Tag: Minneapolis computer repair

Reasons why we do not recommend AVG 2011

| February 19, 2011 | 0 Comments

…Or any of their products for that matter. Put simply, viruses, spyware, and malware get right through most free antivirus programs. And AVG 2011 is no exception, it’s one of the free products that we see most often when we remote into a computer that has viruses on it. Not only is AVG 2011 a bad and heavily bogged down product, but it is just not worth the download, free or paid. (And in our opinion AVG 8.0 used to be one of the best). But just like with Norton (we consider AVG Norton’s little brother) or Symantec products, they both took a once good product, weighed it down, and ultimately just ended up ruining it. Sometimes it’s just right to leave things well enough alone.

Check out two Google searches we did:

 

 

Here are a few things you should be aware of with AVG 2011

  • Firewall can cause several problems–such as block you from trying to do something
  • Doesn’t work–viruses/malware/spyware get right through
  • Hard to remove (sometimes requiring a removal tool–sometimes it just stalls)
  • The social media protection features do not work as I found a Facebook virus on one AVG computer!
  • AVG 2011 install has caused some of our clients worse problems–blue screen of death, won’t start normal
  • AVG 2011 has caused computers to malfunction (especially with Google Chrome!)
  • AVG 2011 has caused programs to not open properly due to a registry error (with it being installed)

Stay away from AVG 2011

Call That Girl advises that you skip ALL FREE products and be smart and purchase products that are already being proven to work–such as our SuperAntispyware tools. The tools we use at CTG to remove viruses are a mix of our own knowledge, a few fixer programs and SuperAntiSpyware. This blog is not a push to have you buy our favorite products, but to let you know that for the low cost of $40, you can buy a great product, that protects and detects any possible threats with real-time protection–and it’s one of the tools we use at Call That Girl to help your computer be free of these attacks.

If you are a do-it-yourself type, here are the tools you will need to do the removal of AVG and install and purchase the SuperAntiSpyware yourself.

Download SuperAntispyware for free here

Pay for the $40 LIFETIME license for Superantispyware here

Try removing AVG 2011 from your Add/Remove programs first, if it fails…then try the removal tools listed below.

AVG Removal Tool here (32 bit)

AVG Removal Tool here (64 bit) 

You will need to configure the SuperAntiSpyware program once you download it. We will have updated instructions here today, so check back.

If you do not understand which version or “bit” your computer requires, call us and we can help you figure that out for free. Just call 612-865-4475. If you want help with uninstalling AVG 2011 and to get SuperAntiSpyware installed, this can be done for $32.50 by one of our help desk techs. It should just take about 15 minutes to do this. Just $40 for the product, and $32.50 for a qualified tech to install…That’s a one time price of only $72.50, so you end up never having to pay for antivirus protection again. More than fair, considering the possible alternatives, don’t you think?

Contact us below or call for a quick appointment so CTG can get you and your system protected today! 612-865-4475

Cleaning up your software

| January 4, 2010 | 0 Comments

How do you know what programs should be on your computer or not?  I generally do a quick scan and see what looks like it should be there and what should not be there

What should be installed?

  • Programs you have paid for
  • Operating system and printer applications/driver
  • Downloaded programs from the internet/disks

What shouldn’t be there? Spyware programs! You can easily tell a spyware program by 2 things.

  • the word “search” is in the name of the program
  • the program is very small in size (under 1 mb usually)

If you want to delete those little buggers, you can. Just a reminder that sometimes a removal of those spyware will take you to an internet site and require a download of a tool to uninstall it. Generally that is the safest way to go, follow the spyware instructions. Back in the day it was hard to remove the spyware, but today it’s a big easier.

Sometimes the computer will require a reboot after removing. Make sure you watch for that window or option in a window because you may want to wait to reboot until you are done.

TIP…many “coupon” saving websites will download a tool, so if you’re a coupon maniac, you may want to remember that those coupons you are cyber clipping is maybe adding spyware. Most people hate it when I remove that coupon tool, but it’s really best for your computer.

