A few computer facts and interesting information for you…
The world’s first computer (named the Z1), was invented by Konrad Zuse in 1936. His next invention was the Z2 which was finished in 1939. The Z2 was the first fully functioning electro-mechanical computer.
One of the world’s leading computer and computer peripheral manufacturer Hewlett Packard was first started in a garage at Palo Alto in 1939.
The first Apple computer was built by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak and was made by using parts they got for free from their employers. They made the Apple computer from scrounging spare parts from their workplace.
Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft was a college drop out.
Doug Engelbart invented the first computer mouse in 1964, and it was made out of wood.
A program named “Rother J” was the first computer virus to come into sight “in the wild” — that is, outside the computer or lab where it was created.
The billionth personal computer was sold in 2002 and the second billionth personal computer was sold in 2007.
The average computer user blinks about 7 times a minute – the normal rate of blinking per minute is 20.
Approximately,6000 viruses are released every month.
More than 12,000 laptops go missing at U.S airports every week!
Although today webcams are used mainly for user-to-user interaction and sometimes inappropriate endeavors, the first webcam was used to monitor a coffee pot at Cambridge University!
Note: This information has been sourced from multiple locations on the net and may not be 100% accurate.
Email phishing scams are messages sent to you as a fake email. They are usually in the attempt of obtaining personal information from you. This includes banking information, credit card numbers and passwords. The purpose of these emails is to steal your money and identity.
How Do They Do It?
Phishing emails often offer you something or warn you from danger and includes a link or downloadable file. Never click or download on content from a phishing email. This could cause many issues on your computer!
Even though it can sometimes be quite difficult, it is possible to identify email scams. If you look for clues (provided below), you will learn how to identify phishing emails and delete them immediately.
How To Identify An Email Phishing Scam
Check The Attachment
Check the attached file name before you download it onto your computer.
Link To A Website
Phishing emails can also include a clickable link to take you to another website. Often these links ask you to provide personal information such as bank account details. Please do not provide these websites with any of your personal information.
Check For Spelling Mistakes
Phishing emails often contain spelling mistakes and poor grammar. Please check for this before clicking on any links or downloading attached files. These emails are also often addressed to you generally and do not use your proper name.
Check Who Signed The Message
Scam emails do not often provide the sender’s name, organisation or contact information. Check for messages with vague contact information such as customer support as these are not real emails.
Who Has The Email Come From?
A phishing email can often deceive you by making their email seem to come from one of your contacts in your email address book. These are more difficult to notice as scam emails. You may need to take a moment to double-check all emails you receive and who they are from.
Phishing emails also copy business’ logos and contain links to websites closely replicating a business to look genuine to the email receiver. This is done by using a URL that is very similar to the real business’ web address. As this is difficult to spot, it is very important to always check before clicking on the link.
Email With Lots Of Text In Caps
As phishing emails try to appeal to people emotions, they often use caps letter to attract your attention. This includes also the overuse of exclamation marks such as DANGER! WARNING! Or URGENT!
What Should You Do?
Computer Security Updates
Install and keep up to date security software on your computer. You may want to consider turning on automatic updates to ensure you are regularly keeping your computer safe. It is always important to ensure that your computer’s browser is current.
Internet Banking
Avoid using public computers or public networks when using Internet banking. It is possible that spyware and key loggers may be on these machines and can access your personal information. When doing Internet banking, always check the last sign in date to make sure that this was you accessing your bank details. Also, check your bank statements to ensure there are no unusual or unauthorised transactions from your account.
Online banking can be a security risk when using remote access. It is always very important that you have a strong password. Using a wireless network can also create a bigger security risk when doing online banking.
Legitimate businesses would never ask you to provide personal or bank information in an email or over the phone. Do not ever provide your information in this way.
If, in the case that you have provided your bank account information to scammers through a phishing email, it is important that you immediately contact your financial institution. They can freeze your account and make necessary changes to ensure no one has access to your banking account.
Online Shopping
When shopping on the Internet, it is very important to only use trusted and well-known websites to avoid scams and losing your money.
General
If you are unsure about whether an email is legitimate, please check with your service provider or bank to confirm the email. Do not call any of the provided numbers on the email. Instead, look for the business contact number online from their website.
Make sure that all your passwords are strong, and you change them regularly. If possible, do not save your passwords on your computer as anyone who can access your computer will then have access to all the websites you have a saved password for.
