Coronavirus Scams

The criminal world has jumped on the Coronavirus pandemic and is making the most of this fantastic opportunity to scam you as quickly and efficiently as possible while your defences are down, so to speak. This, like any other unfortunate event (Bush Fires, Floods in Australia) is just too good an opportunity for the scammers to miss out on so they’re going gang-busters whilst they can.  Thus coronavirus scams dramatically include during this pandemic.

Criminals thrive on FUD – Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt and are hence exploiting this to their advantage, with old and tested tricks updated for the present situation. Some of the coronavirus scams are:

Coronavirus Phishing Emails

As everyone’s appetite for news on Coronavirus/ COVID-19 is at its peak the cyber criminals are madly sending of phishing emails to everyone on their lists. Phishing emails for anyone who has not kept up with Cyber-crime is an email that attempts to get you to reply with your information which is usually sensitive in nature and personal, items such as Passwords, Full Name, Address, Drivers Licence number, Medicare number, Date Of Birth etc all of which are then used to steal your identity or take money from your bank account or send more fake emails to your friends and contacts, the list goes on. The Cyber-criminals are “fishing” for information hence the word. They generally use “click-bait” words (as per bait on a hook) to hook you into their little scam.

Social Media Coronavirus Scams

On sites such as (and not limited to) Facebook (of course); Messenger; WhatsApp; WeChat; QZone; Tunblr; Instagram; Twitter (the presidents favourite) etc. As of June 2019 there were over 65 Social Networking sites. Due to the popularity of a topic such as the Coronavirus/COVID-19 the Cyber-criminals using the above platforms attract people’s attention and trust to lure them in to communicating, clicking a link, giving information away unknowingly or purchasing a product all linked around CORVID-19. There are scams providing free information about all sorts of things such as new drugs to combat Coronavirus – buy them here; testing kits – buy them here; CORVID-19 and people with diabetes – buy your kit here; you get the picture I’m sure.

Impersonation

Cyber-criminals impersonating Government Bodies, Charities or even World Bodies such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) asking for money to help create a vaccine or buy this product to help someone poorer than you or send money to Africa, here there or anywhere to help the animals, the poor, the street people etc by PayPal, Bitcoin, Credit Card through their fake websites, which look amazingly like the real thing, no surprise there. The Cyber-criminals will always find a way to pull at your heartstrings for their own benefit.

Telephone Calls

Coronavirus scams include telephone calls from an “organisation” claiming to represent entities as detailed above and not just limited to them, these calls could be from an organisation you have recently been in contact with, who’s database has been hacked and now your information is in the hands of the Cyber-criminals. This could be personal details, contact details and payment details.

Investment Scams

These are never that far from the next “disaster” scenario opportunity claiming that if you invest with them then when the stock market/housing market/whatever market is at the bottom they can buy buy buy with your money and you can make 1 zillion percent profit, etc. As if. We all know where the money will go and that would be the last you see of it. “If it sounds too good to be true it most likely is” attributed to Richard Carlson I believe.

Ransomware

Coronavirus scams include ransomware attacks are being reported on health organisations’ computer systems hoping to “ransom” (hence the name) the files they have encrypted so effectively stopping (the criminal’s hope) the advancement of a cure or vaccine. We cannot let the “good-times” stop too soon seems to be their message. On Android phones, the ransomware app “Corvidlock” which purports to offer statistics on CORVID-19 and a heat map of outbreak hotspots were available to be downloaded from a malicious domain coronavirusapp.site.  More information and on how to unlock code for this ransomware app.

Fake News

Somewhat covered above as always has been detrimental to our health and understanding. This has been called an “infodemic” by Dr Tedros head of WHO which is spreading more quickly and wildly than the actual virus itself. Such “fake news” once the domain of Facebook is now everywhere with reports that there is a relationship between Corona beer and Coronavirus; drinking alcohol will prevent coronavirus, gargling certain liquids such as vinegar (thanks here to Facebook) will prevent CORVID-19.

You and I (We – the general public) are never far from the Cyber-criminals thoughts (now that’s a comforting thought) and at every opportunity, they will modify their methods and polish their websites to convince us that they are here to help, so not only stay physically safe during this pandemic but stay digitally safe as well!

FYI We at Affordable Computer Repairs and Service are open during this uncertain time and are following best practices.

WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS DURING THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK

Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Our computer repair business is open and maintaining the Government’s guidelines for social distancing and best practices.  We kindly ask that you phone first prior to visiting our office.

We are aware of the importance of controlling the spread of the COVID-19 and our computer repair service of pick-up and drop-off meets the guidelines for best business practice during this epidemic.  We are monitoring the situation and the changing government guidelines, but fortunately, at this stage, our workshop computer repair service continues to allow us to help our customers by the introduction of social distancing and the limit to one to two customers in the office at any one time.

Given that we are a family-based business with the workshop located on the bottom level of our home, we do not have crowds of customers and usually, there are only one or maybe two clients in the one office at the same time.  Thus our business conforms easily to ensure a low level of risk as there is low exposure to other people at the time of pick-up and drop-off of your computer and low level of handling of your computer as well.

Please do not come to our workshop if you are unwell or if you have someone in your home who has the coronavirus – (COVID-19).  Please maintain social isolation and bring your computer to us once this period is over.

BASED ON THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT ADVICE WE ARE MAINTAINING SOCIAL DISTANCING AND GOOD HYGIENE PRACTICES.

Please note the following:-

1. Neither of our technicians are ill or have any symptoms of the COVID-19, nor have they travelled out of Australia within the last 6 months.
2. We would prefer that there is no more than one client in the office at any one time even though our office can accommodate more clients as per the government safety advice.
3. When in the office please help to maintain a 1.5 to 2 metre distance between yourself and the computer technician.
4. It is not possible to thoroughly clean a laptop keyboard, trackpad or screen etc without potentially harming the computer and particularly now with all hand sanitisers sold out therefore:-

PLEASE DO NOT ACCEPT OUR REPAIR SERVICE UNLESS YOU ARE WILLING TO FOLLOW THE GOVERNMENT ADVICE REGARDING SAFETY MEASURES DURING THE CORONAVIRUS.

