Nates Computer Services

Sometimes computers and monitors need to be cleaned.
Always have equipment off when cleaning.  Unplug if opening computer case.
For TVs and monitors, window cleaner or cleaners containing alcohol or ammonia CANNOT be used because it can remove the protective coding that protects your eyes.  They can also damage the inner electronics if it seeps in.
It is best to use a microfiber cloth and a non-alcohol cleaner made for screens.  Try using just the microfiber cloth first and if that doesn’t work spray some of the cleaner on the cloth.
For cleaning the computer surfaces (plastic or medal- not the actual electronic boards) I use some antistatic alcohol-free cleaning wipes. Sometimes  cotton tips can be used to clean places hard get at.
For getting out dust several different methods can be used or  a combination of them.
First Prevention:  Keep your computer away from pets, out of dusty areas,  do not smoke by the computer.  Have the computer as high above the floor as possible.
Second Air duster can:   Advatages: blows most of the dust away, portable
Disadvantages: Can be messy,  can be expensive buying the cans a lot, breathing in is dangerous.
Third Vacuum: Advantages: cleans neater, less fumes, reusable
Disadvantages: not compact( unless you have a special mini vacuum), noisy, may not get rid of as much dust sometimes, may cause extra static if not used correctly.
Fourth Air compressor:  Blows out all the dust, reusable
Disadvantages: peices may get blown into circuit boards, may be noisy, messy, may cause more dust to get in air making breathing dangerous
 
 
 
 
 

One of the most common mistakes people have with web browsers is typing a web address in the search bar.  When I first was using web browsers it was the opposite problem that was more common: people typing in search terms as web addresses.
Either way people sometimes end up with the wrong web page.
The problem is made even more complicated by, most peoples home pages have a search engine, and also all the tool bars that end up on peoples browsers.
To deal with this problem some web browsers have address bar to the left and search bar to the right. Others have integrated search engine with the address bar.
Many people know the difference between search bar and address bar, however many do not.

Usually when discussed about turning off computer all that is discussed is power.
Here I discuss why you may want to turn off your computer.

• At night to get to sleep I have my computer scheduled to turn off so I’m less likely to use it at that time and so it doesn’t make noise nor be bothersome with light.  That’s also a good reason to have computer or TV in a room other than the bedroom.
• Another reason to turn off  a notebook / laptop / netbook (portable) is so you don’t damage parts like hard drive or overheat when transporting.
• To repair, maintain, or upgrade internal components on a computer (it should also be unplugged and if portable the battery may need to be removed)
• It can make the log in password appear at start up.
•   if you have malware /trojen it may stop your computer from doing further damage.
• Of course it will save power too (if you don’t turn it back on again all the time).

 
On the other hand…

• If your computer doesn’t bother your sleep it may not be necessary to have it shut down.
• It can sometimes be hard on hardware the more you shut off and turn back on.
• Sometimes just putting laptops to sleep may be OK for transporting. Solid State Disk drives or flash memory can greatly reduce hard drive problems with moving (but can be expensive)
• You should probably have your computer go to a login screen automatically after a period of time or just log out.
• There other power reducing options.

I usually have my computer turned off after a while at night, so now you know what I do.
–Nate
see also http://www.natesservices.com/2010/05/08/power-saving-tips/
 

Here are some options I take for removing viruses, spyware, and malware from a Windows computer system.

1.  Run the antivirus, anti spyware, or removal tool
   Tip: Sometimes running the removal in Safe Mode works better (especially if your computer acts up otherwise). You can access Safe Mode by pressing the F8 key after your computer turns on and goes through POST, before starting windows – a menu will pop with Safe Mode option. (I keep tapping on F8 when the computer starts until the menu shows up)
   2nd Tip: Be careful that your virus removal is a trusted source. There are some fakes.
2. Run System Restore – an option in the Start/Windows menu under Program- Accessories- System Tools. Also available when starting safe mode and under the F8 menu at startup under Fix My Computer sometimes.
3. Backup necessary data files if possible (you should be doing this all along) and wipe out starting fresh with a clean install of Windows Operating System (OS) /System Recovery. This may require discs or running the recovery from a partition on the hard drive, or in some cases booting and installing it from the network or Internet.

These are just some tips. They may not work in all cases, but any these may work in certain cases.

A reminder if you do a full system recovery, remember to back up first. I had a customer on advice of a computer manufacturer did a recovery without backing up first. It was a bad day. Also a reminder I offer online backup so you don’t have to worry as much about those things.
Online Storage

-we benefit financially when it is purchased from the link above.