Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Friday, August 31, 2012
Internet Security Advice...
Do you know what firewall to use?
Win7 firewall is much improved over say XP, but all are just software rules. For real protection hardware is needed, SPI and content inspection run at the router. With an older or newer machine wired to a home router, your security is based upon anonymity. You are behind an ‘invisible’ wall (your NAT router) and ‘they’ cant see you or your PC’s ports unless you invite them in by browsing. Once you click on a link, any link anywhere from anyone, you have passed control of your browser (and maybe computer) to their server to load their code. Do you trust them? How do you know? If that server has been compromised and is loaded with code that is able to exploit a weakness in your PC or trick you into clicking on something, you're infected! They can't get you unless you click on their link, but which link is safe and which is not? Link scanning is one defense, which is now commonly available.
Gaming - If you just use your PC for gaming and maybe go on Youtube, would you be pretty safe from viruses?
No! Gaming forums and Youtube are some of the worst - especially if they are giving away games or apps. Technically, maybe viruses aren't so common, but rootkits and Trojan spyware can damage your windows. Note, also, that if you have a cable or FIOS hook-up, your computer ison the Net even if you don't actually go out there yourself. Someone who really wants to infec those that can't be "seen" can still do it as long as your computer is powered up. And don't put all of your fears into viruses; spyware can be worse. You to be protect from both.
Do you have more questions? Send them to travelingtechs@comcast.net with "Computer Questions" in the subject line. I will post your questions with answers right here on my blog!
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Networking Tip/Troubleshoot
Can connecting another computer to my network influence the connections of the other computers?
I had a scenario where a client had two computers both connected to a wireless router. They connected a third computer to the network and, although the connection went through for this new computer, one of the original computers now says "limited or no connectivity" and cannot connect to the Internet. The question was is it possible that the new computer is using up too much bandwidth and is therefore preventing the other computer from accessing the Internet?
My Opinion...
Hooking up many computers to the same network can slow down the computers....all of them at the same time. Normally you would not notice the slow-down speed as it is in Mhz. However, it would take many more computers than three to slow it down and the error message is not due to any slow-down.
The first thing I would check is the IP address on the third computer and the computer that is not connecting fully to the Internet. The IP address is an address assigned to each computer so that the wireless router "knows" who it is "talking" to at any time. The IP addresses MUST be individualized.
The second thing I would check is for viruses or spyware on the computer that is not connecting to the Internet. The first thing most spyware does is disconnect the connection to the Internet so that you cannot easily uninstall it.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Desktop Ethernet Problems
So, you have purchased a new desktop computer. Everything is working right, but then you decide to move your computer to another room in the house. You quickly realize that you have lost Internet connectivity. You go out and buy a wireless router, but that does not work. You try using your broadband board, which does work, but only for a week. So, you move the computer back to its original location in the house only to find that you still have no access to the World Wide Web. It's time to troubleshoot, and here is where I would start....
First, there are several reasons why a computer will not connect to the World Wide Web. It would be hard to determine which one may be causing you a problem, but the first step to solving a problem is always run an anti-virus and an anti-spyware program first. If your computer is infected, it does not matter what you do to it - it will either not get fixed or you might get a fix until the virus becomes active again. It is like a cut on your finger, unless you make sure it is clean first, no bandage will fix it.
As far as your wireless receiver goes, most desktop computes do not have wireless installed. You need to purchase a wireless card (internal) or a USB wireless device (external).
Why your broadband board worked and then stopped working - again could be a virus. It could also be that the board has gone bad.
Moving the computer back to the original location and using the original cables etc did not seem to help you. Here is when I would call your Internet Service Provider and make sure that they have a signal from their server to your location within the home. If they do not get a signal, then there's your problem! However, if they do get a signal, then the problem will be located in the PC.
First, there are several reasons why a computer will not connect to the World Wide Web. It would be hard to determine which one may be causing you a problem, but the first step to solving a problem is always run an anti-virus and an anti-spyware program first. If your computer is infected, it does not matter what you do to it - it will either not get fixed or you might get a fix until the virus becomes active again. It is like a cut on your finger, unless you make sure it is clean first, no bandage will fix it.
As far as your wireless receiver goes, most desktop computes do not have wireless installed. You need to purchase a wireless card (internal) or a USB wireless device (external).
Why your broadband board worked and then stopped working - again could be a virus. It could also be that the board has gone bad.
Moving the computer back to the original location and using the original cables etc did not seem to help you. Here is when I would call your Internet Service Provider and make sure that they have a signal from their server to your location within the home. If they do not get a signal, then there's your problem! However, if they do get a signal, then the problem will be located in the PC.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
HP Media Center Failure Troubleshooting
So, I recently read a question from someone regarding her HP Media Center m7580n failure. Turning the computer on, she noticed right away that there were strange patterns of colors on her screen. This pattern of colors changes as the computer boots, but the normal screen does not return. After a few minutes, the monitor powers down, saying there is no input source. Normally, her monitor is set at 1280x1024, but for some reason was set at 640x480 with this desktop. When she hooked the monitor up to a laptop, the resolution changed to match the laptop.
