Install | Castellini on Computers - Computer help for beginners

Posts Tagged: install

General Computer Tips — 4 Comments
2
Nov 09

Should I backup?

photo credit: daryl_mitchell

Should you carry health insurance? Should you carry car insurance? Should you save for retirement? Should you eat every day? Does a bear…. Well, hopefully you get the picture. The answer is a resounding YES!!

You should backup, and depending on your computer needs and usage your backups should occur frequently (sometimes daily). Many computer users equate backing up their computers with their mother’s giving them castor oil. It’s no fun, but a necessary evil. What is castor oil any way?

Things you should backup on your computer include Continue reading →

General Computer Tips — 2 Comments
1
Nov 09

Deleting Programs and Files

photo credit: geoftheref

This tip conjures up some points from older tips, but needs to be reiterated. Follow these rules-of-thumb to keep your system clean and more importantly running smoothly.

Use these rules when deleting individual files:

Never delete files that you did not create.
If you can’t trace the origin of the file, leave it alone.
If the file sports one of the generic looking ‘windows’ icons (see picture), do not delete it (again unless you created it).
Do not delete files that exist in the Windows directory, unless you created it.
Instead of willy nilly deleting files, use the CCleaner tool

Use these rules when deleting programs or applications:

Always start with Continue reading →

The Castellini Approach to Internet Security

photo credit: The Joy Of The Mundane

This past week I saw way too many people who are not taking advantage of the free information we give out on the show and the web site. Their computers were suffocating from a preventable disease…viruses and spyware. Yes, preventable, almost 100%. And fighting the war on our home computer security front does not have to be costly or time consuming.

We talk about this subject quite a bit on the program and the web site because of its rapid growth worldwide. In today’s tip, I am providing you with links to information that we have on this site that have been up for months to years that contain the essential information about protecting your computer.

Continue reading →

Hardware Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — 3 Comments
25
Jun 09

Adding RAM to increase computer speed – Video Tip

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-23 Pedro De La Rosa

photo credit: lucam

Since Service Pack 3 for Windows XP (security update) was released late last year, many of my XP clients started experiencing slower performance. This upgrade put an additional strain on systems with less than 512mb of RAM. Upgrading the RAM will make a big difference in speeding up the system again.

RAM is the temporary memory that the computer uses to give us the feeling of programs opening and running with some pep. It’s like giving your computer a larger desk to work from so it can spread out and find things more efficiently. RAM also allows us to open multiple computer programs at the same time with less impact on the speed of the computer.

256 megabytes used to be a lot of RAM. Today, I’m recommending users have at least 512 megabytes for Windows XP machines and consider a full gigabyte. If buying a new PC with Vista 2 gigabytes (2048 megabytes) is absolutely the minimum and 3 GB or more is even better.

Instead of spending a $500 and up for a new computer, adding extra RAM can breath new life into any computer. Continue reading →

Riding Shotgun with Rick — 4 Comments
10
May 09

Comparison of Windows 7 vs. Ubuntu 9.04 install

I had the opportunity today to install both Windows 7 RC 1 and Ubuntu 9.04 on my Toshiba laptop today. The laptop has an Intel Core2Duo processor, 4 GB of RAM and 160 GB hard drive. Here are the results:

	Windows 7 RC1	Ubuntu 9.04
Install time	21 minutes including 2 reboots	19 minutes no reboots
Boot time	54 seconds	36 seconds
Shut down time	20 seconds	8 seconds
Post install work required	Approximately an hour to install Antivirus software, Office, decent browser, PDF reader, and all subsequent updates (and I had the install files on a flash drive).	None, AV software not needed, Office software and PDF reader installs with OS.
Hardware recognition	Everything worked except the card reader, but after first set of updates the card reader worked	Everything worked immediately.

Overall, both operating systems felt snappy, as they should with 4 GB of RAM. I will continue to test and report on both operating systems, but thought the install information was interesting.

