Castellini on Computers - Computer help for beginners » restore

Troubleshooting Your High Speed Internet Connection

Rick — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:26:48 +0000

This tip needs to come back to the front page again. I've helped many more people the last few weeks with this issue. Please print it and hang it by your computer...and send it your friends as well.

I posted this tip many moons ago, but wanted to bring it back to the front page because we have so many new high speed Internet users. Click the Printer Friendly option at the bottom of this tip, print it out and post it next to your computer...you will be glad you did.

Routers take high speed Internet signals and then distribute the signal (route) to multiple computers. Sometimes, however, the signal gets lost and an Internet connection cannot be made. This can be due to multiple reasons, but most can be rectified the same way. Before you reach for the phone or grumble under your breath, follow this simple and highly effective procedure to get your system(s) up and running again.

Shut off all computers.
Unplug the power from the high speed modem.
Unplug the power from

Cleaning and removing Antivirus 2009, PAV and others from your computer,

Rick — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 22:37:50 +0000

Preventing your computer from becoming infected is infinitely easier and less stressful than cleaning up after an infection. Search my site for tons of information on setting up your computer for security and techniques to avoid scams. However, if you are already bit by one of the most recent nasty forms of software, Antivirus 2008 or Antivirus 2009 (software I call extortionware that installs itself on your computer and then poses as legitimate software you have to pay for to get rid of the problems. Problems they caused), follow the steps at this site to get back up and running and then come back here and learn how to prevent it from happening again.

Two other links that will be helpful in cleaning this and related malware off of your computer are ComboFix and Malwarebytes.org. Some of the first actions these rougue software products accomplish when on your computer is disabling your antivirus, windows updates, and system restore. They also prevent you from visiting legitimate web sites like I have linked in this article to make it harder for you to remove the pests. You are probably best served visiting my site on a non-infected computer, download the two products, change the original file names (this is important because the rouge software will also disable known products from running at all), copy the two tools to a flash drive and then take them to the sick computer and run them. I suggest running the CombFix first and then run full scans with your antivirus software and malwarebytes.org's product as well.

I'm linking to BleepingComputer.com's article because they do a good job of giving you a safe download site and thorough instructions on how to delete Antivirus 2009 or 2008. Even if you aren't infected, it's worth visiting the site to see what kind of work is required if you do get infected. It might motivate you to read my site more often and follow the advice I give to keep you safe and productive with your computer.

Photo by Jim Grandy

Keep track of your original computer documentation and make restore CDs

Rick — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 00:43:57 +0000

Lately too many customers have had to wait for repairs on their computers because I needed to order recovery CD sets from the manufacturer. This time and expense can be avoided if you do two simple things when you buy your new computer: 1. Save all disks and/or documentation that comes in the box 2. Since [...]

Thwarted by online poker

Rick — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:02:53 +0000

Today marked my second Linux/Ubuntu casualty in almost 2 dozen attempts. As I've learned more about Ubuntu the past couple of years, I carefully selected clients who would have little problems dealing with a non-Microsoft operating system. You may have read my take on Ubuntu usage for the average computer user before, but here it is again to setup the rest of the story: I believe that any computer users who uses only email, word processing, Internet, digital photography, and maybe a solitaire or mahjong like game can function perfectly and happily in Ubuntu. Those who need proprietary Windows programs or like to buy and try out different types of software will not do well with Ubuntu.

Correcting some spyware infections with an often overlooked tool

Rick — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 22:35:15 +0000

Some of the nastiest spyware infections can be dealt with easier than previously thought if you try the following steps immediately after becoming infected:

Shut off your high speed modem OR simply unplug the Ethernet cable connecting your computer to the modem or router
Restart the computer in Safe Mode and attempt to run a disk cleanup from the Accessories --> System Tools menu or use the CCleaner or Cleanup program if you have them installed.
Then go to the accessories menu and run System Restore. Choose a date at least two weeks prior to the infection and restore the computer.
After the computer restarts, IF the restore was successful (and it will tell you so), run a full disk scan with your antivirus software and any anti-spyware software you have loaded
Restart your computer again, and this time connect back to the Internet
Update your antivirus and antispyware products and run another full scan

I have had good success with this routine if the infection is caught quick enough (usually within a day or so).

Backup Your Favorites (Bookmarks) – Video Tip

Rick — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 23:52:05 +0000

Many years ago, I shared with you how to back up your address book. We have talked about how to back up your favorites, but never written it down. This tip will walk you through saving your favorite places in case of a disaster. Even if you have thousands of favorites, they will easily fit on a floppy disk (if you still have one) or better still, a USB Flash drive.

The $399 Power Computer

Rick — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 22:12:57 +0000

Last week, I was charged with finding a computer for a customer who only wanted it for Internet, email, and word processing. He didn't want to add any games, extra programs, or anything else to it. My first thought, as I was listening to his needs, was Ubuntu. One other request was not to break the bank on cost. Lastly, he told me that he would be hooked up to a high speed cable Internet service.

Upon talking a little more, I explained my idea bout an Ubuntu Linux machine. He asked, "Does it do Internet? Email?" I said, "Yes." He agreed that it sounded fine to him.

Curbside Recycling

Rick — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 22:16:30 +0000

When I help people setup a new computer, camera or printer, the standard question asked by the new gadget owner is; "What shall I do with the old one?" I think that the value of tech curbside recycling is highly undervalued.

Curbside recycling involves hauling your old hardware out to the curb and just leaving it there. In most moderately busy neighborhoods (HOA's rules aside), a piece of technology on the street will be snapped by a collector or hobbyist in less than 48 hours and often much quicker. The item gets reused or put to work in someway, you didn't have to fret about where to take it and haul it long distances, and the device more than likely won't end up in a land fill...a win-win-win situation.

Photoshop Restoration in Elements

Rick — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 23:06:57 +0000

Tips and tricks for restoring old photos and removing blemishes digitally

Meeting notes from 02-26-08

Tools needed:

A good scanner

For prints, almost any scanner will do pretty well, but if you are doing small photos, slides or negatives, you will probably want to go with a nicer Epson scanner such as the Epson Perfection 4490. These scanners offer transparancy scanning for slides and negatives as well as very high 4800 dpi resolution for well under $200.

Troubleshooting 101

Rick — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 23:40:42 +0000

By now many of you have figured out that computers are unruly beasts. They seem to be fine one day and schizophrenic the next. As a person who troubleshoots computers for a living, I'm going to let you in on a little trade secret.

When something on your computer seems to be a little left of center, stop and ask yourself three questions: