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Is The Computer Repair Industry Growing or Declining?

The Computer Repair Industry As a very busy and successful computer repair business in Brisbane this is a question that is obviously of great importance to us. Will the market for our business decline in the way that many other businesses have or are experiencing such as book shops, DVD rental outlets and the sale Continue reading “Is The Computer Repair Industry Growing or Declining?” →

The Importance of Windows Updates

What if while purchasing a new car, appliance, or piece of office equipment you were told that the item you’re about to purchase comes with on-going maintenance and improvements at no additional charge? The sales person tells you that his company will let you know when there are any improvements or when you need maintenance, and you won’t be required to visit a repair shop or have a repair person visit your office or home. Would you elect to take advantage of that offer? Maintenance plus improvements without the headaches of a service visit and zero expense on your part. Who wouldn’t say yes to an offer like that?

Unfortunately in most cases that is just a fantasy; however it is reality when it comes to your Windows operating system. Microsoft continues to make improvements and repairs to their operating systems available for several years after purchase, yet many people do not take advantage of this benefit. Well if something so sensible isn’t motivation enough, here are some more reasons why updating your desktop and server operating systems is not only prudent, it is critical.

Stories about hackers and threats to computers and networks are in the news almost every day, and many of these stories include tips on how to prevent or minimize this from happening to you. Across the board, consistently, one of the recommended tips is to keep your operating system updated! The reason is because a majority of the updates Microsoft releases are security updates. Never seen before threats are developed by crafty hackers all the time and Microsoft is constantly refining its operating systems to counter these new threats; but in order to take advantage of these improvements, and protect your devices and network, you need to keep your operating systems up-to-date.

Operating systems are also updated to address bugs and shortcomings. Prior to making software available to the public Microsoft will release a beta version of the product for people, primarily IT geeks, to try, experiment, and play with. Then, Microsoft takes the feedback and improves the product, eventually releasing it to the public. However, now that it is in the hands of the public you have dramatically increased the number of people using it and the ways it is being used. Not surprisingly, more issues come to light and, one way or another, come to the attention of Microsoft. Microsoft then uses this feedback to make improvements to the software, also known as patches, and eventually makes these new improvements available. The end result is an operating system that is not good as new, it is better!

Patching desktops and laptops is fairly easy because you can set updates to automatically download and install.

For Windows 7 users, type and click “Windows Updates” in the search box. In the left pane, click “Change Settings,” then under Recommended Updates, select either the “Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates” or “Include recommended updates when downloading, installing, or notifying me about updates” check box and click OK.

For Windows 8 and 10 users, choose “Change PC Settings” in your Settings, then click “Update and recovery.” Click on “Choose how updates get installed,” and under recommended updates, select the “Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates” checkbox and apply those settings.

If you follow those steps, all of the Windows Updates that are offered will be automatically installed without you being bothered and annoyed by the frequent notifications.

Because operating system updates help your computer to be more secure and perform better, we suggest installing these updates as often as possible. However, occasionally there may be problems caused by the updates. Sometimes the updates aren’t configured properly or the installation doesn’t complete and can cause your computer to revert the updates automatically (if you’re lucky), or even create some serious system issues. That is why we recommend backing up your important files, such as documents and pictures, onto an external hard drive in the event of a disaster.

Fortunately, at the Computer Doctor, we deal with all sorts of software configuration issues— including those caused by Windows updates. If you are concerned with updating your computer on your own, we are happy to install the updates here at the shop in Hampden while simultaneously tuning up your computer; we can guarantee it will be running much faster and better than it was before! Better yet, ask about our new service package that we will now be offering to our residential and home based business customers. Our business clients experience the full benefits of our managed services program. We take care of their Windows updates on a planned schedule to avoid Microsofts patch problems, we also have an automated service program that manages third party updates, continually monitors your computer hardware for potential failures and performance issues and includes a fully managed antivirus suite of monitoring and mitigation programs and so much more! We have packages to meet every need and budget.

