Geek Choice Blog » Computer Repair

Windows 7 releasing Service Pack 1 on February 22.

Joseph Ruthaford — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:01:26 +0000

It just about that time for Microsoft to start doing what it does best, fixing issues with its operating system that didn’t have time to fix before they launched. Now don’t get me wrong, we also have some cool updates to go along with it but the service pack also provides fixes for your Windows 7 OS that you may need.
The update I am most excited about that comes along with SP1 is the Remote FX. What the Remote FX does is it provides 3D graphical updates. This will allow for full remote experiences including multiple displays. So the RemoteFX is able to do these renderings of the 3D graphics by locally rendering the screen image on the remote PC after being compressed and sent down to the remote host. This will help improve video streaming across remote sessions which right now is a major issue of virtualized computing.
Now that Windows 7 is over a year old it is about time for the SP1 to launch and I am actually very happy to see that they have added something as significant as RemoteFX. This will surely improve the experience of people who remote into desktops from home or work. Thank you Microsoft for adding a nice improvement to Windows 7 in SP1.

Recover From a Hang

Gregg — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 01:30:21 +0000

This scenario is played out everyday across the world: you’re working, surfing the internet or writing an email and your computer locks up, frozen.

This happens when the computer does not respond to the inputs, for instance when you are trying to move the mouse around to restart the system and nothing happens when you click on it. It is different from a crash, when the whole system shuts down. With hangs you have the ability to recover the by ending the task and restarting the program.

One main cause of hangs is called a deadlock, in which one process may send a signal to a second process then stop execution until it receives a response. If the second process is busy the signal will be forced to wait until the process can get to it. However, if the second process was busy sending a signal to the first process then both processes would wait forever for the other to respond to signals and never see the other’s signal.

Sometimes it is just one program that hangs, or it could be the whole screen, regardless there are ways to recover from it.

One of the first things you should try in attempting to recover from a lockup is ending the application which has caused the freeze. You can do this by using a native program called Task Manager. To bring the Task Manager up press CTRL then while holding CTRL,press and hold the ALT key, next reach over to the top right of your computer and press the DEL key. Once you release the keys a window should open giving you a view of running applications.

This tool has saved many a file and application, as well as the whole computer, giving us the ability to recover from what seems like a random occurrence.

Assuming Task Manager will open, check the list of applications for any programs that say “Not Responding” under “Status”. If Internet Explorer or any other applications you had open read “Not Responding”, then you may Right-Click on them and select “End Task” from the menu. This should close the running application, if you are prompted to “End Now” or “Wait for it to respond” choose to “End Now”. By doing this you may lose any work you had open in this application but it will normally allow you to save anything else that was open at the time of the freeze.

If Task Manager is not working for you and you have no other way of closing the frozen computer programs then you may try powering down the computer. The easiest way to do this when the computer is not responding is by holding the power button in for about ten to fifteen seconds. The machine will power down, if it does not your last resort is to physically unplug the computer from the wall. Once powered down you may turn it back on and resume working, hopefully problem free.

If you continue having problems with the laptop or computer you may want to call a computer repair technician. The technicians at Geek Choice know how to get in and get out leaving your computer feeling healthy again!

Brush that Dust off your PC

Gregg — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 03:30:22 +0000

You are finishing up a 10-page report for school or work when suddenly your computer shuts down on you. Frantically you throw your arms up in the air and yell at your computer because you forgot to save. You check and find the power is still working, power cords are plugged in correctly, and you know you just ran a virus check last night. So what could possibly have shut the computer down?

DUST!

Clumps of dust can nestle around your processor, cuddle up to your power supply and choke ventilation. Computers can become havens for dust and other natural-borne air pollutants when not properly cleaned.

Let’s start off with a brief explanation of how dust collects in and around your system. Static electricity. Yes, you can blame static electricity for attracting dust to your computer. Why? Well, when a computer is in operation it creates a field of static electricity which attracts dust particles in the surrounding environment. A CRT or LCD monitor also creates static electricity. In fact, if you put your forearm up the monitor screen you may feel the little hairs on your arm rise! This is a perfect example of the static field encompassing your monitor.

