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PCs are incredibly complex. A lot of things can go wrong with your PC.
In the first instance the internet is the best source for
information, fixes etc... However you will often find that
spoof websites and inaccurate solutions may cause more harm
than good. Always check out several solutions before you
delve into your PC or your operating system.
Some General FAQs...
1. Can I
upgrade my PC without affecting the
warranty?
A
bit of a difficult
one to answer... Some manufacturers like Mesh and Acer will have
placed a warranty seal across the back of your PC's case and
side panel. If you remove this your warranty is voided.
This has been the subject of much debate (try to 'Google'
this
and you will see many discussions on the
subject.) If you upgrade your own base unit within the
warranty period and something goes wrong this might also
invalidate your warranty. If you are in any doubt
please contact us – we perform upgrades for our customers at
favourable rates.
2.
Is my machine ‘future proof’ - how can I get the maximum speed
from my PC?
Nothing is future
proof, but for most PCs the following upgrades are
possible...
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Generally speaking memory can be upgraded to a max of 2, 4 or 8Gb -
depending upon your PC's mainboard |
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If
an integrated graphics adaptor has been supplied then the
onboard graphics accelerator can be disabled and a
separate graphics adaptor can be installed |
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Be careful not to exceed the wattage that your power
supply can handle or your PC will not boot up |
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See '1'
above ! |
3.
How do I protect my PC from virus / spyware damage?
See the page on
security
4.
What happens if I upgrade the PC’s drivers or install a Windows
update?
You are responsible for any software modifications – and there is no reason why you should not
do this, however we reserve the right to charge for
re-installation of any system software if you encounter problems
after adding or upgrading software. Please note that you should be
able to create a restore point prior to upgrading your software. In the event of problems you may be able to 'turn back the
clock' to your restore point if you encounter a software failure.
5. Can I connect this computer to a network or to other computers?
Yes. Connection to a local area network requires either a
network crossover cable, a broadband router or a network hub
and additional cables. Networking can also be set up easily via
Homeplugs. This will enable file transfer, printer sharing and ‘peer to peer’
gaming. We can arrange to do this for you if you are not
comfortable with the process.
6.
I'm new to computing - what can I do to improve my I.T. skills?
Why not get yourself onto a 'LearnDirect' course - these courses offer
easy to follow training which can be done either from home or at your local 'LearnDirect'
centre. And make sure you get a good book on the subject...
Is this the biggest
Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) of all time?
At one of
Toronto's The Bay department store locations four giant
screens have suffered from the infamous Blue Screen of Death
for days. You'd think that someone would - err - turn off
the screens! Oh hum...
Some
'Best Practices' To Keep Your PC Healthy
The
following
articles have been written following the experiences of some of our customers
(and ourselves) to help keep your computer in the best of health.
1. Ensure
your Windows software is up to date…
Due to new ways that virus hackers are finding
their way into your PC we strongly recommend that you allow Microsoft to update
your version of Windows. Two easy ways to do this are:
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When
prompted click on the Windows Update balloon message and let the computer take over, or
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From
Internet Explorer click on Tools followed by Windows Update |
You
must be connected to the Internet to allow this function to work. Also
depending on the number of updates require you should allow approximately 30 to 60 minutes for this operation to complete.
2. Ensure
your anti-virus software is up to date…
To
keep your PC virus free most anti-virus software can be updated with the latest
virus protection data when you access the Internet.
You can often schedule a regular time to download the latest virus updates or
select a specific time.
3. Make sure you can get back to where you started…
Scenario:
You are thinking of loading some new software onto your PC but worried
that it might damage your computer, here’s what you should you do to minimise
damage to your PC…
If
you are running Windows XP™ or Vista™ you can create a System Restore Point to ensure
that you can ‘roll back’ to how your computer was prior to installing your
new software.
4. System Restore
System Restore
lets you set your computer back to a time when it was
working without incident. System Restore takes a snapshot of
your computer's configurations, files and settings. It then tightly
compresses this snapshot and stores it on your hard disk, creating a restore
point that you can revert to in times of computer crisis.
System Restore does NOT affect your data.
To set up a System Restore Point
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Click
the Start button.
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Point
to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools,
(Vista users can type
'restore' into the start menu search box) |
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Click
System Restore.
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Choose
Create a restore point, and then click Next.
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In
the Restore point description box, type a name for your restore point |
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Click
Next & then click OK.
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5. “My
software installation went wrong – what can I do…”
Once
you have restore points configured, it's easy to revert to them. Don't worry
about losing information in recent documents or e-mail messages, as System
Restore doesn't alter your personal files. You also have the option of reversing
any changes that System Restore makes to your computer.
To
restore your computer settings from an earlier time:
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Click the
Start button
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Point to
Programs,
point to Accessories, point to System Tools (Vista users type 'restore' into
the start menu search box) |
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Click
System Restore
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Choose
Restore my
computer to an earlier time, and then click Next
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Click a day on the
calendar, check and click the restore point description, then Click Next
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Make sure you have closed
all your files and open programs
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Click
OK to close
the dialog box and then click Next |
Your
system will revert to its previous settings, your time will return to its usual
dimensions, and you can go full speed ahead.
6. Adding new hardware, such as a camera - to your system…
One
of Windows’s best features is its compatibility with multimedia devices.
But even Windows has its limits.
To ensure that you have an event free time installing your new hardware
device please consider the following:
Make sure your device will work with
the operating system you are using - you can do some research on the Internet to
ensure your new device is ‘up
to scratch’ before you have purchased the article. DO NOT PLUG IN YOUR DEVICE
UNTIL YOUR DEVICE SOFTWARE IS LOADED
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Ensure
you have set a restore point (see previous article)
if you haven't done already, set a restore point -
do it now! |
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Quit any
open programs that may be running
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Ensure
you have the disk that came with your device to hand
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Install
the device's software and drivers
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Plug in
your new device |
Normally you will be invited to plug in
your device during software installation.
Remember
if it all goes wrong you can still restore your PC to a
restore point.
7. Back Up Your Data Regularly
Loosing
all of your data is the probably the most important contingency you should plan
for.
To minimise the damage you should back up your data files on a regular
basis.
See our page discussing security.
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