If you are interested in a complete system tune up, or any of our other computer services, please give us a call at 862-7019 or stop by to see us at 50 Main Road North in Hampden! And if you mention this article, you will receive 10% off a tune up!

Mobile phones, mobile dangers: Protecting children with cell phones

The cell phone in all its iterations — from pre-paid to smartphones — has become common throughout the world. According to the United Nations’ telecommunications agency, the ITU, there will be over 5 billion mobile phone subscriptions by the end of this year. Continue reading “Mobile phones, mobile dangers: Protecting children with cell phones” →

Tips for on-campus technology protection

How often should you wash your bathroom towels? And what about the bathroom rug? Should you wash it every week? Every couple of weeks? Continue reading “Tips for on-campus technology protection” →

Choosing best browser – can it really be done?

How often should you wash your bathroom towels? And what about the bathroom rug? Should you wash it every week? Every couple of weeks? Continue reading “Choosing best browser – can it really be done?” →

Warning Signs of Your Hard Drive’s Imminent Failure

Every one of us owns precious files like personal documents, photos, videos, or audio files, and we typically store them on hard drives. Surprisingly, hard drives are one of the few mechanical devices left in a computer because most other components are electronic; and as with any mechanical device, they are bound to fail eventually. The average lifetime of a stationary hard drive today is around 5 – 10 years, depending on the type and manufacturer, and it rapidly declines if the drive is subject to strong variations in temperature, humidity, and motion as in not being stationary. Since a majority of people today own laptops and external hard drives, which get dragged around quite a bit, a realistic hard drive lifetime is probably around 3 – 5 years.

Hard drives can die all of a sudden without warning, and can be especially devastating if you haven’t backed up your data recently. The best case scenario would be for your hard drive to fail gradually, which gives you the chance to react, get a copy of your data, and replace the storage device before facing a fatal disaster. There are a host of signs that hint to a gradual failure of your hard drive, and if you work quickly, you could save your most important pictures and documents before your hard drive’s clock runs out!

1. Slow Computer, Frequent Freezing, and the Blue Screen of Death

While these computer characteristics don’t always indicate hard drive failure and can actually be triggered by a thousand different factors, it is always a good idea to back up your data after experiencing any of these symptoms. Pay special attention to slowness or freezing after completing a fresh installation of an operating system on your computer, or if you boot your Windows computer into Safe Mode to check diagnostically. If the symptoms still persist in these situations, then it is very likely there is an internal hardware issue and possibly a failing hard drive.

2. Corrupted Data

If you begin finding your files take 30 minutes to open, refuse to open completely, or even disappear entirely, that is not normal computer behavior. If your file does open and you see that it has errors or is corrupted, that is a bad sign. This could be caused by a malicious Ransomware Virus or something similar, but it could also be caused by gradual hard drive failure.

3. Accumulation of Bad Sectors

Bad sectors are areas of the hard drive that do not maintain data integrity. They are automatically masked by the operating system and thus hard to identify, especially if large amounts of the disk are currently in use. If you somehow run into a bad sector on the hard drive, however, that is not good. To check your hard drive for bad sectors, there are several ways to do so. Here are step-by-step instructions to perform a hard drive error check for each Windows operating system. Windows Vista. Windows 7. Windows 8 (click “to repair a drive” tab). Windows 10.

4. Strange Sounds

If you previously didn’t hear a peep from your hard drive, but now you do, check it immediately and be prepared to backup your data and replace the drive, because it is about to fail if it hasn’t already. If your drive is making regular clicking or grinding sounds, or a sound known as the “click of death,” chances are you have a mechanical failure within the drive. If you hear anything out of the ordinary, turn off your computer as soon as possible because continued use may damage the disks and make your data unrecoverable. The longer the drive is powered on, the more damage you may be doing. You should then make a note of what happened and contact us at the Computer Doctor immediately!