Never click on any links in a spam email or open any files as this could cause harm to your computer.
If a telephone number is provided in a spam email, do not call this number. If you would like to call a business regarding the email, find their contact information on their website online.
Inform family friends and colleagues about email phishing scams to help protect them.
What Are Some Common Examples Of Phishing Emails?
Bank Employee Scam
If you work in a financial institution, you are at more of a risk of being targeted in phishing scams. Scammers use bank terminology and steal login information to convince finance employees to Make Money Transfers Overseas.
Classic Pyramids Scheme Scam
This scam includes sending money by mail to the person at the top of the list and then being told to add your name to the bottom. As the list is updated, you assume your name will reach the top of the list. However, as this is a scam – your name never reaches the top of the list and you have lost money.
Disaster Relief Scam
These scam emails include scammers setting up a fake charity or pretending to be from an existing charity and asking for donations. This usually occurs after a recent disaster has occurred to make the email seem more legitimate.
Hit Man Scam
Scammers regularly send emails to warn people that to prevent being assassinated, they are required to buy a security alarm connected to Agent Bauer of the Intelligence Bureau. This is yet another scam to steal your money.
Loan Modification Scam
These scam emails offer homeowners lower interest rates and payments, and hence entice people without making them think it is a phishing email. The “stock owners” then send emails about selling underperforming stocks, and the associated tax payments required for the process to go through are sent to the scammers.
Lottery Scam
Emails are sent to you claiming that you have won a large amount of money in a recent lottery. The scam is the processing fee you are required to pay before you can collect your winnings.
Nigerian Prince Scam
Nigerian scammers lure you with international lotteries and get-rich schemes helping deposed dictators transfer secret cash from their Swiss bank accounts. You are asked in these emails to send money to the scammers.
Nigerian Wealth Scam
This scam asks you to pay legal costs so that an estate can be free. You will supposedly be more than compensated once the inheritance is made available; however, this is just to acquire your money.
Pre-Approved Loan Scam
These emails offer pre-approved loans, but not before paying an up-front fee. As this is a scam, you would not receive the loan but would lose money if you pay the fee.
Russian Girl Scam
These emails usually include attractive Eastern European women of which whom you have connected with on a social networking site. The lady wishes to come visits you but needs money for the ticket. Therefore, you are encouraged to provide money and/or credit card information.
Standard Traveller Scam
These common emails claim that your friend was robbed while travelling overseas. They ask you to send them money immediately so that they can get home safely. This is another phishing email to steal your money by making you feel vulnerable and guilty.
Travel Deals Too Good To Be True
This popular scam offers amazing travel deals in an attempt of stealing your money. They advertise great offers for a short period only to encourage you to quickly make a purchase.
Urgent Messages From A Bank Or Government Agency
This scam includes scammers pretending to be a bank or part of the government asking to report scam emails on their website. However, these links often include malware that is dangerous to your computer.
Emails also come from scammers impersonating FBI officials or members of the IRS stating that you must pay them immediately or you will be fined/incarcerated.
Work At Home Scam
These scammers collect contact information from resume websites and contact you with downloadable software programs to complete a new job. This then includes a payment to the scammers that you are expected to pay.
This blog was provided to you by the technicians at Affordable Computer Repairs and Service. Contact us today on 3397 1215 or 0409 974 707 for expert computer repairs and IT services.
Choosing a new home PC can be a daunting task for non-tech minded users. Before you go into the store or shop on the net its best to do some research first. You are also welcome to contact us for some free advice in you wish.
What do you need your new PC for?
When buying the best PC for you and your family the first thing you need to do is work out what you need the new PC for. Most often home PCs are used primarily for internet surfing, watching movies and doing work in Excel or Word.
If this is what you are looking for in a home PC, there is no need to spend a lot of money on cutting-edge components that you don’t need.
Most important factor of your PC
The most important factor in the cost and performance of your new PC is the processor. You need to choose between dual-core, quad-core, and six-core. Basically the more cores, the more tasks you can perform simultaneously. If your use of the machine is only to perform simple function you can save money buying a PC with a dual-core processor. However if you are likely to have multiple applications open at the same time we recommend that a quad-core processor would be more appropriate.
What Ram do you need?
Ram is the working memory in your PC and after the processor Ram is the next most important factor relating to the speed of the machine. Basically the more working memory you have, the faster you will be able to download files, load and print.
