SD PC Support Blog! May 19th, 2012



Archive for December, 2010

December 19 th

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How to Reset you Router

This blog provides instructions on how to “reset” your router. This is a practice that nearly all ISP’s suggest as a first step for repairing a down network connection. That being said, San Diego PC Support does not suggest you perform, nor take any responsibilities for any actions you take in attempting to repair anything! If you do not feel comfortable with this, we would be glad to help you. A list of our services can be found here: http://www.sandiegopcsupport.com/services

Router Reset Instructions

Step 1)      Turn off your computer.

Step 2)      Unplug your cable modem.

Step 3)      Plug your router back in and hit and hold the small reset button.  Lights should blink after a while.  Release the button when you see this.

Step 4)      Wait till the router reboots.  Typically this takes a few minutes.

Step 5)      Plug your modem back in.

Step 6)      Turn your computer back on.

Step 7)      Open your web browser and check your connection.

December 19 th

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Performing a “Hard Reset” on your cable modem

This blog provides instructions on how to “hard reset” your cable modem. This is a practice that nearly all ISP’s suggest as a first step for repairing a down cable modem. That being said, San Diego PC Support does not suggest you perform, nor take any responsibilities for any actions you take in attempting to repair anything! If you do not feel comfortable with this, we would be glad to help you. A list of our services can be found here: http://www.sandiegopcsupport.com/services

Hard Reset Instructions

1)      Turn off your computer.

2)      Unplug your cable modem.

3)      Plug your cable modem back in

4)      Hit and hold the small reset button. This button is typically located on the back of the modem.  After about 30 seconds lights should blink.  Release the button when you see this.

5)      Wait for the modem to reboots.  Typically this takes a few minutes.

6)      Turn your computer back on.

7)      Open your web browser and check your connection.

December 18 th

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Notebook Hard Drive Type Questions

Question:

I have an ACER
Aspire 9504EWSMi
Mod DQ70
Ser# LXA640508255133093ED00
Currently my notebook has Toshiba MK8025GAS 80GB HDD

So i had a few question.  Are all notebook hard drives physically the same size?
I know it has to be reloaded with an operating system, I have all the restore disks that came with the computer when I bought it so im good there.  I just wanted to know if  all HDD are 2.5″,and all the same height. the one I have been looking at is  1 Terabyte Storage capacity for 2.5-inch form factor drives.  It also says please note that the drive is 12.5 mm high and may NOT be compatible with all notebook systems. Consult system specifications for maximum allowable drive height before attempting to install.

1TB 5400RPM 8MB Cache 12.5mm 2.5″ SATA Notebook Hard Drive w/ 1 year warranty.

Capacity: 1TB (1000GB)
Buffer Size: 8MB Cache
Rotation Speed: 5400RPM
Interface: SATA/300
Form Factor: 2.5″ Notebook Drive
**(12.5mm height) may NOT be compatible with all notebook systems

Answer:

Yes,  all notebook hard drives are 2.5 by 12.5 but they can vary based on interface.  The hard drive that you have noted is a SATA hard drive.  I believe your notebook takes a older type of connection called IDE or ultra ATA.  One way to verify this is to take the drive out of the computer and see what type of interface it has.  If it has 2 rows of pins then its IDE.  If there are no pins then its SATA.   Please note that these hard drives cost more because they are older technology :(   Hope this help.

December 14 th

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Network Setup: Types of Encryption

The fact of the matter is that Home networking Setup and wireless networking Setup has become extremely popular.  This popularity has lead to more and more internet fraud than ever before and has affected millions of lives.  Because of this jump in internet fraud security, proper network setup has become the number one priority for the majority of home and business users.  Almost everyone knows now that without some type of internet encryption you leave yourself susceptible to all type of internet fraud such as credit card fraud and even spamming your email contacts.

Encryption is a process that takes information and transforms it into a different form that is unable to read by anyone who does not have the encryption code. Depending on the type of encryption, information can be displayed as various numbers, letters, or symbols.  We will show examples of the different types of encryptions currently used in network setups.

WEP encryption

WEP encryption is probably the weakest type of encryption but is offered by nearly every wireless router and used in a lot of novice network setup users.  It is relatively easy to crack the WEP key using programs that can brute force the key or by analyzing the packets sent through the network.  A WEP key consists of two parts; a shared key which is the same on every computer in the network and an IV (initilization vector) which is variable. The IV is rather short for WEP, just 24 bits. It therefore takes a relatively short time before the same IV is used over and over again. On a busy network an attacker could analyze the similarities between these packets and discover their shared value.  In some cases one can concluded that this shared value is the network key.  San Diego PC Support doesn’t recommend this type of encryption for home or business network setup. 

WPA encryption

WPA gives you a little more protection than WEP but still is not that secure for setting up a network.  WPA’s Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) periodically changes the key that is used to encrypt data, making it harder for attackers to find similarities between packets. TKIP greatly improves wireless network security but still isn’t the best choice.  This is a better choice for a network setup but not the best.

