Not many people think about the need to prolong the life of your mouse, but it can be done quite easily as described in the article below.
Switch Off
If your mouse has an on-off switch turn it off when you are not going to use it for half an hour or longer. Some of the newer mice do this automatically. If you are not likely to remember to turn off the mouse, you can change the default system shutdown sounds to a voice message that reminds you to turn off the mouse – and keyboard. To do this, you need to go to the control panel and find change system sounds. Then choose windows to log off and browse for your .wav file and set it as a default sound.
Receiver
Simply move the mouse closer to the receiver when it is not in use, this will help increase the life of your mouse’s battery.
Travelling
Whilst mice may go to sleep or standby mode when not being used, they will wake up when they move so it is best to turn your mouse off when you are travelling to save power.
Batteries
When replacing the batteries in your mouse, use alkaline batteries as other types including rechargeable batteries do not last as long. We also recommend that you replace both batteries at the same time and don’t mix battery brands.
Surface
Do not use your mouse on a glass or dark surface – use a light-coloured mouse pad. Glass and dark surfaces cause the tracking sensor to use more power.
The simple answer is yes, a build-up of dust and repeated exposure to cigarette smoke can harm your computer. Another culprit is pet hair which accumulates on your machine.
These things can damage your computer in different ways – can cause overheating, damage to components and disrupt the airflow.
Dust can be the source of overheating as it accumulates on top of the heat sink, the circuits on the motherboard, on the power supply and on laptop vents. If there is a build-up of dust, pet hair and enough smoke, this can disrupt the airflow which is needed to keep parts of the computer cool. A build-up of dust functions as insulation causing the computer to heat up. If the situation is really bad it can cause the fans to stop working. Overheating can result in the computer shutting down to prevent damage to components such as CPU and motherboard. In addition, the thermal paste can break down and become ineffective. Dust can also interfere with electrical connections on ports and connections causing erratic results. Intense heat can cause critical components to fail unexpectedly.
Signs that dust, smoke and hair are causing problems for your computer
Dust, smoke and hair can cause the fans to run at a higher speed – when this occurs they run louder and you may notice the difference. Another way to tell is to run a program which will tell you the temperature of the CPU – most computers have a built-in CPU temperature probe. You should measure the base temperature by measuring five minutes after a boot and your computer should not be running any programs. As a guide, a base temperature should be around 55 degrees Celsius. Another way to tell is to check the temperature of the hard drive by again running a program to do so. For a hard drive, the temperature should be within the range of 20 to 55 degrees Celsius.
How to prevent dust from entering your machine
Keep the computer in an elevated position of the floor, possibly on a desk.
Ensure the machine away from any air vents.
Keep the area around the computer clean.
After removing a PCXI card or switching around graphics care, cover up any PCI slots or holes that are not necessary for proper ventilation.
How can I prevent from overheating?
Besides the preventative measures above you also need to regularly clean out the dust and pet hair with a can of air, small leaf blower or small electric blower – do not use the vacuum cleaner. This cleaning is usually only needed annually unless you smoke a lot and have one or more pets with long hair. Please remember that opening a computer’s case may void the warranty so you may need to check with the manufacturer first if it is still under warranty.
Remember, dust, smoke and pet hair can cause damage to your computer including component failure – should this happen the damaged component will need to be replaced. If this is the case, give us a call on 3397 1215 or 0409 974 707 and we will replace the damaged component for you for a fixed fee of $145 plus the cost of the part which needs to be replaced.
We charge $190 to remove a virus in your machine – in order to avoid this cost, you need to follow the steps outlined below which will significantly minimise your chances of getting a virus.
How to Avoid a Virus or Malware Infection
When surfing the net or downloading to your computer pay attention to what our computer is asking you. You should not just automatically click on OK all the time. Lots of viruses are disguised as updates/codecs. When you are surfing on the net and you get a request to update flash/java or something similar to this that doesn’t look quite right, don’t automatically download it as it is probably some form of malware. Updates should come through the notification area at the bottom right of your screen and not through a browser window – so be very careful when updating programs and downloading from the web.
Many browsers can be set to warn you about potential viruses, ensure that your browser has this option activated.
In order to avoid any security vulnerabilities make sure that you have windows update running and also that you have Java and flash updating automatically.
Regarding your emails – don’t click on an attachment or link unless you know the person sending you the email. If you are not sure about an email attachment/link send a return email to check that you know the sender.
Disable image previews is you are using an email-retrieving program as they can automatically load attachments which could be spam.
Make sure that you have a good anti-virus program on your machine. Also install an anti-spyware program as these can pick-up programs that the anti-virus program may overlook. We strongly recommend that you run your virus and spyware programs on a weekly basis.