Some budget PCs have only have 2GB Ram, salesmen looking for a quick sale may tell you this is all that you need, however you will find out that in a very short time your machine will run far too slow.
You can probably get away with 4GB of Ram; however you may want to consider 6-8GB which would allow for potential new complex programs that you may decide to use in the future.
As far as storage goes, a 500GB hard drive should be sufficient for storing your data.
Choosing a new PC screen
Choosing a computer screen is quite often the fun part of buying a new PC. The prices of monitors have dropped considerably over the last few years so you should be able to pick up the screen of your choice for a reasonable price. If you intend to use your new computer for watching movies and doing a lot of reading we suggest that you purchase at least a 20″ screen. If you decide to run Windows 8.1, you should also consider buying a touch-sensitive monitor.
Also remember that all versions of Windows support the use of two screens at the same time so you can use the old screen alongside the new one, it doesn’t matter if they are different sizes. If you want to save money and are happy with your existing monitor, then there is no need to purchase a new one.
Buying your PC online quite often provides you with the best deal price-wise. However we suggest that you first visit a store or two to see if your chosen computer(s) are aesthetically pleasing to you. When buying online we do caution you about purchasing second hand computers or laptops…
Buy a PC online?
Buying online also offers you the ability to customise your PC, you can add more Ram, upgrade the CPU and purchase additional software that you may need. If on the other hand you can get a really great deal for a computer store (special offers or end of financial year sales etc), you could then take your new purchase to a computer repair shop to upgrade any components that you would like.
The warranty that comes with your chosen PC is very important – and the longer the better. It is always possible to purchase a lemon like you can with a new car and if this should unfortunately happen to you, a good warranty could save you a lot of money and stress.
Don’t get caught by up selling, this happens both in-store and online. Stick to your guns and purchase only what you have decided you need rather than ending up with a costly machine with features you will never use.
Still not certain what PC is best for you and your family?
Want to ensure that the machine you buy has quality yet affordable components and is built to last?
Custom Built PC
We at Affordable Computer Repairs and Service can custom build a machine to meet your needs, selecting the parts which we know through experience will provide you with the best value for money in terms of durability and reliability.
Call us today to discuss your computer needs and usage and we will work with you to ensure that the machine you buy is exactly what you need and want. Our custom built machines are not the cheapest on the market, they do however provide you excellent value for money as you can expect them to be long-lasting and should you require work done or upgrading as we know your machine you can be assured of a fast-cost effective service from us.
Most of us use computers, laptops, tablets, phones etc to access the internet – and this includes our children. However, while the advantages of using the internet are numerous, we cannot afford to ignore the disadvantages. This blog lists many of the dangers of the internet.
Dangers Of The Internet – A LONG List!
This list is not in any particular order of importance or relevance and more than likely does not include all the dangers of the internet, but we believe it covers the majority, happy reading…
Completing Web Registration Pages
It can be very dangerous to type sensitive data into website registration pages. In addition, you are also more likely to get hacked if you use the same username and password for most sites that you visit.
Con Artists
Numerous scams live on the internet, and their sole purpose is to steal money from you. It can be difficult to recognise the difference between safe information and scams, so people get caught out again and again.
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is another serious danger when using the internet. This can be done anonymously as the bully can create a fake profile on social networking sites as well as fake email IDs. Online bullying can be more dangerous as the bully does not need to be physically present and therefore, cyberbullying can occur at any time.
Cyberbullying can include but is not limited to, hateful messages, death threats, online lies, nasty comments on social media profiles, mocking websites about the victim, identity theft to spread nasty comment and posting inappropriate videos of the victim.
Victims of cyberbullying often do not tell their parents about the situation as they do not want to lose their internet privileges. They may also not want their parents to become involved and believe this will only increase the bullying.
Disabling or Turning Off Automated Security Tools
Firewalls and anti-virus programs can slow down a computer, and in response, many users resort to turning this form of anti-virus protection off. This thereby opens their computer to all kinds of internet dangers; particularly is they forget to turn it back on.
Email Spam
A major negative effect of email spam is the possibility of malware such as viruses being included in an email. If you open or download spam email attachments, there is a very high chance that you are allowing virus onto your computer.
