Some Basic Computer Tips by the Guys at SofTech Computers

When you work with computers all the time you take basic knowledge for granted. We all make assumptions that if you know basic knowledge of the workings of your computer system, then you would know how to operate your computer more or less effectively enough to complete basic tasks. These tasks could be creating word documents, printing, emailing, saving, transferring documents, and then some. There are tons of tips, tricks, and ways to do different tasks that we all just make assumptions that people know how to do them. This week SofTech Computers goes back to the basics with computer tips and tricks in Prescott Arizona.

Email tips:

When you get an email from ebay, paypal, your bank, or any other service and it says urgent attention needed or some critical message, close your email and open that service directly by going to their webpage and using your login and see. Do not open those messages and log in through the email. This will limit scams and other issues. Always go to the source.

No dude from Nigeria or anywhere else is going to give you money through your email. You will not be able to help that prince or whoever liberate those funds. Avoid those emails!

Emails that are sent to you and are shocking and say you need to check something out and it’s a link… chances are you don’t want to click that link.

Emails that tell you that you need to forward them and share them to your friends… you probably don’t want to do that because unless you can verify the source and the information chances are its just spam, junk or even helping spread some nasties, such as viruses, over the internet.

Computer Tips:

The windows key on the keyboard can be used to open the start menu

Enlarge text on the internet

You can do this a few ways.

Hold ctrl+mouse wheel up or down to zoom in and out.

Ctrl and – or + to increase the font size

Copy and paste

Ctrl+c and Ctrl+v

Mac users : Command+c and command+v

Save

Ctrl+s or Command+s

Print

Ctrl+p or Command+p

There are hundreds of thousands of keyboard shortcuts, that’s only a few. 

Windows Keyboard shortcuts
Mac Keyboard shortcuts

Web searching

This is best used with google searches, but you can search for terms such as Apple Pie, by searching with quotations and it will limit the search to just be about “Apple Pie”. This can also be expanded by using the + sign to include further information on the search. Such as “Apple Pie” +Crustless.  This will search for only things about Apple Pies and the word Crustless. This will drastically reduce the chance of results that do not pertain to your search.

You do not need to type http://www. To get to websites. Typing Google.com will get you there all the same.

Google searches do math

Search : 2+1*4/2 Google results will show a calculator and the answer. * is for multiplication and / is for division.

These are just a few basic tips that most people didn’t know about. If you need more tips, tricks or working knowledge about your computer feel free to follow one of the links below or contact SofTech Computers in Prescott Arizona. visit our website http://www.softechcomputers.com and send us a message through our contact page or give us a call 928-443-8770. We offer new computer training and help you learn new ways to get the tasks you need to do, done.

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Computers in Prescott, How Long Will They Last? - Softech Computers

Softech computers in Prescott Arizona has a payment plan that could cover the lifespan of your computer. We all want to get what we pay for and seldom do. We think about this at the time of purchase of a new computer. Let us be honest, we buy a computer and we just expect it to work and last. Did you know that laptops average lifespan is not quite as long as you expect? Most people think a laptop would last about 5 years. It’s actually 2-3 years with most lasting just over 2 years. A desktop computers average lifespan is 3-5 years. But why do they not last?

Laptops – These are created to be powerful machines that help simplify your world. They are much smaller than a desktop computer and way more portable. Could you even imagine shouldering your desktop computer from place to place? I couldn’t even imagine trying to make it work… all of those cables, your keyboard, the mouse, the power cable. It just all adds up. Now a laptop, its everything all combined. You bring it with you to work, pull it in and out of the bag that you then carry up and down stairs and all across town, these units take a beating. Laptops are created for portability not longevity. Unfortunately, there are a lot of factors at play and it is really hard to point them out but let’s give it a try at just talking about a few.

Desktops – Created to be powerful tools that stay stationary in your home or office and are not meant to be portable. These are almost always more powerful than their portable counterparts due to not needing to worry much about size or space requirements.

Factors that lead to the death of your computer:

The Hard Drive – Now unless you have a Solid-State Drive in your computer the Hard Drive can die from a single impact to just the right place. Remember our previous post about hard drives having moving parts? Well in a laptop these parts are way more susceptible to damage, a single hit to the hard drive location can make the whole thing grind to a halt.

Power - Yes power, the more you use the hotter it gets. Faster computers generate a lot more heat. This wears out the silicon chips. Having the correct ventilation can help decrease this risk factor but it cannot help with removing it.