Not to worry though, you won’t have to spend hours on end cleaning your computer system to prevent hardware failures and loss of ventilation. If your computer is in a clean environment you shouldn’t have to clean it out more than three or four times a year! A clean environment in our opinion is one without tobacco smoke, large amounts of pet dander or outdoor pollutants (smog/road dirt/sand). If any of these conditions are present in the computer’s environment more frequent cleanings should be considered. Let’s discuss these conditions that affect the quality of a computer’s environment. Smoke; smoke can seep into the openings of your case and settle on your motherboard and other hardware. Smoke is also responsible for discoloring keyboards, mice, cases, screens and wires. Pet hair; this can be worse than dirt because of how much larger it is. Hair can easily block the ventilation of a computer system.

Note: If you notice any dirt inside one of the plug heads use a little compressed air to blow it out.

Case Cleaning:

This is where the dust goes at night to cuddle up with your processor. Dust is not your friend, it is not something to be laughed at, and it deserves respect. This is war ladies and gentlemen! Load up with some compressed air because you?re heading off to the frontlines! Actually, cleaning a computer case isn’t that difficult. In fact, the entire process won’t take more than about 20 or 25 minutes if the dust is really bad.

Turn off your computer.
Remove the side cover of the computer case, exposing the motherboard and other hardware components.
Inspect all cables and connections. Be sure to look for cables that are frayed, loose, pinched, snug or otherwise damaged. If you come across any cables that are damaged in any way or form you should immediately replace them. If a cable is frayed do not attempt to patch it up with electrical tape, this is very dangerous fix. We also advise that you replace snug cables with longer ones before it accidentally snaps.
Now its time to get out the compressed air. Shoot the canned air at everything in your computer. Pay special attention to the heatsink and fan on top of your processor. This area collects a lot of dust. Some other areas to focus on are add-on cards (audio/video/modem), case fans, hard disks, power supply and removable media drives (cd-rom). A vacuum may help suck out the dust while you knock it loose with the compressed air. Caution: Follow the directions on the back of compressed air! Do not spray hardware at close range! If you choose to use a vacuum, do not attempt to vacuum anything in your computer!!!
If you notice dust in the PCI and AGP slots of your motherboard it may be wise to remove each add-on card and shoot some compressed air into the slots to break away the dust.
If your case has an air filter remove it and run it through warm water to remove the dust. To dry it simply use a cloth (lint-free if possible) and gently dab away the excess water. Place the filter back into the case.
Replace the side cover of the computer, but check first that there aren’t any cables that are lying next to any fans. Fasten the cover and restore the power.

Now you are all set to use your computer without worrying about damaging the inside components and losing important data.

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Recover Your Broken Windows

Gregg — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 18:13:34 +0000

This message cannot be stressed enough: PC’s come with great technology and great risks, the former offers the user access to tons of information and the ability to run a company, manage finances, and reach amazing features. However, the latter puts all that ease and comfort on a tight-wire, balancing over the black abyss which all the saved programs and files will fall into if the user is not careful. This happens time and time again when the belief that “my system will never fail” is shattered and the person has to come to terms with either throwing the computer away or paying hundreds of dollars to fix it.

There is a way out. If your system is about to fall off or has already fell and needs to be repaired, Geek Choice Blog has the key to recovery.

What you will need:

External Hard Drive: these can be found at your nearest computer store, Staples, Best Buy, anywhere they sell computer electronics. This will allow you to copy all of your original files from your old hard drive. You will need this if you want to keep all your existing files, music, documents, and information.

Recovery Tool: can be found in your Windows computer, search for it on the Start Menu. If you cannot find it, then contact your manufacturer to see what can be done. Usually the recovery tool is a CD that came with your computer, if you still have them, take a look at those and see if it is there. This tool will enable you to reinstall Windows. If all else fails, try TotalRecovery, for $50 dollars you can have a fail-safe recovery tool.

