Repairing Your Own Computer

                      REPAIR AT HOME

Computer repair is pricey and time-consuming. It's your responsibility as the owner of a desktop computer or laptop to ensure its healthy condition, well before a computer repair technician's costly services. Often problems occur due to carelessness and lack of insight about a computer's needs.

Once owners learn what not to do, and how some of their bad habits can lead to equipment failure, then computer repair trips are likely to boil down to a minimum. It's also important to know the steps that should be taken towards a smoother running computer. Here are a few key points to be mindful of, which will guarantee time and money is well spent.

1). The laptop power cord, or any cord for that matter should be treated with care. Often owners will ride over them with their chairs or accidentally step on them. Keep cords in a safe area, away from commotion. As well, laptop cords are often folded improperly and then hurriedly stuffed into a bag. Make sure you properly fold your cord and secure it nicely to avoid damage. The cord is not as sturdy as you might think. When taking the cord out of the power socket, instead of pulling on the cord from the middle, place your hand directly over the plug and then pull. By tugging at the middle you run the risk of loosening or permanently damaging the plug.

2). Desktop computer and laptop owners should buy or download antivirus software. A virus could seriously damage or slowdown your computer and even lead to data loss. Even if you are downloading content that seems relatively safe and which you are knowledgeable about, there is still the chance that a virus could appear. To avoid frustrating trips to the computer repair shop, take a few minutes out of your day to install antivirus software.

3). Lack of cleanliness can lead to serious computer problems in the future. Eating over your keyboard can cause crumbs to lodge themselves in between the keys, which can lead to their damage. This issue could also draw in the presence of small bugs. Also, make sure that your hands are clean to avoid leaving stains and other unwanted marks. Unclean hands can cause the exterior coating of your computer to fade.

4). Avoid placing your laptop on soft surfaces such as beds and tablecloths. The fans underneath your laptop are likely to absorb the dust and dirt lodged within soft materials. This can cause the fans to clog up and eventually overheat your laptop. Working on flat surfaces such as desks is the best choice.

5). Protect what you pay for. Look into getting a bag or case for your laptop. Many breaks happen because the owner accidentally drops their laptop with nothing to break the fall. A case will discourage unwanted scratches and even serious damage to your computer.

6). Temperature plays a significant part in the health of your computer. It's important not to leave your laptop in the car, especially for long periods of time. Car interiors absorb heat from the outdoors that can affect your laptop in a negative way. During the winter, when re-entering from the outdoors, allow your laptop to warm up to room temperature. This will deter damage to the disk drive from condensation.

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Avoiding Computer Stress

What most computer owners have to realize is that computer repair is inevitable, whether it's for a small problem or a big one. However there are some steps that computer owners can take to minimize these problems, make the jobs of the IT department less irritating and in the end, keep the bill from skyrocketing.

How many times have you heard someone say, "backup your data"? And how many times have you not listened? While there's always a way to recover lost material it's a tremendous hassle to do so and there isn't much certainty. Remove the risk of losing your important pictures and school projects, and save yourself the stress. Take a few minutes out of your day to install a backup program.

If you don't wish to download or install a back program, then store your important files on a USB stick. If you can, buy an extra USB specifically for holding files that you may not ever need to open unless your computer goes awry. With properly backed up files you save the IT department unnecessary computer repair time in searching the depths of your computer. You also pay less by the hour or work load. And oh, that person who warned you about backing up your data is not joking. Back it up, it doesn't take long!

Be sure to keep your computer safe and secure in the first place. Viruses are one of the leading causes of computer damage and a constant recurrence at computer repair shops. Installing good antivirus software will prevent malware from creeping in. Scan regularly and keep up with new program updates.

Your computer can undergo serious problems with irresponsible internet browsing. Use trusted sources to download software or any other types of files. And of course, follow the age old internet rule of ignoring files you aren't sure about. With website browsing there is also the threat of malicious spyware which you can help prevent with programs such as Spybot Search and Destroy and Hijack This. With protective systems such as those watching your back, internet browsing will be paranoia free. Your browsing privacy is vital and will prevent harmful codes and hackers from entering your computer. It will prevent damage and lessen trips to computer repair shops.

Consider adding other layers of security. Download and install a firewall. Other security precautions you might want to consider are choosing a good and safe web browser. Keep in mind that a lot of malware comes in via web browsers. Google Chrome is an excellent choice that will keep you feeling safe. Implementing strong passwords to your user and router account is another key item to keep in mind.

We all know that computer repair is a hassle and not only for the owner. Let's make all of our lives easier and stress free by keeping our computers safe and internet browsing secure.

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Computer maintenance

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Our computers and laptops are just like appliances. Appliances need to be cleaned and maintained in order to work well. There are things in the house that need to be maintained so that you can use it for a long time. Just like our cars, we bring it to auto repair shops so we can see if there are any problems or we simply bring them there for maintenance. It needs to be checked so that we can prevent further damage if there are any broken parts. This is a way for it to work at its best. When it comes to computers, this has to be done also. For it to work properly, you have to do some computer maintenance.