Electrical – Incorrectly shutting down your computer, removing the power source abruptly, power surges, power sags, basically anything that increases or decreases power to the computer. Risk can be lowered by using a UPS (uninterruptible power source) with a surge protector.

Dust – it traps in heat, clogs fans, reduces airflow and slowly or in some cases abruptly destroys your computer. Clean out your fans regularly!

Abuse- it’s a given, if you are rough with your computer they break sooner than later. Hitting the computer to get it to move faster is not an option you should take, but hey we have seen it all.

Mechanical failures – these are more of a – yup its dead – type factor. A fan, the processor, the motherboard, the hard drive, the video card. They all have a lifespan and unfortunately, we do not have a chart of possible lifetimes because honestly not even the manufacturer would know. Most warranty against defects for one year. After that? Well it’s on you to repair or replace it.

These are just a few factors that can lead to the death of your computer. Others can be electrical damage, water/liquid damage, the list goes on. You can decrease the risks to help prolong the life of your computer unit. If you need further advice on how to better protect your computer from possible risks, and get the best value from your computer you can visit SofTech Computers in Prescott Arizona, visit our website

(http://www.softechcomputers.com) or even give us a call (928-443-8770).

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The importance of Windows Computer Maintenance in Prescott brought to you by SofTech Computers

What do we mean by Windows computer maintenance? How can you help yourself by preventing issues with your computer without having to spend any money? SofTech Computers in Prescott brings information about computer maintenance and what you can do on your own. We will give a list of simple on-board tools and how to use them.

Microsoft Windows users - All of Microsoft operating system software comes with system tools to help optimize your computing experience. Each version has increased in its proficiency These are the tools windows comes with.

Drive Optimizer – also known as a defrag or tool to defragment your hard drive. This tool is quite powerful in the sense that over time your files are stored in various ‘logical’ locations as well as ‘physical’ locations that the computer must read. Unfortunately, programs and their sizes change with each and every update, this means that the computer programs are saved in different places on the hard drive. By running defrag the computer will group those programs and files back together. This greatly increases read speeds and this increases the performance.

Task Manager – Task manager allows the user to see list of various programs that are running, the processes, the services, the startup programs, and the performance of the computer for the current user as well as all other logged in users on the computer. This is a place where you do not want to turn anything off without knowing that in doing so you could potentially cause harm to your computer. This Tool is best used as a visual reference to see how the computer is being used and knowing if there are problems. An example would be to see the usage of your memory, cpu, disk, and network. Exceptionally higher values may indicate that your computer could be in need of some repairs. You also may possibly be using more of your computer than it was designed for and it needs some upgrades.

File History – New to windows 10, a backup option that keeps snap shots of your files so that you can repair or replace files quickly and easily. This can be a powerful tool as long as you can still access the drive to which the files are saved too. Unfortunately, this option has its flaws but yet still a great first step to data redundancy.

File Cleanup – Disk Cleanup – This tool helps reduce unnecessary files and remove unused temporary files that are not needed by the computer. This tool can also remove other files that may or may not be needed, such as windows update files or upgrade files. Never remove those unless you know you have no current issues with windows and that all things would not be needed in the future. These files are un-checked by default. It’s always better to be safe than sorry and leave these types of files alone.

Free Cloud Storage – One Drive by Microsoft for Live accounts is another really good step to help start protecting your information. This is really good for not so sensitive documents to allow you to upload these files directly to Microsoft servers and access them on any of your devices that you are logged into. We love this option, except it’s only a viable one if you can actually log in to the cloud to gain access to the documents.

All of these tools that are already built into your computer are ways of improving your system performance and protecting your data. Combine these with monthly backups, updates, and quarterly PC checks for best results and help increase the longevity of your unit.

Need some further care options for your computer? That’s where we come in. You can pay per service, or purchase our SofTech One plan to cover up to three of your computer units. Call 928 443-8770 or visit us at http://www.softechcomputers.com/ to learn about the services SofTech Computers offers.

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How to Avoid Online Computer Scams - Brought to You by SofTech Computers

The internet has given us more information and unique ways to conduct business than we could possibly dreamed of in years past. The wonderful world of the internet comes with a word of caution: Watch out for online scams. These are schemes to con you out of your money using your computer and the internet, either through fake websites or emails. You could be scammed through your smartphone, tablet, or computer.

