Tech Tips & News – Iowa PC Services, Inc.

In plain sight: Malicious ads hiding in search results

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 11:40:40 GMT

Sometimes there’s more than just an enticing product offer hiding behind an ad.

With just a click, a person’s computer or even their entire network could become infested.

Three minute read... (link to ESET's WeLiveSecurity site)

Don’t Lose Your Mobile Number!

Sat, 24 Aug 2024 15:13:35 GMT

Imagine if phone calls and texts suddenly stopped coming to your mobile phone, and were delivered to an identity thief. Find out how to keep this from happening to you!

Cell phone security is not just about protecting your personal information and data, but also ensuring that your phone number remains in your control. Unauthorized phone number porting can lead to catastrophic consequences, including loss of critical communication and control over your personal and financial accounts.

Imagine waking up one morning to find that you can no longer access your bank account, receive important calls or texts, or even use your phone to call for help in an emergency. That is the reality of what can happen if your phone number is ported without your consent. Known as “a port-out scam” or “SIM jacking”, this method of identity theft allows hackers to use your number for nefarious purposes, such as opening new accounts in your name, changing passwords to other existing accounts, accessing your private information, or making fraudulent purchases.

To secure your cell phone account, follow these steps for each of these carriers:

Verizon:

Enable two-factor authentication for logging into your account online
Choose strong and unique passwords for your account
Turn on “number lock” to prevent unauthorized transfers
Monitor your account activity regularly to detect any suspicious activity

T-Mobile:

T-Mobile doesn’t require a PIN for account changes, but you should visit the store to set one up.
Keep your personal information up to date, such as your email address and phone number, to help with identity verification.
Turn on notifications for account changes, such as new lines of service or changes to your plan.

AT&T:

Set up a password for your account.
Use strong and unique passwords for your account and other online accounts.
Enable text alerts for account changes and activity.
Keep your personal information up to date, such as your email address and phone number.

US Cellular:

Enable two-factor authentication for logging into your account online.
Set up a password for your account and keep it secure.
Visit a US Cellular store to change the PIN, so it is not the last four digits of your SSN.
Monitor your account activity regularly to detect any suspicious activity.

Ignoring these simple steps to secure your cell phone account can have devastating consequences. Don't leave your personal information, financial security, and communication at risk. Instead, take the time to protect your cell phone account today.

If you need help, call us at 515-299-4555 to secure your mobile phone numbers and other accounts.

RMM: Peace of Mind for Computer Owners

dan@iowapcservices.com (Dan Bailey) — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 16:22:49 GMT

Product Description: IPCS Monitoring Tier 1 Monthly

This service is also known as Remote Monitoring and Maintenance, or RMM for short. This service is designed to provide you with peace of mind, knowing that we are monitoring the health of your computer, it's operating system update status, the hard drive, and many other important components that make your computer work. Here's a brief list:

Provides the ability for remote support, meaning we can get to you quicker
Daily Safety Checks of a number of different error conditions that can ruin your day
Check of many essential Windows services to ensure that your computer runs smoothly
Patch management manages updates to Windows and other software
Hard Drive health and free space checks
Failed login check watches for malicious logins on your computer
Critical event checks for 10 most frequent errors in system, application and security logs
Checks Antivirus software installation and update status

Anne Ogle Marks 8 Years with Iowa PC Services, Inc.

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 15:01:10 GMT

Anne Ogle marks 8 years with Iowa PC Services, Inc.

It was a great day when Anne Ogle joined Iowa PC Services, Inc. as a scheduler! Since that time her responsibilities have grown and she now serves as Administrative Assistant. Anne is still the pleasant, helpful voice our customers look forward to hearing when they call. Most recently, Anne has been doing the social media posts for IPCS - perhaps you have seen them? Her organizational skills and good communication are a huge part of our serving you and we simply don't know what we would do with her! Please join us in congratulating Anne on 8 great years with IPCS!

Anne Ogle Marks 8 Years with Iowa PC Services, Inc.

How Can I Keep From Getting Hacked?

Sat, 28 Jan 2023 13:47:52 GMT

Use a password manager now! Here's why...

Using a password manager to generate and save passwords is a vital step in protecting your online accounts and personal information. The risks of using one password everywhere are significant and can have serious consequences if your password is compromised.

One of the biggest risks of using the same password for multiple accounts is that if one account is hacked, all of your other accounts are also vulnerable to being hacked. This is because many people reuse the same email address and password combination across multiple accounts, making it easy for malicious actors to gain access to multiple accounts with just one set of login credentials.

Another risk of using the same password everywhere is that it makes it easier for malicious actors to guess your password through a process called "brute force" hacking. This is where a hacker uses a program to automatically try different combinations of characters until they find the correct password. The more common the password, the easier it is for the hacker to guess it.

Furthermore, malicious actors can also use phishing scams to trick you into giving them your password, or use malware to steal your login credentials.

To protect yourself from these risks, it is important to use a password manager to generate and save unique passwords for each of your accounts. A password manager will automatically generate strong, random passwords for you and save them securely. This means that even if one of your accounts is hacked, your other accounts will still be safe.

