Category: General
5 Questions a Computer Repair Shop Should Ask You
This short list of questions is very important for your computer repair technician to ask you when you bring in your technology to the repair shop. Be prepared to answer questions like…
- Do you have your program installation disks? Programs like Microsoft Office and Photoshop cannot be backed up and are therefore at the risk of being lost in the case of an operating system reload and other repairs.
- Did you bring in any cords? Most of the time, your computer repair shop will not need you to bring in any cords besides your laptop’s power cord. If you do have to bring in cords, make sure that they are labeled so they do not get confused with the shop’s cords.
- Are you backing up your data regularly? If not, you may want to have the computer repair shop back it up for you just in case something were to happen during the repair and all of your data was lost. If you never back up your data, talk to the technician about the options you have; after all, backing up is the golden rule in the tech world!
- What problems are you experiencing? Try to provide a detailed description of the problems your computer is experiencing to the technician so they know specifically what they should be looking for.
- How old is your computer?After describing the problem, the technician may ask how old your computer is. In some cases, problems are due to old age and it would probably make more sense to just purchase a brand new computer.
Suspicious activity caught on my Google account
Saturday A.M. I got an alert from Google that someone in Austria tried accessing my account on a device. Interesting…never had this happen before. I’m guessing they noticed this either by too many log-in attempts or they caught the IP address (how the computers track where we are logging in from). I logged into Gmail, read the alert and changed my password anyway. I know that no one had it but me, but I guess you can never tell.
As much as I am not a fan of using Google for business email, I am a fan of using it for free accounts over Hotmail or Yahoo because of the security. When clients call in and say they have been hacked, I have only seen one or two come in from Google, most, if not all, are from Hotmail, Yahoo, etc. I’m happy to post that with this Google suspicious email alert I got, I became more of a fan of using it for free email needs. There’s an example of the message below.
What to do if the power cord for your laptop stops working
Drat, that power cord. Always causing problems! Most clients call us for a few reasons in regards to power issues with their laptop. Sometimes we can fix it, sometimes we cannot. Most of the time, we can fix it, but the cost is roughly $150 (it’s a hardware repair, done inside the computer and very labor intensive). If the hardware, also known as a DC jack, is fine, then the problem is most likely a dead power supply (cord).
How to figure out if it’s your power cord:
Unfortunately, there’s not always a clear cut sign as to which is your problem. One thing you can tryif you have another that fits and is the same voltage (using a different voltage charger can mess with your computer) is to plug in a different power supply and see if your computer gets a full charge. If it does, then your power cord is most likely the cause. If this still doesn’t work or you don’t have an extra cord, you can drop off your computer for a free diagnosis and let us figure out what exactly is going on!
What to do if it’s your power cord:
- Purchase a new power adapter from the manufacturer = spendy, but probably best if your laptop is under 3 years old.
- Purchase one from Best Buy or Microcenter = also spendy, but convenient.
- Purchase a generic adapter set online = Most folks do this, but…the adapter can be a problem later. They will either stop working or fail before a manufactured one will.
What’s more important? Your stuff or the computer?
Ah, the question is posed yet again. What’s more important? Your data (stuff like pictures, music, taxes…) or your computer itself? I tell everyone that your stuff is way more important than a computer. I’ll explain with a short story.
You buy a computer. Many of our clients bought their first ones in 2003 when prices dropped like flies and you could buy them online easy. Many of our users still have these computers! The computers are starting to age, though, and are getting near the end of life. But those same clients, in all of these 9 years have never backed up their data. Are they lucky? Yes!! Losing your data can happen fast! Ask someone whose computer got zapped by a power outage; the computer is fried and sometimes the data is destroyed. Not all the time, but it has happened. Hard drives can also go bad just because…for no reason!
Backing up your stuff is so inexpensive, it is almost silly not to do it. External hard drives can be as low as $50 for 320 gigs and that can probably get all of your stuff on it. Online back up is a wee bit more at $5.99 a month to get started with 50 gigs. Click on the icon below to try online backup with 2 gigs for free.
Now back to the question, what is more important? A computer nowadays can cost $300 to $500 to replace a basic tower unit. How much are those pictures worth? Yep, they are priceless. Those music collections took years to burn on your computer and who knows how much time. Do yourself a favor and back up today! If you need our help, fill out the form below or call us to get help!
612-865-4475
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What you can expect with the iPhone 5
If you’re an Apple fan, you’re probably aware that the iPhone 5 is coming out later this month, now set to be released on
September 21st. With the iPhone 4S’s debut being less than a year ago, you’re probably wondering what is so different and special about the iPhone 5. For starters, the new phone is longer, thinner and lighter than the 4S. It will connect to 4G data networks and has a microprocessor that is twice as fast. The iPhone 5 has a third microphone and includes noise-cancelling technology. Siri will be able to tell you sports scores for your favorite teams and the movie listings in your area, too! The phone will have extensive camera features, including a panoramic mode, improved low-light photography, and shoots 720p video, while allowing you to take stills in video mode. Possibly the best part about the iPhone 5 is that it can be purchased for the same price as the 4S, allowing you to get more for your money!
If you need help syncing your email with your new iPhone 5, or any smartphone for that matter, Call That Girl at 612-865-4475 or schedule an appointment!
What’s going on in the shop today?
Michael is working on a bunch of computer reloads on the back bench!