The only way to protect your personal and important data is to create a backup drive. Purchasing an external hard drive to load all of your documents and pictures on is a smart solution, but a blank DVD or thumb drive would also do the trick if the storage space is large enough. Ideally, having 2 backup locations is the best data loss prevention strategy you can have. It is just as easy to drop your external hard drive as it is to drop your laptop, and without a third backup location, you could lose everything!In the devastating event of hard drive failure or data loss, the quicker you call us at the Computer Doctor the better chance we have of recovering your precious pictures and documents. If you need any help setting up your backup drives or need any advice on products, we are happy to help! Just call us at 862-7019 or stop by our shop at 50 Main Road North in Hampden. If you mention this article, you will receive 10% off a data back up!

Preventing the Infection of Ransomware in 2016

With a new year comes new ways for hackers to attempt to gain access to your personal information and data, and 2016 is no different. Actually, 2016 is foreseen to have the most frequent cases of the most malicious viruses ever: ransomware. Security Magazine predicts ransomware attacks to grow this year because “greater numbers of inexperienced cybercriminals will leverage ransomware-as-a-service offerings which could further accelerate the growth of ransomware.”

Ransomware is a virus that stops you from using your PC, and holds your PC or files for ransom. Some versions are called “FBI Moneypak” or the “FBI virus” because they use the FBI’s logos to trick people into sending the hacker money. The virus will often claim you have done something illegal with your PC and you will be fined by your local or federal government agency. Obviously the claims are false, but if you pay the fine to the supposed agency, then there is no guarantee that paying the fine will give you access to your PC or files again. Here is an example of a page that may pop up to convince you that you are paying the government for your illegal actions:

The virus can prevent you from accessing Windows, encrypt your files so you can’t access or use them, and stop certain apps, such as your web browser, from running. The hacker will demand you to do something to regain access to your PC or files; it is usually to send them money in the form of BitCoins over the internet or a MoneyPak. Ransomware has been known to charge over $1500 to give your data back, but of course that is not always the result of this expensive transaction.

A family of these ransomware viruses is called FakeBsod. FakeBsod uses a malicious piece of JavaScript code to lock your web browser and show a fake warning message when you visit a compromised webpage. The message says to “contact Microsoft technicians” because of an “Error 333 Registry Failure of operating system” on a blue screen. If you call the number shown on the blue screen, you will be asked to pay money to “fix” the issue. This is an example of the fake warning message:

After the ransom note has been displayed, the virus begins encrypting files. When a file is encrypted, the ransomware generates a key for each file that only the hacker knows. This means that the hacker holds your files hostage paying the ransom is no easy feat and there is a good chance that after you empty your wallet, your files may still be irretrievable.

Unfortunately there is no easy or guaranteed solution to restore a PC or its files after they have been infected with a ransomware virus. However, there are some steps you can take to protect your data from it:

Back up your data regularly. Simply putting your most important files on a $10 thumb drive from Staples could save you hundreds of dollars in the event of a ransomware infection.
Verify email sources. Many virus infections come from emails, so make sure you check the sender’s email address before opening any link or downloading anything from your email. Even if it seems enticing, don’t do it!
Bookmark websites. Bookmarking your frequently visited and trusted websites can prevent you from visiting a malicious website by accidentally typing the wrong web address.
Update your security software. Update any antivirus or security software you may have to provide an extra layer of protection for the latest ransomware viruses.
Use specialized software to block encryption viruses. Computer Doctor can install specialized software to help protect you from this specific attack.

Hopefully you will be lucky enough to avoid these harmful and cruel viruses and you take the necessary precautions to protect your valuable data. In the horrible event that you believe your computer is infected with ransomware, please call the Computer Doctor at 862-7019 as soon as possible! The sooner you catch the infection, the more likely it is that your information can be retrieved. The Computer Doctor has dealt with ransomware countless times and is the best resource in the area to return your PC and files back to you— without encryption and at a much better price! He has a customized and tiered approach to ransomware. For your own specialized software to prevent a horrific infection, look at our Crypto Innoculation page!

Come see us at 50 Main Road North in Hampden, in the same building at River Town Family Eye Care. You can call us at 862-7019 if you have any questions! We also do Remote Support Sessions as well as House Calls. If you bring in your computer for a virus removal, mention this article until February 15 and receive 10% off!