In addition, a password manager can also alert you if any of your saved passwords have been compromised in a data breach, so you can change them immediately.

Overall, using a password manager is a simple and effective way to protect your online accounts and personal information from malicious actors. It is essential for anyone who values their online security to start using a password manager today.

Call us today for a security consultation. We provide solid advise on how to use a password manager, and can help you eliminate insecure passwords from your life!

Jerad Penick Completes 2 Years

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 13:21:13 GMT

Congratulations, Jerad!

Congratulations to Jerad Penick upon completing two years with Iowa PC Services, Inc! Jerad joined our team on November 2, 2020, and has worked hard to satisfy our customers while handling various tech challenges. He is very detail-oriented and is especially talented at solving unusual problems. Jerad also brings a wealth of knowledge on macOS, mobile computing, and the latest developments in component technology.

Jason Housby Reaches 15 Year Mark

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 11:00:00 GMT

Congratulations, Jason!

Congratulations to Jason Housby on 15 years with IPCS. Jason came to Iowa PC Services, Inc. right after college and has made the Des Moines area home since November 2007. As a computer technician, he excelled at customer service and demonstrated an aptitude for project planning. Jason was promoted to Project Manager in 2021. Please join us in congratulating Jason on this milestone.

Cash App fraud: 10 common scams to watch out for

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 22:57:26 GMT

It pays to be careful – here’s how you can stay safe from fake giveaways, money flipping scams and other cons that fraudsters use to trick payment app users out of their hard-earned cash.

5 ways cybercriminals steal credit card details

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 16:30:14 GMT

Here are some of the most common ways hackers can get hold of other people’s credit card data – and how you can keep yours safe.

8 Common Facebook Marketplace scams and how to avoid them

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 21:31:18 GMT

Here’s what to watch out for when buying or selling stuff on the online marketplace and how to tell if you’re being scammed

Celebrating 20 Years

dan@iowapcservices.com (Dan Bailey) — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 03:25:26 GMT

Celebrating 20 years of making computers work for you!

On July 12, 2002, Dan Bailey felt there was a need for someone to go into homes and businesses to fix computers so people wouldn't have to haul them somewhere else, and before long, he was busy doing just that! It was several years before his wife, Donna, became an official employee, but she was indispensable from the start.

We thank God for blessing our decision to step out on faith to begin this venture. Through the years, He has seen us through it all, helping us grow into a five-member team dedicated to serving our customers. Many thanks to our outstanding employees and loyal customers for helping us achieve this 20-year milestone!

Privacy.com: Cure For Credit Card Woes

Sun, 14 Nov 2021 22:40:00 GMT

If your credit card was hacked, you were double-billed for a purchase, or you’ve ever stopped a subscription or service but continued to be charged for it, read on.

Often your first thought is to call the bank and ask them to cancel the card. Then you wait for the new card to arrive in the mail, activate it when it arrives, and try to remember all the businesses you pay with that card. This can happen to both debit cards and credit cards.

What a hassle! Haven’t we put up with it long enough? Enter privacy.com. This excellent service provides you with secure solutions to all of these problems. Privacy.com shields your card details and your money by creating virtual payment cards, instead of using your regular debit or credit card, for each place you shop online.

Pivacy.com is held to the same rigorous security standards as your bank. If you’re interested, you can read more about the security of their system on their website . I’ve used it with my own business since 2019 and find that it’s fantastic in every way.

Privacy Cards lock to the first merchant they are used with, so if the merchant is ever compromised, your card number can never be used anywhere else, giving you a layer of protection you don’t have with traditional credit cards. Funds paid with Privacy Cards are immediately withdrawn from your bank account, functioning as debit cards.

You can create a spending limit per charge, per month, or per year on each card you create. This blocks hidden fees and double charges on recurring expenses. If a transaction goes over the limit, it will automatically decline.

You can also pause or close Privacy Cards, which means you’ll never have another problem cancelling a subscription or stopping a service. Just pause the card, and no further charges will be allowed. If you’ll never use this vendor again, just close it.

Another useful feature is the one-time use card. You can provide a number to make a one-time payment. No future surprises are possible.

Use these amazing Privacy Card numbers for all of your online purchases. The personal plan includes all these features, is free forever, and allows you to create 12 credit cards per month. There is a pro plan that pays 1% back per month on all of your transactions, and allows 36 cards per month.

Let Privacy.com give you peace of mind for all your online transactions. And if you want help getting started, contact us . We don’t resell the service – we’re just promoting it because it really works!

Easy Solutions for Business Internet

Sun, 07 Nov 2021 14:00:00 GMT

If your business regularly faces problems with with internet speed, poor service from your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or if you simply need to upgrade to a better, more reliable service, then read on.

We have partnered with a master agent that gives us the inside scoop and priority access to the best Internet access providers available at your address. Often we can find a better deal with a provider you may not be aware of. You get internet from local carriers at the same rates without the hassle. It’s like having a concierge for your internet service!

Ask us for a quote and find out what we can do for you!

Jason Housby Completes 14 Years

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 20:32:00 GMT

November 1 marked Jason’s 14 year tenure on the IPCS Team. Jason started as a computer technician in 2007 and has helped to grow the company from a one-man operation to six team members. Today he is a project manager and draws upon his considerable experience to serve our customers both large and small. Congratulations, Jason!

Jerad Penick Marks One Year at IPCS

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 14:21:00 GMT

Congratulations to Jerad Penick on completing his first year with Iowa PC Services, Inc. on November 2, 2021. We have found Jerad to be very diligent to meet the needs of our customers, and we continue to receive great feedback. It was a great day when Jerad joined our team!

Iowa PC Services, Inc. voted best in Des Moines

Tue, 11 Feb 2020 04:22:00 GMT

Iowa PC Services, Inc. received the 2019 Computer Repair Award-Winners Voted by Locals !

Thank you to everyone who voted for us! We do so appreciate your trust in us and your recommendation!

Beware Coronavirus Scams

Wed, 05 Feb 2020 11:58:00 GMT

There is now evidence of phishing attackers who are seeking to take advantage of this worldwide health scare. New campaigns are being launched based on the fear of the Coronavirus and attempting to get individuals to click on links, open attachments, or give out confidential information by imitating the Center for Disease Control or other health organizations.

Be careful with anything you receive related to this virus: emails, attachments, social media, and texts. Look out for topics like:

Don’t react quickly to anything you see in email or the web. The saying holds true: The scarier the message, the more skeptical you should be.

How to Avoid Paper Jams

Wed, 13 Nov 2019 13:52:00 GMT

Is your printer jamming? If so, it might not be the printer… it could be your paper! While this article doesn’t tell you how to un-jam your printer, it does tell you how you may avoid paper jams in the future.

When paper is stored unprotected, it absorbs moisture from the air. Then it doesn’t feed in the printer as well, causing jams, mis-feeds, and other errors when printing. Helen Keily, chief chemist at a past US producer of paper, says that most paper jams are caused when paper is curled or buckled due to high moisture content .

The solution is two-fold.

Protect the paper . According to Xerox , you should keep your paper reams sealed in the original packaging until you are ready to use them. Re-seal opened reams with tape to keep the moisture out. It may even be necessary to replace unused paper in a printer that has been there for a long time, where it easily absorbs the moisture in the air.

Manage the humidity. Whenever possible, store paper in a climate-controlled space, since air conditioning removes moisture from the air, and in the winter, heating serves to lower the relative humidity level of indoor air. Avoid locating printers in unheated or non-air-conditioned rooms.

Disable the Chrome Pop-up Blocker

Mon, 18 Feb 2019 14:43:00 GMT

When a web page isn’t working in Chrome, many times it’s because the pop-up blocker is preventing some part of the page from appearing. This problem can occur when viewing some times of web mail, as well as banking sites, or most any other site.

This video shows you how to recognize when the pop-up blocker is blocking a page, and describes how to disable it. This is useful, because Chrome will remember your preference for each web site, and you should only have to do this one time for a web page that’s not working.

It’s also possible that the Chrome pop-up blocker is not the problem, but that uBlock Origin is. If don’t see the Chrome pop-up blocker symbol appearing in your address bar, check out how to disable uBlock Origin .

As always, if this doesn’t help, or if you need other help, give us a call… we’d love to help!

Resizing Pictures Made Easy

Sat, 09 Feb 2019 13:29:00 GMT

Have you ever used a picture on the web, but found it was the wrong size? Maybe it was too big? Well, there’s an easy solution to the problem: Image Resizer. You can download the program at the following web site.

Here is an excellent way to resize your pictures: http://www.bricelam.net/ImageResizer/

Once you have downloaded and installed this little gem, right-click on either one or a group of pictures as shown here. Then click “Resize pictures.”

The “Resize pictures” action will cause the following dialog box to open up, giving you ultimate control over the actual size of the resized picture.

This program is free from adware and malware and formerly was distributed as a Microsoft PowerToy. It has since moved to this page and lives in today in all its simplicity and power. Enjoy!

Disabling uBlock Origin

Wed, 06 Feb 2019 19:10:00 GMT

We recommend that everyone who browses the web use uBlock Origin to block malicious content from ruining your day on the web. It helps you avoid malicious content, annoying advertizing, and pop-up ads from interrupting you.

However some web pages will not work properly when uBlock Origin is enabled. We recommend you disable uBlock Origin for these web pages only.

Here’s an example web page, with uBlock Origin enabled. Note the red shield with the number 1 on it. This means that one item on this page has been blocked.

Step 1:

First, click the red shield. This opens the uBlock Origin menu. Next, click the blue power button. This disables uBlock Origin for this web site only, and this preference will be remembered until and unless you change it.

Step 2:

Now it’s time to refresh the web page. There are two different refresh buttons shown here. They both cause the page to be reloaded without being blocked by uBlock Origin.

Step 3:

The web page has now been refreshed, and uBlock Origin is no longer blocking this site. This means that whatever problem lead you to disable uBlock Origin for this site has probably been fixed, so you can try that now.