WPA2 encryption

WPA2 is an upgrade from WPA.  It provides enterprise and consumer Wi-Fi users with a high level of security that only authorized users can access their wireless networks. Based on the IEEE 802.11i standard, WPA2 provides government grade security by implementing the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) FIPS 140-2 compliant AES encryption algorithm and 802.1x-based authentication.  In most cases San Diego PC Support’s Network Setup uses this type of encryption.  We find that this type of security gives your network the most protection.

December 13 th

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How to open .DOCX files with Word 2003 and earlier

Question: When I try to open a word file, all I see is a bunch of squares and weird symbols. I know the file was made in Microsoft Word, but I can not open it!

Answer: Most likely, the file you are trying to open is a .DOCX file. This is a file created in a version of Word NEWER than 2003, usually Word 2007 or Word 2010. Unfortunately Word 2003, as well as older versions of Word, can not open these types of files.

To fix this issue, download the Compatibility Pack directly from Microsoft. Heres the link: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/open-a-word-2007-document-in-an-earlier-version-of-word-HA010044473.aspx

December 13 th

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Microsoft Word files do not open automatically from email attachment

Problem: When I receive an email with a Word file attached, the file will not open. Instead my computer asks me which program to use to open the file, but I already have Word installed! The only way I can open Word files is by manually opening Word, then choosing File -> Open and finding the file.

My operating system is Windows XP and I am using Word 2003.

Please help?

Answer: Microsoft Word is notorious for changing settings when it updates. All you have to do is change the program Windows associates with .doc and .docx files. Heres how:

1. Go to Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> Windows Explorer

2. Once windows explorer is open, at the top chose Tools -> Folder Options and select the  “File Types” tab.

3. Now scroll down the list of file types to find DOC and DOCX (assuming you already installed the compatibility pack from above). Now change the program associated with these files types to Microsoft Word by hitting the “Change” button on the bottom half of this same window.

That should do it! A reboot may be necessary for the changes to take place.

December 13 th

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Good Computer Repair Services Mira Mesa San Diego CA

San Diego PC Support is a good computer repair service in Mira Mesa, a community in San Diego, CA.

Finding a good computer repair service in the town of Mira Mesa, San Diego can be quite a daunting task. No one wants their computer in the hands of someone without the proper experience diagnosing and repairing computer related issues. That is why San Diego PC Support is always there to help. With a repair shop located in Mira Mesa, central San Diego, CA the technicians at San Diego PC Support are ready and willing to get your computer back into working order. Offering a multitude of services including Virus Removal, Spyware Removal and Data Recovery, San Diego PC Support’s fully trained and certified technicians can answer your questions over the phone, provide remote service to fix your computer, or come to your home to provide a complete repair solution.

The owners of San Diego PC Support take pride in the San Diego community and offer discounts to the Elderly and all of our service men and women in the Military. Local Marines at MCAS Miramar will enjoy a computer repair service located within minutes of the base, and can appreciate the fast turn around times provided. Free diagnostic services are provided with every operating system repair, providing the customer with a complete overview of their computers health including the state of their hard drive, video card, memory and motherboard. Please call today and ask about our current promotions at (619) 839-0190.

December 13 th

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Affordable Business IT Repairs La Jolla San Diego California (CA)

This article offers advice for finding affordable business IT repairs in La Jolla, a small town in San Diego, California.

Owning a small business in La Jolla, CA comes with many responsibilities. Who you choose to outsource your computer repair and technical support issues to can be quite overwhelming as there are many different IT companies, and you may not even know exactly what kind of technical support you need. Most computer technical support shops advertise their website as a place to go for information about various services available. Some computer support shops have 24-7 phone support and technicians who can answer your questions as part of your support package. Considering how many business IT support services that are available in La Jolla, San Diego, how is a small business owner supposed to determine who to use?

The following guidelines will help the small to medium sized business owner narrow down all of the possible computer repair and technical support options. Usually the best way to start out is to determine the type and amount of computer support your business will require. To do this, answer the questions below.

How many employees will require computer support? – The number of people in your company who will be relying on the support of your chosen business IT Company will be a huge factor in which company you chose. If your business is small, and only you and a few employees will ever need help, going with a smaller computer repair shop is a viable option. On the contrary, if you plan on expanding your business to 50+ employees, a small company will most likely not be able to handle the work load you provide. A low cost alternative for many businesses can be to use an online computer support company; however this option will lose the personalized feel of a local company. Also, there will be little to no accountability if your computer problems go unanswered when using an online support team. In general, most small businesses will at some time or another require onsite computer support, so be sure that the company you chose offers this option at a reasonable rate.

What industry are you in? – The industry that you are in will determine the technical level of support your business requires. Some industries rely on specific software packages in order to operate. If the company you use for IT support is not familiar with these particular software packages, they will have a hard time providing support for your business. Also, ask yourself these questions: How long could your business function properly without working computers? What technical support options do other companies in your same industry use? Don’t be afraid to find a recommendation from another similar company and go with their same company.

How often will your company requite support? – Are you somewhat computer literate? Will you have someone in-house that can handle minor computer issues? If you answered no to both of these questions, you will require a computer repair company to have a high level of involvement in your business. Finding a company that you can trust to access all of your businesses data on a daily or weekly basis will be an important factor. Also, when your business requires frequent technical support, the next category will be very important.