Even though all staff are currently healthy we request that in order to make matters 100% safe you:-

• Are aware that the COVID-19 can remain on surfaces such as a keyboard for up to 72 hours – this time period changes so you may want to check the most current advice.
• Preferably do not touch or use your computer and peripherals until 48 hours have passed since the technician last touched it.
• If you urgently do need to use your computer, Apple Mac, laptop etc ensure that you clean as well as you can (without causing any damage) your computer and all peripherals.
• Also, it is essential that you clean your hands thoroughly during and after using your computer during the 48 hour period.

Computer Repairs in Brisbane During the Coronavirus Outbreak.

Our workshop repair service provides computer repairs with social distancing.  Basically, you may drop off your computer at our workshop, we will repair it and have it waiting for you to collect.

The steps required for a  safe computer repair service during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak are as follows:-

1. Contact us (07 3397 1215) and explain your computer problems.  We will compile a worksheet for your computer repair job including the likely problem and your contact details.
2. Please bring your computer to our workshop at 48 Octantis Street (cnr of Mars Street), Coorparoo.
3. You can leave your computer at our reception desk and speak to Mark (the business owner) – keeping the 1.5 to 2 metre social distance.
4. We will schedule your repair and will examine/evaluate your computer.  We will contact you by phone during the repair process if the problem we find is different or more serious to what we advised during the initial phone call and consultation at the office.
5. We will contact you to advise that your computer is ready to be collected and arrange a time that is suitable for you to collect from our office.
6. Payment can be made by direct deposit or by cash in an envelope.

If you have any concerns please call us at Affordable Computer Repairs and Service to discuss on 07 3397 1215 or 0409 974 707.

 

Mark Kotorac
Business Owner

Here at Affordable Computer Repairs and Service, we have found that some computer problems are more common than others amongst our clients. For your interest, below we list the everyday common computer problems that our customers have recently contacted us about.  After each problem is listed we have provided the most common solutions – or the easiest solutions that may apply to that particular problem.

We have also provided links to pages on our website which relate to the specific problems that you may have. We hope that this information will be of use to you and you can always contact us regarding any common computer problems you may have.

Top Ten Common Computer Problems

1. Computer won’t turn on

Check to see if the power cable is plugged in and the switch is turned on. Don’t laugh – we often see this issue as the cable has been accidentally removed from the powerpoint. If this doesn’t work, try another powerpoint.

2. The computer screen is blank

There are several options here:
a) The computer is in “sleep” or “hibernation” mode – try clicking the mouse or the enter key, or pressing the on/off button for a few seconds
b) Press the on/off button for 10+ seconds and then turn on again in the usual way
c) For desktop computers, check if the monitor has power and is turned on
d) Check if the monitor data cable is attached to the monitor and the computer
e) If the desktop computer has been moved, check that all cables have been attached to the correct places
f) Check a desktop with another monitor or TV

3. Windows or MacOS won’t boot

Depending on the version of Windows you have (Windows Vista, 7 and 8/8.1), try booting into Safe Mode by tapping F8 when the computer has just turned on. If F8 does not work, press Shift + F8 very quickly after turning the computer on.
For Apple computers, turn on the device and press Command + S keys to boot up the computer into Single User Mode.

4. The operating system isn’t running properly

There are several reasons the system isn’t running properly:
a) A virus or malware is slowing the system down – install a virus checker or run a virus checker.
b) A recently installed software update – Windows 10 is notorious at this, but it could happen on an Apple computer.
c) A recently updated software program (application) such as an existing anti-virus program.
d) A change of hardware and the computer is still installing the necessary drivers.
e) Failing hardware such as a Hard Disk Drive (HDD).
f) Windows 10 hammering the HDD for up to 30 minutes after a computer is booted up (this happens especially if the computer is not turned on much – to enter Task Manager use Control + Alt + Delete and choose Task Manager from the options, then go to Performance Tab, then watch the HDD being hammered at 100%.

5. Frozen screen

A frozen screen is a very common computer problem, a possible solution is to wait a minute between clicking a key or moving a mouse as the computer needs time to react and wake up. If that fails, reboot the computer by holding down the on/off button for up to ten seconds. Once the computer has turned off, wait for another ten seconds and turn it on again.

6. Loud noises from computer

Loud and unusual noises from the computer usually come from a fan but could also be the HDD. The fans usually calm down after a few seconds, however, a fan with destroyed bearings will continue to make noise. In this case, the fan would need to be replaced or will eventually seize, causing the computer or CPU to overheat.
HDD noises can be loud spinning or clicking. The noisy spin means the HDD’s bearings are dying and the drive needs to be replaced. A clicking means the HDD’s heads cannot move into their correct position and the stepper motor is dying. Again, the HDD needs replacing.
These issues do not occur with a Solid State Drive as it has no moving parts.

7. Slow internet

This is not necessarily a common computer problem but more a router/modem/line problem:
a) Check the Internet on another device.
b) Reboot the Router and Modem if separate devices – when turning off the Router and/or Modem, turn them off and wait 30 seconds before turning them on again.
c) Check for any outages or problems in your local area by using a SIM-based device (tablet or smartphone).
d) Reboot the computer and check the Ethernet cable or wi-fi connection is sound.

8. Overheating

Most computers overheat to a degree. The higher the ambient temperature, the more likely a computer will go over its designated maximum temperature rating.
a) Avoid covering any vents of the computer – this includes vents underneath a laptop. There should be at least 3 inches (75mm) gap all-around a PC Tower/Desktop.
b) Install better or newer fans into your computers.
c) Install for Apple computers Crystalidea’s Macs Fan Control. Unfortunately, this is not available for Windows-based computers. However, software which displays temperatures in the computer for Windows-based computers is available.

