lost all your data. Others have no effect on your computer, but send spam email out using your email account to all your contacts. In most cases these days, these virus programs come with pop-ups and advertisements trying to get you to purchase the software required to remove it. Don’t be fooled: giving your credit card information to these fake virus programs is a sure way to enter yourself into identity theft, with fraudulent purchases soon to follow.
When we see a virus in our shops for computer repair, we get to work by first locating the virus files. Because a virus is a program, the files it uses to run are on your hard drive somewhere, usually hidden. After locating the virus files, we isolate them and determine the best method for removal. When we remove the virus, we do so using our own in-house technique developed over time which leaves your computer virus free, working great, and leaves all your documents, photos and music untouched. Other unproved methods leave behind traces of the virus, or sometimes leave hidden tasks which over time end up repopulating your computer with the original virus or worse. The worst cases are when an untrained technician reinstalls the operating system to remove the virus – this is not the correct way to do it, and does not fix boot record viruses! If you think you have a virus, please give us a call and speak with one of our expert technicians who can help determine the best steps to take to keep safe.
We don’t want to scare you, but no antivirus program is 100% secure. The reason is due to the operating system, which in almost all cases is built to allow users to install programs. So if a user tries to install a virus program, the operating system allows this because it sees a valid program, and just like that you can be infected. Antivirus programs are great and necessary, but they only protect against virus signatures they recognize. And since there are criminals working all the time on new virus programs, those antivirus programs need to be kept up to date all the time. If you lapse in updates, or somehow receive a zero-day virus (meaning, a virus which was released within 24 hours – before antivirus companies have a chance to find a way to combat the virus) you can be infected.
Be cautious! It’s not likely you will run into a computer virus doing everyday things online. But if you see something strange, proceed with caution. If you get an email from a friend telling you to download a program – verify with that friend in person or on the phone before you do. Also, be aware that most of the links and buttons and advertisements online might not be friendly! Anyone can post an advertisement, and the site you are on usually doesn’t have much control over the content, so be aware of suspicious links or web pages with lots of download links. In the end, it really comes down to the individual user being cautious when using the internet. That’s your best protection against a computer virus.
If you notice you have a computer virus or are unsure, the best thing to do is to turn the computer off as soon as possible. While your computer is on and/or connected to the internet, the virus is always working in the background either infecting more files or sending data across the internet. If your computer is shut down shortly after receiving a virus, the computer repair process for getting rid of the virus is much easier. The longer the virus has to damage your system, the more time we have to spend getting everything back to normal.
• Fake Anti-Virus Programs
• Internet Access Disabled / Slow
• Slower Startups & Slower Computer Performance
• Search Engine Redirects
• Spam Emails Sent to Your Contact List
• Constant Pop-ups
• Complete Lock-down & Freeze Ups / Computer Not Booting Up
• Data Theft / Identify Theft
Our services include virus and spyware removal, and we’re good at it. Unlike other places, we remove the virus without damaging your operating system. Most people don’t think about how specific they have configured their computer until they have the operating system reinstalled. Even if all the data is recovered, there are multiple programs to reinstall, updates to download, as well as many other settings to get back just the way you like it. With our methods, we remove the virus itself, without touching your settings or data. Basically, we remove the virus with a scalpel rather than a sledge hammer.
In addition to removing the virus, we clean up your system, removing unnecessary programs, removing broken registry links, and improving the speed of the system overall. This means you get your computer back working, with all your data and settings in tact, running better and faster than before.
There are a few companies out there advertising their ability to run a single piece of software and your computer will be sparkling new again. They try to scare you into thinking you’re going to lose your data if you don’t check your system with their software. This claim is a little strange, because there are large name brand antivirus corporations, and you probably have one of those name brand antivirus programs installed on your machine right now. If the virus gets past your name brand antivirus program, there’s not much chance a late-night TV ad has in getting rid of it.
In addition, there are plenty of “broker” style computer repair companies. You call them, they collect the payment up front, and they either have someone remotely connect to your computer or they schedule someone to come to your house. Unfortunately, these brokers aren’t technicians and all they are doing is hiring local companies or technicians in your area to handle the problem. Many times these brokers find the lowest bidding technician who might not even be qualified for the job. If there is ever a problem in the future, you will have a tough time finding someone to listen to your concerns. With us, you know you have an actual business to talk to about all your computer repair questions, or anything tech related.
Malware, short for malicious software, is software designed to disrupt computer operation, gather sensitive information, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems.
Malware includes computer viruses, worms, trojan horses, spyware, adware, most rootkits, and other malicious programs.
A computer virus is a computer program that can replicate itself and spread from one computer to another. Virus can increase their chances of spreading to other computers by infecting files on a network file system or a file system that is accessed by other computers.