Originally, she thought, and hoped, that this was the graphics card, but noticed some things which made her think it was something much worse. First, she tried turning on the computer and then accessing the hard drive through her home network, but now, the media center did not appear on the network. She also switched monitors on the desktop, with no change. The only recent changes made were to security. She was originally using avg2012, but found it was clogging her system. She then uninstalled successfully, and installed avast. Avast gave a blue screen at start up, and would reboot the computer, at which point everything was fine. She uninstalled that and installed Pandacloud, 2 days before this started, but didn't notice anything indicative of this. This occurs right from boot and cannot access safe mode by tapping F8. Normally, she would get a motherboard control screen after hitting the power button, then the bios, then Windows loads. None were visible and the technicolor show begins immediately after power is activated. She initially thought it had something to do with the graphics/video card. However, the computer still remains unavailable to her network, no matter what! Suspecing it could be the RAM module, she wonders if that would affect the desktop from loading properly which is why it fails to connect with the home network?
It sounds like there is trouble and the help she has been getting is not solving the issue. I have my own input that "may" help understand what "might" be going on.
First, she doesn't explain what the "massive failure" was but I am going to assume that it was power related. My answer will be based on that.
With Avast giving a blue screen after installation, I am concerned that you may have had a problem even before the massive failure, albeit a small one probably.
The color pattern on your screen and the change of your settings does indicate monitor issues. This could be the monitor is blown, the drivers are corrupt, or the motherboard (in part) has been blown. Switching out the monitors takes away the blown possibility.
Then she says that the computer cannot be found on her network. Again, the network drivers or the motherboard could be the problem.
Now that you cannot use the F8 key to get into safe mode, you may have issues with the keyboard or the motherboard.
Whether or not it is RAM failure is not as strong of a possibility to me. RAM allows the computer to think and rarely interferes with the running of the system, safe mode, drivers, and the such. However, if you want to check it, it is a simple and low cost check. If you have two or more sticks in the system, you can take them out and check them one at a time (depending on the system… check the manual). The system will be much slower so give it time to boot or stop as soon as the monitor goes to the color pattern. If each and every stick gives this indication, then it is probably not the RAM.
All of the above tells me that, if it was a power issue, the motherboard has taken a hit on several different parts of it. Personally, I wouldn't hire a tech to fix it as he/she may catch all the issues or just enough to bring it up and leave other issues to hit you at a later time.
My recommendation is a new computer, especially at the low costs that they are now. Hope this helps in some way. Future protection so that this doesn't happen again is to spend some money on protecting your system with a UPS (uninterrupted power supply)!
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Keeping Your Windows Computer Running Well...Part I
Clean Constant Power......do you have a UPS? Clean constant power - Many people think a surge protector is going to protect them. The Truth is that it will not!
An Uninterruptable Power Supply (aka Battery Box) is the only true protection. A surge protector is just an expensive power strip. First, you need a properly sized UPS - properly installed (connected by USB to the PC). This generally means a 1000-1200VA rated unit available from multiple sources from your local computer store to the web. A properly sized unit will allow you to connect your CPU, monitor, speakers, and router, if nearby, so that in the event of power failure you can save any work and shut down the PC. If you are not present when power fails, the monitoring software will shut the PC down before the battery runs out if power does not return. If the power interruption is brief or just a surge - operation will continue as if nothing happened.
The PC is connected to the battery and the battery is connected to the AC. If anything bad happens on the AC side, the battery takes the brunt of it - not the PC. Laptops get sort of a free ride here since they have batteries built in. In the case of a laptop, your power brick takes the stress instead of the computer.
Another important thing to keep in mind is where your PC is located. Can it get ventilation? Are things piled on top of it? Is it shoved back in a corner against the wall covering up its ventilation holes? Even in the cleanest rooms PC's will collect dust - they are electro-static by nature and must move large volumes of air through the CPU to keep it cool. There will be dust. The question is how much. Has your machine started making fan or other noise? This should not be ignored. Careful use of a vacuum cleaner or an inexpensive bottle of air can remove this threat to your CPUs health.
Find this article helpful? Read more directly from my website at http://www.travelingtechsllc.com. Want more computer maintenance and repair tips and tricks? Read more articles by visiting our website or stay tuned for part II - Scanning and Updates!
Have questions regarding your computer or laptop? Do you live in the DC, Metropolitan area, Virginia, Baltimore areas? Call us and let our expertise help you! 240-350-8107
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Computers/Laptops - do we REALLY know what we're doing?
When considering a computer/laptop, do you know what you need to know prior to your purchase? Here are some ideas to consider....
If the computer is going to be used for games or movies as a priority, then a screen and video card are the important things to consider. In this case a desktop computer would probably be best as it is easier to upgrade your video card and your video output device. Also, with games and movies the hard disk needs to be very large if you save any of the input. With a desktop you can always add more hard drives with ease.
