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Like your car, your computer makes a variety of sounds that indicate both normal operation and impending failure. Knowing the difference can help you make smart decisions about when to call a professional, and can even make diagnosis go faster.

Good Sound: Whirring Periodocally

When your hard drive is working, it will make a low whirring noise. Hard drives consist of one or more round platters that spin and a reader arm that moves across the surface of the disks. The motion of the disks will make some noise at start up and whenever you’re opening a large file or program.

Bad Sound: Ticking

While “ticking time bomb” might sound cliche, that’s exactly what a ticking computer is. Ticking is often caused by a misaligned reader arm or hard disk platter. Even a slight problem with either can cause the arm to come into contact with the delicate surface as it turns, causing permanent damage and eventual data loss.

Good Sound: Humming

The single greatest threat to your computer is heat. That’s why laptops and desktops employ a number of fans to draw heat away from delicate components. All these fans should make a soft humming sound for the entire time your computer is on. A suspicious silence could mean that the fans are not working and your system is at risk.

Bad Sound: Rattling or Grinding

Most hardware failure happens silently, but luckily fans are not so quiet on their way out. A rattling, grinding, or even a ticking sound could indicate a fan on it’s last legs. Replacing fans before they fail can save your expensive hardware from heat damage, so it’s important to get these sounds checked out right away. Sometimes a rattle or a tick can be caused by a foreign object getting caught in a fan, making it a very easy fix.

Good Sound: One Beep

New bios standards require that all systems issue a single “all clear” beep before starting the operating system. While this standard does not go into effect for a while, some systems have done this as a default since the mid 90’s. If your computer has always made a single beep at start up, it’s probably an “all clear” beep and nothing to worry about. If your system has never done this, that’s fine too.

Bad Sound: Beep Codes

If your machine is making multiple beep sound at start up, that’s another matter entirely. Beep codes are your computers only way to notify you of hardware failure if the operating system will not boot, and as a result manufacturers have developed complicated systems of beeps and lights to describe different problems. Multiple beeps, beeps with different lengths, and beeps with different tones all mean that your computer is trying to warn you about something. Even if you computer still seems to be working fine, beep codes need to be taken seriously. Your Geek Choice tech can interpret what your computer has to say, which can mean the difference between a quick fix and total system failure.

Sun Systems released an uncharacteristic emergency update today after a vital security flaw was discovered by a Google researcher last week. While the release notes don’t specifically mention the flaw, Java 6 Update 20 does correct the security hole.

The vulnerability in question is a “drive-by download” flaw, which allows websites to download files onto your computer just by visiting the site. This means that viruses, spyware, and malware could be downloaded and installed on your system without so much as a click from you. Such holes in security often bypass important safety features in anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall software.

Upgrading to Java 6 Update 20 is fast, free, and highly recommended. Several websites have already been created to take advantage of this flaw, and as long as you are using the older version of Java you are vulnerable.

To download the new version of Java, visit http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp and click the download button for JRE. Java Run Environment is the software required to run Java applications on your computer. The JRE button is located below the button to download JDK, which you do not need unless you are a developer of Java applets. You then can choose either the online or offline installer. After you start running the installer, you will be asked if you would like to install the Yahoo or Bing toolbar as well. This product is not necessary to run Java and isn’t recommended for most users, so make sure to uncheck that box before you proceed with the installation process unless it’s something you’re particularly interested in having on your browser.

If that seems a little complicated to you, or if you want to get your system checked out to make sure you haven’t already become a victim of one of these drive-by downloads, you can make an appointment with a Geek Choice technician today. We can clean out any malware on your system, get the new version of Java installed, and even check for important security patches for other programs that you may have missed.

I’ve felt the sting of lost data before, so when I found out that Geek Choice was offering Carbonite off-site data backup services I knew it was time to start backing up my data properly. Like many people I’ve promised myself over and over that I would start keeping backups of my data on flash drives or floppy disks, but I never kept up with the hassle of backing up every time I changed a file.With Carbonite, though, my data is safe even if my resolve wavers.

Carbonite is completely automated backup software. It runs in the background as I do my work. I’ve had it running for a while now and I haven’t had to even think about it since the initial backup finished. It just works. I can see it’s working with the small green and orange dots next to my files, showing me what’s backed up and what’s not. The thing that’s really got me impressed is the speed. While copying over folders full of images and other information, I can watch the green dots catch up with my progress in a matter of minutes.

Off-site backup is always the safest option for your data if you can manage it. I know that no matter what happens to my computer, my local network, or even my home that my data will be safe. Now I can have that piece of mind without trying to set up my own off-site backup or paying a fortune. And now that Geek Choice offers this great service, you can have it installed on your home computer or your entire business network by an expert technician. Safe, easy, and setup by a Geek you can trust – what more could you ask for in a data backup solution?