9. Slow internet on a particular computer

Clearing the cache of cookies and temporary files frequently can assist in a faster browser and therefore the internet. Each browser (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Oprah, Edge and Internet Explorer) has a different way to clear and possibly reset their cache. Included here are viruses in your browser which an anti-virus program may not pick up. To remove these sorts of problems, we use Adwcleaner from Malwarebytes.

10. Peripheral device not working

A peripheral device is a mouse, keyboard, printer, webcam etc. This can often happen after a software update of the Operating System – looking at your Windows 10. The drivers (software that communicates between the hardware and the Operating System) may need to be updated or in some cases rolled back. This is a subject that can get quite complicated. However, Googling “Driver Update” or similar is a good starting point, especially if there is an error code involved.

Additional common computer problems we are familiar with include but are not limited to:

• Fuzzy monitor with lines across the screen
• Hard disk failure
• Computer clogged with files, photos, music and games
• Liquid spills on the machine
• Malware or virus-infected machine

Client Inquiries Regarding Other Common Computer Problems

We have also provided recent inquiries from our clients, which are included below. Please review these questions to view our extensive list of services we provide our customers:

Battery Replacement

“I have a MacBook pro, purchased in 2010, but most likely a 2009 model. It looks exactly like the current MacBook Pros on the market. It is functioning perfectly, no black outs or colour-wheeling episodes like a lot of older Macs, but the battery is pretty weak.”

Blue Screen of Death

“My Apple iMac model A1207 goes to a blue screen when turned on. I tried to hold command s and see if there is a driver issue, but the message came up kextd[28]: giving up on diskarb; auto-rebuild disabled and the screen is blue and not doing anything. I was wondering about the cost of repairing? I do not have the original disks. Is it able to be saved?”

Computer Screen is Blank

“Recently my cat pushed my iMac off a table and now the display won’t work. It turns on but is just black. How should I go about getting this fixed and approximately how much do you think it would be?”

Data Retrieval

“Hi, wondering if you could help me out, please …My hard drive isn’t being recognised on any computer/laptop, but the light is still flashing. Wondering if my files can be recovered somehow?”

FYI we have a very affordable data retrieval service in Brisbane.

Liquid Spills

“After an unfortunate water spill on my laptop. Some keys are not functioning properly. Will you guys be able to repair it? If yes, could you please give me a quote.”
“I spilt coffee on the keyboard of my MacBook air last night, initially certain keys wouldn’t work and now it won’t turn on.”

We have a blog about liquid spills if you are someone unlucky enough to need this information!

Motherboard Replacement

“Hi, just replaced my 2010 27″ iMac as the motherboard blew. Can you use any of the rest of it as parts?”

PC Help Requests

“Hi, I have a Seagate black armour which is not working properly. Amber lights keep coming on. Is this something that you guys can look into? I can easily drop it in to you.”

Portable Hard Drive Repairs

“I need help to fix my portable hard drive as the USB port has become detached. Very desperate, could you repair it?”

Screen Replacement

“I have a laptop at home (Acer Aspire 5542) which has a severely cracked screen. As I was looking to upgrade laptops soon, I was just wondering, if there was a way to transfer all of the files from my hard drive to a USB drive without having to get the screen fixed? And if so, would it be cheaper to have the file transferred onto a USB drive or to just have the screen replaced?”
“Hi, could you please provide me with a quote to remove and replace a cracked screen in an Asus R101D.”

Affordable Computer Repairs and Service

If you require computer assistance or are unsure about any of the information provided regarding common computer problems, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 3397 1215 or 0409 974 707 or via email at mark@affordablecomputerrepairs.com.au. We strive to provide our customers with quality services and advice at an affordable price.

Please telephone us in advance if you have any one of the above common computer problems, as then we understand the issue and can advise you as to the likely costs that you may incur on repairing your computer.

However, please be aware that there are often many different reasons for computer problems, and it is sometimes necessary for us to inspect your computer before accurately diagnosing the cause of the difficulty. We can do this for you – for free if you continue with the recommended repair – or for $75 if you decide that due to the cost of replacement parts and the age of the machine, you would rather purchase a new computer.

Tips to Avoid Viruses

We have written this article providing tips on avoiding picking up viruses and malware on your computer. We hope this information will be helpful for you and you take up our recommendations on protecting your device from future infections. However, if you are unlucky and manage to obtain a stubborn virus or spyware do get a virus or spyware infection on your PC or laptop, we do offer a virus removal service, please give us a call at 3397 1215 or 0409 974 707.

Is Anyone Safe from a Malware Infection?

Even with the best protection and the most vigilant user, no device is ever 100% safe from malware infection. The main reason is that new malware is being written all the time. New malware software is written to try and bypasses anti-malware software. Then it does its main task of damaging your machine or stealing information.

The ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority) provides some interesting statistics of internet usage and malware awareness and protection by age of Australian internet users. Given that 18 to 34-year-old Australians are more likely to use the internet than other age groups (source ACMA); we would expect that they are more likely to obtain some form of malware on their machines. This is even more expected when we look at their type of Internet usage. According to ACMA, young Australian adults aged 18 to 34 years are more likely to be users of social networking and internet banking than older Australian internet users.

Even more telling, concerning the likelihood of obtaining a malware infection, is that the youngest (and oldest) age groups were less likely to use protection again malware. It seems safe, therefore, to assume that younger Australian internet users are the population group in Australia most likely to end up with a malware infection. This is due to having such high usage of internet banking and social media plus are less likely to protect their computers.

How Can I Get a Virus?