If the computer is going to be used for creating spreadsheets, Word documents, or video presentations then either type of system would do. The only real consideration here would be the ease of typing the input. The keyboard on a desktop is easier to type on for most people. However, if you desire the laptop for portability or space requirements, you can always plug in a desktop keyboard (wired or wireless).
This now brings up the idea of portability. A desktop, normally, stays where it is installed. A laptop is made for travel. You can do your work at hot spots (i.e. McDonald's, coffee shops, book stores, etc.) or just in different rooms of your home; you are not tied down other than staying within the range of your wireless LAN when at home. This makes it much easier to sit on the porch enjoying the nice weather, going to the kitchen for a snack, or catching up on you "important" television shows while still creating documents.
Software packages are a main concern when buying a new computer. The first consideration is that if the software you are currently using is not on CDs or DVDs in your possession, you will probably have to buy them again. As a rule, software cannot be copied from one computer to another. It must be installed on each computer using it.
The second consideration is compatibility. Even if you do have the software on hand, some computers will not run older software. With the changes in computers happening every two or three years, software and hardware must be verified to run with the new system. Some systems now are running 32 bit and/or 64 bit operating systems. This can be important because some software is honed in to one or the other of these. Currently, there is very little software out there that runs 64 bit or dual processors. this is a big advertising game to sell computers; however, tomorrow...?
The third consideration is cost. Software needed for a new system usually costs as much or more than the desktop/laptop purchase. Again this depends on what you are going to use the system for.
As stated previously above, there is hardware that will not run on the newer computer systems. Sometimes the problem is the operating system of the computer not being able to talk to the hardware device. Sometimes it is because the drivers (the translators for device to computer communication) for the device has not or will not be created.
If your new purchase is to create photo output or high quality presentation output, as opposed to general documents, then you may want to consider putting your money into a printer of high quality and much less into the computer itself.
The quantity of hardware could also be an issue. Most laptops have 2 or 4 USB ports to plug in hardware. If you need more you can get a USB hub with additional ports; however, there are still some hardware devices that will not work through a USB hub and needs the direct connection to the laptop USB port. A desktop can have 4 to 8 USB ports to plug into. Again a USB hub can be used for more ports or a card can be installed within the desktop for additional ports. If this is a strong consideration, then you will probably need a high end system to push all the power needed for each device.
Security is always an issue in this day and age. The word virus gives a lot of people a case of anxiety. There are several ways to solve this problem and enjoy your computer. The first is get a good anti-virus and anti-spyware program. There are a lot of free ones out there - some are very good. There are a lot of others that charge (usually yearly) - some are very good. This is a case of either read about them fro sources you trust or rely on other people that you can trust. There will always be someone who will like each one or they wouldn't all be on the market. And don't be fooled; if you have a cable (Comcast, FIOS, Cox, etc.) connection, you are ALWAYS on the Internet whenever the computer is turned on. You do not have to initiate your email, Internet, or any other application to be hacked.
Another way to secure yourself from viruses, spyware, malware, root kits, and ID theft is to make sure that you use a LAN or network that you can trust and that has security within it. Of course, the only way not to be "hit by this bus" is to stay off of computers. But even this is not a good alternative as your bank account, your credit card, and other out-of-home shopping situations are almost all computerized and susceptible to being hacked.
A back up power supply and a back up for your computer files are also steps in the right direction for security. A back up power supply will help stop a computer from being struck by a power surge. A power surge has all the capability of entering the unit and destroying the insides including wiping the hard drive. The correct power supply has the ability to turn off your computer when there is an outage also. A back up for your computer files is good when your computer bites the dust or gets decimated by a virus. With a good back up procedure your data will always be safe even if your computer is not.
Now that we have answered most of what you want your computer for, what specifications (insides) are needed for this computer? Do you need a DVD drive that has the capability to write or create CDs or DVDs or just one that can read CDs (for installations) or DVDs (for movies)? How fast should the computer be? How much memory do you need? What size video output do you want? What about your network speed?
These can be very involved questions without any real clear-cut answers. Without getting too deep into these questions, a new computer made within the last year would be more than enough for most people. Reviews on the Internet from reliable sources could also be a big help.
The final thought is whatever you decide to purchase, I recommend that you be happy with what you have to pay for your system and don't look at computer sales or ads for the next six months - because you will probably find something newer, bigger, faster, or on sale to make you rethink your purchase. Don't.
If you want to use my experiences, then feel free to go to my website and contact me with any thoughts or questions. I am not the "know it all geek" and will never proclaim myself the "number one guru" but I have had my hands on and in computers since 1967 and have clients and experiences to support my convictions. www.travelingtechsllc.com
What about refurbished systems?
A refurbished system is usually a very good system. But if you want a warranty you may want to stick with new if you don't know anything about computers or don't have a handy IT professional friend.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)