I prefer the passenger’s seat

My business is now in its 11th year, and I still prefer sitting next to my customers than in the captain's seat. If I'm troubleshooting a problem or installing new software or hardware, I have no problem sitting in front of the computer. However, I get the most satisfaction from sitting to the side, guiding my client's through tasks they want to learn and writing down step-by-step notes that I leave for them...

I’m not going to tell your kids what to do b...

I had one of my longest appointments ever today as I cleaned a computer free of almost 15,000 viruses, setup a network, installed a wireless card, removed bad security software and replaced it with AVG, did troubleshooting on a fax machine problem and installed Firefox. I even left for lunch and to another appointment for a while. The appointment took 5 hours not counting virus scans (I went to lunch and another appointment...

Using “Run” to get places

If you have listened to the show much, you have probably heard us tell people to go into "msconfig." This tip works in Windows XP for sure, but some commands may not work in other versions of Windows. msconfig is one run command that takes you into the Microsoft Configuration Utility, but there are other handy run commands, here are most of them. To use any of these click on START -> RUN and type the word or...

Time heals many wounds

Especially computer wounds. I don't have a three ring binder full of policies for my business, but one policy I do have is that I don't answer my phone when I'm working with a customer. The companion to that policy is that I ALWAYS return my calls. Because I book a pretty tight day, I check my messages and return calls while in transit between clients which usually amounts to no more than 15 or so minutes of...

Traveling with wireless Internet

If you travel with a laptop computer and like to use wireless Internet at hotesl, coffee shops and libraries, it helps to know a simple troubleshooting technique or two for finicky wireless connections. Make sure your wireless access is enabled. Many laptops have a button or switch that shuts the wireless network off.  Restart your computer. Many times, restarting the computer will allow the connection to happen. If still...

Computer BIOS

Many times on the show we guide people to the computer BIOS for troubleshooting some problems. BIOS stands for Basic Input Output System. The BIOS, speaking very simply, controls and monitors the hardware on our computers. Keyboards, mice, hard drives, CDROM drives, the date and time (from the CMOS chip), and more all get inventoried and controlled via the BIOS. Think of the BIOS as the parts manager of your computer. The...

Watch the lights

Since many of us are now using high speed connections to the Internet, we run into new problems. A customer of mine called me today and said she couldn't get email any more. When I asked if she was connected to the Internet, she thought she was. Knowing she had DSL, I asked how many lights were on the DSL modem (thingy from the phone company that connects the computer to the Internet with a cable running from phone line...

Routers gone bad

Over the past month, I have encountered at least six bad routers. A router is a device that can be used to share high speed computer access to multiple computers either through Ethernet cabling or wirelessly. I'm not exactly sure what is happening, but I almost feel as if there is a correlation to the recent rash of router failures. I just don't know what that correlation is. It also doesn't seem to be related to...

Why I don’t like custom built computers

I have seen a lot of custom built computers lately. By custom built, I don’t mean Dells or HPs that are ordered custom configured. I am referring to computers that are built by friends, family members or computer shops using parts that are purchased separately then assembled like an Erector set. Most computer geeks will likely prefer custom built comptuers because the parts are non-proprietary and they can be more...

Amazing Jams and a quick Microsoft Tip

We never promote products on the site unless we test them first. Today, I helped a new customer with their computer security and backup needs. This gentleman also owns and operates a fruit jam operation. After working on his computer, we talked about his business and his products…jams. He grows most of his own fruits and only picks them at their peak ripeness. When he offered to give me a taste test, I said...

Troubleshoot one step at a time

I have noticed that a small computer problem can quickly become a big computer problem if too much troubleshooting is applied too soon. Today I saw a client who has been without Internet since late last week. Originally their antivirus had caught a small virus. Soon after that the Internet wasn’t working. After looking at the situation, I don’t think those two problems had anything to do with each other. Sometimes...

What do Rick and Adam do during the week and what ...

A common misconception is that Adam and I spend our week sunning ourselves with our families on some exotic beach before returning to our mansions and counting our stacks of $100 bills. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I own and operate a business called Grand Valley PC Partners in Grand Junction, CO. All my business is onsite home and office calls to help computer users get out of trouble, setup up new systems or...

Troubleshooting sound problems

"I’m not getting any sound," is a very common problem I hear. While there are a few technical issues that can prevent the sound from working on your computer, typically the problem is one of three things: 1. The speakers aren’t plugged in – either to the electricity or to the correct jack on the back of the computer. There are at least 3 jacks where you can plug the speakers in, but only one of...

Do your parents a favor, follow through with your ...

Most of my clients are over 50 and a good portion of them are over 65. I have learned that age has nothing to with computer aptitude. Computer aptitude is determined 99 percent by computer attitude. Those who are not afraid or intimidated by their computer are the ones who learn the fastest, no matter their age, gender or religious background. One of my primary goals with my business, with the show and with the newsletter is...

Differential Diagnosis

That’s a term I learned while in Physical Therapy skill. It means asking a lot of questions and doing a lot of tests to come up with the most likely cause for a problem. That skill alone helps me work with computer problems every day. Asking the proper questions and getting the sequence of events in proper order make me hone in on the problem quicker. Yesterday, I worked on a computer for a customer who wasn’t...