Protect your Privacy on your New Windows 10 Computer

We want to wish you a Merry Christmas from us at the Computer Doctor! We appreciate all your support and want to thank you for your continued business!

If you or anyone you know is going to receive a new computer or laptop this holiday, then we suggest letting that person know about the default privacy settings in new Windows 10 systems. If you are part of the minority of people who read the Privacy Statements or Terms of Service Agreements, then you probably already know about the lack of privacy in Windows 10. However, if you are part of the majority who doesn’t read them, we’ll let you know what to look out for on your new computer!

You would be surprised by the amount of personal information Windows 10 collects from its users—information including phone numbers, GPS location, credit card numbers, and even video and audio messages. All of this collection of data is outlined in the Privacy Statement that you would most likely agree to without reading (because who has the time to read the whole thing anyway?!).

Microsoft goes through 3 ways to use your personal data: “(1) to operate our business and provide (including improving and personalizing) the services we offer, (2) to send communications, including promotional communications, and (3) to display advertising.”

“To operate our business…” essentially means that the Microsoft applications that you use require your personal information to operate. For example, the application Maps needs your location to assist you properly. However, Maps is not the only application to use your location. Cortana, (the Windows equivalent to Siri), also uses your location and the only way to prevent that from happening is to not use Cortana at all. Microsoft also collects data to improve applications and try to fix any bugs, but this also means they track your usage of these applications. For instance, if you are using Microsoft Office and it crashes, then Microsoft will be able to see all of your documents that were open during the crash.
“To send communications…” means that Microsoft needs to make sure it can reach you if the primary means of communication fails. Microsoft discloses in the Privacy Statement that it collects your phone number, email, and mailing address; but claims that it uses this information to send promotions— and also to share with Microsoft partners. Click here to manage these communications.
“To display advertising.” is similar to the tracking that Facebook and Google uses to sell ads. Microsoft generates revenue from ads and sells demographic information to third-party advertisers. You even have your own advertising ID for your interest-based advertisements. You can choose to opt-out of these interest-based ads, but it won’t prevent data collection or less ads. If you don’t want to be tracked on the internet or if you want less ads, then we recommend installing this free extension for your browser.

To protect your personal information and data, then go to your privacy settings by clicking Start, then Settings, then Privacy. From there you can change how your computer uses your information from your location, microphone, camera, etc. You might also want to click on Feedback & Diagnostics and change the Feedback Frequency to “never” and Diagnostic and Usage Data to “basic” to prevent Microsoft from gathering random information.

If you are concerned about your private information, then you should not create a Microsoft account at start up. By not creating an account, your activity and information will be local to your computer and won’t be sent to Microsoft to further piece together your identity. To delete or mange your Microsoft account, go to Settings, then Accounts, then Your Account.

Your privacy is also at stake when you are using the internet. Microsoft Edge, (the new version of Internet Explorer), sends your internet browsing history to Microsoft to improve Cortana. To prevent the sharing of your browsing history in the settings for Microsoft Edge, go to Advanced Settings, then click View Advanced Settings, and under Privacy and Services turn off “Have Cortana Assist Me in Microsoft Edge.” And while you’re at it, back in the Privacy and Services menu turn off “use page prediction to speed up browsing, improve reading, and make my overall experience better.”

Cortana seems to be one of the most intrusive components of Windows 10 because she has to gather so much information from you. She collects anything from location, to contacts, to even speech and handwriting data. And all your interactions with Cortana are stored in the cloud. If you are suspicious about the data Cortana collects from you, you can adjust your settings and clear your data that she has learned from you.

While Windows 10 is very customizable and has a lot of neat features, there are some security aspects that could be concerning. At Computer Doctor, we want to protect you and make sure all your personal information is safe.

If you are worried about your privacy or need assistance in setting up your new Windows 10 computer, please give us a call at 862-7019! You can also stop in at 50 Main Road North in Hampden or come to Reboot Computer Services at 88 South Main Street in Brewer.

