Facebook is not going to delete your data, nor will it start charging for it’s services

Lots of people have been fooled by a spate of recent newsfeed articles on Facebook stating that they will delete your photos, etc and also that Facebook will start charging for it’s services.

This is simply not true!

Laptop Repair In Milton Road Cambridge

Called out to a home laptop owner in Milton Road today, the laptop was running extremely slowly and was very noisy too! Cleaned the insides of the laptop, and set about checking the state of the hard drive. The hard drive was indicating imminent failure so replaced it with a solid state drive which improved the spreed of the laptop no end! Checked for viruses, found a few but nothing malicious and removed them. Ensured that all of the latest Windows Updates were installed and updated any other applications and software which needed it. Clean up temporary files and the laptop was good to go!

Reviving A Slow Computer In Cherry Hinton, Cambridge

I was called to an address in Cherry Hinton to resolve an issue with a Windows 7 computer that had become very slow and becoming unresponsive when using Internet Explorer to view web pages.

New Computer Setup & Data Transfer In Cambridge City

This week I was at a customer’s house in the middle of Cambridge city to set up his new computer and transfer his documents, photos, music, emails, etc.

I originally got the call from this previous customer who required a new computer. So I put together a quote for a decent quality computer and monitor from a local supplier. The computer had both SSD (solid state drive) and traditional spinning platter hard drive. The SSD was specified for the main system drive for speed, as they are many times faster than the traditional hard drives currently available.

Once the machine had arrived, I safely copied the user data across (documents, photos, emails, videos and music), and then set about copying the email client’s (Mozilla Thunderbird) data across, configuring the email accounts and then tested emails both incoming and outgoing. Various software packages were installed: anti-virus, Microsoft Office, accounting software, etc.

Next, the printers were installed and tested for both printing and scanning. Then checked with the customer to make sure  that no software was missed.

The result, a much faster computer running Windows 7, and a very happy customer 🙂

Reviving A Six Year Old Desktop Computer With Failing Hard Drive

This week I was called out to a customer in Hadstock, near Linton, their HP desktop computer was exhibiting some rather strange behaviour. It would take an age to boot up and then Internet Explorer would refuse to display any web pages.

I booted the computer from my special diagnostics USB memory stick and checked the state of the hard drive. Sure enough, the hard drive showed as failing with a fair few bad sectors.

After discussion with the customer, I took the computer back to the workshop and cloned the entire hard drive on to a new one. After booting the new hard drive, I checked the system out and checked that all the Windows system files were in order. The computer was running a lot happier after this.

The filesystem was then purged of all unnecessary temporary files, and a suite of malware detection and removal tools was used to remove about twenty or so viruses.

The computer was running BT’s version of McAfee, which in my experience is not the most effective anti-virus, so it was removed and cleaned from the system. Then, my recommended anti-virus software was installed and configured.

The computer was then taken back to the customer, plugged in, and the Internet connection and printer tested to ensure that all was well.

Laptop Computer & Notebook Computer Care

By following these guidelines, your laptop or notebook computer will not only last longer, but also work more efficiently

Always place your laptop on a flat, stable surface. Do not place it on top of stacks of paper, desk calendars, upholstery, or anything that is an insulator.

When your using your laptop, do so in a place that has constant air-circulation.

Keep your laptop away from the edges of desks . Be cautious about leaving the laptop unattended where it could easily be knocked onto the floor, sat on, or stepped on.

Don’t drop your laptop. Dropping, jostling, or bumping the laptop will damage the hard drive and risk both physical damage as well as loss of data and an expensive repair bill.

Before moving your computer, be sure to remove any media, turn off attached devices, and disconnect cords and cables.

Always hold the laptop with two hands at the bottom, never by the screen.

Handle any removable drives with care, including CDs, DVDs and flash drives. Insert drives into their slots carefully and at the correct angle. Pushing the wrong drive into a socket, or at an angle, or even upside down, can jam it and damage the laptop.

To keep your screen in good shape, stay away from it – i.e. do NOT poke it with your finger – or even worse, with a pen or pencil. If you want to show something on the screen to someone else, point “from a distance” or use your mouse and cursor to point to the item of interest.

Never twist the screen on its hinges. Your computer display is designed to be opened and used at an angle slightly greater than 90 degrees. Do not open the laptop display beyond the limit of the hinge.

Never close the laptop’s lid with an object left on the keyboard. Don’t slam the lid down.

Keep food and drinks away from your laptop. Do not eat or drink over your laptop.

At least once a week, make it a point to back up your data. If critical data is present, it is a good idea to perform a daily backup. Downloaded software and screensavers often cause conflicts and use valuable memory.

Never leave your laptop in a hot car.

 

 

Why Should I Backup My Computer?