Computer User Group / Hardware Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — 10 Comments
25
Sep 08

Setting up a new computer

new computer box Prevention is the best medicine when it comes to avoiding illness in ourselves. Prevention in the computer world is no different. And like a newborn baby, a newly purchased computer is subject to many terrible diseases and problems if not properly cared from the moment it is taken from its cardboard box. I follow these steps when setting up a new computer system for my clients, and recommend this methodology for all new computer setups:

Before setting up the new computer, back up all of your data to CD’s, DVD’s, external hard drives, or flash drives for transfer to the new computer Make sure you get not only your obvious data like documents, pictures, and financial data, but also your address book, email settings, favorites, etc. Remember, you can backup data, but not programs.
Make note of your email settings and configuration (if you didn’t back them up).
Download a copy of a AVG Antivirus and have them on a CD or flash drive at the ready.
When setting up the new PC, DO NOT connect printers, scanners, cameras, and especially the Internet until later.
Once at the new desktop, the first place to head is the Control Panel and Add/Remove programs (Programs and Features in Vista). Remove all trial software that you don’t plan on purchasing (Quicken, Quickbooks, Office suites, etc). Also remove any <!–break–>Internet provider software that you will not use like AOL, Earthlink, NetZero, etc.
Now go back to Add/Remove programs and uninstall any trial security software that came with the machine.
If you uninstalled the pre-installed security software (recommended), install the AVG antivirus program you have at the ready.
Now, you can hook up your Internet connection. Once you have a connection established, update your anti-virus software immediately.
Setup your email program and accounts.
Install your peripherals (scanners, printers, etc) per your manufacturers instructions.
Install any programs that you want on the new system
Transfer your data from their backup locations.
Strongly consider downloading and using Mozilla Firefox as your primary browser.
Create your Recovery CD set found in your manufacturer’s options or utilities folder (if required).

Enjoy your properly setup and safe, new computer!

Hardware Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — No Comments
28
Jul 08

Increase the speed of your computer

If your computer still performs all the functions you want it to do, there is no need to replace it. However, no matter if you’ve been using the same computer for a month or seven years, all computers need and crave RAM (Random Access Memory).

RAM provides the ‘umph’ for our computers and an abundance of it helps Windows’ performance tremendously.

Hard drive space (physical storage of your data) and RAM (temporary memory for running programs) utilize two distinctly different types of technologies. So, don’t equate free hard drive space with RAM. Instead, use these guidelines for figuring out your RAM needs.

Because of the dramatic drop in price over the past two years of RAM, here are my current recommendations for your computer system (the numbers are in megabytes):

* Windows 95 – 32 minimum – 128 recommended
* Windows 98 – 64 minimum – 256 recommended
* Windows Me – 128 minimum – 256 recommended
* Windows 2000 / XP – 512 minimum – 1024 (1 Gigabyte) recommended

To find out how much RAM you currently have push the Windows key + the Break key on your keyboard or RIGHT Click your My Computer icon and click Properties.

To find out how much RAM your computer can utilize, contact your manufacturer or visit Crucial and use their handy RAM tool by clicking their “scan my system” button.

Installing RAM doesn’t take any expertise and can be performed by anyone willing to open their computer’s case. Click here to watch a short video on how to install RAM.

Riding Shotgun with Rick — No Comments
9
Jun 08

Are Macintosh computers poised to make a run?

iPhone 3G JUNE 2008 UPDATE:

I wrote the article below two years ago, ran across it tonight and wanted to write an update to it. At the time I wrote it, I think the now famous Apple and PC guy commercials had just started ramping up and the ominous steps towards Windows Vista were getting closer. My words probably weren’t unique at the time, and I don’t claim to be a sage, but it is astonishing how much the market has really changed since 2006. Linux continues to make a bigger splash world wide, and I continue to install it on more computers here in Western Colorado. Apple’s sales and stock price are literally going through the roof. My Macintosh service calls (mostly for ordering and training…rarely for troubleshooting) continue to escalate as well. Almost 18 months into Windows Vista, I see the machines on only about 10% of my appointment mostly because no one is buying them.

Today, Apple announced their new iPhone version 2.0 will be released in July. Three to four years ago, Microsoft was starting to increase market share of their mobile operating system with their mobile Windows in the smartphone arena. Palm and Blackberry used to dominate that market, but Microsoft was predicted to dominate. Then in June 2007, Apple released the iPhone to extremely positive reviews and cell phone consumers who couldn’t get their hands on one fast enough.