SofTech Computers in Prescott has some tips to protect yourself. You can cut down the chance of scammers stealing your identity and cash:

•    Create passwords which are long, with random numbers. Do not use numbers associated with your birthday or social security number. Use upper and lower case numbers in addition. The longer the password the harder it is to guess. Ten digits are better than eight. Change your passwords often, and don't share them with anyone.
•    Install antivirus software and keep it up to date. This will check for malicious computer programs and monitor files before they are opened. Purchase the latest software for the best protection against viruses. If you purchase software online make sure it is from a trusted supplier.
•    Understand which software you are installing on your computer or phone and make sure you are using a secure site when you buy software, a tablet or a smart phone.  A secure site will have a web address beginning with https not http
•    Make sure that your firewall is turned on. A firewall is a security shield that stops scammers getting into your computer. Operating systems such as Windows come with built in firewall settings. They can monitor and warn you of unexpected access to your computer
Install updates to your operating system on a regular basis. Windows is an example of an operating system
•    Install the latest version of your web browser, for example Internet Explorer, which will have the latest security features.
•    Don’t open emails, email attachments, texts, or pop up messages from someone you don't know. These emails will have awkward or broken English.
•    No genuine online company will contact you to ask for your log-in details, such as your password or user ID. Only provide this information when you are logging onto a service that you are familiar with and trust, such as online banking.
•    Before entering payment card details on a website, make sure the link is secure.

 Make sure you have a secure link. Here’s how:

•    Make sure there's a padlock symbol in the browser window frame. This appears when you attempt to log in or register. Be sure the padlock is not on the page itself – if it is this could indicate it's a fraudulent site
•    Make sure that the web address begins with ‘https://’. The ‘s’ stands for ‘secure’
If you have opened a scam email:
•    Don’t reply to the email
•    Don’t click on any links in the email or open any attachments
•    If you have already clicked on a link and opened a website, don’t provide personal information.

If you believe that your computer has a virus, see our experts at SoftTech Computers in Prescott. We specialize in computer repair, computer maintenance, and virus and malware removal. If you are not sure which updated operating system, or browser to install, SofTech Computers can help with that too. We specialize in computer repair in Prescott. Visit us online at  http://www.softechcomputers.com/ or call 928-443-8770

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Simple Solutions to a Slow Wi-Fi Connection in Prescott - Softech Computers

A Wi-Fi connection is something that we take for granted. There those days when we encounter a slow connection, and believe it or not, here at SofTech Computers in Prescott, we have had similar issues. You might ask, "Why is my connection slow?" SofTech answers the question, "How can I fix my Wi-Fi problems?"

Faster speeds are keeping us more closely connected from around the block, across our beautiful state of Arizona, to around the world. If your connection still works, but is slow, try these simple tips:

• The most common problem with slow Wi-Fi is being too far from the router. The farther away you are from the router, the less reliable your connection. Try moving a little closer to the room where the router is located. If you find the constant moving inconvenient, simply re-locate your router to a centralized room, away from other devices, and on a shelf.
• Lack of bandwidth can cause a slowdown. Your internet could be spread too thin when everyone in the house is placing a demand on it through use of additional phones, computers, and televisions – all with data hungry apps such as Netflix and YouTube. Try disconnecting any device that is not in use. Try connecting one of the devices with a Cat-5 Ethernet cable directly to the router. It could also be that someone is leaching off your internet. Prevent that by a secure setup for your network, and keep your password a secret!
• A real issue could be interference. Most of us leave the settings unchanged when we first set up the Internet. Avoid channels 1, 6 and 11. They can be overcrowded. Try a newer model of router. They are capable of selecting less crowded frequencies upon rebooting. Otherwise, you can perform a power cycle or log into the admin panel and choose a different channel.
• Once in a while there really is no Internet connection. Something glitches and the router, modem, or both stop communicating – for no reason. It happens. The first thing to try is pulling the plug. Disconnect both the modem and router, wait 30 seconds, then restore power to both.
• If any of these quick fixes don’t work, the cause could be a service outage, most likely a severe one. It’s not always an issue that has to do with the hardware. There’s not much you can do other than to call your Internet Service Provider. While you won’t get instant results, at least they will know from your call which area is being affected.

SofTech Computers is your first choice for computer repair in Prescott. If our tips don’t solve your slow Wi-Fi problems immediately, talk to one of our specialists today. We are conveniently located in Downtown Prescott a few doors away from Far From Folsom. Call 928 443-8770 or visit us at http://www.softechcomputers.com/ to learn about the services SofTech Computers offers.