Even though you may have a decent anti-virus program installed, it is still necessary to backup your personal data, such as documents, photos, music and emails. A lightning strike, power surge or hardware failure could wipe out your personal data with no hope for getting it back.

Backing up your data and files can help you avert this situation. It is simply the act of making a copy of your data and files and then storing the copy in a safe place. If you do this regularly you will then be able to retrieve your data.

This can all be achieved in various ways, either an external hard disk, a USB memory stick, CD/DVD or in the cloud.

 

Internet Safety Advice from Cambridge PC Support

Why is it necessary to stay safe online?
Nearly all of us connected via our computers, laptops, tablets or mobile phones. The internet is a very valuable source of information, entertainment and for keeping in touch. But you could also be at risk of abuse or illegal activity. This could be bullying or fraud or something more serious. People on the Internet aren’t always what they first seem.

Just like in the offline or real-world, it is important to learn how to stay safe on the Internet.

Some Essential Rules

Don’t send photos of yourself to anyone, especially pictures that are indecent.
Don’t give out any personal information ie your phone number or address.
Don’t open any emails containing attachments from people who you don’t know.
Be wary of online friends that you don’t actually know in real life.
Never meet up with someone in person who you have only ever met online

Risks

You have a lot of freedom on the Internet, and this can leads some people to behave in ways that they would not normally behave in public. They may post statuses that they would never say face-to-face. Or they may give out personal information about other people or themselves that would usually keep private.

Identity Theft

The more personal information you have online, the bigger the risk of identity theft. Where possible, you should keep your personal information to yourself. This includes your email address, phone number, postal address, banking information and photos. You should be aware of the risks of identity theft and fraud. If someone steals your identity then they can commit crimes that may put you in danger or steal money.

Other Advice

Spam is unsolicited bulk emails, this is especially true of advertising. Do not respond to spam emails, you may get ripped off.

Phishing emails are used to acquire sensitive information from you, such as usernames, passwords and bank card details.

Viruses are programs that may be harmful to your computer. These are also known as Adware, Malware, Spyware and Trojan Horses. Ensure that you have adequate anti-virus protection that is kept up to date.

 

What happens to your PC in the Computer Repair Shop?

Have you ever wondered what would happen to your PC in the local computer repair shop? Do you know who will be accessing your precious data, your family documents, photos, etc?

We’ve been cleared by the CRB (Criminal Records Bureau, now DBS, Disclosure Barring Service) and we also are registered with the Data Protection Act.

You can rest assured that the only interest we have in your personal data is that you keep it and don’t lose it!

We are fully insured for both Public Liability and Professional Indemnity. So you can be safe in the knowledge that when your computer or laptop is being repaired or serviced by us, that it’s being carried out by a professional.

 

Computer Virus Removal in Cambridge

We remove all and any computer viruses from your computer. We have many years of experience and the specialist tools to complete a full and effective computer virus removal. We use our custom manual virus removal techniques as well as using the latest specialized removal tools to ensure that your computer is virus free!

Computer Services in Cambridge

Cambridge PC Support provide all the computer services you need to keep your computer running smoothly. We cover Cambridge, Newmarket and all the surrounding areas. Including Trumpington, Histon, Impington, Milton, Great Shelford and Fulbourn.

Computer Repairs Cambridge

If you’re looking for the best computer repairs in Cambridge, then you’ve come to the right place! Cambridge PC Support offer the best computer service and a very fast turnaround!
Call us now on 01223 813344 or 07899075100

Your Computer – Repair Or Replace?

You may sometimes ask yourself if you should repair or replace your computer. Firstly, you must think about how your computer has served your in the past. Has it been reliable or not? A computer that has been unreliable may be less worthwhile of an investment. But a computer that has performed well and just become slow over the years would probably be more worthwhile to repair.

How old is your computer? If it’s more than 7 years old then it may not be worth repairing. Or if it’s running the now defunct Windows XP then it would be worth considering a new system. If it’s less than 7 years old then a repair would probably be worth doing. The less it has been used over the years, the more viable it may be for use into the future.

Does the system suit your needs? With a laptop, if it’s too large or the keyboard is too small then an upgrade may be worth considering. Also, with laptops the battery life may be quite short, but a new battery can be purchased for less than £50.

What kind of applications do you use? If you’re looking to upgrade your applications, then you need to ensure that your old system can cope with the extra demands that these may require.

Your computer is a long-term investment and may be one that changes over the years.

Replacement Start Menu For Windows 8

Cambridge PC Support recommends the Classic Shell Start Menu for Windows 8.

If you’re fed up with click the start button in Windows 8 and being presented with a screen full of Fisher-Price primary colour squares to access your programs, then try the Classic Shell Start Menu. It makes Windows 8 that little bit more like Windows XP/Vista/7 once again!

It gives you convenient access to your programs, documents, pictures, etc.

If you fancy giving it a try, go to:

 Classic Shell

Cambridge PC Support