Is your computer running slowly?

You’ve done everything you can to clean it up, run optimizers to speed it up (pro tip: don’t run those; they don’t actually work), but it still just seems to drag.

Maybe you’ve heard that a newer version of your operating system promises to speed up your machine, but the prospect of upgrading seems like overkill (besides, you like your current OS!). 

So what can you do?

Perhaps try upgrading to an SSD! SSD stands for Solid State Disk, and it is a new kind of hard drive that runs with flash memory (like RAM) and is much faster than mechanical hard drives. The information stored on it is always in flux rather than planted across the hard drive in static spots, so it takes less time for the information to be found and used.

Solid State Drives have become increasingly cheaper over the years. Ones with 256GB of storage average to about $100 – $150 (and can often be found on sale for $80 – $100!) depending on the brand and the speed, so for those of you out there who don’t have a lot stored on your computer it can be an effective switch. For those of you with a lot of programs and files, this could be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for to get some spring cleaning done! 

If your computer is more than a few years old and still has its original hard drive, now is the time to consider replacing it before it goes bad. An SSD will breathe new life into your old machine and keep it running wonderfully for years to come. 

How do you roam the internet? Through a web browser of course!

But what is a web browser? It’s a program on your computer that either comes with it or that you can install that uses your wifi or data connection to download content from various .coms, .orgs, and more!

The three biggest browsers on the market are Chrome, Internet Explorer, and Firefox — but what exactly is the difference between them?

Internet Explorer is the best browser for people who simply like to check their email, Facebook, news sites, and so on. It comes integrated with Flash Player, and itself comes integrated into your brand-new Windows 8 PC, so it’s ready to go right out of the box. IE also protects your privacy by enabling the Do Not Track feature by default (DNT tells websites that you do not want them planting cookies on your browser that enable them to keep track of where you browse) and hosting a strong selection of security tools.

Firefox is similar to IE in its simple interface and robust privacy and security tools. Unlike IE, however, it also has a large pool of browser extensions and themes that allow you to customize your browser. It offers you the ability to sync your settings across all computers that you use Firefox on so that you can access your favorite websites, tabs, extensions, and more anywhere.

Chrome offers the same features as Firefox, including data syncing and customization, but also comes with integration into all of Google’s other services. Google Now notifications can show up on your desktop without any extra software. Google voice search works right from the Google search page. It’s super easy to upload your music to Play Music through the Chrome extension.

The one disadvantage to Chrome is that it doesn’t do as much for your privacy as the other two do. It hides the Do Not Track feature under advanced settings and also doesn’t enable it by default.

As for compatibility with other devices, Chrome is available on any device: Mac, PC, iPhone/iPad, and Android. It even supports older versions of Windows, dating back to Windows XP. Firefox offers the same support, with the exception of iPhone/iPad. IE only supports Windows 7, 8, and 8.1.

About every three years, Microsoft releases a newer version of its robust documenting software, Office. The latest version, Office 2013, sets out to be everything you need to keep your home, school, and business life organized and thriving.

What many may not know is that Office 2013 offers more than just software for your desktop (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, among others), but a whole slew of Office-online to help you stay on track no matter where you are or what you’re doing.

Office 365 is Microsoft’s new way of offering Office to businesses. You can buy one licence or five for a monthly fee/subscription, and in return you get access to the latest version of Office. Rather than paying a one-time fee for a static version of Office, 365 keeps you up-to-date whenever new upgrades are released.

Not on a PC or Mac? Office is available online at office.live.com. All you need is a computer, a tablet or a netbook with internet connection and your Microsoft account information. Your documents are saved automatically with every edit you make and can be accessed anywhere from your OneDrive storage.

Not near a computer at all? Office programs, like Word, Excel, and Powerpoint, are available as individual apps that can be downloaded on iPhones, iPads and Android devices. Like Office online, these apps connect to your Microsoft account so you can find and edit any document.

You can also easily share your documents with others, and even edit those documents at the same time! Sure beats endless emails back and forth trying to keep all the attachments and edits organized.

These days you can never be too careful…

You have been told clicking on the wrong thing can infect your computer with malware, but did you know it can also lead to a loss or theft of personal information? You probably did. Scams are no new thing. It’s only the types of scams we see that change.

Below is a list of common scams to be on the watch for.