There are many ways that your PC or Laptop can become infected with malware (commonly known as viruses or spyware):

1. Accepting without reading. This occurs when you accept what you see on the screen without reading the prompt or understanding what it’s asking. Always be careful. This can happen when you are browsing the internet and a window appears that says that your machine is infected or that a new plug-in is needed – and you then accept the prompt.
2. When installing or updating a program, you may be prompted to install additional programs (often the checkboxes are already checked!).
3. Opening e-mail attachments. These attachments may even come from friends, family members or a co-worker. Sometimes email addresses are also faked. Watch out – when receiving an e-mail and attachment, if the e-mail was not expected or from someone you don’t know – delete it.
4. Pirating software, music, or movies. This is a very common way of obtaining a malware infection on your computer. If you are participating in underground places on the net downloading copyrighted movies, music or files for free, often many of the files contain viruses or spyware.
5. Downloading infected software. When downloading any software from the net this can also cause viruses and other malware infections. When downloading programs, utilities, games, updates, demos, etc., you need to make sure you’re downloading from a reliable source. Also, while installing the software, make sure you are reading all prompts carefully.
6. Not running the latest updates. As mentioned before, you need to keep your anti-virus software up-to-date. Many updates, especially those associated with Microsoft Windows are security updates and you need to click onto the update to ensure you have the highest level of current protection for your machine.
7. No antivirus spyware scanner. Again, as previously mentioned, you need to ensure your machine is protected as best it can. This includes having some form of antivirus and spyware protection to help clean the machine from current infections and prevent future infections.

How to Avoid Viruses

It is always important to pay attention to what your computer is asking you when you are using the internet. You should not just automatically click “OK” without double-checking. Many viruses are disguised as updates/codes. 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 content.

Here are some tips on how to avoid picking up viruses and other forms of malware:

• Always remove your browser’s temporary files – do this once daily
• Perform daily scans as a virus or spyware can escape anti-virus programs.
• Some viruses which have attached to a drive automatically install themselves on any other media such as network drives, external hard disks and thumb drives – for this reason, we recommend that you disable the Windows autorun feature.
• Use a hardware-based firewall over a soft-ware based as these often result in problems when sharing printers and allowing users to access network resources.
• Ensure you always receive updates by setting Windows Update to automatically download patches and upgrades. Doing this allows your computer to download all updates to both Internet Explorer and Windows. These updates fix security problems and block many spyware programs and viruses. However, it should be noted that viruses sometimes piggyback onto trusted updates, this is more likely to be outdated updates. Therefore, it is necessary to keep your updates as current as possible.
• Many viruses work by attaching themselves to a drive and automatically installing themselves on any other media connected to the system. As a result, connecting any network drives, external hard disks, or even thumb drives to a system can result in the automatic propagation of such threats.
• You should deploy DNS protection – you may need a computer technician to implement the switch but once deployed this will protect your computer from any spyware and other web-based malware.

These tips may also be useful:

• Don’t visit and download from sites that distribute illegal software as these sites are known to contain viruses.
• Watch out for unknown codes – these enable a computer to play video or auto. A common way of obtaining a malware infection is caused by the unsuspecting user following the prompt to download a codec to obtain sound for a downloaded movie.
• Don’t download anything that says it is free – these are likely to be a virus. You could google it together with the word spam to determine whether it is malware.
• 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 weekly.
• Be careful of emails coming from companies that you may do business with. Dodgy emails like this usually ask you for sensitive data such as bank account numbers. These emails mimic real companies but with close inspection of the business’ actual website, you can often spot the difference.
• 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 Personalisation. 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 is likely to infect you too.
• Remember to back up regularly, this may save your work and valuable files should you get a particularly malicious virus on your machine.

Virus Removal at Affordable Computer Repairs and Service

There is always a chance of picking up a virus or spyware, no matter how careful you are. Should this happen, we can remove the virus for you for a fixed fee of $190. Contact us on 3397 1215 or 0409 974 707 and we are happy to help. We have a lot of experience in cleaning machines without the loss of customers’ valuable files and invaluable photos.

Article by Mark Kotorac, Owner of Affordable Computer Repairs and Service

Upgrading to MacOS 10.15 Catalina?

Beware potential problems before making the move!

Upgrading to MacOs 10.15 Catalina means that there is support for 64-bit applications only, so be prepared to upgrade, retire or replace your existing 32-bit applications.

Be Prudent – Do your Research!

For many users, the regular upgrading of the operating system on your Mac computer can be prudent. However, it can result in making your Mac incompatible with various devices and software applications. Before taking the plunge, it pays to ensure that those devices and applications are officially supported by the relevant manufacturer for the new version of the Mac OS.

Imagine this scenario. You’re running a 2012 or newer iMac, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, etc, and you get a notification to upgrade to the latest version of the Mac operating system, 10.15 Catalina. You might be running the previous version Mojave, or an even older version like El Capitan, Sierra, or High Sierra. You follow the prompts to upgrade to MacOs 10.15 Catalina, get the download, install the update, your computer restarts and you’re all good to go. Right? At first glance, everything seems to work.

Older Applications May Not Be Supported

What about some of those older tried and tested third-party applications you have come to depend on and have proved to be stable and reliable? For instance, suppose your work relies on using audiovisual editing applications, or other kinds of productivity applications that you installed some years back.

Now, after upgrading to MacOS to 10.15 Catalina, you try to launch one or more of these applications and get an error message advising you that the program is either, “damaged”, “corrupt” or “not compatible with this version of the Mac operating system”. Now you’re thinking “No problem, I will just download an update or a new version”, only to discover there is no update or a new version available. What do you do now?

Unfortunately, unlike upgrading to the previous Mojave OS which prevented the upgrade process from occurring if your Mac system was incompatible (generally, a pre-2012 model iMac, MacBook Pro, etc), you won’t get this kind of warning.

It Pays To Be Cautious When Deciding to Upgrade MacOs

Just because you see a notification appear on your computer advising you to upgrade to next release of the Apple Mac operating system (MacOS), don’t assume that it will be all clear sailing. These days, a MacOS will be launched and available from the App Store for around 12 months (usually from late-September/ early-October to the following late-September – with around 5 to 6 version updates in that time) with extended support for an additional 2 years, and iTunes support for another year or so after that.