Note that the uBlock Origin sheild is now gray. This shows that it no longer has access to this site and is not blocking any content. This preference is saved for each site, meaning that other sites will still be blocked.

Conclusion

uBlock Origin is extremely useful to help you avoid many problems on the web, but as you now may realize, there are some sites that do not work properly with it turned on. Some examples of sites you may want to disable uBlock Origin for are:

It’s still best to keep uBlock Origin enabled for most sites, becuase of all the seriously malicious things it stops. It’s best for you to understand when to use it and when to disable it.

As always, if you have questions about uBlock Origin, give us a call . We’d love to help!

Ten Year Milestone for Jason Housby

Wed, 01 Nov 2017 15:53:00 GMT

Congratulations to Jason Housby on ten years with Iowa PC Services! Jason came to us fresh out of college and has proven to be a huge asset to the company. Donna and I appreciate his diligence, expertise, honesty and kind spirit in working with both fellow employees and customers. Jason truly has the customer’s best interest at heart, and it shows. We are thankful for ten excellent years with Jason and look forward to many more.

– Dan Bailey, president

Give your car mileage tracking, emergency assistance, GPS location and more!

Thu, 27 Jul 2017 12:47:00 GMT

Automatic Pro

https://www.automatic.com

Practical Ways to be Safe Online

Wed, 26 Jul 2017 10:40:00 GMT

Here is a brief list of things you can do to protect yourself online. Do your updates often and regularly. Don’t download something you didn’t go looking for to begin with. Don’t believe pop-up warnings that tell you what’s wrong with your PC. Don’t let anyone remote into your computer if you didn’t go looking for […]

Solve WiFi problems with this excellent and inexpensive router!

Tue, 25 Jul 2017 11:00:00 GMT

Do you have trouble using the WiFi in your home or place of business? If you are the person responsible for fixing the problem, this can be a real headache. Fortunately, there are many newer wireless routers that solve this problem quite well. One in particular, made by TP-Link, is my personal favorite: the TP-Link AC1900 Archer C9 .

It is an excellent buy for many of our customers – being both economical and powerful. It’s able to cover a large home quite easily, and also solves problems of having a wall of kitchen appliances in the way, or a furnace room that’s blocking the path to an important location in your home.

Here are a few of the technical details from the TP-Link web site. Or you can just believe us when we say, this is a great router that will more than likely meet your needs!

Contact us if you would like for us to configure and setup one of these for you, or be adventuresome and buy it yourself and learn to set it up.

Resizing Images Made Easy and Safe

Sat, 22 Jul 2017 14:26:00 GMT

Here is an excellent way to resize your pictures: http://www.bricelam.net/ImageResizer/

Once you have downloaded and installed this little gem, right-click on either one or a group of pictures as shown here. Then click “Resize pictures.”

The “Resize pictures” action will cause the following dialog box to open up, giving you ultimate control over the actual size of the resized picture.

This program is free from adware and malware and formerly was distributed as a Microsoft PowerToy. It has since moved to this page and lives in today in all its simplicity and power. Enjoy!

Introducing Our Team

Sat, 22 Jul 2017 13:54:00 GMT

While we haven’t made any personnel changes in quite a while, we thought you’d like to see the faces of the good folks at Iowa PC Services for a change. From left to right: Dan Bailey, Donna Bailey, Anne Ogle and Jason Housby. For more about each person, visit our About Us page.

Introducing Our Team

Sat, 22 Jul 2017 13:54:00 GMT

Fix Problems in Chrome with this Google Tool

Sat, 10 Dec 2016 22:37:00 GMT

Is your Chrome browser acting strangely? Are you using Chrome but having challenges that seem to have cropped up? If you’re tired of it and want to try to fix the problem yourself, read on!

If you’re experiencing any of the following:

If you’re using Microsoft Windows, then you may benefit from running the Chrome Cleanup Tool . If that doesn’t solve your problem, give us a call. We’ll be happy to clean up your computer and get you back to running on an even keel again!

Am I Safe if I Don’t Bank Online?

Fri, 09 Dec 2016 13:42:00 GMT

Usually said with a self-reassuring expression that signals they have common sense, and avoid putting any financial information online. After all, if you never type your credit card into a computer, they can’t get it, right? The problem is a little more complicated than that. A lot more complicated.

I making my living removing viruses and malware from computers, and for most of these cases, I usually do this sitting side-by-side with the person responsible for the mess I’m cleaning up.

While it is true that no one can steal what isn’t there, there are a lot of valuable assets on your computer that you may not be aware of. Brian Krebs, a former Washington Post staffer who writes on cyber crime and other internet security topics, has published an excellent list of ways your computer can be used by cyber criminals to their advantage. His article, The Scrap Value of a Hacked PC , lists many more motivations for cyber criminals.

According to Krebs, your financial information is only a small fraction of the whole picture. Cyber criminals have many methods for benefiting from your computer, including turning it into a web server used for distributing pirated software, pornography, and online gaming characters. Secret web servers can also be used to host phishing sites such as fake bank pages. This is especially troubling, because you can’t see this happening at all on your screen. The only symptoms are the send and receive lights on your modem flashing, and the hard drive light flashing, if your computer is so equipped.

