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Successful Searching of the Internet

All too often I hear comments like "I can’t find anything on the Internet" or "I’m afraid of getting viruses from the Internet" or "Where do I start". In today’s meetings, we discussed some tried and true methods of searching the Internet successfully and easily.

Google is the current king of web searching and should be your first stop to start any search.

Boolean searching is probably the single best methodology to learn to improve your searching skills. Here’s how it works in a nutshell:

Nothing is by the book

There are two things that make the businesses Rick and I run different from running a computer shop or working as the IT guy in a big company.

1. We see dozens of computers each week and no two of them are the same in any way.

2. Rarely is anything done by the book.

Every person has their own preference for desktop wallpaper, word processing program, Windows version, printer, antivirus, digital camera, web browser, etc.

You have a virus, it is called Norton

I had one client today who had setup an appointment for me to get rid of a virus. Every time they turned on their computer and/or logged into their email, an error would pop up.

The error in their email was so bad that they couldn’t even read their messages.

I noticed that all of the errors were related to Symantec – the company that makes Norton.

I removed Norton and installed AVG. All of a sudden the "virus" was gone. The computer was faster and all errors were completely gone.

They said that they were going to take the money that they were saving by not upgrading Norton and apply it to a new DSL connection. I love to see people make smart decisions with their computer.

Be careful using multiple accounts

Windows XP has a unique ability to act like multiple computers on a single machine. This feature was created so that the computer could be used in a business environment allowing each user to have his or her own programs, desktop, passwords and My Documents.

Although setting up multiple user accounts allows for a lot of customization, it has some pretty screwy side effects.

If you have more than one user account set up in Windows XP, many programs allow you to install programs into only one account. This is a nice feature if you only want to install a program into one account, but it can be a real pain when it comes to spyware and viruses.

Upgrade or repair?

If I had a dime for every time this question comes up….

I actually had this happen with two of my cutomers today. My answer, the last couple of years, is a definite ‘it depends’. Wishy, washy, I know, but it really does have to be thought out. First, the proper diagnosis has to be made. What is the estimate of the repair parts and labor and how does the user use the computer factor in together. Next, a comparison of that number to what is available in the market for new computers. Last week, as an example, Office Depot had a decent little system on sale for $198 after rebates!!

Unfortunately, the market is making so much of the technology we buy disposable…economically speaking. When looking at individual situations, however, the repair costs usually are a little under a new system. And with the exception of the hard drive that died, or the spyware and viruses that must be removed, the system is still very usable. So it comes down to how the computer is used. 

Welcome to Riding Shotgun

Welcome to Riding Shotgun with Rick & Adam

For a long time Rick and I have talked about our strange and wonderful jobs as roving computer guys. Our roles stretch beyond being ordinary computer repair people. We help people keep their worlds on course. That may seem like an exaggeration, but it is not.

Some days we may help people through ordinary problems like viruses and spyware, other days we may be helping a client find all of their important information on the computer after the death of a spouse.

It is from these ordinary and extraordinary experiences that we acquire the knowledge that we use every Saturday to answer your computer questions on the show.

How to get into safe mode

We have told a number of callers today to run their utilities like scandisk, antivirus and antispyware in safe mode. Here is a quick reminder on how to do it. You can find more information on safe mode by searching for "safe mode" in our search box.

1. Turn on your computer

2. As your computer turns on press your F8 key over and over in about half second intervals until a menu of options comes up.

3. Choose Safe Mode using your arrow keys and press ENTER

Safe mode is a troubleshooting version of windows that disables unnecessary features that can get in the way of removing viruses, spyware and other problems.

Run spyware and anti-virus scans in safe mode

If your anti-virus finds a virus during a scan, reboot  your computer into Safe Mode (push F8 repeatedly on your keyboard when the computer starts up) and run all anti-virus scans and anti-spyware scans in Safe Mode. This will help get rid of pesky viruses and spyware.

Remember to Logout from Financial Sites

Millions of computer users now bank and trade online. The convenience of online banking and trading is not disputed, but some still wonder about safety. All large banking institutions take the time and effort to shore up security from their end to protect you and your transactions. They also know that if they don’t provide the best in security that they won’t be in business very long.

 However, no matter how safe our banking and trading institutions make the process, we computer users still have some responsibility as well. To insure your safety online when performing financial transactions, follow these steps:

Re-installing a problematic program

Sometimes a program that is giving you trouble will work better after reinstalling it. Here are some tips to help make that process a little easier and more successful.

  1. Uninstall the problematic program by using the Add/Remove programs applet in the Control Panel in Windows
  2. Restart your computer via Start–>Shutdown and restart; even if the computer doesn’t ask you to do so.
  3. After Windows reloads, shut down all extra utilities and programs
  4. Put in the installation disk and start the installation.
  5. The most important part of the tip: When the installation shows the ‘path’ or destination of the program (usually something like:  C:\Program Files\Intuit\Quicken), change something in that path to force the installation into a different directory than the original. I usually just delete the Program Files part or add a ‘2’ to the end of the path.
  6. Then proceed as normal with your installation and reboot the computer when finished

Tip within a Tip:  If you are using Windows XP, just shut down any running programs, RIGHT click and exit what utilities you can from the system tray, and disable your anti-virus in place of step 3.