Computer Repair Minneapolis

| January 2, 2010 | 0 Comments

Why choose Call That Girl?

We are a great choice for the home users! Benefits of using  our services:

  • Our easy to connect “remote login” is an affordable solution to take care of many computer problems
  • We will talk to your children if necessary to train them to use the computer in a manner that is safe
  • We will help guide you to make better decisions with your computer
  • We do a follow up at the end of every support call to make sure you know how to avoid mistakes
  • We offer a quick call follow up for free if you have a question or two

Our personable technicians will talk to you on “your level” and support you and your family with the choices you can afford. (Sometimes having the “neighbor kid” fix your computer only goes so far).

Please see the list of services below, start making your list of questions, and call for a home visit today!

If your internet works, we prefer to remote into your computer to fix any software issues. We only ask you to bring your computer into our shop if if you have the following issues:

  • Bad Virus/Internet is not working
  • Computer crashes/Blue or Black screen when you start the computer
  • Refreshing the computer (bring it back to the day you bought it)

Service Options

Phone Support: (our most popular!) $25 for 15 minute minimum, $75 per hour

Here at Call That Girl we offer or phone support as a fast, convenient, and affordable way to treat a wide range of issues. Our technicians will guide you through the steps needed to effectively resolve your problem, while at the same time offering their expertise so that you may prevent future computer difficulties.

Home/Office Support: Starts at $85 an hour and goes up depending on where you live.

In-Shop Support: $75 per hour (average cost of repair is $112)

Extra’s

  • Client Agreement form
  • Delivery and onsite pick up available! http://www.bontime.com
  • Call That Girl accepts credit cards and we use Logmein Rescue for remote support.
  • Diagnostic charge? Not with Call That Girl!
  • Before every appointment our technicians will discuss with you the current security of your computer and will suggest backing up your machine’s document, pictures, music, etc. Your “stuff” is important to us too!

Ono! My computer froze!

| December 28, 2009 | 0 Comments

Sometimes an application or your computer will freeze and you can’t do anything…or can you?

There are a few things that can cause computers to freeze:

  • Too much going on: Having too many programs open at once and moving too fast for the computer to manage the bigger applications
  • Overclicking keys “Overclicking” doesn’t help at all. It’s equal to hitting the elevator button 15 times to get it there faster. Hitting the enter or delete key once is all you need. Hitting it faster or harder, only confuses the computer and will halt to a big freeze.
  • Downloading: Downloading large files and trying to do many things at once
  • Low hardware memory for what you are doing
  • Lack of sleep reboot or turn off your computer sometimes, they get tired too!
  • Check the heat If your computer is hot or boiling hot, turn it off at night

TRICK to save your stuff if you are in the middle of a deep freeze:

  • Start with the “alt + tab” trick, find your work that needs to be saved,
  • Then hit “Ctrl + S”, it will bring up a “save as” box.

If this fails, I recommend just leaving your computer for a few minutes and let it settle down. Sometimes we work too hard and the computer/application can get “confused”.  Letting it rest awhile, will give the application time to figure itself out. And clicking-clicking-clicking trying to get it to work, only confuses it more.

Go get something to drink, take a break and come back and see if the mouse moves again.

What if you did all of that and the computer is still frozen? Shutting off the computer is sometimes the only choice you have. If you have “auto-save” features in your documentation/email programs, you should be able to get back your recently worked on work. If you do not have auto save on, then you will probably have to start over.

Finally…to turn on Auto-save, you must open a new document, name it and save it on the hard drive. This is a must!!!

Go Ahead.. Ask A Question!

| December 26, 2009 | 0 Comments

Blog That Girl is the blog of “Call That Girl”. The technical diary of a woman running her own computer repair business. Listed in this blog you will find documentation, tips and tricks and maybe a few rants and raves from my life as a woman running her own business. Thanks and enjoy! Lisa

This area is an open blog for everyone! Feel free to post a question in the comment field below, and I will try my best to give you a fast answer!

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