Be careful of emails coming from companies that you may do business with – dodgy emails like this usually as you for sensitive data such as bank account numbers. These emails mimic real companies but with close inspection of the email and the businesses actual website you can often spot the difference.
Ensure that all anti-virus and anti-spyware programs are up to date. You will need to regularly update these programs in order to allow for new viruses that are being written all the time.
Keep an eye on files with a double extension such as .txt.vb or .jpg.exe. Windows, as a default setting, often hides common file extensions. If this is the case make the file extensions visible by selecting Folder Options in the Control Panel – it also may be under Appearance or Pesonalisation. Under the View tab make sure that Hide Extensions for Known File Types is not selected.
Be careful when allowing somebody to assist you remotely as if their computer is infected it ill likely infect you too.
Finally remember to back up regularly, this may save your work and valuable files should you get a particularly malicious virus on your machine.
There is a second article you may also wish to read which provides more tips on how to avoid picking up a virus.
Remember if you do pick up a virus, we are always here to help you by removing the virus from your machine, call us on 3397 1215.
Affordable Computer Repairs and Service, based in the inner Brisbane suburb of Coorparoo
Continually adding files, programs, music and photos to your laptop will reduce the speed of the machine and its responsiveness as do viruses and spyware.
There are ways to speed up your laptop and these are provided below.
Uninstall Unused Programs
Having lots of different programs on your laptop really slows your machine – delete any programs that you no longer use – however, be very careful when doing this as you don’t want to delete the wrong thing.
Viruses and Spyware
Viruses and spyware can slow down your machine – and stop it completely. Make sure your anti-virus program is always up to date and regularly you are regularly running a scan to ensure your machine is clear of all malware. Remember, it is not a good idea to have two spyware programs running at one time as this will also slow your laptop as they interfere with each other. No matter what spyware program you have, you are still vulnerable to malware so if you get a particularly malicious virus please give us a call and for a fixed fee of $190 we will remove it for you and assist in help protect your machine from future infections.
Defrag your System
If you defrag your system, it will allow your applications to run more smoothly. This process puts your data into more tightly organised groups rather than spread across our hard drive.
Clean your Desktop
If you have a lot of downloads kept on your desktop this will really slow your machine. Move non-essential downloads in a separate folder.
Start-Up
One sure way to speed up your loading time is to only have the necessary programs opening at startup, de-click those programs that you only use occasionally.
Upgrade your Memory
If you have removed unwanted programs, defragged the laptop and it is still running very slow it might be time to consider a memory upgrade. This is quite inexpensive and if you call us on 3397 1215 or 0409 974 707, we can install it for you.
If you are concerned about doing any of the above on your own, please call us at Affordable Computer Repairs and Service and we will for an affordable fee do the necessary tasks to ensure your laptop runs faster.
Computer Repairs – Symptoms of a failed Power Supply
Typically power supplies just die without giving you any warnings. However, there are instances where some warning is given and if any of the following problems are occurring on your computer, it may be that the power supply is failing:-
Laptop or PC randomly turns off
Fan no longer working
Fan emits a buzzing sound
Blue screen of death
If there are system startup failures, memory errors, hard disk corruption or USB power issues
You hear a high pitched whining sound
The machine turns off for a few seconds before turning back on
The computer is turned on but does not boot
PC or laptop takes longer than usual to boot or power down
Strange noises from the back of the PC
You hear a series of rapid short beeps when booting your computer
You get a whiff of a burning smell
Please, please if you get any of these symptoms and you need to take action to prevent further damage occurring call us on 3397 1215 or 0409 974 707. The overheated or overloaded power supply has the potential to send voltage surges through your PC or laptop which can destroy other components within your computer.
How to check if you have a Failed Power Supply
If you are not getting any of the above symptoms and it is just a case of no power to your machine, firstly make sure that you are not missing the obvious.
Check that the machine is properly connected to power, check for loose cables. It might be an idea to unplug and replug your power connections.
Secondly, check the wall power socket, plug in another home appliance that you know works to detect if this is maybe the culprit.
Thirdly, if you are using an extension cable, connect the computer without the cable so that you can rule out a faulty extension cable as the problem.
Having done this and you still have no power or power to the monitor, to other peripherals or your computer and there are no lights on the system unit your power supply has likely burnt out. Sometimes customers think that if they hear no sound and have no monitor activity when they press the power-up button that it is a faulty switch, but this is not usually the case, it is more likely to be a burnt-out power supply.
