Home PC SErvices

If you purchase some PC's that arn't standard, be prepared to pay through the back teeth when they break down.

Processors, lots of people think that the processor speed indicates the speed programs are loaded. Not true! The architecture of the motherboard and installed memory also play a big part.

Broadband Problems ?

Before calling an engineer do the following in the order written:
  Check with your service provider that the connection to you is up and running and there are no reasons for you not to be connected and that you have paid your bill.
  Switch off the computer.
  Disconnect all the connections to the router / modem and wait 1 minute before reconnecting.
  Connect in the following order all passive connections first, the telephone lead, the net cables (Cat 5) lastly the power cable, then turn on.
  Wait for a minute.
  Turn on the computer.
  When the PC is fully loaded try your connection again or the installation again.
  Call an engineer out to rectify if all the above fails. ( We suggest ourselves ). 

Laptops, should I buy? (Buyer beware)!

The truth about laptops is a little hard to swallow.
The advise is don't buy one unless you absolutely need one and nothing else will do!
  They devalue faster than any other computer probably as much as 30% in the first 3 months and another 10% more by the end of the first year!
  Then it devalues at about 15% per year after that!
  They cost around £150 + Vat to rectify nearly everytime when they break.
  Generally the only upgrades you can do is increase the memory size and the hard drive size.
  They are stolen every time you turn your back for a moment.
  The peripherals are more expensive than desktop PC,s.
  They are generally sitting in a service department for several weeks when you have sent them to be serviced.
  The screens are easily broken and very expensive to replace.
 

Laptops are fairly priced (£350) when they are slow. Lets face it, you wouldnt even think of buying a 1.8Mhz Desktop PC. So why do you continue to buy these slow Laptops? To have a fast Laptop PC you will need to spend around £1400 and still have all the negative aspects to deal with which are noted above. I don't think I have sold a desktop PC with a 1.8 Mhz processor for 4 years. The reason the laptops of around £350 are slow is due to heat disipersal in the main. To have a fast processor in such a small area means that heatsinks, usually made of copper are needed in abundence. The costs go up as new technology and good quality heatsinks are expensive to design into the laptops.
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Windows 7, Vista, XP, What You Need To-Do!

Windows 7, Vista & Xp has a restore program within its structure that allows you to reset the main system files to a previous time when the PC was fully serviceable. This program needs to be activated on a reasonably regular basis so that a "Creation" of the system files may be made. Only if a "Creation" has been made can a "Restore" be achieved. The program "Restore" also needs to be turned on. To check that it is turned on goto "Run" and insert the text "Restore" and press return. If the program is not on it needs to be turned on "See your help program to do this individually for your PC". We would advise that you certainly set a "Creation" whenever you install any hardware or software. The restore program is not a foolproof way of protecting your operating system however it is a very good aid as it restores to a point in time the main system files.

Printer Suggestion's

There is no doubt in our minds that Epson and Canon are the best printers at this present time and for many different reasons. The main reasons are down to the cost of the cartridges and running costs. We can supply Epson & Canon cartridges made by other manufacturers which are far cheaper than Epson's & Canons own brand reducing the costs even further. In our opinion when you compare these costs with manufacturers such as HP, Xerox and Lexmark there are reductions in the order of 80% savings to be made. Epson and Canon quality also have the others beat pound per pound making products that also offer the highest photographic quality. They also manufacture product that have individual ink colours making it cheaper for those people that use a lot of one ink colour and not others. Speed of printing is as good as the competition for the price and reliability is second to none in our opinion. We keep most Epson & Canon cartridges in stock.
My Printer has Broken?
Most printer problems are due to the following four problems:
1/ The first being the device driver has corrupted and needs to be re installed.
2/ The cartridges have run out of ink albeit they may not report that they have.
3/ The printer heads need cleaning especially if the printer hasn't been used for a while. (2 weeks)!
4/ The Parallel port needs to be reinstalled as it has become corrupted. Goto Control Panel + System + Goto Ports and delete the Printer Port + Close down PC and on start up a new port will be installed. Sometimes the operating system disk is required to re install the port.
Note/ If none of the above work you may well need an engineer.

Why secure your Password !

Has that hacker got a self seeking intrusion network searcher that can break into your PC as he drives by or even from his arm chair?
1/ They could find your PC's back door details that could allow them to access your PC remotely from their own PC or Laptop!
2/ They could obtain your credit card and personal details!
3/ They could obtain your banking details!
4/ They could obtain information about your friends and family!
5/ They could obtain your account information!
6/ They could read your e-mail // mail!
7/ They could plant a virus on your PC!
 It really is advisable to protect your PC not only for the reasons mentioned above but maybe many reasons more in your case. Passwords can be unsecured in time but it is always time that is the enemy of the thief.

Bang !  there goes my PC, Modem or Both !

Yes, you can blow your whole PC up if you do not have the protection of surge plugs and surge protectors. Once we installed 22 modems in the same street after a storm. It is fairly common to have to rectify PC's with hundreds of pounds worth of damage after a bad mains fluctuation or storm. When our engineer visits your home ask him about all the different surge protectors that he carries around with him on every call he makes. Most traders of PC's do not even make the effort to sell you a safe PC until after you have purchased a major item, most not even then. Would a salesperson say "You must consider you may loose all your data/programs" never sold a computer to anyone? One of the largest upsets is mains surges, especially dangerous if the mains fails for what ever reason and a surge of electricity of even a few amps can destroy a motherboard, hard drive, processor etc in a wink of an eye. Costing possibly hundreds of pounds to rectify, even if your PC is under guarantee you will find most suppliers give you a massive invoice. Whenever I visit any of my customers I always carry a Surge Protector units ranging from £6.

Complaints About Companies

It must be said that computer manufacturing companies that are well known have service and spare parts help which is worse than abysmal. Just ask them before you purchase for a new case for your proposed computer and see if they can supply it on the off chance you damaged it somehow. It once took me one and a half hours just to obtain a part number from H_. Then they would not supply it to us at all even though they are required by law to keep parts for 7 years. Then again who is going to take them to court.
We are often passed comments by our customers, mainly about the service aspect of certain companies. We often wonder why people do not generally consider this important enough to check up on the service aspect to some degree at least. One easy way would be to ask them for their technical support telephone number and do the following. 1/ Ascertain average answering time. 2/ Whether you can leave a message. 3/ If they reply within an acceptable time. 4/ Ask them what their average turn around time for servicing is. You may well be surprised especially if they tell you the truth. A good many of them take around 6 weeks. 5/ Ask them how they determine if you have a software or a hardware problem. (This is especially important as software problems will not be supported but determining which you may have is paramount to any companies offered service and even though under guarantee you may get a large bill).

Turning your PC off

It is advisable to always try to turn your PC off by going to Start / Shut Down. If you turn the PC off by switching either reset or turning off at the mains switch corruption is likely at some time. This could cost a great deal of money or time or both. If you are unable to switch off the PC by the aforementioned method try "CTRL / ALT / DELETE" and then Shut Down that way. We do not recommend under any circumstances using the "Reset" button as the hard drive spins for several minutes after switching a PC off and the reset button acts far to quickly. We would suggest leaving your PC for about 45 seconds after switching your PC off, before trying to restart.