Assuming Weblinks are Safe to Click on
Internet users often believe that they are protected from any dangers of the internet when they are shopping online or surfing on safe websites. However, this is not true. Cybercriminals often target high traffic sites and provide links to malicious websites. These can then store the user’s information or result in the user downloading viruses onto their computers.
Damaged Reputations
Damage to your reputation if one of the dangers of the internet that many people do not take into account. It is easy to post photo and videos online without thinking out the potential repercussions. Many people post pictures and comments online that they later regret.
Jobs and schools often check a person’s online profile and activity when deciding on whether to accept them into their school or workplace. Therefore, it is extremely important to behave appropriately online.
Identity Theft
There are several ways in which your identity can be stolen on the internet. You may be caught in a scam and provide your bank account details and passwords to criminals. They then use this information to steal your ID and money.
There is also malicious software that can record your keystrokes which makes it easy for scammers to steal your identity and personal information.
Social media is also a platform that opens many doors to identity theft. Not only can your identity be stolen, but also your photos can be copied for use on porn sites and fake advertising.
Installing Free File-sharing Applications
Be careful when downloading free file-sharing utilities that let our share documents, software and music. These can be dangerous as many of these applications contain viruses.
Insufficient Security of Passwords
Many people still store their computer and other passwords next to their computers, or even worse, some still stick their passwords onto their computer screens or laptops.
Another dangerous thing that people do with their passwords is to share them with family and friends or even work colleagues.
As noted previously, it is important to not use the same password for all your online accounts as if a cybercriminal obtains your password, then all your internet activity is subject to hacking. Do not put all your eggs in one basket, it is better to keep different passwords for different purposes.
Internet Dating
There are always many dangers of online dating. The person you are communicating with could be someone completely different than who they say they are. People can easily provide fake pictures and false information about their identity. Upon meeting one of these unscrupulous people, you are risking yourself to a possible stalker.
A way to reduce this danger is to insist on telephone or video chats. It is important to ensure that when you plan on meeting someone from online dating in a public place, you let someone you trust know where you are going and what time you expect to return.
Leaving Social Media Privacy Setting Open
You need to carefully check your privacy settings on all social media accounts to ensure that personal information is not available to cybercriminals. If they have access to this information, they could use this to impersonate you to obtain credit cards.
Not Updating Antivirus Software
One of the most common dangers of the internet is to forget to update antivirus software. It is always essential to keep your anti-virus software up to date. If you do get a message or alert to do an update, click on it. It only takes a few minutes and will provide you with better protection as these updates include protection from new malware that has been developed since your last update.
Opening Plain Text or HTML Messages from Senders you Don’t Know
Many people are aware of the likelihood of obtaining a virus infection by opening email attachments. However, many are not aware that normal everyday text and HTML message can also contain viruses.
Piracy
Piracy is the act of illegally copying or downloading copyrighted material. This is the way that people can download free music and movies onto their computer. However, this has had a significant impact on the economy. It has been estimated that a years’ worth of pirated music causes $12.5 billion in economic losses globally. This also includes a loss of 71,060 US jobs and a loss of $2.7 billion in workers’ income.
Porn
Free pornography websites are rife with malware. It is not a matter of if but when you will obtain a virus on your computer if you visit these sites. It is much better to use paid sites than free websites due to better security.
Sexual Predators
Children can meet sexual predators online through chat rooms. Adults can also pretend to be teenagers or younger children to lure them into meeting them alone in dangerous places.
Sexual predators look for children that are emotionally vulnerable such as having problems at school or home. They use these issues to befriend the victim, empathising with them and building a pseudo friendship and most importantly, trust with the child.
Once the predator gains the trust of their victim, they often send inappropriate pictures. If the victim tries to cut off communication, the predators often send threats and scare the victim into continuing the relationship.
Warning signs that a predator may be grooming your child include:
They spend a lot of time online
They switch screens quickly using the Alt+Tab keys
You find porn on the computer
You find porn sites listed in the computer browsing history
Your child receives phone calls, gifts or mail from people you do not know
They withdraw from normal activity and becomes increasingly secretive
They start using other accounts from email or instant messaging
Time Wastage
Addiction is one of the major dangers of the internet. It is easy to waste an enormous amount of time online. It is often the case that you use the internet to obtain just one small bit of information, and the next moment you have spent hours on your computer. This could be generally surfing the internet, using social media or making unnecessary purchases.