What to do if you have a Failed Power Supply
The good news – luckily the replacement of a faulty power supply is not an expensive computer repair job. We charge $150 an hour for the labour of replacing your power supply – as well as the cost of the new power supply itself which is usually around the $60 mark.
Safe Mode is used to fix Windows problems when it is not possible to boot up into the normal Windows Mode. Safe mode allows as a means to gain limited access to Windows as it bypasses startup programs and drivers that are not required for Windows.
How To Use Safe Mode:
In general Safe Mode is used just like you use Windows normally, except that certain parts of Windows may no longer be available and your computer may not function as quickly.
Safe Mode Options:
There are three different Safe Mode options available and each is used for different things as described below.
Safe Mode
As mentioned before safe mode starts Windows with only the minimum drivers and services that are necessary to start the operating system. You should choose safe mode if you can’t boot into Windows normally and you need to resolve your computer issues. In safe mode, Windows runs without most device drivers and operates using the standard VGA graphics mode and have a very low screen resolution.
You will know when you are in safe mode as the desktop background will be a solid black colour and the words safe mode are seen at the four corners of the screen. On the top of the screen, you will also be able to see the current Windows build and service pack level.
Safe Mode with Networking
Like the above, safe mode with networking starts Windows with the minimum requirements for booting a machine – however, this mode also allows the user to access the internet. This mode should be selected if you believe you may need to download programs to assist you in repairing your machine or if you want the option to surf the net to find solutions to your PC fault.
Safe Mode with Command Prompt
The only difference between safe mode and safe mode with command prompt is that safe mode with command prompt is loaded as the default user interface instead of Explorer. Usually, this mode is only selected if you have tried booting in safe mode but the taskbar, desktop and start screen are not available.
Instructions on How to Remove a Virus or Other Form of Malware
Disconnect from the Internet
It is important to disconnect from the Internet when you detect a virus to ensure that the virus doesn’t send out any personal and sensitive data from your computer such as banking details or a list of passwords.
Back up Data
To ensure that you don’t lose any information it is recommended that you back up all your work, photos and videos on an external hard drive – make sure that before you reload this information (once you have removed the virus) that you scan this drive so that you don’t re-infect your laptop or PC.
Run a Scan
Run a scan using your antivirus or antimalware software program.
Please note some virus can hide from virus and malware scans and it may be necessary if you still have the virus after running a scan to then use a different antivirus program and run another scan (or more).
We find Malwarebytes and SuperAntispyware to be effective programs when identifying malware on your machine.
You may need to install additional antimalware software if your current program is not successful in identifying the virus or malware, in this case you will need to boot up in safe mode or use an antivirus program you may have already installed on a portable disk.
Boot up in Safe Mode
In order to prevent the malware from running while you are doing a scan you need to reboot in safe mode. To boot up in safe mode you need to restart your computer and press F8 repeatedly as Windows loads. Select safe mode with networking so that you can download additional antimalware software programs. It is a good idea to download several different malware programs as you may need more than one to do the job. Make sure you do a full scan rather than quick scan with the software that you choose. At the end of the scan the program will list any malware that it has picked up and you need to delete these from your machine. Make sure that the antivirus software is from a reputable source and that you only delete malware programs!
Seek Help
If you are still unsuccessful in removing the malware it is often a good idea to search computer forums to see if other users have found a solution to this problem. If possible you should use another uninfected device such as a second computer, an iPad or mobile phone to do you’re searching.
Reboot with a Boot disk
One potential solution is to reboot using a boot disk. Boot disks can be downloaded from antivirus manufacturers and should be burnt onto a CD. Once you have burnt the disk you can reboot using the disk by pressing on the hotkey during start up – usually Esc or F9 or F10.
Once you have rebooted with the disk then use the disk to run the antivirus software.
Scanning on another Computer
This step involves removing the hard disk from your laptop or PC and installing it on another machine. This obviously requires some technical knowledge and if not possible if you don’t have a second machine to do it with. For particularly malicious programs this is the step that we undertake and we will ensure that you don’t lose any valuable data. We have found that this is sometimes the only way (besides formatting your hard drive) to remove some virus such as the Federal Police Virus and we have done it for many customers for a fee of $145.
Reformat the hard drive
In dire cases you may need to reformat your hard drive. However remember this will mean you delete all information including files, data and Microsoft Office. If possible back up all your data before taking this somewhat drastic step. Alternatively call us and maybe we can remove the malware and prevent you from having all the hassles involved in reloading all programs and data on your machine. If we can detect and remove the malware – and all others that maybe residing on your computer, we will charge you the fixed rate of $190. However if a complete system reinstallation is required the fee is $275 due to the lengthy process it involves.