So it’s important to be careful, even if you don’t do any online banking. Don’t assume safety… be safe on purpose! If you’re worried about online security, we’re happy to help. We can clean up your computer, provide good security, and train you to avoid problem areas on the internet. Give us a call… we’d love to help!

Phone Scams: What’s Being Done?

Thu, 01 Dec 2016 13:36:00 GMT

The answer is, “Yes!” – and here’s an account from Reuters of police addressing the problem near Mumbai, India.

Callers for dollars: Inside India’s scam call centers

New Service: IPCS Tier 1 Monitoring

Thu, 28 Jan 2016 06:44:00 GMT

Iowa PC Services is proud to announce this very smart new offering: Continuous health monitoring of your computer. We call it “IPCS Tier 1 Monitoring.” This service includes:

Daily Monitoring

With our remote monitoring service, we don’t hang around waiting for you to call when something goes wrong. Instead, we’ll check your system around the clock, day and night, for any problems that might interfere with your ability to do business. And when we spot trouble, we’ll fix it right away – probably before you even know about it.

With the Conventional Process…

This service is performed automatically – so it’s guaranteed to happen even if staff are sick or on holiday. If we find problems, we’ll immediately alert an engineer so he can act fast to cut potential downtime. We’ll even send you a short note to confirm the checks carried out and their results.

Regular Updates

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday we run scheduled checks to ensure that common software on your computer is up-to-date. These updates are crucial to ensure that known vulnerabilities that have been fixed do not become your problem, by checking for updates from the software vendors.

Antivirus

The antivirus that is available with this monitoring system is tightly integrated into this monitoring service in a way that allows us to monitor whether it has been updated properly with the latest virus definitions. We are also able to see what viruses it may have encountered, and whether these were completely removed or not. Any anomalies in this managed antivirus system will raise a red flag, which allows us to be pro-active when problems arise.

If you use a different antivirus program, it’s possible that we will be able to monitor that program in place of the managed antivirus provided by Tier 1 Monitoring. Other antivirus programs are not as tightly integrated as the managed antivirus, and we will not be able to see what viruses these antivirus programs have encountered on your computer, however we are often able to monitor the state of the a-v definitions for this different antivirus.

Malicious Web Site Blocking

Most viruses come through the web, and our web blocking system is able to prevent stumbling on sites that can cause serious difficulty on your computer. These blocking rules can be customized for your needs, and for some people, we have disabled this altogether.

Regular Hard Drive Maintenance

We schedule a weekly temp file deletion and hard drive defragmenting. Other regular maintenance tasks are possible as needed.

Remote Support

We use a remote support tool that allows us to remote-control your computer when you need help. We charge our regular hourly fee for this time – it’s not covered by the monthly fee for Tier 1 Monitoring. But we have use this many times to remote into a computer and fix problems for our customers on a more timely basis.

These are the various services available under the umbrella we call “IPCS Tier 1 Monitoring”. And all this for far less than the cost of a cappuccino!

How to get started? Just give us a call at 515-299-4555, or use the contact form. We’d love to help!

Windows 10 Recommendation

Sun, 05 Jul 2015 12:52:00 GMT

We are bullish on Windows 10. We’ve installed the technical preview version, and it looks very good. But, caution is always the safest route, so here’s my recommendation:

Go ahead and reserve your copy. This will allow the 3 gigabyte download to complete without your intervention. This will get the lengthy part done without any fuss. When it has been downloaded, you will be notified. At this point, we are saying hold off on the install until we’ve know more.

We will be posting an article on our web site when we change this recommendation to “Install Windows 10”. This approach will ensure that everyone gets the free copy of Windows 10 from Microsoft, while avoiding any possible nasty surprises that come because of being an early adapter.

Dell Command | Update

Sun, 22 Feb 2015 06:54:00 GMT

Many people get themselves into trouble by downloading programs that update drivers, but if you own a Dell Optiplex, Latitude or Precision computer, there is an excellent option from Dell that will give you the “straight scoop” on driver, firmware, and bios and updates. Dell Command | Update is that program, and is the recommended and safe way to get automatic updates straight from Dell for your new computer.

We repair many computers that run slowly and have many marketing pop-ups. The problem often begins when the computer owner installs a program that offers to update the drivers and “optimize” the computer’s performance. But in reality, these programs are installing malware, ad-ware, and slowing your computer down. Don’t fall prey to these schemes. Get Dell Command | Update.

And don’t be put off by the references to “Enterprise” on the Dell page that describes this excellent utility. It works on any Optiplex, Latitude or Precision computer, and isn’t for businesses only. This is another reason why Iowa PC Services recommends these models first, even for home use. The support from Dell is top-notch, the performance is excellent, and the long-term durability will give anyone the assurance that they are investing their computing dollar in a wise way.

Dell Command | Update

Windows 10: Free and Easy!