Using Free Wi-Fi and Public Computers
Using free Wi-Fi available in public places can be dangerous. Once you are connected to free Wi-Fi, you are open to being hacked by other users on the same Wi-Fi link.
If you do connect to free Wi-Fi using a public computer, make sure to sign off on any websites you have logged into. It is also a very good idea to delete your browser’s history. If you save passwords on a public computer, it is easy for another user to access your accounts.
For Children Using the Internet
This list below includes information can help children avoid the dangers of the internet that are most common for children.
Give yourself an alias that doesn’t include any information about you.
Never share passwords with anyone other than your parents.
Be careful with what you write on social media platforms and in emails.
Only give your email address to family and a few trusted friends.
Do not respond to any abusive that is posted on the net – either ignore these posts or log off.
For Parents Whose Children Use the Internet
The list below includes information that can help a parent with children avoid the dangers of the internet.
Install internet filtering software to block inappropriate sites from any device your child has access to.
Use filtering software that monitors and records instant messaging, chat room conversation and all websites visited by your child.
Consider using a monitoring program that filters pornography keywords in several languages.
Set up a new email account and delete old ones if your child is getting harassing emails.
Help your child block or ban online bullies.
Explain to your child about how all photos can be copied and places online, even if they have been deleted.
Inform your children to not take embarrassing pictures and videos and post them online.
Further Information on Internet Protection
There are several websites that can provide you with information on how to protect yourself and your child/ren from the dangers of the internet. These include;
The Department of Broadband, Communications and Digital Economy – StaySmartOnline program
SCAMwatch provides information concerning the latest scams
Attorney-General’s website provides information on how to protect your identity
Summary of the Dangers of the Internet
It is very important that we are all aware of the dangers of the internet. As a parent, it is your job to be on guard to protect your family. There is a lot of information on the internet that can provide you with help. There are also many organisations and government agencies including those listed above who assist parents with online issues relating to your child’s safety online.
System restore is a powerful tool to use when you run into problems with your computer. If you have tried to fix your computer and can’t seem to be able to resolve it then system restore maybe the answer. Please note system restore is of no use to you at all if you have a hardware problem.
What Does System Restore Do?
System restore allows you to take back your computer in time – to a point when you didn’t have a problem on the machine. So instead of fixing the problem you restore your computer as it was before the problem occurred. System restore does no revert any of your non-system files – your working files such as documents, videos and emails. These non-system files will be unaffected by system restore and you will still have the most up to date files available once you have undertaken a system restore.
When You Might Use System Restore
When you are unable to get rid of a particularly malicious virus.
When you encounter problems after installing new software or an update that goes wrong.
There are some tips and tricks to using system restore and we recommend that you investigate these before undertaking a system restore yourself.
How to Use System Restore
Click on the start button on your computer, then select all programs then accessories and then system tools.
No click on the system restore program icon. Search for system protection which will show you the system restore points (if any) for the different hard disks drives – click on shore more restore points box to see some of the older restore points if this is needed.
Now click next, then finish. Windows 7 will now shut down to complete the system restore. After the reboot you should be a message on the screen system restore completed successfully, click close on this message.
If the original problem that you had with your computer has not been removed by using system restore, you may need to redo the entire process and select an older restore point to the one you selected before.
On the other hand if the restoration has caused a problem you can undo this particular system restore.
Below we have provided some computer repair tips, if after trying out these suggestions you still have a problem, we are a Brisbane computer repairs business and happy to provide one of our many services if you need them.
Reboot
Sometimes we forget that a simple reboot can solve a multitude of problems. Rebooting should always be your first port of call. If the screen is frozen you may need to force a shut down by holding the power button down until the machine turns off. If this does not turn off your computer try turning it off at the wall. For a laptop you will need to remove the battery.
Back up
If you have managed to successfully reboot your computer we recommend that you now back up all your files and data in case there is a more serious problem involved and your computer freezes again. We can’t stress often enough how important it is to regularly back up we have many customers who haven’t done so and with a failed hard drive if our data recovery service is unable to retrieve your data then this can either be very expensive to have your files retrieved by an expert data recovery business or even worse not possible and you could lose your work and those treasured family photos.
Virus Check
Another bone of contention – you need to regularly update your antivirus software and ensure that the program is running. It is noted however that no matter what security steps you take your computer still has the potential to become infected.
If your computer is running slow or keeps freezing it is a good idea to run a virus scan and if your machine is infected to delete all the malware that you may find.
