Tag: Saint Paul Computer repair

How to check if your Windows firewall is on

Posted by Rasheem Jones, ITT Tech intern

1. First click on the button at the left bottom corner on the desktop (start button).
2. Go to control panel, located on the left side of the menu.
3. Click on Security icon.
4. Click on Windows firewall icon.
5. That will take you a screen that will tell you, either if the firewall is on or is off. If it’s off go ahead and click on change settings link. If its vista it will ask for your permission, just go ahead and click continue.
6. It will then give you the option to turn it on (recommended) or off (not recommended).
7. After you choose your settings close all windows and you’re ready to roll!

Reminder! Sometimes your firewall is off because it is being managed by your anti-virus program. If you have Norton, McAfee, PC Chillin, Trend Micro, WebRoot, etc…they often time manage everything for you.

What to do when an auto-update fails

Posted by Rasheem Jones, ITT Tech intern

1. First thing I always try when the automatic updates fail is to go to the Microsoft Update web site at http://update.microsoft.com/.
2. Then from there try to select and install that particular update manually.
3. If that doesn’t work, click on Get help and support on the web site. That page also has a link to the Troubleshooter page. On these pages you can find instructions on how to get the update going after a failure.

Should you downgrade to XP from Vista?

Vista? Should I downgrade to XP?
Many of my clients have purchased new laptops that has Vista preloaded on it. Many of you have software that is not up to speed with Vista. Should you downgrade or try to get your software up to speed?

Here are my thoughts…
I have been using Vista since January 2007. Yes, Vista is buggy and does things that really bother me. I am also a technician and can fix my own problems (and enjoy trying to fix those problems:). You the customer…can usually only get so far until you decide it’s not worth using Vista.

First thing you may want to consider is making a list of problems are you experiencing since the upgrade to Vista. Some problems are just “configuration issues” that I can assist with. Some problems are seriously the Vista operating system and you may need to go back to XP if your work depends on it.

Second thing is check to make sure that your software is Vista ready. Even though it installs (usually you will get an error during installation that tells you if it’s not Vista ready) it may need to be updated on the company website. Check with the software company website and verify. You also may need what is called “a patch” to make it work on Vista. You can also google the issue and see if others on the net are experiencing the same issues.

Third thing is Call That Girl (612-865-4475) for a phone consultation. I do offer short conversations for free to give you an idea if you should consider staying on Vista or downgrading back to XP. If a home visit is required, we can discuss that. I can also assist via the phone if need be.

Final note: When people tell me “oh Vista, I have heard bad things about that…” I say to them, “Well, if XP was perfect, I wouldn’t have a job right now”

There is a ring of truth to that:)

Please post comments or questions about Vista! thanks and…
Have a good Thursday!
Lisa

Call That Girl’s Guide to being smart on Facebook

I am not a Facebook Guru, but I do know a few things about Facebook and what’s been going on for some time….Facebook hacks and viruses!

PASSWORDS:

Do you remember a few messages ago I  reminded you to change your password on Facebook and make it different from your email account? I recommend that again! Please change it NOW!

I would also go and change your Facebook account password to something unique too. Why?
….Because I have seen four hacks this week alone! All different ones too. One client of mine called in despair, she was doing something in Facebook, clicked on a link and the next thing you know, her Internet Explorer lost connectivity. 2 other friends of mine apologized to their friends because their friends got messages from them that was NOT from them. I just received a message from an old high school pal and I know she didn’t write this…this is the actual message.

 VIRUS!

Facebook and MySpace has a virus called Koobface. The virus hijacks your account…From an Kapersky labs with short edit:

This worm creates a range of commentaries to friends’ accounts. Net-Worm.Win32.Koobface.b, which targets Facebook users, creates spam messages and sends them to the infected users’ friends via the Facebook site. The messages and comments include texts such as Paris Hilton Tosses Dwarf On The Street; Examiners Caught Downloading Grades From The Internet; Hello; You must see it!!! LOL. My friend catched you on hidden cam; Is it really celebrity? Funny Moments and many others.

 

PROTECT YOURSELF:

*If you see a strange message from a friend, delete it.

*Then google it to see what it was

*Inform your friends about the message, they may not  know about it

*Report it to facebook security  http://www.facebook.com/security

 QUIZZES?: Even this has me worried, those quizzes! I know they are fun, but read the small print…(pull your profile info, photos, YOUR FRIENDS INFO…and “content”…) What content? Now we have to read the TOU! (terms of use). ARGH!

 

 

 

 

Should you do them?

…with caution

*Don’t give out any personal information or passwords,etc.

*Be careful of the links that take you to off Facebook sites.

 

MY OPINION ONLY: Facebook is for people you know (in my opinion) there is no value to have 1000’s of friends on Facebook unless you are using it for marketing/advertising. Because I had so many folks from my online social networking world ask to friend me on my Facebook account, I created a business Facebook account. I keep them separate. I use them for different reasons.

 Continue to enjoy Facebook, I do! I have been having a blast catching up with old friends, but we have to remember that the hackers also are having fun ruining our days and giving us computer problems. If you have a question about something in regards to Facebook and security, feel free to shoot me an email. I am not a Facebook Guru, but should be able to point you in the right direction if/when you have an issue.

 Have a great week everyone!

Junk Mailbox, it’s just not for spam anymore

I got an email from someone today and they said that they didn’t get my email because it was in their junk email. I don’t understand why people aren’t checking their junk mail more often because I check mine everyday, like it’s another inbox.

Why is that? Because I have found no matter how high or low my junk mail settings are, some regular emails sneak in there! So I might as well just turn the whole thing off and just start adding each email as just so I know that it’s junk. But what’ s the point, I will still check my junk email because I don’t trust it! ARGH. I don’t know what is worse, one overloaded inbox or checking two of them.

I love Outlook 97 before the junk email box existed. It was just easier to delete unwanted emails and create rules to force them to the garbage. Seriously.

So the point of this post is this…I recommend checking your junk mail everyday and add folks to the “not junk list”. You may be suprised to find a few emails in there that you were supposed to get and never did, but did. I will only take a few minutes and maybe, just maybe someone won’t be thinking, “wow, he never replied back…” Or if you’re getting way too much junk email, maybe it’s time for you to get a fresh email account that you only give to the “important peoples” and keep that old one for the junk. Just a thought.

To close: I know also that it’s not the subject line that sends it off to Junk Mail. I just looked at my junk mail and even the most simple words in the subject line get shoved down to no-whereville. So with that said, I turned the junk mail feature off. I will do it myself, then I won’t miss anymore emails.

Rant over!