Possibly Slower Adopters Is Better?

In our experience here at Affordable Computer Repairs and Service, it’s never a good idea to be an earlier adopter of any software (never mind an operating system, whether it’s Mac or Windows) unless you’re prepared or unconcerned if or when things may go wrong. The early release of any software often contains numerous “bugs” and compatibility issues that usually get resolved over time. This should be something that is largely resolved whilst product development is in the stages of beta testing by a select number of users and software developers. Unfortunately, more and more companies are opting to release software before it’s ready and tend to employ their mainstream user base as unofficial “beta-testers”. Just ask anyone who regularly plays computer games and is confronted with buggy and unfinished gaming titles.

It Is However Your Choice

Maybe you just don’t care or believe that if the system tells you to upgrade to the next version of the MacOS, that’s what you have to do. That’s your choice and entirely up to you.  As a Mac user, you can use Time Machine as your system backup and restore tool and provide yourself with a reasonably good insurance policy. Just ensure that your Time Machine is working correctly and check to ensure that all your data is there and can be read.

The Risk of Upgrading to MacOs 10.15 Catalina

So what’s the “risk” in upgrading to MacOS 10.15 Catalina and what is the big deal about support for 64-bit applications only? Well, probably very little or none if you spend a little time and plan ahead. Maybe you can use this as an opportunity to upgrade some of these older applications like MS Office for Mac 2011 or find an alternative. The switch to 64-bit support only is significant but if your computer use is very general, then the impact may only be minor. Whatever you do, ensure that your user data is backed up regularly.

Apple and Windows Updates

Apple is not alone in this regard. Any user of Microsoft Windows – especially anyone who remembers making the switch from DOS / Windows 3.1.1 to Windows 95 and the impact that made at the time – will be familiar with this kind of change (not to mention the transition since then from Windows XP to Windows 7 and then from Windows 7 to Windows 10), and the changes to the types of software that are supported and can be run successfully on your computer.

Affordable Computer Repairs and Services

If you are unsure as to your options, your next step forward or you have run into trouble attempting to upgrade your Mac computer, contact us at Affordable Computer Repairs and Service on 3397 1215 or 0409 974 707, we repair and upgrade Apple Macs.

 

This article was written by Mark, Computer Technician and Owner of Affordable Computer Repairs and Service in Brisbane.

Should I build my own PC?

As Andy Roberts from Techgyd.com states in his article “The Benefits of Building your own PC”, building your own desktop PC can offer many benefits. But unless you spend the time to plan your system build and do your research in advance, it could end up becoming an exercise in frustration and a costly one down the track. You need to be clear on what you want or need your new computer for, how much money you wish to spend, and how your needs might change 2-3 years down the track.

Specific or Mainstream Use?

Most customised builds are primarily intended for gaming, but building your own PC for things like audio-visual editing, graphic design, CAD, etc, is also quite common. Selecting exactly the type of build you want or need, using components that offer a wide range of specifications, performance, quality and longevity is a compelling proposition and makes lots of sense.

However, if your needs involve performing mainstream tasks (like web browsing, emailing, word processing and working on spreadsheets. etc.), and using productivity applications like Word, Excel, etc, then you may be much better served by buying an off-the-shelf system.

Even though you could build a system for less than an off-the-shelf equivalent from a company like HP, Lenovo, Dell, ASUS or Acer, why would you want to? These companies manufacture a large number of systems and can achieve economies of scale that make many of these products very cost-competitive in the market. Even smaller, local system builders -often the same businesses that you purchase your computer components from – can usually offer entry-level or low-end systems at competitive prices for most consumers.

Future Upgrades

Another thing to consider is the ability to make future upgrades on any system you might build today. Overall, it’s true that one of the benefits of building your own PC is that it gives you flexibility in this regard, but in some areas, you need to exercise some caution and plan ahead. Doing things like changing your video card to the latest GPU, increasing the amount of RAM in your system, adding storage, etc, are all worth considering and relatively easy to implement when the time comes.

Other kinds of components, however, aren’t so easy or cost-effective to do. You may be looking at upgrading your CPU or motherboard down the track and it’s here where you might strike problems. For example, anyone familiar with Intel and their product lines will know that they are in the habit of introducing new CPUs and chipsets on a regular, frequent basis. Anyone wanting to upgrade or needing to replace their 100 or 200 series motherboard and move to the newer 300 series motherboards. They will also need to their existing Gen 6 or 7 Core i3, i5 or i7 CPU, but won’t be able to do so. Even though all these components are official “Socket 1151”, Gen 6 and 7 CPUs are not supported on 300 series motherboards (ie. H310, B360 / 365, Z390, etc).

For this reason, I often advise my customers to focus on getting the best CPU and motherboard combination that their budget will allow, as these components are usually the ones most problematic to replace or upgrade down the track. It’s much less of a problem if you choose to go down the AMD / Ryzen track rather than opting to go down the Intel path.

So What Are The Benefits of Building Your Own PC?

To summarise from the above, if you have a specific use for your computer such as gaming or graphic design, there are benefits of building your own PC. On the other hand, if you are part of the mainstream and do not require specific use from your computer, it is probably a better idea to buy a new computer off- the shelf.

The full benefits of building your own PC only come into play if you fully understand the potential future limitations of the different types of hardware. If you build a PC with components that cannot be upgraded, this makes it more expensive.

Our advice, as you would expect from a business that regularly custom builds computers, is come to us and we will make sure that you have a PC that is ideal for your needs both now and in the future. Contact us today on 3397 1215 or 0409 974 707 with any inquiries.

 

Article by Mark, Computer Technician and Owner of Affordable Computer Repairs and Service in Brisbane.