The Federal Police Virus is a particularly malicious virus which freezes your screen preventing you from using your computer.
How to remove the Federal Police Virus
The only way that we can now remove this infection is to take your hard disk out of your computer and put it in a second machine so that we can run the needed anti-virus removal software.
When the Federal Police Virus first appeared, we were able to remove this malware by running antivirus software on your machine – now it has evolved and this is no longer possible.
It takes us several hours to run all the necessary software to ensure that your machine no longer has this and any other viruses/spyware etc on your computer. For this reason, the job is best done at our workshop in Coorparoo. With your approval, we will also load two anti-virus software programs onto your PC or Laptop which we strongly suggest that you use frequently to help keep your computer free of malware.
We have experience in removing the Australian Federal Police Virus are able to do so with no loss of data from your computer. We charge a fixed fee of $190 to remove this insidious virus from your machine.
If you would like our help, please call 3397 1215 or 0409 974 707 and we will return a fully functional computer to you.
Please do not pay the ransom, it will not unfreeze your computer. Do not blame yourself or your family for picking up this virus, it is able to bypass many different anti-virus software programs.
What can go wrong when you try to fix your computer yourself?
When your car, television, washing machine breaks down do you try to fix it yourself or do you call in an expert? The same applies when your computer breaks down or you pick up a virus – call the experts – and if you call Affordable Computer Repairs and Service, the good news is it will cost you a lot less to have your computer fixed than your car, television or washing machine.
When you consider the cost of your investment in your laptop or PC it really does not make sense to start trying to do a repair job yourself. Also, remember all those valuable files and years of photos (assuming you haven’t backed up)? These could all be lost if you botch the repair job.
So, what can go wrong if you try to repair the computer yourself?
Firstly you may succeed – but was it worth the risk when we charge only $145 to repair your machine and we have years of experience in doing so?
It is noted that there are millions of tutorials available on the web to assist you to repair your computer – but you need to ask yourself if it is worth the risk.
Please remember – don’t feel incompetent if you don’t have the confidence to repair your own computer. Again ask yourself, do you have the expertise to repair your own car, diagnose and nurse yourself back to good health when you are sick? The reason there are so many computer repair companies in business is because repairing your computer takes skill and expertise.
The worst thing that can go wrong when you attempt to repair your computer is that you could do irreparable damage and end up with having to buy a new computer and losing all your data. A sad result when you could have spent only $145 (plus parts) with us to repair the problem – we charge $275 for a complete system reload.
You may have no idea what the problem is with your machine and without knowledge and expertise, you are going to have an almost impossible task to identify and fix the problem. Be prepared to put hours and hours into researching and trying out different repair options. You may be receiving repeated error messages that you can’t decipher, even for experienced computer technicians it can be a lengthy process to identify the particular problem and resolve it.
In summary, fortunately, you do not have to repair your own computer. If you have a computer problem, we strongly recommend calling in the experts, it will likely save you time and a lot of money.
Affordable Computer Repairs and Service – 3397 1215 or 0409 974 707 – 6 days a week
It’s a difficult decision to make as to whether or not you should upgrade your PC or laptop. With the continual decline in the price of new machines, you may be tempted to purchase a new machine rather than upgrade. In the article below we discuss when it is likely time to upgrade or replace your current computer.
It is possible that with upgrading you can give your machine a new lease of life and the improved performance might need your needs every bit as well as buying a new computer. You will have saved money in the process and still have a computer that you are familiar with and maintain the ease of using the machine. However, this is not always the case and in fact, is most often not the case. Importantly, it depends on what components need to be replaced and also there is the issue of warranty which needs to be taken into account.
Does the computer need upgrading or replacing in the first place?
One way of answering this question is to compare the specifications of your existing computer with the fairly new basic model machine. This will highlight where in particular your machine is a deficit and only the really necessary parts could be upgraded as you don’t want to replace all the parts on your machine.
In general, if you are relying on your PC or laptop for work then the guidelines are to upgrade or replace every four years.
One obvious reason for upgrading is when you attempt to install new software or games, and the system does not meet requirements. Remember software is continually evolving and requires more system resources all the time.
Another reason occurs when you have installed new software and this significantly decreases the overall performance of the computer.
In some instances upgrading is an easy answer, for example, if you have run out of disk space the simple solution is to add a second disk or replace the original with a larger capacity hard disk. A new larger screen is also a simple upgrade as is a cordless mouse or a better keyboard.
Another example may be that your aged laptop is just that much bigger and heavier than the new models available. Note too that battery life is considerably longer on new machines.