Wed, 04 Feb 2015 12:39:00 GMT

And what’s even more amazing? It will be available through Windows update! By visiting the Microsoft Technical Preview page and clicking on the “Start Upgrade Now” button, Windows 10 will be added to the options you’ll see in Windows Update.

This option is called the “Technical Preview” for a reason: It is not for using on your production machine, and has not been released to the public yet. Additionally, the version available not is not the final version, and things are likely to be different when the final public release is made. But for those who are adventuresome, check it out! Many have, and are getting great results!

Important

Change how icons appear in the notification area

Thu, 15 May 2014 21:57:00 GMT

The notification area is in the lower-right corner of the screen, located at the far right of the taskbar. I t contains program icons that provide status and notifications about things like incoming e?mail, updates, and network connectivity.

For help on how to change which icons show in the notification area, please see this handy article on the Microsoft web site:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/change-how-icons-appear-in-the-notification-area

There is a video that shows how to change which icons appear in the notification area.

Avoid Java whenever possible! When it’s not, minimize the risk.

Sun, 27 Oct 2013 01:38:00 GMT

Yes, it’s true that we recommend that Java be uninstalled. It’s not that Java is malicious, but that there are definite security problems associated with having java on your computer.

According to an article in USA Today , Kaspersky Lab estimated that in 2013 50 percent of all website exploitations were due to vulnerabilities in Java . Because of this, it’s best not to have Java on your computer if you don’t have a particular need for it.

If you need to uninstall Java, here’s an article that tells how .

However, if you need java, then it’s necessary to put up with the risk.

If you need to install Java, here’s an article that tells how . But be sure to follow the instructions contained in the article that mention that you need to un-select the extra software that’s offered, such as the Ask Toolbar. Java is notorious for pushing “extra” offers that will slow down your computer and change it’s behavior in annoying ways.

If you need Java on your computer, then there is one additional item to consider. You may need Java because of a program that is written in the Java language that you need to run. If this program runs when you are in your browser, then you are required to leave Java enabled in the browser in order for this program to run. No further action is required on your part, but you are also in the highest risk category of Java users, because allowing web pages to access Java programs also allows virus programs and other malicious software to use Java for their purposes.

Because of this, you may want to ask those who are telling you that you need Java whether it needs to be enabled in the browser or not. Because, if at all possible, when you are required to have Java on your computer, then it is recommended to disable the Java browser plug-in that enables java in the browser.

One way is to ask, but possibly an easier way is to try disabling the Java plug-in using these instructions . If your needed program still works, then you are in safe territory. However, if disabling the Java plug-in as described here prevents you from successfully using the system that requires Java, then you’ll need to re-enable it.

There is one last way to minimize the danger of having Java enabled, and that is to enable the Java plug-in for one browser – say, Internet Explorer, and use that browser only for your Java-requiring application.

Then use a different browser for all of your other browsing – Chrome or Firefox, for example, and disable the Java plug-in in that browser using the instructions listed above.

Help for Microsoft Office 2010 Starter Edition users

Fri, 25 Oct 2013 12:06:00 GMT

Microsoft recently made a change that affects all users of Microsoft Office 2010 Starter Edition that has made it completely unusable for many of our customers. Here is a work-around and a solution to that problem…

The problem is that when you double-click on a Word document, or an Excel document, they are no longer opened in Word or Excel. In fact, it turns out that Microsoft has purposefully done this in an effort to get more people to stop using the free Starter edition and purchase a paid version of Office.

There is one work-around available that may allow you to continue using the Starter Edition. Here is how you do it:

These two steps are not useful or convenient in every case. For example, if you have received a Word or Excel document as an attachment in email, you are no longer able to double-click the attachment. You first have to save the attachment to a known location, such as your Desktop, and then do the two steps above in order to view it.

We are now recommending a solution to this problem that does not involve using Microsoft Office 2010 Starter Edition at all. Instead, we recommend using Libre Office. This is a free Office program that you can download free from http://libreoffice.org .

This free program makes an excellent replacement for Microsoft Office 2010 Starter Edition. The general approach is this:

Make sure to put a check-mark next to all document types listed during the install. This will make it the default document handler for Word, Excel, Powerpoint documents so that they open properly when you double-click on them.

If you have questions about this solution, feel free to give us a call at 515-299-4555! We’d love to help!

Using JAWS with Windows Live Mail

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:57:00 GMT

Many of our blind customers use the popular screen reading program called Jaws for Windows. Windows Live Mail, the current free email client available from Microsoft, can be used with Jaws, with the proper know-how. An excellent guide to using Jaws with Windows Live Mail 2011 , written by David Bailes, is available at the following web site:

http://vip.chowo.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/jaws/Windows-Live-Mail-2011-Guide.html

Nov 17, 2016 – Edit: Beginning in 2017, Windows Live Mail will no longer be supported by Microsoft, which makes it important that you not use Windows Live Mail. An excellent replacement at this time for an email client is Mozilla Thunderbird . If you need help setting up or using this software, contact us – we’d love to help!

Facebook privacy: Question from a concerned user

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 13:35:00 GMT

Requests from facebook users to keep their posts private are becoming more common. Here is a question from a concerned user, asking whether it is safe to comply with such a request.