How to Fix a Slow Windows 10 Computer

Do you need to fix a slow Windows 10 computer? Does your Windows 10 computer seem very slow after you turn it on the first time that day? Just about every Windows 10 computer, I work on is slow after booting and logging in. If you check Task Manager (press these 3 keys: Ctrl + Shift + Esc – together) and then go to the Performance Tab (you may have to click down the bottom of the box to “More Details”). Under the Performance Tab is the Hard Disk Drive being hammered at 100%?

Every one of these computers which are more than a month or so old have this problem. I have seen this 100% last from anywhere from 5 minutes to 30 minutes. The faster or more powerful the computer the less time it seems to take. The same with an SSD (Solid State Drive) over a mechanical drive, SSD’s are always quicker, so the time wait is less.

Possible Fixes for a Slow Windows 10 Computer

There are several “fixes” you can try to fix a slow Windows 10 computer:

1. Temporarily disable Windows Search. To do this open a Command Prompt as Admin (in the search box type in cmd and hit enter, then right-click “Command Prompt”). Next type in the following exactly and hit enter after you have done so in the black window.  Net stop “windows search” Then check to see if the 100% hammering has stopped.
2. Disable your anti-virus software temporarily. Now, most anti-virus programs have a feature whereby you can turn them off for 15 or 30 minutes (or some other combination such as next boot). As they are all different you may need to Google how to do this with your particular program. After turning the program off, check to see if the hammering has stopped.
3. Another potential fix for a slow Windows 10 Computer is to change your Google Chrome settings. The combination of Chrome and Skype can be a problem so to change Chrome, go to the three dots (top right hand of the screen) and choose Settings. Then go down to the Privacy and Security check to see if Use a prediction service to load pages more quickly is on. It needs to be turned off. Check for any hammering. With Skype being an app these days and not a program, there is not much that you can do in Windows 10. It’s not even listed in Control Panel under Programs and Features. It’s built into Windows 10.
4. Turn off all startup services in Task Manager. Go into Task Manager as described above and on the Startup Tab. I would disable all “startups” except maybe Windows Defender. You can always enable the programs again, so reboot so that the changes take effect and see if the hammering has stopped. You may need to enable and disable some items to see which one is causing a problem with the hammering. Leaving them all disabled is fine anyway as all programs will run without having to be in a startup. The program makers put their programs in there so that they start up quicker. A bit of a cheat if you ask me.
5. Resetting Virtual Memory is another possibility. To reset it do: Windows Key + Pause/Break key (or Control Panel then System). Then click on Advanced System Settings (on the left). Click on Advanced Tab then Settings under Performance then on Advanced tab again. You should see second down Virtual Memory and a Change. Click on Change and check what is ticked. Usually the “Automatically manage paging file size for all drives” is ticked by default. If it is, then untick it. Choose “Custom Size” and set Initial to “Recommended” and Maximum is 1.5 x your RAM size. (e.g. 8GB RAM =  8192MB x 1.5 = 12,288MB, therefore use 12,288 for Maximum size). You need to click OK for it to take effect after then next boot. Then clear out your “temp” file by Windows key + R and type in temp. This shows you all your temp files. Select them all and delete them if you can. Some won’t delete but after a reboot, you may be more successful. If not, don’t worry. Again check your hammering.
6. Some people who have Adobe Creative Cloud installed have reported problems with disk hammering. Open Task Manager as described above and closed/stopped Adobe CC. You may notice that the hammering stops. If it does then either stop Adobe CC from starting up on boot or just stop it as described above every time you boot.
7. A potential fix for a slow Windows 10 computer is to perform a chkdsk (disk check) which has also been reported as fixing the hammering. To do this open a Command Prompt as Admin (described above) and type in this exact command: chkdsk /f/r then hit enter. You will be prompted to click Yes. Now, this command will not run instantly but will run on the next bootup of the computer. So reboot now. Chkdsk can take a few minutes to run depending on the type of Hard Disk Drive you have and it’s size.
8. Another reported potential problem causing Windows 10 to be slow is with the StorAHCL.sys driver. The reason to check this is that some computers are running/using the default driver which has a bug in it. To check what driver you are using do the following: Open Control Panel and click on Device Manager (or press Windows Key + X and type Device Manager). When there, click on IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers and double click AHCI controller. Then go to the Driver Tab and click Details. If you see the following then your computer is using the default driver: storahci.sysstored in the windows path then you may have a problem as pointed out above. There is a fix to this but it involves editing the registry. This is a potentially dangerous job which we would not suggest an average user should do. If you do want to do it then Google editing the Windows 10 Registry as well as the actual steps in how to change the storahci.sys driver for Windows 10. If you do attempt this yourself (not recommended) then please back up your registry first – Google how to back up my Windows 10 registry.

If all this seems like rocket science and you need to fix for a slow Windows 10 computer then please call us and we can assist you here at Affordable Computer Repairs and Service on 3397 1215 or 0409 974 707.

Need to Make a Clone of your Hard Disk Drive?

If you need to make a fully bootable Hard Disk Drive (HDD) for your computer then please read on.

Why Hard Disk Drives Fail?

It often happens that as a computer gets old one of the first things to start failing is the mechanical HDD. This is because it has a hard life being bounced about in laptops and suffering from thumps and vibration in desktops. Also, the mechanical HDD is a very finely manufactured device with no tolerance for misuse and the electrical power inputs, especially when starting from cold every time the computer is turned on.

Over time, hard drives gradually slow down, errors become more frequent – which is a clear sign that failure is imminent – and then one day, it dies.

When do Hard Disk Drives Fail?

How long this takes is different in every computer but the laptops being a 2.5” device are more finely made than the 3.5” in desktops and are therefore more likely to fail quicker than a desktop.