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Are you buying a new computer? We recommend NetBooks - Softech Computers

We all know it is frustrating when your computer stops working. Sometimes we hold on to computers longer than we should. They start to become slow and sometimes nonfunctional, however the fear of replacing your computer should not overwhelm you. This week SofTech Computers in Prescott shares with you tips on what you should look for when purchasing a new computer.

Look at prices... But before that, decide what you really need. Sometime we want shiny and new, or the fastest on the block, but it is really necessary?


First, decide what you are willing to spend! This will help you gauge possible features and if you really need or could live without them.

Is a netbook your answer?

Most lower end computers such as netbooks are made for exactly what they should be used for: Searching the web, accessing email, writing basic documents. These computers are light weight, inexpensive and somewhat limited, BUT if that’s what you need then you don’t need to spend much.

So what are you giving up by going with a netbook? To keep these netbooks light and inexpensive they leave out quite a bit, for some users this is a key factor. They reduce the number of external ports, such as a VGA, HDMI, and the number of USB slots. They do not come with a disk drive, this means they do not have CD, DVD or BLUray capabilities. Many have reduced processor, memory and hard drive sizes.

This example is just for netbooks and there are many types of computers out there and many more types of configurations of parts and software. Knowing what features you want and how much you want to pay for them, that will be your best guide.




Want to save more?

If you want to save more money and still want to get great features not offered in a Netbook that’s where we come in. SofTech Computer in Prescott has many custom built machines that will have the features you are looking for. Feel free to stop in our shop on Montezuma, call 928-443-8770, or visit our website at http://softechcomputers.com.

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Should You Repair, or Replace Your Computer? - Softech Computers in Prescott

To repair or do you replace? SofTech Computers in Prescott Arizona gives some helpful insight to the process in the hopes of helping consumers come to a conclusion.

Over a period of time, for most it’s several years, your computer has collected an arrangement of music, documents, photos and movies. These items are precious, and finding a way to safeguard your files is as important to us as it is to you. You cannot put a price on memories and your files are just that, memories stored in a little tiny box.

In the spirit of analogies let us compare your computer to a tree. As a tree grows the roots spread deeper into the ground and branch out into many different places. Sometimes you can up root a tree with little effort and others it becomes complicated due to the nature of those roots. The same is to be said about computers. Depending on the system you are thinking of replacing or possibly repairing, there are some factors you need to look into:

Some factors to consider when you want to repair or replace your computer:

The programs – Not all computer programs will work on just any machine, even if you were to modify those programs to run in a compatibility they may just not work on the newer operating systems. For specialty programs that you have already invested time and money into this may not be something you wish to give up. Yes, programs have evolved and in many instances, there are really good upgrades that are worth the change to upgrade rather than repair but this option is not always available due to possible cost factors. Remember you can’t transfer programs from one computer to another, you have to install those programs in those new systems, if you no longer have the media to do so, and cannot go without said software, this makes the option to repair a better choice.

External (peripheral) devices – From the home user to the small business owner, external devices should always be considered prior to investing into a newer machine. Reason? Cost! Mice, keyboards, audio devices, and printers; Laser, ink-jet, receipt or even impact printers, are all specialty devices that do not always allow you to just connect to a newer device. The cables, ports, and drivers to those devices are not always compatible and this leads to increased costs when considering the repair or replace options.

In an example of this could be impact printers (for some these are still used even today) for specialty forms that you currently have and use. Most programs that rely on impact printers for those forms cannot simply be attached to a new computer and work. This would require a newer printer, form, and possibly even newer business software to use those printers. Those costs need to be weighed into the possible reasons to either repair or replace your computing unit.

Possible improvements – Technology is an ever-changing creature. Vast improvements in sometimes as little as a few months, weeks, days or even hours. Computers created in the days of windows 98, xp, vista, 7, and 8 have increased one after the other in storage space, speed, power and abilities. Sometimes those changes are amazingly wonderful, other times they are extremely painful. In an example the vista operating system, for many users this “upgrade” was a reminder that not everything new is good and wonderful. Now that does not mean avoid upgrading to a newer computer system or even just the operating system, but understanding that the latest is not always the greatest is some of the best advice we can give.

There are many different kinds of computers and everyone is going to have different situations, so being able to give advice that suits everyone is not always possible. We do hope that this gives you a bit to think about and if you have any questions feel free to stop in our shop, visit our website at http://www.softechcomputers.com or give us a call at 928-443-8770 and schedule some time to chat with one of our techs and come up with a solution that works best for you.

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