When we use our computers, we can do so many things. We can type, surf the net, chat, send mails, watch movies, download music and other things. Because there are so many things that we do with it, a lot of things can happen also. Since we spend a lot of time online, there could be unwanted programs and applications that could enter our system. Also, since we download different files, there is also a possibility wherein you download files with an unwanted virus. That is why computer maintenance is important so you can see and remove these things.

What do you do when you maintain something? You check every part of the object and you look for all the problems that it may have. If repairs are needed, then you must do all the things necessary for it to be fixed. For the computers, what are things that you need to do for its maintenance? Here are the things you must do:

• Run an anti-virus/computer scan every week if you use your computer often

• Delete all the virus that are found in the system

• Delete all unnecessary files

• Delete files that are unknown or files that is in your system that is not yours

• Remove or uninstall programs that you do not use

• If you use the internet, delete all temporary internet files. Although it can speed the loading time on some websites, it could take up a lot of space in your system

• Have a backup for your files so if you need to delete them from your main computer, you always have a backup

For a typical or regular computer user, these are the necessary things that they must do but for computer technicians, they do a lot of things for their computer maintenance. They have different programs that they use and they type and configure so many things. Those are for computer geeks and lovers but for ordinary users, you can simply have a weekly scan for viruses and other unwanted programs. That is the simplest and easiest way for your computer to work properly. Every user would want their computer to load fast and to work the way it is supposed to. For you to be able to enjoy your computers and laptops, just have regular computer maintenance.

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Computer Performance

Computers and laptops are very expensive. So in buying one, the customer must choose the best one for him/her. Computers are very helpful with school or work. That is why even if it is very expensive, people still buy them. It is one of those gadgets that have become part of our lives, just like those mobile phones. A lot of people own computers because it is very useful. You can do a lot of things with it, for both work and leisure. Since we use it for a lot of things, the customers must make sure that the computer that they buy has a good computer performance. Since they spent a lot of money, they should be able to use for a long time and they will be satisfied with it.

There are different brands and models that are being sold in the market but what are the factors that people look at when they are buying computers? Of course, most people check for the brand. They would rather buy those popular brands because they know that a lot of people get this kind of brand. A lot of buyers just go with the trend and just get whatever everyone is buying. People must check the brand and see its advantages and its computer performance before purchasing. Researching for the brand will be a big help.

Besides the brand, another factor would be its appearance. Laptops nowadays look very classy and trendy. It already comes in different sizes. There are big ones that are used in offices and small ones which are good for traveling. Also, laptops come in different colors so there are a lot of choices for both genders. It doesn't just go in black anymore. The size, shape and color are just one of the things that people look at when purchasing computers.

Besides these things, the more important thing to look at is how the computer works. What are its features? How good is the computer performance? When it comes to the system and how the computer works, here are the important things to know:

• Speed: When you load your programs or when you access your programs, the computer speed is important.

• Memory/Hard drive: If you use your computer to save big files, you need to have a computer with a bigger memory space

• Ports: If you need to attach external hard drives or accessories then you must have enough number of USB ports

• Warranty: Repairing computers/laptops can be very expensive. A good and long warranty will be useful

These are just some of things that you need to consider. There are still other things to check when you are buying a computer. It is very important to know how the computer works and if it is right for you. You need to check its performance and the system because you would be using it for numerous things. There are so many things that you can do with a computer and to make the most out of it, you must look at its features and use its programs.

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Ways To Speed Up Your PC

Life today is different. It is so fast that everything is changing in an instant. Technology has changed a lot and has affected the lives of most people in the world. The PC is now part of the daily lives of each people. This is what people use for work, chat with friends, research for information and go to social networking sites to meet new friends. You can't imagine life without a PC. But what if it is so slow, how can you cope up with the fast pace in the world? It is time to speed up PC. It must be competitive and perform fast to be able to use it properly.

• To speed up PC, make sure you check your hardware and it is sufficient enough to enable Windows to function well. Evaluate all your files if you really need them in your PC. Some files are not so important and consume space in your hard disk. Clean your folders and delete those that you don't need anymore. Do a regular scan of your registry to make sure you can detect immediately possible errors that would affect your operating system. Clean or repair immediately if you discover something wrong in your registry. Schedule a regular virus scan of your system and make sure your antivirus protection is updated. You must update it regularly to make sure your PC has the latest defense against harmful viruses and software
• Remove games that you don't play anymore. It is advisable to install one game at a time. Don't install many games at the same time. It will need large amount of hard disk space and performance of your PC will be affected. Concentrate on one game then if you finish it you can remove it already. If you want another game then you can install it provided that you have uninstalled the previous one.. Uninstall programs that you don't need anymore. Free up some space in your hard disk by doing this.
• You can also adjust some features in your PC to enhance its performance. The visual effects can be reduced to suit your PC's capacity. Don't overdo your effects, use only those that are appropriate for your use. Automatic start of programs is also affecting the PC's speed. If several programs automatically start at the same time then you can expect a very slow start-up for your PC. Several windows will pop out asking you to connect to the internet or log in. You must set your programs to start only if you want it to avoid constant popping out in your screen.
• Defragment of the hard drive is the best thing to do to speed up PC. This will enable your files to be organized properly inside your hard disk. This will help the PC to read your files easily. This will help your PC to perform faster and efficiently. You will always want your PC to perform at a level that is so high to meet your expectations from it.

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