So, after 3 to 4 years, you will have probably noticed that the computer is not as fast as it was. One way to correct this is to replace the old hard drive – and one way to make the task of moving your operating system, programs and data are to “clone” (ie. make an exact copy) of the HDD. This can be done in several ways and there are several programs which are free or paid for which will do this for you.

How to Clone your Hard Disk Drive

Now, I have always used Norton’s Ghost or Acronis to “clone” my HDD’s and most of the time they work (around 95%). But recently, I came across a problem with an iMac mechanical HDD that worked fine but I needed to “clone” it to an SSD (Solid State Drive) unit. I tried Ghost and then Acronis but neither produced a bootable MacOS High Sierra drive for my customer’s iMac.

After much research, I came across SuperDuper! From Shirt Pocket.com. Incredibly, this worked the first time, so I now use this product when I can. Also incredibly, this software is a free trial version available but the author (software developer) does ask for a donation which I think is fair enough considering how good his software is.

As the author says, “SuperDuper! – Heroic System Recovery For Mere Mortals” which is a great statement and one he is entitled to make…

SuperDuper

The current version of SuperDuper! is 3.2.4 and it includes full HFS+ and APFS support for MacOS X Mojave (10.14.x), allowing the creation of the fully bootable backup. It features a clear, user-friendly interface which is easy to use and to understand, a built-in scheduler to allow the user to back up automatically. It can complement Time Machine, allowing you to store a bootable backup alongside your Time Machine volume.

This new version lets you ignore “missing drive” errors during scheduled copies, and also improves Smart Wake function, which ensures that backups happen whether your Mac is awake or asleep…and won’t turn on your screen if your Mac is already awake. It also includes Smart Delete which is an outstanding new capability that minimizes the possibility of disk full errors while maintaining a no speed penalty, native Notification Centre support, along with a Finder extension to quickly run copies along with other improvements.

SuperDuper! can even create and copy from snapshots, which means that with an APFS backup drive, you can restore a system using a current or previous Smart Update backup.

You can read more about SuperDuper! on the product’s website and for the price of US$27.95 (this is as of June 2019) and it offers arguably excellent value which I think is worth recommending.

Affordable Computer Repairs and Service

As always, here at Affordable Computer Repairs and Service, we can assist you with this drive “cloning” if you think this is beyond your level of experience or capabilities.

I thoroughly recommend that you call us on 3397 1215 or 0409 974 707 and we can assist you in rejuvenating your Windows PC or Apple Mac computer. Installing a new mechanical HDD does make a big difference or maybe the best solution is a solid-state drive (SSD).  It could be the answer you need.

In my experience, changing from a mechanical HDD to a SSD makes the computer boot and run approximately 5 times as fast as it did before. The wait time for the SSD to provide information to the CPU (Central Processing Unit) is minimal, whereas with a mechanical HDD it needs to find the information on the disk and then transfer that to the CPU.

Whichever route you choose to take, here at Affordable Computer Repairs we are here to help so please call us and see what we can do for you.

Author, David from Affordable Computer Repairs and Service

How Much RAM In 2019

How Much RAM Versus The Cost of RAM

RAM or “memory” (and not to be confused with storage, as many people often do) is arguably the most overlooked aspect of computer performance and system capability, but it’s one key component that might prove costly if you ignore it.

That is especially the case if you are buying a new computer and get seduced by the price which looks to be a bargain or focuses on some of the other specifications of the system like the CPU or the fact that it features a solid-state drive (SSD) rather than an older style hard disk drive (HDD).

RAM prices aren’t exactly cheap at the moment with a weaker Australian dollar and exchange rates not helping, but the cost of RAM (per gigabyte) has been steadily declining over the last 25 years along with the performance improvement with each generational change of the technology.

So in this day and age, whether you are looking at purchasing a new computer or just upgrading an existing desktop/workstation or laptop, how much RAM do you really need – 4, 8, 16 or 32 GB or more?

How Much RAM Over Time

Over the years, the need for more RAM, in general, has of course increased. Each successive release of the Windows or Apple Mac operating systems, along with a wide range of applications and games, are allocating and using more RAM compared to just a few years ago. Less than a decade ago, a typical computer user – running either a Windows 7 or MacOS computer – would find 4GB more than enough for most day to day computer tasks, like email, web browsing or performing productivity tasks with applications like MS Word, Excel, etc.

In fact, it was quite common that most people running Windows XP and Vista (and many running the newer Windows 7) were using 32-bit versions of those operating systems that were limited to utilizing 4GB of RAM.

Go back just 5 years in time and someone running Windows 7/8, or Apple MacOS 10.10 Yosemite, was able to get away with 8GB for typical use, including gaming. Fast-forward to now and that 8 GB that once seemed more than enough for your needs, can be chewed up by just running a single low-end gaming title, some computer-aided drawing (CAD) or rendering, or just browsing the web with several tabs open on Chrome, Firefox or Safari.

So Why Does RAM Matter & Should You Even Care?

If your existing RAM gets used up, your computer will write out anything else to the page file on your hard disk drive or SSD. If whatever you’re doing needs to exchange that information frequently, it slows down the system and impacts on its responsiveness. No matter how fast your storage drive might be, its performance is still exponentially slower than if your applications are run directly from RAM.

Whilst not having enough RAM is a problem that impacts on system performance, having too much or an unnecessarily high amount that can’t be utilized is a waste of money and impacts on your budget. So, what is the right amount of RAM for your needs?

8GB is The Bare Minimum For Most People, But Not Recommended For Gamers

For starters, forget about 4GB. Why? Unless you’re refurbishing an old computer for your children to use, or to have as a spare PC, or to run a version Linux or if you’re buying something like a Chromebook, 8GB is the bare minimum for most peoples’ needs. These days, a system with only 4GB is reserved for use as a web/email/casual use machine only.

Most current PC games use a fair amount of memory, and whilst running a system with only 8GB may be possible, we recommend going for a system with 16GB.  So if you are a gamer, you may be able to get away with 8GB, but we recommend going for a system with 16GB – possibly more if the budget allows, or buy a system that allows you to add RAM in future.