Merry Christmas and take 25% off any service if you come see us and mention this article before January 25!

Your Guide to Organize Your Christmas Shopping

No matter what type of shopper you are– the early bird who has everything wrapped up before Thanksgiving, or the mad-dasher that goes to grab everything the night before, it is easy to lose track of everybody on your gift list. There is the challenge of making sure that nobody gets the same present twice, especially if the same lists are circulated throughout your family. Here are a few tech tools that you can use to organize your holiday gift giving.

Keeping track of what you want to get for somebody, or what you have already purchased for others is challenging, particularly in large families. What good is planning ahead if you forget what you bought and where you hid it last month? How can you really keep your budget in mind when you are just wandering the store shelves aimlessly buying random gifts? If you have an iOS device, you can get the Santa’s Bag app. This gift giving app helps keep track of what everyone wants, how many gifts you have bought for each person, how much money remains in your budget, and even whether or not you have wrapped the gifts yet. You can add recipients as you go, as well as input what they want or what you think they want into a “gifts and ideas” list. You can set a certain budget for each gift recipient, sort out what store you will be buying the gift from, and set the status of wrapped or unwrapped, and add a gift location so that you don’t forget where you hide it!

A great gift giving app for those who do not have iPhones is the Christmas Gift List for Android. This app tracks ideas for what you want to get each person. The Christmas Gift List app also has quick click icons that let you update the status to bought, or from unwrapped to wrapped. Much like Santa’s bag, you can set personal budgets for each recipient- and see how many gifts you still need to buy at a glance. There is additional room for notes about each gift such as how you wrapped it, how large it is, and what color it is. This app is great for keeping you on top of your holiday gift giving.

The apps mentioned above are great for staying on track of your own gifts, but for those who need to coordinate with friends and family to avoid gift overlap, consider using Google Sheets. Google Sheets will help you form a complete gift giving spreadsheet, with each recipient having their own tab. The only downfall of this system is that users will
be able to see when a gift from their list has been crossed off. The best thing about Google Sheets is that it is free and can be accessed from any device that has an internet connection. All you need is a Gmail account, and family members can see who has added what. As soon as an item is purchased, it can be removed from the wish list so that no item is gifted twice. Although Google Sheets was designed to be more of a tool for school or business, it is surprisingly effective for use as a gift giving organizer.

Of course, there are some families that are spreadsheet challenged. For those families, there are several online wish lists that are good for beginners. MyRegistry allows you to add gifts from any online store, as well as sync any existing registries you may have at places like Amazon, Target, Walmart, Macy’s, and more. You can also use the smartphone app to scan bar codes of items that you find in physical stores. After you have compiled your list, you can share it on social media, a custom link, or allow people to search for it using your name. People with whom you have shared your list can update an item to show you when it is purchased. If every member of your family signs up for a MyRegistry account, everybody gets what they want and nobody ends up with three of the same gifts. MyRegistry is probably the most comprehensive tool for organizing your gift giving, but it does not work unless everybody is on board.

No matter how many people are on your holiday shopping list, staying organized can be a challenge. When it comes to gift giving, it is best to stay on top of things and not wait until the last minute, but no matter what your holiday shopping approach is, these tech tools will surely help organize your gift giving.

At the Computer Doctor, we can help you give the best gifts to your loved ones. We have an iMac in the shop, as well as two laptops ready to go– one of which is touchscreen! A newly refurbished computer by a certified and trustworthy technician is the perfect present to give this season.

Call us at 862-7019 or stop by and visit us at 50 Main Rd N in Suite B in Hampden, ME to check out our selection! If you mention this article, you will even receive 15% off!

Apple Products: Black Friday vs Cyber Monday

With a couple days still to go until one of the biggest shopping days of the year, a mixture of leaks and early announcements have revealed the best product deals at some of the biggest retail chains!

DealNews performed a study from Black Friday Season 2014 to help you score the best deals for anything you are looking to buy!

Because of the Blue law in Maine, almost all businesses must be closed on Thanksgiving Day, particularly the big department stores.

