| SERVICE RELATED |
• What should I do to prepare my computer for servicing?
• Where can I find information about my computer?
• What basic functions can I perform to help the technician? |
| COMPUTER TIPS |
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• Tip 1: How do I quickly access my frequently run programs?
• Tip 2: How do I print quickly without having to change printers all the time?
• Tip 3: How can I be sure all my files are backed up securely?
• Tip 4: How do I protect my desktop computer from a power outage?
• Tip 5: How do I add security to my wireless network?
• Tip 6: What computer components can I upgrade myself?
• Tip 7: What are some quick shortcut keys I can use in Windows? |
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| Q: |
HOW SHOULD I
PREPARE FOR THE SERVICING OF MY COMPUTER? |
| A: |
You will need to have your PC password ready for the technician. If you are requesting assistance for a network issue, you will also need to note down the network information. (passphrase, SSID, type of security) To save time (and money!) you can also prepare a list with basic information of your computer. To do this left-click on the Start Menu button at the bottom left, on the right-hand side right-click on "My Computer" and left-click on "Properties". Print or note the information that appears on the screen. |
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| Q: |
WHAT
COMPONENTS ARE ON MY COMPUTER? |
| A: |
To find out what devices are installed on your computer you will need to left-click on the Start Menu at the bottom left of your screen, and left-click on Devices and Printers. ((Windows Vista and Windows7) This will show you all the hardware that is attached to the computer such as printers, webcams, wired or wireless mice and/or keyboard as well as USB flash drives. (Virtually anything connected to your USB connectors) You can also find out what type of software is installed on your computer by again left-clicking on the Start Menu button, left-clicking the Control Panel and left-clicking on Programs and Features. (Windows Vista and Windows7)
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| Q: |
WHAT
BASIC FUNCTIONS SHOULD I CHECK BEFORE CALLING A TECHNICIAN? |
| A: |
In order to same time and money, it is recommended that you try out a few things on the computer before calling the technician. The first task is to try re-booting the computer. If the problem is still there, try finding out if it is due to a recent change with the computer. (New software, new hardware) Try re-installing the software from the CD. Make sure you have the original CD with the product key, if applicable. If the problem is performance, check the amount of memory the system is using. You can do this by right-clicking on the toolbar at the bottom and selecting Start Task Manager. Select the tab Performance. Look at the percentage of memory used at the bottom of the window. If it is higher than 80% then you might need more memory, particularly if no programs are running at the time. Also check the CPU usage. If it is constantly above 80% then you might need to upgrade your computer. If in doubt, do not hesitate to call us on 0419 108 475.
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| TIP 1: |
HOW DO I QUICKLY ACCESS MY PROGRAMS? |
| A: |
Windows7 now comes with a very useful functionality which is the ability to pin a program to the taskbar. If the taskbar is not hidden, you will be able to see the program icon and click it, once, to launch the program. To do this find the icon of the program on the desktop and right-click the icon. Now select the option Pin to Taskbar. That's it! Your program will now be available in the taskbar when you need it. No need to show the desktop to access the program. |
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| TIP 2: |
HOW DO I SET A PRINTER TO PRINT BY DEFAULT? |
| A: |
It is sometimes useful to not have to choose the same printer within MS Word for instance. This can easily be done by setting your often used printer as a default printer. That way you can choose to hit the print icon and your document will immediately go to the default printer, if defined. To assign a printer as default printer, go to the Start Menu and left-click on Devices and Printers. (This is in Windows7. In other versions of Windows you will need to access the printers through the Control Panel. (See above on how to access the Control Panel) When in the Devices and Printer section, right-click on the printer you would like to set as the default printer and left-click on Set as Default Printer. Now each time you will be in an application and will want to print the current document, you will be shown the default printer first, thus saving you time finding the correct printer. |
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| TIP 3: |
HOW CAN I BACK UP MY FILES SECURELY? |
| A: |
Secure file backups require that you use either a pre-installed Windows backup or that you use a specialised purchased tool. The Windows backup does the trick for most of us. However, if your computer crashes you will only be able to restore what you have backed up on a separate device. The best option is to backup all your files through a software provider giving you the ability to securely back up your files offsite and allowing you to recover in case of a computer crash. Carbonite Backup does this well and it allows you to see what file has been backed up or not, a very useful feature. You can download the free 30-day trial by clicking here. The cost of Carbonite Backup is very low considering the peace of mind it provides: it will cost you less than AU$7 per month! So try it now to ensure you have a true offsite backup of your files. |