1. Email scams. Often called ‘spam’ by email clients, email scams are phony letters that show up in your inbox (or at least, try to) that want you to click on a bad link, send money, or give your personal information. Scammers pretend to be from banks, FedEx, UPS, the IRS, distant family, the lottery… you name it.
2. Tech Support scams. These people will approach through the phone first, typically. They say they are from Microsoft or another company and tell you there’s something wrong with your computer. They get you to give them remote access, and then they infect your computer.  It’s only after you pay them that they (might) undo the damage and leave; but most likely, they leave their malware there in hopes that you will pay more down the road for their “removal services.”
3. Click bait.  These are “news stories” that promise gossip, secrets, and too-good-to-be-true offers. They lure you in with their headlines and get you when you click on their bad links. Sometimes they pretend to be error or software update messages; but you can tell they are fake because they appear in advertisement spots on websites.
4. Data breaches. Many crooks are going after the data stores large companies keep. There is little you as an individual can do to prevent data breaches, but you can take steps to protect your personal information should it get hacked. Keep track of where your money is going and don’t use the same username and password for every website.

Who here has ever found computer terms to be confusing? Let’s have a show of hands. Do you get lost when someone starts talking about RAMs and CPUs and other gobbledygook?

Well, no more! Below is a list of seven of the most common confusing computer terms. 

1. CPU. This acronym stands for Central Processing Unit. The CPU is like the brains of the computer. This is where programs are run.
2. Hard drive. This is the device inside the computer that stores your data. Many computer problems stem from the hard drive going bad or becoming too full.
3. RAM. Another common term is memory. This is what temporarily holds information from the hard drive to run programs. The more programs open at one time, the more RAM that is taken up. When there is not enough RAM available the computer runs programs more slowly. RAM is often confused for disk space. Disk space is the amount of permanent storage space available on the hard drive.
4. Thumb drive. Also known as a jump drive ormemory stick. These are little portable storage devices that plug into a computer via a USB port and are handy for backing up files.
5. Internet browser. This is the generic term for the program that allows you to access websites like google.com and msn.com. There are different browsers available from different companies, like Microsoft (Internet Explorer), Google (Chrome), and Mozilla (Firefox).
6. Search engine. This is a specific type of website that helps you find things you are searching for. Some popular search engines areGoogle, Yahoo, and Bing. Sometimes these search engines are set as the home page of an internet browser, but they should not be confused as the name of the browser itself.
7. Malware. Variations include spyware, junkware, and adware. These are tricky programs that worm their way into your computer through misleading ads or on the heels of programs you wanted to download. They can slow your computer down considerably and act as a conduit for viruses if not removed.

Are there other computer terms out there that confuse you? Tell us what they are, either by emailing us or leaving a comment on our blog!

It’s a brand new computer. Maybe it’s a one or two year old computer. Maybe it’s even older than that. Regardless, you’ve been taking good care of it. You back it up regularly, you watch where you click on websites, and you run regular virus and malware scans.

So why are some of your games crashing? Why won’t websites display properly? How come programs take forever to load?

What’s going on?

Chances are, your computer is in need of software updates.

Can you remember the last time you updated your computer? How many of those little icons for Java, Adobe Reader, Windows Update and more are sitting in the bottom right hand corner of your screen in the icon tray (or worse, are sitting out of sight behind that little upward facing arrow)?

Many people hit Remind Me Later when an update notification flashes on their screen, others ignore it, or have automatic updates turned off. This is not healthy for the computer; it leaves it vulnerable to security threats and viruses.

Another reason why people don’t update is because they’re not sure if the notification is legitimate or not. When in doubt, go to the source! For Windows Updates, click the start button or hit the Windows key on the keyboard, type Windows Update in the search box, and click on the Windows Update program. This will take you to the update center within Control Panel. Update your computer from there and you will be sure that you are downloading the right thing.

For other programs, like Java or Adobe Reader, go to their websites (java.com and adobe.com/reader) and download the program from there so that you will have the latest version.

So if you find your computer is running into bugs and issues, make sure you are keeping your software up to date! If that doesn’t fix your problem, then maybe investigate that your computer is clean and doesn’t have any malware hiding on it!

Welcome to a brand new year! It’s time to clean up, organize, and make room for new things! While you’re in the process of cleaning, you may find that you have a lot of old memories stored in old formats: home movies on film or VHS; music on vinyl, tape, or CD; family pictures in photo albums, on old phones, or on slides.

So what do you do with all that?