Virus Programs
If you have more than one active antivirus software running at the same time this can cause conflicts. Running two antivirus software programs can result in your machine running slow and can also cause it to crash. Delete one of these programs.
Duplicate Programs
If for some reason you have install two copies of the same software program you are likely to run into trouble. Windows Control Panel lists all the software that is installed on your machine, check for duplicates – then remove both copies. Re-install only one copy and find out if this is your problem.
Recent Installations
If your problem is timed to a recent installation that you have done this could be your problem. Uninstall the device or software by going to Control Panel, selecting Add or remove programs and then choosing your recent installation. If your machine now runs okay you can try to reinstall the software.
System Restore
If none of the above recommendations solve your problem you can try a system restore. A system restore has the potential to revert your computer back to the last state in which it was working well. Go to the Start button; choose All programs, Accessories, System tools, System restore. Now if you have an available restore point you will see it listed with the date at which it was done. Follow the step by step wizard and you may be lucky to have your computer back working properly again.
After trying some or all of these tips and your computer is still running slow or freezing please give us a call at Affordable Computer Repairs and Service on 3397 1215 and for an affordable fee we will repair your machine.
While we have provided the steps below detailing how to replace your power supply, we strongly recommend that if you don’t have computer repair expertise that you call us on 3397 1215 or 0409 974 707 to let us do this repair for you to prevent any costly mistakes.
Buy a replacement Power Supply
New power supplies can be bought on the net – check the model number on the component part and ensure that you purchase the right power supply. You can also visit your local computer parts store, you may want to take in the faulty power supply so that they can match up the new one for you.
Remove the Faulty Power Supply
Turn off your computer and unplug all power supply to the machine – this is extremely important! Then disconnect any other peripherals such as the mouse, network cable, keyboard and speakers.
Remove the hard case cover, you will need to unscrew the case and slide it off. Keep all screws in a handy place where you won’t lose them.
Unplug all the power supply’s cables from the connectors. To ensure that you plug the new power supply cords correctly in, we recommend you put a strip of masking tape on the end of each plug and record on the tape where it should go. The plugs are shaped differently to match with the various connectors that they fit into.
There are two power supply cables that connect to the motherboard. Also, if you have two video cards you will need to remove the connector from this as well. Further cables that need to be unplugged include from the hard drive(s) and other CD/DVD burners. Don’t be concerned about any excess cables that you might have as these are provided for potential future upgrades.
Unscrew the screws which hold the power supply to the machine. Make sure that you don’t remove the screws which hold the power supply’s internal fan – these are usually close to the fan and the screws that you need to unscrew are most often located on the edge of the rear of the computer.
Very carefully remove the faulty or burnt-out power supply from the machine. Depending on your computer you may have to remove other components in order to do this. If this is the case, we recommend that you may need to have a computer expert undertake this repair job for you. Removing the power supply can be a tricky job as the space is often cramped; you may also find that you need to remove screws on the base of the power supply.
Test the New Power Supply
Before you go to the effort of installing the new power supply, it is a good idea to plug it into the wall to ensure that it is fully functional. If the fan, for example, is not working you will need to return the part and exchange for a new working component.
Install the New Power Supply
Place the new power supply into the space vacated by your faulty power supply. Screw the part into place. Then replace all the cables using the masking tape label that you have put on the old power supply for reference. Again, remember you will probably have some cables that will not connect to anything, tuck these into the machine.
The cables from your new power supply will need to be reconnected to the motherboard, the fans, the drives and the power switch.
Connect all peripherals and the power cord. Boot up your machine and keep your fingers crossed! Check that the fan is spinning around.
Now turn off the PC and replace the computer’s hard case, screw it on. Then turn your computer back on – you are done.
The tools calculate command allows you to add up figures that you have in a tabular form, so if you don’t want the extra effort of putting in a table, this is your answer. The reason I am writing this post is that it took me ages of Google searching to find out how to do this, so I am hoping it will be easier for the next perplexed user to find the answer – which is actually quite a simple one you have found the solution.
Where is it?
The Tools bar is no longer on the ribbon in Word 2013 so the first thing you need to do is find the command and add to either above or below the ribbon.
Firstly open Word 2010. Now you need to right-click on the customisable area at the top left corner – this is above the undo button. Now you can select Customise quick access toolbar.