You may not want to worry about the risk of data loss, but the fact is that all hard drives deteriorate over time. If you don’t have proper backups of the information stored there, it could be gone forever in the blink of an eye. Even users who are well aware of this risk frequently don’t maintain up-to-date backups, which is why data recovery services exist.

If your hard drive has failed, there is one simple thing you can do to improve our chances of recovering all your data: turn the computer off. And leave it off. Every second that you leave your system on with a damaged hard drive destroys parts of your files.

If you need data from a CCTV system, it’s important to get that video quickly. Many CCTV systems write over old data after a certain number of days have passed, and that reduces your chances of recovering the files you need to almost nil. Even advanced clean rooms have a better chance of retrieving files from a hard drive that’s been smashed to bits than one that’s been overwritten.

It can be hard to tell when your hard drive is about to give out. The best way to protect yourself against data loss is to maintain good backups in the first place. If you don’t already have one in place, Geek Choice can help. Find out more about our data backup and recovery services on our main website, or by clicking either link in this post.

Just like your car, home, or anything else, computers can become run-down over time. With the lighting quick pace at which new technology becomes yesterday’s news, many of us never see the effects of time on our machines before they are relegated to the scrap heap. Unfortunately, this often leads users to neglect the physical needs of their machines, which can lead to hardware failure. With computer owners feeling the squeeze in this economy, it’s good to know that there are simple things we all can do to help increase the lifetime of our machines.

Overheating is one of the biggest problems for hardware, and one of the easier ones for users to reduce or prevent in the first place. Between the tiny moving parts and electrical currents running through everything, the inside of your computer can become very hot, and this can damage every piece of your system. The first thing to do is to monitor your computer’s temperature. If it feels hot to the touch (not just warm) or the temperature goes up significantly after it’s been running for a while, you may need to intervene. All computers have small fans to help disperse the heat generated inside the case; in a computer that’s overheating, these may be broken or just not powerful enough. You can replace these fans (heat sinks) yourself, or hire a professional tech. You can also reduce overheating issues by never pushing your machine past its published capabilities (overclocking) and making sure that the vents are unobstructed.

Another simple problem for users to resolve might come as a surprise: dust bunnies. Just as dust finds its way into the strangest places in your house, it also winds up inside your computer case where it can accumulate. While usually harmless, large piles of dust can damage moving parts or block the vents (leading to overheating). The best solution is to periodically open up the case of your computer and use “canned air” to blow away the dust inside. Remember, make sure that the computer is turned off and unplugged from the wall before you attempt to open it up to prevent damage to the hardware and yourself.

While keyboards and mice are fairly cheap components, it’s still wise not to waste money replacing them when you could just as easily keep them in working order for much longer. Keyboards are commonly damaged when food and other small items get stuck under the keys. To reduce the risk don’t eat at your desk, or put your keyboard out of reach when you do. Standard mice, with a ball built into the bottom to track movement, should be used on a clean surface such as a mouse pad. You should clean this off periodically and keep it away from food just as you would a keyboard. In the event that liquid spills on either item, unplug it immediately and allow it to dry completely before testing to see if it is still functional (this will reduce the risk of a short).

One of the best ways to protect the hardware in your machine is a little bit of an investment, but it literally can mean life or death for your computer. Instead of plugging directly into a wall socket or simple power strip, you can use a surge protector or a universal power supply to protect your components from power outages and spikes. These two issues cause a tremendous amount of hardware failure and data loss every year. It’s important to buy a universal power supply that has enough capacity to run your entire system in order to get the full benefit, so it may be wise to consult with a professional about your power needs if you choose that product. A surge protector will not provide the same protection against data loss in the event of a power outage, but is less expensive and provides needed protection for your hardware.

We know it can be difficult to keep on top of all the little chores associated with computer ownership, which is why Geek Choice offers preventative maintenance service in addition to computer repair. If you’d like to schedule an appointment for preventative maintenance in your home or office, or if you have questions about how to keep your computer in top condition, give us a call at 1-800-GEEK-HELP (433-5435) and talk to one of our techs.

You may have already heard about the colossal failure of Microsoft and Danger’s “cloud” system, resulting in the loss of roughly 800,000 T-Mobile users’ cell phone data. The unique method T-mobile employed to manage their customers data experienced a catastrophic failure on October 5th and while questions still loom as to how this could have occurred the take home lesson for all computer users is plain as day: always backup your data properly.