The Process:

Launch the back-up tool that is on your computer, TotalRecovery, or any back-up tool you can find. Clone, or copy your hard drive to the external hard drive that is connected via USB. The external hard drive is easy to see on the “My Computer” screen as an external drive. Now you have what you need to reboot and reinstall.

Depending on whether your recovery tool is from Windows or is an external program, find the option that says “installation”. It usually is processed by a Wizard, no not from Harry Potter, but a step-by-step guide so you do not screw things up even more. Follow the Wizard to boot Windows in a safe environment.

After this is done, you will be asked what kind of Windows would you like to be installed. You want a fresh start right? There should be a “Custom” option, click that.

Run the Windows Update that is already on your computer, that way your computer will stay fresh. Next you will need to reinstall your drivers, these can be found with the discs that came with your computer. If you do not have them, use the ones you cloned or copied to the external hard drive. What usually is the case is that a back-up folder is created, so when you are ready to copy the old files to the newly cleaned hard drive, you can just click and drag them over to folders located in C:

When picking the right programs to install, choose the security options first. If you do not have any anti-virus software, go online and download Avast or AVG. Most of the programs will ask you to restart the computer to finish the installation. Do not wait, just do it. After your firewall and internet security is in place, go for the Windows basic programs to install.

After you have created a new Windows, and all the programs you want are installed, make sure you back it up! Use the same tool you used at the beginning to clone your new, fresh hard drive so that IF this problem comes up again, you will have this as a fall back plan.

Good Luck!

Printer Problems? Tips for Solving the Riddles

Gregg — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 04:41:10 +0000

That is just what a printer problem is, a riddle, a riddle that can only be solved if you know the exact answer to the issue blocking your document from being printed. Even if you figure out the problem and do what is required as said on the little LCD screen to fix it, the printer likes to mess with you and tell you that it is still not fixed. No wonder those Office Space guys took the printer out into the field with a baseball bat and unleashed all their resentment, smashing the machine that never worked right.

This topic is current because there is a printer problem every day in the United States, this is not a fact grounded in research, but rather an obvious statement. Printers seem to come equipped with a little guy inside of it, waiting for you to print out homework, or a research paper, or directions, who loves to disrupt your life. So here are some tips to help you beat the little guy inside and print without a problem. Yes, it is possible.

One reason for the problems with printers is that there is so many different types and models, all with their tweaks and twists making the solution clouded in confusing PDF’s and troubleshooting guides.

Printer Does Not Print: This is a common malfunction with printers, you are all done after working for days on a presentation and all you need to do is print it out. Caring freely you click on the print button, and you wait. About 10 seconds goes by, and in the technology world today that is equal to an hour, with nothing happening. What could be wrong? It could be that your printer is out of date, which in that case you need to update it to the current version. Most printer manufacturer’s have websites, you can go online and go to the support section then click on the model of your printer to download the newest driver. Or you can cut out the middle man and go to Windows Updates located in the All Programs from the Start Menu. Run that and follow the instructions. If that does not work, then call Geek Choice and we will gladly come to fix the problem for you.

Paper Jam: This is the worst of the printer problems, this nuisance of a headache that will not go away even when you clear the paper jam. There are many causes to a paper jam, such as something getting lodged in there like a paper clip or a piece of food, but whatever the cause be careful when trying to clear the jam. I tried doing this by ripping the paper out of the printer, frustration got the best of me, and ended up ruining my printer because I stripped the gear threads and now the feed is all messed up. When the paper gets jammed, breath in, calm down, and turn off the printer. Once it is unplugged it will be safe to go in and, according to the user manual, remove the paper yourself.

These two problems are the biggest for printers, nothing gives people more headaches than a printer that won’t print or once it does print, the paper gets stuck. Good luck trying to find a printer that is infallible to these issues!