This means that the DealNews Editors’ Choices that vote in favor of deals on Thanksgiving Day won’t apply to us Mainers.

As of now, not very many sales have been advertised for Cyber Monday. But as a general rule, Cyber Monday is a tech-holiday for tech-minded people.

Fortunately, Amazon has announced some of its deals for Cyber Monday. The announced deals are primarily Amazon-exclusive products, such as various Kindle models and a year of the Amazon Cloud Drive storage.

The official Amazon Cyber Monday Deals hub has some limited-time offers that are going on right now which is definitely something to check out if you’re hunting for the best deal on a specific product!

A lot of deals on Cyber Monday will already have a certain percentage taken off of the full retail price, but I have found that most websites will also accept additional coupon codes for you to get an even better deal.

Here are some Apple coupon codes to redeem on the Apple store website, while RetailMeNot is my personal favorite website for finding more coupon codes to redeem on nearly any retail website.

To get the best deal for Apple products, try not to purchase them directly from the Apple Store, even if you use a coupon code. Purchasing from a department store will actually save you an average of $36 on any given iPad on any given day– not even including Black Friday or Cyber Monday! The same can be said for other Apple products as well, but this site has presented the savings data for iPads as of April 2015.

There are a few ways you can get the best deal for the Apple product you are looking to buy, and that usually means taking the time to research when and where you need to be to get it! Here is a basic breakdown of Apple deals this coming Friday.

Best Deals for iPads this Black Friday 2015:

iPad Air 2: The 16 GB is $399 at Best Buy and Walmart or $374 at Staples.

The 64 GB is $499 at Best Buy or $449 at Staples.

If either size is bought at Target, you will receive a $150 gift card with the full purchase price.

iPad Air: At Staples, the 16 GB is $319 and the 32 GB is $359.

If either size is bought at Target, you will receive a $100 gift card with the full purchase price.

iPad Mini 4: The 16 GB is $299 at Staples. At Best Buy, the 64 GB is $399 and the 128 GB is $499.

If any size is bought at Target, you will receive a $100 gift card with the full purchase price.

iPad Mini 2: The 16 GB is $239 at Staples or $199 at Walmart. If bought at Target, you will receive an $80 gift card with the full purchase price.

Best Deals for Apple Watches this Black Friday 2015:

Best Buy claims you can save up to $100 on Apple Watches, with the regular price $349-$699.

Target will give you a $100 gift card with any Apple Watch purchase.

Best Deals for iPhones this Black Friday 2015:

At Target, you will receive a $250 gift card with $0 down for an iPhone 6s or 6s Plus installment plan.

Or, for those that are eligible for 2 year contracts with Verizon or Sprint, you get $50 off the 16 GB iPhone 6s or 6s Plus (now $150 and $250 respectively).

At Walmart, you get $100 off any iPhone as well as a $100 Black Friday Gift Card.

Apple Macbook and iMac deals are a bit harder to come by. Best Buy’s Black Friday ad claims you can save $200 on a brand-new Macbook Pro or an iMac, making them $900 each. However, to get an even better deal on an iMac, stop by the Computer Doctor at 50 Main Rd N in Hampden to check out our $650 21-inch iMac.

Our technician refurbished iMac in the store has similar specifications to the advertised Best Buy one– with 1 huge exception: our iMac has a blazing fast Solid State Hard Drive. In addition to the obvious computer speed difference, our iMac will also have a full 6-month warranty following the purchase and you can expect nothing but the best technical support from the Computer Doctor for the entire computer’s lifetime.

Call us at 862-7019 or stop by our store to get the best deal on computers this holiday season. Even receive 25% off any purchase if you mention this article before December 25!

Windows XP Do Not Resuscitate

For everything there is a season, that certainly rings true for computers and technology. Windows XP first released in August 2001 turned out to be a huge hit f...

by kevin
26 Feb 2011
0

Tablet Talk

This is an old post from the Computer Doctor of Maine, discussing the release of the first Apple iPad. Since then, iPads have become more and more advanced. You c...