Spyware removal relates to programs which install on your computer to track your activity on the internet, and some go so far as to record your passwords and personal information. Most spyware is installed as bundled software with other programs. This method is legal and usually involves you accepting the terms of use of the spyware without even knowing what you’re installing. The end result is legal software installed on your computer doing whatever it wants with the information it gathers. Spyware is not always malicious, and some users might not mind. The main goal of most spyware is to gather your information and to sell that information, either as extra targeted advertisements to you, or lists of names, addresses, and phone numbers which are sold elsewhere.
Malicious spyware is more devious in it’s intent. Key logging spyware programs record your key presses to steal your user names and passwords for email, banking websites, and other personal sites. Common attacks even branch out to Facebook or gaming websites to get all your personal information from one place, or to take over your account for other purposes. If you have spyware on your computer, you might not even know it. It might be a toolbar at the top of your browser, or a little window that pops up and then immediately closes every now and then. If you notice any unusual activity, pop-ups, or notice your accounts are being accessed from other locations, you might have spyware installed.
When dealing with a spyware-infected computer, the first step is to disconnect from the internet so no information can be transmitted. Because spyware is targeting your information, many times it is difficult to notice as the spyware’s intent is to stay hidden. Our skilled computer repair technicians have dealt with so much malware that we know what signs to look for when searching for spyware. We isolate the programs, unhook their processes from your common programs, and delete them for good. After completely removing the spyware, we reconnect to the internet to monitor network activity to verify the removal.
Spyware removal computer repair process:
• Diagnose your computer for spyware activity
• Disconnect from the internet
• Locate and isolate any spyware programs and log files
• Uninstall or delete all spyware programs
• Remove any remaining spyware plugins or addons
• Reconnect to the internet and monitor network activity
The presence of spyware on computers is more common than ever. If you suspect spyware activity on your computer, please give us a call and speak with one of our expert technicians about how to keep safe.
Sometimes your computer is working, but it’s not working as well as you remember. Overall nothing major seems to be wrong, but you notice it takes longer than normal to open your email or programs. Usually this kind of issue can be resolved with our system optimization and clean-up process. What you get is your computer running cleaner and faster. Every now and then your computer needs a little love.
• Diagnose Issues : Find what is slowing down your computer
• Test Hardware : Test your hard drive, memory and other hardware for errors
• Software Optimization : Remove unnecessary programs which are taking up memory
• Registry Repair : Remove broken registry entries and clean temporary files
• Malware Removal : Remove adware, toolbars, and other add-ons you don’t use
We have many customers who use us for regular maintenance on their computers. Over time most users accumulate many different programs, and sometimes those programs don’t uninstall correctly, or leave unwanted processes running in the background which slow down other programs. Along with making sure your computer is running it’s best by taking care of those issues, we also test your hardware to determine if there are any critical problems with your system. Many times we are able to find if your hard drive is failing before it crashes, meaning we can retrieve your data before it becomes a serious computer repair issue. Usually customers who have this service performed visit us either every 6 months or once a year.
There are a few companies out there advertising their ability to run a single piece of software and your computer will be sparkling new again. They try to scare you into thinking you’re going to lose your data if you don’t check your system with their software. This claim is a little strange, because there are large name brand antivirus corporations, and you probably have one of those name brand antivirus programs installed on your machine right now. If the virus gets past your name brand antivirus program, there’s not much chance a late-night TV ad has in getting rid of it.
In addition, there are plenty of “broker” style computer repair companies. You call them, they collect the payment up front, and they either have someone remotely connect to your computer or they schedule someone to come to your house. Unfortunately, these brokers aren’t technicians and all they are doing is hiring local companies or technicians in your area to handle the problem. Many times these brokers find the lowest bidding technician who might not even be qualified for the job. If there is ever a problem in the future, you will have a tough time finding someone to listen to your concerns. With us, you know you have an actual business to talk to about all your computer repair questions, or anything tech related.
Wireless networking issues happen with laptops and desktops. For computer repair, many times customers can’t connect to the internet using their wireless card. Sometimes the wireless card has failed, and needs replacement. Other times, the wireless card drivers are not installed. Issues also arise with the antennae; desktops with wireless cards have antennae protruding from the case, where laptops have antennae which run from the motherboard up into the laptop screen. Regardless of what you computer have, the problem is the same, you can’t connect, and it can be frustrating. Our expert technicians are skilled in repairing wireless networking issues and deal with them on a daily basis.
That’s what we hear all the time, and basically what we write down on our work order: “Wireless not working.” It’s all we need to hear to start testing hardware and making sure all the software is installed correctly for your wireless card to work. Besides the card, we also check the antennae, any wireless switch on laptops, and make sure there are no bad components on the laptop motherboard or desktop wireless card. We have seen some cases where the wireless switch was broken off, and it had to be soldered back on to fix the problem. Issues can also arise from the BIOS, and different settings can sometimes disable your wireless from there. We check everything so the problem gets fixed, not patched over.