Since then, all other smartphone operating systems have take a hit and iPhone users, largely, couldn’t be happier. I personally have 5-6 clients who are pretty picky phone users and have owned literally dozens of phones over the years, but say they wouldn’t trade their iPhone for anything at the moment. The new iPhone 3G (faster cell speeds) announced today improves on every facet of an already excellent product. The new iPhone 3G will be cheaper, faster, slightly smaller, have a longer battery and talk-time life, offer GPS navigation and incorporate a brand new platform that will allow developers to invent new ways to use this already versatile tool.

What are your thoughts on my older story below and this new story you just read? Also, what do you think of the new iPhone 3G…hype or substance? Leave me a comment below!!

Story below originally posted on 2006-05-09 16:40:45 -0600

I helped a customer configure a new Macintosh laptop today. This was the third time in a month that I did that. And if I think back over the past year, my Macintosh calls for both help and learning how to buy a new one have escalated by at least double. Is Western Colorado indicative of a bigger national trend?

Maybe so. Macintosh computers are hands down the prettiest machines in the market today. Apple takes great strides to engineer the look and feel of the Mac to make it not only pleasing to the eye, but pleasing to the rest of your house. Certainly a pretty machine does not make the Mac worthy of consideration by itself. However, Apple continues to innovate and deliver solid products to the marketplace. They are easy to adapt to (even for Windows’ faithful), safer to use on the Internet (most likely because of their small market share), and provide ease of use for the most common computer functions; email, Internet, music, pictures and video.

The fact that their prices have steadily decreased doesn’t hurt either. The laptop I helped configure today was their ultra-portable iBook with a 12.1 wide screen with 1 GB of RAM, 100 GB Hard Drive, wireless, CD/DVD Burner and more for under $1400.

Last month, Apple announced that a program (Boot Camp) is available for owners of the new Intel Mac computers that allows them to install and run Windows XP side-by-side with the Mac operating system. Only geeks really raised an eyebrow at this, but the more I think about it, the more I think that some huge changes may be in store in the computer market in the upcoming year to eighteen months.

Hardware Tips — No Comments
1
May 08

Troubleshoot Hardware Problems Using the Device Manager – Video Tip

Starting with Windows 95 all the way through today’s Windows Vista, Microsoft supplied computer users with a great tool listing the different hardware devices attached to and residing in our computers. This tool is called the Device Manager.

Today’s tip focuses on how to use the Device Manager to troubleshoot a video card, sound card or other internal hardware problem. If you suddenly lose sound or your monitor’s picture lacks the quality it had before, or you can’t connect your high speed modem to your computer, this tip will solve the problem a high percentage of the time.

1. RIGHT Click on My Computer from your desktop or Start menu (XP & Vista)

2. Click Properties (or use the Windows key + Pause/Break key to replace these two steps)

3. Click Device Manager (Windows 95-Me, Vista). or in WindowsVista Click the Hardware tab –> then click Device Manager (XP)

4. Click the “+” sign next to the device having the problem

5. RIGHT Click the device itself

6. Click Remove (Windows 95-Me) or Uninstall (XP & Vista)

7. Close any open screens and shut down your computer (don’t just restart, shut it all the way off)

8. When Windows restarts, it should re-recognize your hardware and function properly again.

If these steps don’t work, then you get some extra computer help.

Watch the short (2 minutes) video below to see these steps in action!

Digital Photography / Riding Shotgun with Adam — No Comments
23
Oct 07

Stop the Photoshop Elements Browser Popup – VIDEO TIP

Adobe Photoshop Elements has a built-in program that searches for all of the photos on your computer and catalogs them. It then displays thumbnails of all of the photos it finds so that you can get to photos faster.

This seems great, but Adobe did a pretty terrible job with the program. It is slow and way to difficult to use for a basic program. Picasa is free and it works much better.

The worst part of the Photoshop Elements browser program is that it takes over. After installing Photoshop Elements version 3 on up to the current version 5, the browser program pops up whenever you plug in a digital camera or memory card. This is very annoying since the program is slow to load and difficult to understand, especially when you aren't expecting it.

Here is a quick video tip. That demonstrates how to turn off the browser popup feature.