Question: I am seeing it on face book. I always hesitate to do things like this as I don’t know if it is for real. Can you help me with this? Should I do this or not? Thank you,

Answer: Yes, it’s okay to do what they describe here. By doing so you will be honoring their request for privacy, and setting the privacy setting in your facebook account for the occasions when you may like or comment on their posts. It’s safe, and honors their request.

Ten Years in Businesss

Sun, 22 Jul 2012 20:11:00 GMT

We are pleased to announce that we have completed ten years in business! It’s a milestone for us, and we are grateful to all of our customers for allowing us to serve your computing needs. We also give thanks and credit to God, who is the source for all good things, and the reason for our success.

D-Day for “DNS Changer” virus, but probably not for you.

Sun, 08 Jul 2012 20:41:00 GMT

July 9, 2012 is D-Day for the DNS Changer virus. If your computer has been infected by that virus, then you are at risk for losing access to the internet. Here’s how to tell if DNS Changer is a problem for you, and what to do about it if it is.

What to do about DNS Changer

The test for DNS Changer is simple. All you have to do is to visit a web site. But don’t wait for D-Day, which comes on July 9. If your computer has DNS Changer and you wait for D-Day, you won’t be able to access the web to fix the problem, putting you in a difficult spot. The time to fix the problem is now!

Test for DNS CHANGER: Here’s how: Just visit http://dns-ok.us If the background on shows GREEN, then you’re okay, but if the background is RED, then you’ve got DNS Changer!

Fix DNS Changer: Visit http://safety.live.com , and click the blue “Download now” button. Allow this program to run, and it will fix the problem.

If you find yourself without web access on July 9, and the message in your browser simply says, “Web page cannot be displayed.” Then you need help. Give us a call at 515-299-4555, and we can fix it for you!

Scary Warning with Phone Number?

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:51:00 GMT

If you suddenly notice that your friends are receiving email messages that you did not send, then it’s likely that one of two things have happened: Either your computer has a virus, or someone else has gotten your email password.

A Virus on Your Computer

If the virus is on your computer, then it will probably be very evident, because you’ll be having other problems, such as a new window that looks like an anti-virus program that is warning you that you have many problems on your computer. These programs are called “Scare Ware” – and the number one word of advise is DO NOT do what this window is telling you to do. Don’t “click here” to fix the problem – instead, turn off your computer immediately.

Next, turn it on again and watch to see if the scary messages appear again. If not, then it was simply a pop-up from a web site, carefully crafted to look like an antivirus program. If the virus does show up again, the next thing to try is to use the Windows “system restore” feature to go back to an earlier time.

If the system restore attempt doesn’t work, or it cannot be completely successfully, then give us a call at 515-299-4555. We’ll save all your documents, pictures, music, internet favorites, and anything else that’s personal to you on the computer. Next we’ll erase the hard drive, getting rid of the virus, and finally, we’ll reinstall Windows, and put your data back where it belongs. We guarantee that the virus will be gone.

Email Account Hacked

This is the second possibility – that the virus is not on your computer, but instead, your email password has been “Hacked” or discovered by someone else. The solution to this problem is the simplest: Change your password. It will not likely be hacked again – at least, not quickly.

After changing your password, determine whether your friends continue to receive the messages that may have alerted you to the problem in the first place. If those messages stop, then you’ve taken care of the problem.

However, if your friends continue messages you did not send, then you likely have a virus on your computer, and you need to go back to the previous section – A Virus on Your Computer.

Is my Windows 32-bit or 64-bit?

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 05:31:00 GMT

How to tell if your computer is running 32-bit or 64-bit Windows:

Follow these steps to find out if your computer is running 32-bit or 64-bit Windows version, and what edition of Windows is on your computer.

If you have Windows 10:

If you have Windows Vista or Windows 7:

If you have Windows XP:

How to Use Windows 7 Backup

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 04:47:00 GMT

The new Backup program included in Windows 7 has been one of the most touted features of the popular new operating system from Microsoft. But it turns out that it does not appear to be as good as we thought. Here’s why: Windows 7 Backup lacks the ability to delete older backup files to make room for the new backup files. In other words, the backup location will fill up, eventually!

Confirming this is a post dated November 2009 on the Microsoft Technet web site:

Hi folks. I was told that the Windows 7 backup will automatically delete space as needed when it runs out but this morning I am being told from the Action Center that there isn’t enough room. Do I have to manually delete backups? I will note that I am backing up to a network location. I don’t know if that makes a difference. Thanks.

The answer, coming from a Microsoft representative, states that you must manually delete the old backup sets! Here is that reply:

That is true. However, we recommend that you run both file and system image backups. File backups are handy when you just want to recover some files and not your whole system.

How often are you hitting this problem of disk full? Just to clarify, once you hit a disk full, you do not have to delete everything and start over. Open Backup and Restore Control panel -> Manage space -> View Backups. This will show you all the backup sets (every backup set is a full + set of incremental backups) for different backup periods. We recommend that you only delete the older backup sets. This way, the current backup set is still available and the next backup that runs is only an incremental backup and not a full. Please let me know if this helps you.