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| TIP 4: |
HOW DO I PROTECT MY COMPUTER AGAINST A POWER OUTAGE? |
| A: |
Whether you are in an area prone to power surges, spikes or even outages, as is often the case in rural Australia, you may want to have some sort of protection for your computer or any electronic device for that matter. I recently replaced a phone filter for my ADSL connection because it had not been protected and went through a power outage. For spikes, surges and outages, Computer Troubleshooters recommend getting a surge protector such as the PowerSmart line available from NPS. (Contact us at 0419 108 475 for more information and ordering) Having a good surge protector will prevent major problems, even disaster, on your computer. I have had customers losing a computer completely because of a power outage. Another way to protect your computer, particularly if you have critical data you want to protect, is to acquire a UPS or Uninterruptible Power Supply. A UPS will provide continual voltage during a power outage and will even shut down your computer cleanly if the power has not come back up after a certain time. Again please call us at 0419 108 475 to order or for more information. |
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| TIP 5: |
HOW DO I ADD SECURITY TO MY WIRELESS NETWORK? |
| A: |
When installing a home wireless network understand that there is no security setup by default. It is up to you to setup this security on your newly installed wireless router. Whatever the brand, the user documentation will tell you how to access the router's main page, which is where you will make all your changes. The first thing to do is to change the router page's default password. Each router has a specific IP address (this is what makes your connection unique on the internet) and that is how you access the router's main (web) page, through your web browser. Here are a few things you can do to further protect your home network:
• Change the default SSID: clearly do not leave it as Linksys or Netgear which are obvious names. Change it to something only you and/or your family will remember easily.
• Set the Broadcast SSID to no: that will prevent the name from being seen by an outsider.
• Add authentication: you will need to provide a password or passphrase. A good authentication is WPA2-PSK.
• Make sure encryption is turned on: usually WPA is used.
All of these options are available on your wireless router, in the Wireless section. Again, should you have any type of problem setting up your security, do not hesitate to call us on 0419 198 475
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| TIP 6: |
WHAT COMPUTER COMPONENTS CAN I UPGRADE MYSELF? |
| A: |
There are computer components that can be replaced by a non-professional user. These components are usually located in desktops. Changing a component in a laptop can prove challenging, even for an expert. The main component a user can change is the graphics card. These cards can easily be added to any computer. You will need to find out if you have the right slot in your computer. This information is usually found in the user manual. Graphics cards come in different varieties: PCI, PCI-E X1, PCI-E X16. You will need to make sure you select the right card for your computer. Installing the card is easy. Shut down the computer and open the cover. Locate the slot where you will be putting the card in. Make sure to ground yourself by touching the computer case while holding the card otherwise you might damage the sensitive electronic components of the card.
Adding a DVD drive is also pretty simple, provided you have the space available. Adding a hard drive may be a little more difficult since you will have to format the drive when you start up your computer. We do not recommend that you change the memory or the CPU in the machine since these are very sensitive components and you will need to find the right memory and CPU for your motherboard, which can also be a challenge. Do call us at 0419 108 475 if you need assistance with this activity. |
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| TIP 7: |
WHAT ARE SOME QUICK WINDOWS SHORTCUT KEYS? |
| A: |
Shortcuts can save you a lot of time. Here are just a few shortcuts you can use with Windows:
• Windows Key + L: this will lock your computer and show the login screen
• Windows Key + E: this will open My Computer.
• Windows Key + R: this will open the Run program option located in the Start Menu
• Windows Key + Break: this will display the System Properties (to find out about your system!)
• Ctrl + c: will copy whatever you have selected to the clipboard
• Ctrl + x: will cut the selected item
• Ctrl + v: will paste your selection to where your cursor is
• Ctrl + z: undoes the last action
• Ctrl + a: selects all documents
• Ctrl + n: opens a new document
• Ctrl + p: opens print options
• Ctrl + s: displays the Save dialog box
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