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Archive for the ‘How To DIY’ Category

Use MagicYellow for Finding Computer Repair Companies

Sunday, November 1st, 2009

Go to MagicYellow.com to  find Computer Repair Companies in the Los Angeles Area. They are an online directory with tons of listings. Find the service you need nearest you.

Laptop Problems That Users Must Be Aware Of

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

Your new laptop may be at risk, and you have to protect it against the many dangers out there that may cut its lifespan short: soda or coffee spills, moisture building up inside the casing, and impact from being dropped, among others. The portability that makes your computer so convenient is also what puts it at risk from all these.
Laptop Spill
Now, just because your comp is portable, that doesn’t mean it’s made to withstand a lot of abuse from being moved around and used in different conditions. It still has parts that experience not only wear and tear from continuous use, but from threats that you can avoid to keep them in running condition.

First off, avoid using your laptop near liquids, especially very hot or very cold ones. High temperature liquids may be steaming, and some of that steam may find its way into your comp’s casing. It’s the same deal with very cold beverages: it may cause condensation. Be especially wary of sodas: these drinks are pretty toxic to your portable if you manage to get any on it. Sodas are especially destructive: they’re acidic, which may corrode connections, and even when they dry, they leave a sticky residue, which attracts dust.

While we’re talking about condensation, the weather is another factor that can affect the lifespan of your laptop. In regions with high humidity, like Florida or Los Angeles, moisture is especially hard to keep out of your laptop. Take precautionary measures by ising a moisture-proof case and wiping down your comp if you see “sweat” on its surface. If you take it from a very cold area (like your office) to a very hot and high-humidity one, it may fog up with condensation. Wait for your comp to dry before using it to avoid a shorted circuit.

The hard drive of your laptop can also be damaged from wear and tear- when it’s turned on, it spins up. Moving it around while it’s on can cause your hard drive to crash- if you can’t turn off your comp before putting it away and moving it around, at least put it in sleep mode, or even better, in hibernate. In these modes, the hard drive is powered down, and is safe from damage from excessive motion.

Finally, don’t use your laptop in bed and then leave it there. The bed and the pillows and sheets can prevent heat from being vented out of the sides and bottom. This increased temperature can cause permanent damage to the silicon chips in your computer.

A laptop might not be as durable as you think. While they were designed to be used in most places, they still have some components that are sensitive to things like liquid and moisture, and humidity in places like Los Angeles or Florida. Also, improper handling of the computer without shutting it down and overheating it can cause serious reductions in its lifespan.

How to Unblock a Blocked Caller ID

Friday, February 20th, 2009

How to Unblock a Blocked Caller ID

Have you ever received a call from a private number and wish that you could find out who was calling before you answered? It’s always frustrating when you are waiting for an important call and when the phone finally rings; it’s an automated message telling you your warranty on your car has expired. It would be so much easier if you could just unblock those unknown caller ID’s.

Well now you can with a service from trapcall.com. The setup is as simple as entering your cell phone number, selecting your service provider, and entering a string of numbers into your phone. Once it’s setup you can start unblocking blocked caller ID’s.

The way that it works is simple:

  1. Someone calls you from a blocked number.
  2. You cancel the call. (The call is then forwarded to trapcall to unblock the id)
  3. The call then shows up unblocked. Now you can see who is calling. (If you cancel the call again, the call goes to voicemail.)

So how much will this power to know cost you? Trapcall offers basic unblocking service for free. They also have paid services which allow you record incoming calls, transcribe your voicemail messages, and block unwanted callers.

Use this service wisely. It does what it claims to do. It would also be a good idea to check to see whether you phone service provider charges for call forwarding.

How to Choose Default RSS Reader on Mac

Wednesday, January 14th, 2009

To choose the default RSS Reader on OS X, just open Safari, on the menubar, choose Safari>Preferences>RSS tab, then choose your preferred “Default RSS Reader” from the drop down list.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Sunday, January 11th, 2009

Q: My Blackberry isn’t receiving emails from my personal and work email accounts. Can you help figure out what the problem is?