From the menu select Commands not in the ribbon. The potential options to select are provided in alphabetic order. Scroll down to the Calculate option which is below Bullets numbers. Highlight Calculate then click the Add button.
If you are likely to need this option for more than the current document you also need to click the For all documents box – this is actually the default setting, just check it.
Now press OK and a small icon will appear on your screen below the ribbon.
How to use the Calculate command
Use tabs to type your figures in a column then highlight these numbers. In order to highlight the numbers, you need to press the Alt key and then use your mouse to select them.
Then press your Calculate button below the ribbon. Finally, put your cursor below your tabbed column of figures and press Paste. The answer will appear and you are done.
If after following these steps you still have a problem, please give us a call at Affordable Computer Repairs and Service on 3397 1215 or 0409 974 707 and will be happy to help you out.
Why can’t I get online? There are numerous reasons why you may be unable to get online, some are simple fixes others more complex. If you can’t find a solution to your problem please give us a ring at Affordable Computer Repairs and Service on 3397 1215 or 0409 974 707 and we will help you resolve the difficulty.
Installation
Ensure that the equipment has been installed properly and that you are using the most up-to-date software for your modem.
Network Cables
Ensure that your network hardware is switched on and plugged in – there are occasions when cables become loose.
Websites
It may be a problem with the website that you are trying to access, try several other websites to rule out this problem.
Location
Walls and other dense obstacles will obstruct your wireless connection. Try to place your modem in a central spot within your home or position that allows least obstruction. Also, the closer your modem is to your computer, the better – and with no obstacles between the two. In general, the further your Wi-Fi device is from your computer the slower it runs and it may break altogether.
Check your network connection
If the signal strength is too low this can prevent you from connecting to the internet.
Restart your Modem and Computer
Sometimes an easy fix can be obtained by simply turning off and on both your monitor and computer. Turn off then wait a few seconds before turning back on again.
Test your Wireless Connection
Make sure that you haven’t accidentally turned off the wireless switch on your laptop.
Firewall
It is possible that your firewall software is the cause of the problem. If you have two firewalls installed, this can also result in blocked traffic. To find out if this is the cause, temporarily disable your firewall(s) and then try to connect to the network.
Interference
Other electrical appliances can cause electrical interference such as cordless phones and baby monitors. Use a different channel for your modem.
Virus
Malware on your machine may disable or block network interfaces from functioning. Run a virus scan and always keep your malware software up-to-date.
Modem Failure
Your modem may have failed this can be caused by excessive traffic, overheating or simply an older modem dying. If the modem lights are not working then this is likely your problem.
Network Settings
Make sure that you are selecting the right name from the available list of networks – also make sure that you entering your password correctly – watch out for caps lock.
Service Provider
Your service provider may block access from your account if you have not paid your bill. This is easy to do if you are paying by use – by the hour or day. Another reason for blocking may be that you have exceeded the bandwidth caps, have been downloading illegal content or sending spam email. You will need to contact your ISP provider if this is the cause of the problem.
Summary
If you still cannot resolve the problem please phone us at Affordable Computer Repairs and Service on 3397 1215 or 0409 974 707 and we will do our best to help you out.
It can be very irritating when your laptop won’t wake up from standby or hibernation mode. The reasons for this and the ways to overcome it are detailed in this article.
Time
Particularly with older laptops, it’s just a matter of giving the computer some time to come out of standby or hibernation – around thirty seconds or so.
Special Keys
If this happens with a new laptop, it might be that your machine has a special key to wake up the laptop – have a look in the laptop manual.
Bios
There may be a conflict with the Bios and Windows power management. You need to try different settings in the Bios – compare the settings with the value configured in Windows.
Battery
If your battery is very low this may result in your machine not waking up. The simple solution is to connect the AC adaptor to allow the battery to charge and then wake up the machine.
Residual Charge
Almost all laptop components hold some residual electrical charge and this could be the reason why your computer won’t wake up. The solution is to get rid of the residual charge by taking out the battery and removing the AC adaptor – then hold the power button down for around thirty seconds, release and leave the machine alone for a few minutes to release the built-up electricity. Then reconnect both the battery and AC adaptor and turn the power on.
Laptop Display
It may be that you have a monitor problem this is easily checked by plugging in a separate monitor – if you get a display on the second monitor then this is the problem and unfortunately, you will have to take your laptop to a repair business to have this fixed.