8GB of RAM is fine for those who stick to basic productivity tasks, or those who aren’t playing modern games. You can do plenty of productivity work without swapping out to the page file, but if you plan on running a memory-intensive process and doing additional tasks at the same time, you could end up exceeding your limit.

The Sweet Spot Is 16GB – Even For Gamers

Today, a system equipped with 16GB is the “sweet spot” between price and performance for most computer users, enthusiasts and gamers included. That amount gives you the headroom to perform a couple of tasks at once, without having to close tabs or applications to exceed your available RAM. Most people will find that 16GB RAM is sufficient for their needs.

If you’re a creative professional, however, your needs will be different. Those who are rendering large files or doing other memory intensive work, music, photo and video editing should consider going with 32GB or more.

Is Having 32GB (or more) Just a Case of Overkill?

Stepping up to 32GB yields quite a bit of flexibility as far as running multiple applications and different tasks are concerned, without worrying about a negative impact on system performance or resulting in a system crash. Some users on the productivity side of things who manipulate large files (or more than one at once) work with CAD, music/sound editing, photo and video editing, you should consider 32GB or more. These are situations where more than 16GB is often utilized, and 32GB is justified and even mandatory. But for many users (probably most) including gamers, this situation isn’t common.

So what can we do with the extra capacity that 32 or even 64 GB affords if you’re not making use of it regularly? Some movie and photo editing tasks (among other uses), especially when working in 4K+ resolutions, can benefit from the use of a RAM disk, which takes some of the ultra-fast volatile RAM capacity and turns it into a drive. That drive can also be used as a scratch disk for projects, which is notably faster than having it on a traditional drive – even a very fast PCIe SSD. In those cases, having a RAM disk can cut project times down, and make general performance smoother and more responsive.

Final Thoughts On RAM

If you are currently running Windows 10 or one of the current MacOS releases (ie. Sierra, High Sierra or Mojave) and doing so on an older system running with its original 4 GB RAM, it is a fair bet that it’s struggling under the load. It might pay to upgrade your older Windows desktop or laptop, MacBook Pro or iMac and boost the RAM to 8 or 16 Gb.

Alternately, it might be time to replace your old computer with a new Windows PC or Apple Mac but check the specifications first before making that purchase. Avoid any system with less than 8 GB.

Also, be aware that an increasing number of new computer systems are designed in such a way that you are no longer given the option or ability to upgrade and increase the RAM in the computer down the track.  In other words, if your needs change, you are stuck with a system in its original configuration.  Anyone having purchased a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro Retina or iMac 21.5 inch (from late-2012) onwards will have discovered this at their cost.

An increasing number of laptops running the Windows operating system (from manufacturers like HP, Lenovo, Dell, ASUS, Toshiba, etc) are adopting this same design principle, so it pays to consider your future needs, assesses the options and chooses wisely.  If you plan on buying a new computer every 2 or 3 years, this may not be a problem you experience.

For more information on this subject, including our recommendations, contact us on 3397 1215 or 0409 974 707.

Troubleshooting a Mechanical Hard Disk Drive

Mechanical Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) have moving parts and these parts start wearing from the first time when the computer is used and whilst mechanical hard disks can fail from use over time, there are also other reasons for failure.

Any knocks or bumps on the desk can make the HDDs heads crash onto the platters and this can cause damage to the head and any data that the head hits. Think of this as similar to an old gramophone record that receives a bump the needle will jump and possibly skate across the record leaving a scratch in its wake. This is what happens to the heads on a mechanical HDD.

In this case, the heads aren’t actually in contact with the platter as they “hover” approximately 3 nm (nanometers) above the surface. But a bump or vibration from a heavy footstep may make the head or heads (some HDD’s have multiple heads with multiple platters) hit the surface and bounce.

Now 3 nm is a tiny gap which is achieved due to the fast rotation of the HDD, which rotates at 5400 or 7300 rpm (revs per minute). As an example, a particle of smoke is about 4 times as large, hence why mechanical HDD’s are sealed so that dust, smoke and any other foreign bodies cannot get “stuck” between the head(s) and the platter(s).

Common Signs a Mechanical Hard Disk Drive is Dying

So, how can we tell if a mechanical hard disk drive is dying?  There are several signs that an HDD is on its way out and these are listed below.

• The very commonly heard clicking sound
• The computer won’t boot
• With a new system update, normal applications stop working
• A new driver is loaded and the system crashes
• The computer is very slow at booting and very slow at opening programs or getting data from the HDD
• Messages such as “No OS” or “No boot Disk” or, in Apple Macs, a manila folder with a question mark appears. These are all ominous signs that the HDD has failed or is failing.
• With Windows PCs, when booting the Operating System may automatically try and run chkdsk (check disk) as it finds errors on the HDD and needs to correct them.
• Some programs won’t open as they did or data is missing or won’t open in the desired program – such as a Word document which is all hieroglyphics. Again ominous signs that your HDD is dying.
• Frequent crashes of the Operating System is another bad sign
• Folder or file names which appear scrambled
• Frequent messages on the screen which are usually cryptic when trying to do something
• Files of programs which are no longer there where you thought they should be
• Long wait times when reading or writing to files or accessing programs
• The HDD’s light goes out for long periods or there is no mechanical noise from the HDD.
• The HDD is a lot noisier than usual – this is different to the clicking sound

Backup Regularly

So before the inevitable happens backup your data now yourself and then seek professional help from Affordable Computer Repairs in Brisbane to assist with what happens next. In some cases, it may be too late to “clone” the HDD or the computer is past it’s “use-by date” (approximately 5 years) and a new computer is usually recommended in this instance.

Contact us at Affordable Computer Repairs and Service or on 3397 1215 or 0409 974 707 so we may be able to assist you before the big melt-down.