A: Definitely. We work with Blackberry, Palm Treos and almost any smartphone or PDA you may have. Most of the time, the problem is caused by not having the proper information for the mail server or not using the proper username or password.

Q: We had a power outage over the weekend and our server got turned off. Will that affect our data?
A: If you have a UPS, uninterruptible power supply, and backup regularly, then you don’t have anything to worry about. Lots of times, computers get messed up when power is brought back from an outage and a spike in electricity is transferred to the delicate circuitry on the computer. If you have the proper protection, the computer should just turn back on as usual.

Q: One of our workstation computers at the office can’t find the server. Can you see why the other computers can connect, but this one cannot?
A: Some of the more common issues with a computer not being able to connect have to do with firewalls, firewalls that the user didn’t even know existed, incorrect workgroup settings in Windows XP or Vista, network cable problems, wireless network connectivity issues or incorrect permissions. This would be something we would need to diagnose and troubleshoot on-site.

Q: I accidentally pressed a button and deleted some important data. I tried to undo but that didn’t do anything. Is there a way to get some of that data back?
A: It depends on whether the data has been overwritten or not. The best thing to do is to call you technician as soon as possible to prevent the data from being overwritten therefore increasing the likelihood of successful retrieval. Some data must be restore with the actual application. It really depends on the particular case. Remember to always backup regularly to recover deleted files. Also make sure to save often when writing new documents. I would make sure that autosave is turned on also.

Best Computer Setup for Speed, Security and Stability

Tuesday, October 21st, 2008

What hardware and software does the computer savvy elite have that the ordinary person does not and why? Many computer geniuses know what is important when it comes to computer setups. We can’t always afford everything we want, but there are some things that are close to necessary if you want to get the most out of technology. Here’s an overview of some hardware, software and services that will get you started in finding your inner genius with the help of technology, without having to be a technical geek or guru.

You need a computer that can keep up with you. If your computer is too slow and it discourages you from using it, then you need to either upgrade or optimize your system. In many cases, removing unnecessary start-up programs, upgrading ram, and removing viruses can make a big difference without having to swap out your entire computer.

Security is extremely important if you’re doing anything even remotely private such as online banking, writing your next best selling book, or even email. Anytime you type in your password, you should feel confident that no one else will be able to retrieve it. This requires an updated security suite. So many new viruses are made each day, that we would recommend having a computer service company that can change your security software based on current threats. E-Geniuses offers Monthly Maintenance Plans specifically for that reason. We can service clients anywhere in the world as long as they have a high-speed internet connection.

Most people are aware of advantages of a high-speed internet connection. With the prices of DSL nowadays, no one should be paying for a dial-up connection.

Backup, backup and backup! The two types of backups that we always recommend are backups of your software, operating system and priceless data (pictures, movies, music, documents). This requires an extra hard drive or an online backup storage solution. These backups should be automatic. A flash drive is not sufficient for this purpose since it has a limited life span.

The second type of backup is a battery backup also called a UPS. The purpose of a battery backup is to protect your computer from electrical issues caused by fluctuations. This is one of the most common causes of computer hardware failure and can easily be prevented with a UPS.

Of course the proper peripheral devices are important for functionality. Devices that fit into this category are scanners, printers, wireless routers, comfort keyboards and mice, and web cams.

Software is crucial to being able to do what you want to do. Every computer user has specific uses for their computer and it differs from user to user. Computer software programs need to be installed to facilitate those needs. Let your computer service technician know what you want to be able to do, and they should be able to find the right software to get the job done. Many times, the software is available for free.

Every computer user needs to feel comfortable with the software on their computer. They should feel familiar enough so that the computer doesn’t get in the way of what they really intend to do. The computer experience should almost be transparent. Tutoring is recommended for anyone who wants to get the most out of their computer. One-on-one tutoring is going to be more effective than computer classes because you can learn the software specific to what you want to do. E-Geniuses offers One-on-One Tutoring Services for existing clients. Feel free to contact us and see how we can get you on the right track.

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