Sidekick data was not stored long term on the phone itself, unlike other cell phone models. Instead, data was uploaded to Microsoft/Danger’s cloud: a cluster of many computers sharing the load of data storage and computing power. Systems like this aren’t all that unusual, if you use gmail or flickr you’ve already got data stored in a cloud. When one computer in the cloud fails, usually there is minimal to no data loss. If many computers fail, or if the software connecting the computers has a problem, all the data could be lost forever.

Thankfully Microsoft had some backups of the Sidekick data and finally began restoring it to customer phones on October 20th, fifteen days after the initial loss of data. In the interim, literally thousands of blog posts, news articles and RSS feeds flooded the internet with bad press about T-Mobile and Microsoft. The criticism was completely justified as well, due to early concerns within Microsoft that the backup data had somehow been damaged or lost in the same incident that took down the cloud. The idea that a company with the kind of resources and expertise as Microsoft could have made such a rookie mistake of creating backups that were relying on the same resources or software as the cloud is unthinkable to tech pros.

The cost of this catastrophe is more than just data loss and bad press, the financial toll is still growing. Between users terminating contracts early (without the customary fee), $100 T-Mobile gift cards being offered to users whose data was lost, and pulling Sidekicks from shelves and online stores, the final cost could be somewhere in the millions.

Data recovery is a complicated and expensive process, and it’s not always successful. To keep your information safe, whether it’s tax records or photos of your children, you should always keep a secure backup. It’s a simple, inexpensive, and reliable step that can help prevent multi-million dollar disasters and private heartbreaks, but it must be done properly. Geek Choice techs are trained professionals who can help make sure that your backup solution is safe, even if your system fails. If you haven’t already, take the time to call about backing up your data today.

Virgin America has teamed up with Google to offer customers free in-flight WiFi between November 10th, 2009 and January 15th, 2010. If you get the opportunity to take advantage of this special offer from Virgin America, the security of your internet will probably be the last thing on your mind, but it shouldn’t be. Any time that your computer is connected to a public wireless network without proper precautions, you’re at risk.

When you’re on an open wireless network with other people, those other users can do more than just access the internet; they can get into your computer as well. Any information that you don’t have properly protected can be opened, copied, or even deleted from another computer without so much as a notification to you. It might seem a bit unlikely that someone would do something so drastic, but remember that you’re going to be on a plane for several hours with a bunch of other people who have nothing better to do than push boundaries. Depending on the quality of the in-flight movie, you might have a fellow passenger who thinks it’s more entertaining to watch you panic. (They exist, check out the NY Times article The Trolls Among Us if you can’t believe it.)

The good news is that you can do something about it. In addition to your standard firewall and anti-virus, there are several methods that our certified techs can use to secure your system and keep all of your private files private. Call today to set up an appointment with one of our techs, whether you’re hopping on a Virgin America flight or not.

That disgruntled kid in the seat next to you will just have to surf the free internet instead.

Not a day goes by that we don’t field a call from a frustrated user who’s swamped by pop-ups while browsing the internet, usually because of an easily avoidable error that’s often committed by those who otherwise think they’re responding as they should.

The scenario is normally as such: While browsing the web, a user will happen upon an unfamiliar site, clicking on a link that results in a number of pop-ups appearing. What many people do — including those who’re normally given to exercising caution when  navigating  the web — is close the pop-up as they would your standard window.  More often than not, this results in additional pop-ups.  Oftentimes, after being inundated with by even more pop-ups, the user is forced to restart their computer out of frustration.

The easiest means of addressing any instance of a pop-up of questionable origin can be summed up with three keys found on your keyboard:

CTRL – ALT – DELETE

By simultaneously pressing the keys above, you will bring up the Windows Security window, an invaluable menu of options that affords users an opportunity to select the Task Manager. After selecting Task Manager, you will be met with a window that includes several tabs. When dealing with pop-ups, the two Task Manager tabs that will be of most importance are Applications and Processes. Applications is more straightforward, listing the programs you have running, while Processes shows every “process” — the instructions associated with the programs running — linked to the application in question. What you should concern yourself with are those applications and processes related to your internet browser. Whether it’s Internet Explorer or Firefox, select the application and click on End Task. If the pop-ups remain, click on the Processes tab and click on End Process to close those processes related  to the internet browser you’re using.

This will end your immediate use of the internet browser, effectively removing the pop-ups.  Before doing so, make sure you’ve saved any data you’d like to retain (i.e. if you’re writing an email while the pop-ups appear).

Once this is completed, you can always use your internet browser immediately afterwards, but the pop-ups are almost guaranteed to return. The source of those pop-ups remain, in the form of malware that’s infected your computer.

Removing that malware is our job, and Geek Choice is here to assist you in its removal.

Schedule a visit today.