Windows networking is usually straightforward but there are some things to consider when troubleshooting wireless issues on Windows Platform. The main problem is usually network settings which most users don’t usually see or pay attention to. Here are some tips to troubleshoot some common issues, such as not being able to see your printer on the network:
• Wireless Networking Tips
• Make sure your firewall software is not treating new networks as unsecure networks
• Check your laptop for a wireless switch along the edge and turn it on
• Look for the blue Fn key + F-key combination on laptops which turns wireless on and off
• Uninstall any third party wireless utilities – the default Windows utility works best
• Make sure any wireless card drivers are installed and kept up to date
We have a lot of space which is wide open. Our wireless router is actually in the back of the office, yet we get wireless signal all the way up front to our check-in computer. This is because all that is between the router and the computer is air and a thin wall. With home wireless networks, the issue becomes more complicated as different walls, metal ducts and pipes all degrade the signal from a wireless router. We have resolved problems where the wireless signal wouldn’t make it a room away just because of the house design. A good understanding of wireless technology is key to building good coverage. But, if you’re having problems and your wireless isn’t working, just remember range is important and get closer to the router. At least then you will eliminate the possibility of a bad signal causing the problem, and will have a good start to troubleshooting the problem!
If you have any questions about wireless networking, or computer repair in general, please give us a call and speak with one of our friendly technicians!
Today’s fast moving society is connected through the internet, and one of the major facets of that is E-mail. Gmail, Hotmail, Outlook, Windows Mail, Yahoo Mail, etc. These programs are all different in their own way, but serve the same purpose, to connect our family / business together.
At SuperTech Geek, we understand how important it is to have your email working smoothly. At both a residential and business level, email keeps us updated, connected, and productive. We know how to optimize and maintain numerous email accounts / servers so that your home and business can stay connected.
From setting up a 100 person Outlook server to making sure you can video chat over Gmail, we can make it work. Our expertise in server setup and email migration can help your business stay connected with ease. Problems that could arise in this process that we can help you fix:
• Cannot connect to Outlook Server
• Cannot Print / Scan documents
• Cannot merge contact lists
Sometimes Windows based computers will come across lethal errors, these are represented by a Blue Screen, sometimes referred to as the “Blue Screen of Death” (BSOD). These screens halt the computer, provide an error code, and leave you stuck at the Blue Screen until you restart or shutdown the computer. Don’t Panic! Write down the error code, shutdown your computer, and give us a call! These error screens are meant to provide the data necessary to have the problem fixed, and generally require a skilled technician to complete a repair. Here at SuperTech Geek, we will diagnose and repair the BSOD and have your computer up and running in no time!
Today’s technological lifestyle has become second nature; using your iPhone to check your email, using your Droid as a GPS, or playing a movie on your laptop. Behind the scenes these functions are provided by the software that runs it. Software is defined as programs used to direct the operation of a computer, as well as documentation giving instructions on how to use them. Essentially they are the apps / programs that your device uses to activate these functions.
From time to time these programs need to be updated or upgraded. From upgrading iOS or Android devices, to updating Adobe or Java programs, keeping the latest software installed is almost always the best way to keep your devices working to the best of their ability. We can ensure that all of your devices are up to date with the best software available.
With our optimization process we update all of your current software, and install upgrades when they are needed. We provide Windows upgrades & Mac upgrades and most any device that you need upgrades for.
Sometimes you just want to start over. Viruses, malware, internet toolbars, 10000 programs, or just preference, a fresh Windows installation will set your computer to factory defaults. Very rarely a Windows re-installation is needed to get your computer back on its feet. Most times this is a last resort for our techs, as we can expertly repair your computer while saving your data and the original Windows installation.
There are some important aspects for a fresh Windows install;
– You MUST have a license for the Windows product you wish to install. Most times this is found on the side of your desktop PC, or on the bottom of your laptop. This 25 character “key” will allow you to obtain updates from Microsoft and it will also allow you to register your copy of Windows to the machine it is installed upon.
– Unless specifically requested, all data is lost during a Windows re-installation. However at SuperTech Geek, we can save any data that you would like before we install Windows, and then transfer it after the fresh install!
– Generally a fresh Windows install / reinstall will wipe all of the computer’s drivers and updates. Do not worry! After the installation completes we will find every driver and update that your computer requires, and we will install and load them so you don’t have too!
– When reinstalling Windows, you will lose all currently installed programs / applications. This is because the hard drive must be formatted (deleted + cleaned) for the new installation. In today’s online marketplace, most programs that you pay for are tracked and easily re-downloaded. If you have programs that you would like re-installed, let one of our techs know during your initial visit.