Computer Solutions for Small Business and Home Users

By admin | Published: September 6, 2011

If your computer is not working, or if it works but not the way you think it should, perhaps you need some help.

If you are a small business or home computer user, and you need help making a computer purchase, fixing a computer problem, or designing a system that will meet your needs, you’ve come to the right place.

I can help you:

  • Explore your computing needs for home or business
  • By coming to you to fix computer-related problems
  • Install your new system or help you reconfigure your old one
  • Find the right combination of hardware, software and training to get you productive, and
  • With training and coaching, to increase your computing competence and confidence.

On this website you will find descriptions of the services I offer, what expertise I can bring to finding you a computing solution.

Please call me at 905-916-1051 or 647-208-0502.

Or, send me an email at awg@computersfixed.ca

  • Share/Bookmark
Posted in -u- | Leave a comment

Afraid your computer is vulnerable?

By admin | Published: September 6, 2011

In reality, your computer probably is vulnerable. But there are habits and best practices to help you lock down your internet-connected machine. If you don’t know where to start, some good suggestions come from the results of running the program that Microsoft furnishes here.

It’s the Microsoft Baseline Security Analysis tool, and it’s designed for professionals. If you need help interpreting and implementing its suggestions, I’m happy to do that, at standard rates.

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=7558

  • Share/Bookmark
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Windows 7: Change desktop icon sizes

By admin | Published: February 12, 2011

Change Desktop Icon Size with CTRL + Scroll Wheel

  • Share/Bookmark
Posted in Technology | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Lost mySQL root password?

By admin | Published: December 2, 2010

Here’s how to fix it. It works.

http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.1/en/resetting-permissions.html#resetting-permissions-windows

  • Share/Bookmark
Posted in Technology | Leave a comment

Tech Podcasts

By admin | Published: November 17, 2010

There are too many tech podcasts today. It seems like everyone has a microphone and an opinion about the latest phones, gadgets, computer parts and peripherals, and even home entertainment and automation.

I have been listening to these for about 5 years. They come and go. In my opinion, here are the best of the bunch.

http://tech5.mevio.com/ Tech 5 with John C. Dvorak. You’ll get the day’s tech headlines, with commentary by the grand duke of tech journalists.

GeekBrief.tv was a great video podcast because of the two talented (formerly married) people who produced it: Neal Campbell and Luria Petrucci. Luria is now doing the same thing under a different name, calling it geekbeat.tv.

http://www.maximumpc.com/articles/no_bs_podcast is for hardcore gamers, computer system enthusiasts, and those who build computers. If that’s not you, much of it will go over your head. But Gordon Mah Ung’s Rant of the Week is truly hilarious. warning: foul language.

http://www.tested.com/podcast/ is from two guys who were formerly part of the Maximum PC podcast team, but now do their own thing, with help week-to-week from assorted friends.

Someone is going to say to me “But what about ….” because there’s a LOT of people doing tech and gadget podcasts. But you’ve only got so many hours in a week for this sort of thing, and the above entries are how I would use my precious time.

  • Share/Bookmark
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Easy Blog Posting With Windows Live Writer 2011

By admin | Published: November 6, 2010

I found Windows Live Writer really easy to set up – one snag was that I had to enable XML-RPC remote publishing to this wordpress blog, hosted at Netfirms. And Windows Live Writer required my admin account – it wouldn’t work with a secondary account I created just for posting on the run.

You can get it here.

  • Share/Bookmark
Posted in Technology | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Canadian Anglican Liturgical Calendars

By awg | Published: October 20, 2010

They can be found here.

  • Share/Bookmark
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Dear Chapters-Indigo

By awg | Published: September 30, 2010

I don’t want your new wireless KOBO e-reader. Instead, I want you to make good the promise you gave to make daily newspapers available for subscription, so I can read the Globe and Mail on my old KOBO. Which works just fine.

You said there would be newspapers LAST SUMMER. It’s FALL now. Don’t try to sell me NEW HARDWARE. Instead, sell me the CONTENT you promised!

  • Share/Bookmark
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

If you don’t want help, but have a computer problem, start here.

By awg | Published: September 27, 2010

Microsoft’s troubleshooting web page.

  • Share/Bookmark
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Your Computer Mysteriously Shuts Off?

By awg | Published: September 24, 2010

If your computer mysteriously turns off, there are a number of things that might be causing it.

One of them, and the first thing your technician will suspect, is overheating. Perhaps a fan is blocked, or gunked up so it fails, or your overclock is too high for your heatsinking.  If you didn’t understand that last one, don’t worry.

If you are using a laptop, and the fans are all good, then one of those “cooler mats” that helps airflow under the machine might help. Otherwise, if it’s out of warrantee … sorry.

If you are using a desktop computer, you can consider getting a new case / chassis with better cooling characteristics. I recently swapped out a Sony VAIO VGC-RB54G case, and replaced it with a Cooler Master HAF 932. And here’s the results, with all other variables managed, in degrees celcius:

  • CPU (Wolfdale with stock cooler) -3 degrees (40/37)
  • nVidia GeForce 9800 GT -12 degrees! (69/57)
  • Seagate 977gb drive   -13 degrees! (42/29)
  • Seagate 156gb drive -15 degrees! (46/31)
You can see that the CPU didn’t benefit much from the new case, so I could argue that it was being adequately cooled before, but look at the dramatic improvements in the idle running temperatures of the other components due to the high air flow case!
Is it worth $150 to you to protect your components from permanent heat damage, by building your computer in a well-designed case, or making sure the computer you buy has decent cooling?
  • Share/Bookmark
Posted in Technology | Leave a comment

  • Customers Have Written:

    "... thank you, Andrew, for doing such a great job and getting my computer fixed!" - Diane, a family therapist.

    "Thanks ... We are already accumulating additional problems and questions which we hope to refer to you when we return to Canada. Just remember, your potential market out there is growing rapidly!" - John, a lawyer.

    "Dear Andrew, Thank you for your trouble and prompt reply.... Would you consider a follow-up visit next week? A half-hour should do it; try to fit it in your schedule." - George, a retired accountant.

    "My computer has been running very well and trouble free since you cleaned it out." - Peter, an executive.

    "Thank you. So, I am also emailing you to thank you for your advice on our computer. Just because they apparently don't know what they are doing at [software company named removed], they discontinued our subscription on Christmas Day (we had resubscribed in October). We had no virus scan program in place, and guess what, our email started arriving in our Windows mailbox! So you were correct. I don't know why the troubleshooting from [software company name removed] did not address this, but we have chosen to use Norton Antivirus which is compatible with our Windows Mail. All the best to you and yours." - Dianne, a hospital administrator.

  • Pages

  • Categories

  •  

    May 2012
    S M T W T F S
    « Sep    
     12345
    6789101112
    13141516171819
    20212223242526
    2728293031  

  • Archives