Why, you put those videos, songs, and pictures on your computer, tablet or portable player! (Or DVD/CD, if you prefer!)

VCRs are a rare commodity today, and you, like most people, probably have a shelf full of tapes you haven’t watched since your last VCR kicked the bucket. Maybe you have movies you want to share with loved ones: with children that are now grown, with relatives who live far away. Maybe you just want to watch an old tape of your favorite vacation.

Vinyl is making a comeback, but it doesn’t make music any more accessible. CD’s are great, but CD players (like VCRs) aren’t exactly commonplace any more (and tape players were already on their way out when CD players were in). If you have a smart phone or an mp3 player, you probably want your music there.

Photo albums can be a hassle to keep organized and keep track of, plus they take up so much space! Old cameras and camera phones aren’t doing your pictures any favors either. One day their batteries may go dead, or you may lose the SD card the pictures are on, and then what?

When something goes wrong with your computer, the first question you’re going to ask yourself is, “Is this worth fixing?” Is it worth fixing, or would it be better to buy a new machine? Is it worth fixing, or should it just be put up with? The lines between each of these decisions are blurry, and circumstances are usually what help you decide.

Example #1: The computer is running slowly.

When it’s worth fixing: When the slowness is due to dust clogging, too many programs installed/running, not enough memory, and malware. All of these issues can be resolved for a low cost, or even for free if you are able to take care of them yourself.

When it’s not worth fixing: When the slowness is due to the age of the computer. While you can upgrade the hardware, the software, and the OS, eventually you run the risk of spending more for upgrades than you would for a new PC.

Example #2: A part is broken (eg., the screen, the keyboard)

When it’s worth fixing: When the part can be found for sale at a reasonable price.

When it’s not worth fixing: When the part is for an old computer (especially an old Mac). Older computer parts are often no longer manufactured and thus are only available used from third party sources. They can be hard to come by and expensive (motherboards, especially).

Example #3: Software problems (eg., not booting, not installing, viruses)

When it’s worth fixing: Almost always. There are tons of scans out there that can remove a majority of viruses and junk programs. Even the worst problems can be solved by re-installing the operating system and re-installing all your software, etc.

When it’s not worth fixing: When you need to re-install Windows OS and don’t have the install CDs/product keys, because you will have to buy a new copy of the OS. In addition, if your computer programs are old, they will need to be upgraded to work on that new OS (which means, more money to spend).

In general, the worth of fixing the computer is dependent on the age of the computer: the newer it is, the harder you should try to fix it instead of buying a new one. If, however, you’re still not sure what to do about your computer problem, it never hurts to give a trusted tech support guy a call and ask for a second opinion!

WARNING: Dust May Be Killing Your Computer

Keeping your computer clean can mean many things. Most often, you probably think it means running virus scans and defragmenters to keep the hard drive clean from bad programming; but there is another component to keeping a computer clean, and that’s keeping the actual, physical computer clean!

Believe it or not, maintaining the hardware is just as important as maintaining the software when it comes to keeping your computer running well! One of the biggest enemies to your computer isn’t viruses, but dust bunnies. They get pulled into the computer through the fan and build up when the computer is not regularly opened up and cleaned out.

So what harm is a little bit of dust in the computer? Well, a lot. Especially when it builds up over months and months. The first sign of a dust clog is typically in the fan: it gets loud when the computer isn’t doing much or even when the computer is idle. The next sign is that the computer is hotter to the touch than usual. A laptop might burn your lap if you set it on your bare skin. A desktop might make you jump if you press your leg to it by mistake because of how warm it is.

After that, your computer performance will drop. Programs will run more slowly. Your computer may even shut down without warning due to overheating. If left in this condition for too long, components will cease functioning. Malfunctioning motherboards and memory will create problems and force the hard disk to crash. Eventually, the hard disk itself can become unusable, which means you face the risk of losing all of your important documents and files.

To avoid the risk of losing your important files and having to send your computer in for costly diagnoses and repairs, it’s important to schedule regular cleanings, whether you do them yourself or have somebody else do them for you. Cleaning the computer is nothing complicated: all you need is a can of compressed air to clear the dust out of the computer’s fan. Although, if you believe your computer has had such a buildup of dust that it is impacting your computer’s performance, it is better to take the computer apart and clean out the individual components. Doing this will save yourself a lot of trouble down the road, so make sure you check your computer regularly for dust build up!