Cost – Everyone has a budget. Knowing what your business can afford to spend on outsourced business IT is key to being profitable. Again, if you require frequent computer service, you can expect to be paying a constant hourly rate with an hourly minimum. Most computer repair and technical support companies have a 1-2 hour minimum for each service, and charge an hourly rate between $80 and $120 per hour. Knowing the specific areas of support that are most important to you can allow you to make some cuts in areas you do not need, that way you can keep your computer support services within your financial means.

Choosing which computer repair company to outsource your IT needs to will take some time and effort on the part of the La Jolla business owner. By making the right choice you can expect to be more profitable through the minimization of computer down time and lower overall costs for computer maintenance. Along with this increased profitability, you can expect to experience less stress as a business owner because you will know that the technical level of your business is covered by a professional. This insurance can let you focus more on what is important to your business and less on computer related issues.

December 13 th

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Fast PC Repair In-Home Services La Jolla San Diego CA

Everybody wants fast PC repair and an in-home service in La Jolla, CA.

La Jolla is in the heart of San Diego California and has a population around 43,000 people. La Jolla also consists of about 7 miles of coast line which makes it a very desirable place to live and work. Most of the people who live in the La Jolla require there computer to work and be reliable. Many businesses in La Jolla count on their computers to be running at tip top shape so that they are able to eliminate any inefficiency in their business. They require a computer repair company that is not only smart, reliable and cheap but also someone who can get your computer up and running fast.

It can be very difficult to find a fast and reliable computer repair shop in La Jolla but it’s not impossible. Many computer repair companies require you to bring the computer to a shop for repair or charge you an arm and a leg for something to come out to your home or office. In order to get fast service in home support it crucial. Having to unhook a computer and bring it to a shop can be very cumbersome and may not even show the same problems as you had at your home or business. An in home technician can diagnose your problem with all the equipment you normal have hooked up. These added benefits insure that your computer not only works at a computer repair shop but at your business or home.

Many computer repair companies offer in home service but only have appointments weeks out. La Jolla residences require there computer to be running at all time and a week turnaround time is unacceptable. In order to find a Fast and reliable computer technician one must do there due diligence when doing their research. Not all companies deliver the same service for the same price. Some computer repair shops charge by the job while other charge by the hour. I have found that the best computer repair companies work by the job. Mean you know what you are going to pay before the technician starts working. Also in order to limit downtown a computer repair company should be able to have a technician come out within 24 hours of your phone call without charging you a rush fee. In addition make sure that the computer repair company is able to clear convey the computer problem to you and quote a price for this repair in write. Also work done by any shop should be in writing. You should receive something saying what they are doing and how much the repair is going to cost.

La Jolla is an up beat beach town that is always moving. Finding a good, fast, reliable and punctual computer Repair Company can be difficult but once you do that relationship last forever.

December 13 th

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Computer Repair Shop Poway San Diego California, CA.

We are a mobile computer repair shop in Poway, a town in San Diego, California.

Finding a good computer repair shop in the city of Poway, California can be challenging. Poway is a small city in the hills North East of San Diego that is home to many professionals and families alike. All of the residents in Poway will require computer repair at some point, so it is very important that a trustworthy, quality, computer repair shop is available to all. Many shops make you bring your computer in to be repaired; however in home support is often a more convenient option. With in home support, you never have to leave your home, and you will experience less wasted time during the repair. Stay at home moms will appreciate computer repair that comes to them, because packing up your computer and bringing it in to a repair shop can be cumbersome. Not only is carrying the computer a tough task, but unplugging all of the cables and getting them plugged back in to the computer in the right order can be a challenge. Working professionals often don’t have the time to spare to bring their computer in to a repair shop, so again a mobile computer repair company can be the best option. A shop who offers free pickup and delivery to your home and office is a great convenience. A certified computer repair technician will meet you at your office, in the lobby of your work, or anywhere you choose to discuss your repair options, have you fill out a computer release form, and take the computer away to be repaired. A few days later the computer will be dropped off, again at the location of your choice, repaired and ready to be used. Your total time expended to get the computer repaired is less than 10 minutes.

California is the leading state in computer use and computer development. The home of the Silicon Valley is also the home to the most computers in residential areas. Because of the design of the Windows operating system, and because hardware failures are quite common, computer repair is one of the most commonly required technical services. There are many options for computer repair, as many tech-savvy people realized recently that money can be made repairing computers and their operating systems. Unfortunately for the consumer, many of the computer repair technicians available on the internet are not certified professionals. These non-certified repair options can often lead to more computer problems down the road. Improper computer repair will always lead to future system failure. The only way to prevent future failures, data loss, and re-infection by computer viruses is to have your computer repaired by a certified professional. A real computer repair company will guarantee all of their repairs for at least 30 days. This is one of the easiest signs that a computer repair shop is legitimate. The benefits of using an experienced, legitimate repair shop may not be apparent immediately; however the shop you choose will vastly impact your computer’s health months after the repair is complete.

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