Frequently Asked Questions About Computers and Computing

   We have come to believe that Windows 7 is the best product that Microsoft has offered so far. Besides it's good looks, it is a fast operating system with advanced feature to make your computing experience easier and more productive. One of our favorite features is the enhanced networking capability built right into Windows 7. There is no more messing with system and file permissions to get your network up and running - you simply pick how it will be set up based on the network "location" (public, home or work) and file sharing settings and system permissions are set automatically. Windows 7 does require a more robust computer to run well. It has increased needs for system resources such as RAM and hard drive capacity; but we feel this is a small price to pay for it's advanced features.

My computer is running slow, what can I do?

   First of all, it is best to regularly check for virus infections and spy-ware using the appropriate programs to scan your computer for them. Viruses, trojans, and worms get all of the attention because they can wreak havoc with your computer - eventually making it unable to even start.

  An insidious attack on your pc that is becoming far more commonplace is the "Fake Alert" style of attack. You will be browsing the internet and will suddenly get a window that pops up in front of you - screaming that "YOUR COMPUTER IS INFECTED" Click here to fix it.... Actually the window that pops up to warn you is the attack, and when you "click here to fix it" - your system gets infected with a trojan that will keep popping up warning messages with a fake anti-virus program look-alike.... then they demand that you pay them to fix your computer.... a computer that was not broken until their trojan was loaded onto your PC's hard drive.  The best way to avoid these attacks is to not click anything that pops up when you are browsing the internet. If you get a alert like that and it is not from the anti-virus program that is installed on your PC, the safest option is to simply shut off your computer in the normal fashion - without clicking on any "unexpected windows".

  Spyware and adware are not so exciting and dangerous, but they can load your system with hidden "processes" that slow your computer down enormously. Most spyware and adware is designed to help track your internet travels so ads can be directed to you.

   If there are no viruses, malware or spyware on your system because you have been running regular scans for them, there is one main thing most people overlook on their systems maintenance. Cleaning out temporary files created by programs and emptying your web browsers internet cache will do a LOT to make your PC run faster. For example, your web browser keeps files from every webpage you visit; their purpose is so your browser does not have to download these files every time you visit that particular page. Unfortunately, these files build up over time if you have not set your browser to delete them when you close it. If not deleted, they build up to the point that your computer spends more time searching through your cache for the correct files than it would spend downloading the whole page again. This simple "trick" will keep your otherwise healthy computer running with the speed you are used to getting from it.

How can you recover data from a crashed hard drive?

   If the hard drive has a corrupted operating system and simply will not start, it is pretty routine to recovery your lost data - and that is something the larger computer stores simply won't take the time to do. If the hard drive has accidentally been formatted and the data lost during the re-installation of the operating system, it still can be recovered - but the process is a bit more intensive. We have some specialized programs to help recover the lost data. If your hard drive has a mechanical problem, we can sometimes recover your data from it, but the chances are it would be far more expensive than the recovered data is worth. There are services available to do it, but the price can run into thousands of dollars.

   The best suggestion we can give you is to back up your data regularly. A external hard drive or a USB thumbdrive are cheap enough to make protecting your important data very affordable. We learned to backup our hard drives the tough way too... by neglecting to do so, then being sorry we did not take the time to do it.

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