Thanks,
Sneha
[MSFT]

Here is another post that confirms this is the case. This includes the reference that explains the steps for manually deleting old backups – or “managing backup disk space” as Microsoft calls it.

I hope to come up with a solution that will allow automatic management of the old backup files from Win7 Backup, but so far, that solution evades me. I believe that I will soon be switching back to a different backup solution.

Computer Recycling

Sat, 26 Feb 2011 15:00:00 GMT

Many people ask us where they can take old computers for recycling. We’ve searched, and recommend the following locations in the Des Moines area:

Goodwill Industries of Central Iowa

Goodwill and Dell offer free computer recycling to Central Iowans! There is no charge for dropping off a computer at Goodwill. Any brand of used computer equipment is accepted. Customers may be able to deduct the value of the computer for tax purposes. Goodwill will provide donors with a donation receipt at the time of donation. Customers are encouraged to check with their tax advisers for more information.

Phone: 515-265-5323

Web site: http://www.dmgoodwill.org/

Here are a few of their locations:

East Des Moines Goodwill Store
3251 East Euclid Ave
Des Moines, Iowa 50317
Phone: (515) 265-6650

South Des Moines Goodwill Store
3333 SE 14th St
Des Moines, Iowa 50315
Phone: (515) 287-5578

Urbandale Goodwill Store
4520 NW Urbandale Dr
Urbandale, Iowa
Phone: (515) 270-6631

Normandy Goodwill Store
1982 Grand Ave
West Des Moines, Iowa
Phone: (515) 225-1908

I can’t play that video!!

Wed, 05 Jan 2011 04:48:00 GMT

I have been unable to open videos on my Email that I have from times past. When I try to open either type of thing, the computer goes to iTunes, and I have not found a way to open the desired screen. What is going on, in simple language and what can be done to correct this situation?

Answer:

There are many different video formats that you may be encountering. Some formats play in iTunes, some play in other programs. When you open a video, Windows determines the format, and looks to see if there is an appropriate player installed. If so, then the video usually plays. If no appropriate video playing program is installed, then the video won’t play.

There is one particular video playing program that handles almost all video formats, and the program is free: “VLC Player”. If you would install that program, most of your problems with video formats would be solved. To install it, go to the following web site:

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

Then click on the big blue “Download VLC” button, and allow the program to run and install. You might have to save it first, but then allow it to run, and allow the install to complete. After you’ve completed that install, try to play video in question. I think you’ll be happy with the results.

Adding “Recently Added” back to Windows Media Player 12

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 22:05:00 GMT

The “Recently Added” item has been removed from version 12 of Windows Media Player, but there’s an easy to add it back in. It involves creating an automatic playlist. Here are the steps:

1. Open Windows Media Player.

2. Hold down the <ALT> key and tap the “F” key. Then tap the “E” key. The “Create automatic playlist” window is displayed.

3. Type a name for the playlist, such as “Recently Added”

4. Click the first line that says “Click here to add criteria.” A drop-down list appears.

5. Click on “Date Added” in the list. A new criteria called “Date added to library is after Last 30 Days .

6. If you wish to change this criteria, click on the appropriate link, such as “ last 30 days ” and choose the appropriate value.

7. Click the OK button. “Recently Added” now appears under the Playlist menu.

Update your Adobe Flash Player!!

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 05:14:00 GMT

UPDATE YOUR ADOBE FLASH!! Go right now to adobe.com, and click the “Get Adobe Flash Player” button. Allow the update to run, and turn off the extra freebie they offer – it’s often the Google toolbar. As of today, you need to be running version 10.1. There is an active exploit currently infecting computers with older versions of flash.

In fact, a couple of weeks ago, we got a virus on a computer in the Bailey household because of this very vulnerability. So don’t think it’s can’t happen. It can!! (embarrassed grin!)

Optical Character Recognition Software

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:25:00 GMT

Q: I’m trying to scan a document to a Word file, I think I need OCR software, what do you recommend?

A: There are a couple of good choices for OCR – the least expensive accurate package appears to be ABBYY FineReader Express , which sells for $49.99. They have a professional edition as well, which is more full-featured, but I have always just used the express version, and been quite happy with it, as the pro edition costs $400.

You’ll notice on the ABBYY web page that they sell a product called ABBYY PDF Transformer. I don’t recommend that product, but rather a product called “ PDFCreator ” or “Cute PDF”. Both of these products are excellent substitutes for the ABBYY product, so you don’t need to spend the extra money.

Making Adobe Reader Safer

Fri, 28 May 2010 19:32:00 GMT

Adobe Reader is a program that many people use regularly, but we may not realize that it has serious vulnerabilities. These flaws could allow malicious programs (virus or malware program) to infect your PC. There are two settings in Acrobat Reader that should be changed – this article will tell you how. As of this writing, this is the only way to fix the problems. Both are recommended by Adobe.

Here are the steps:

1. Open Acrobat Reader. The icon looks like this:

2. An Adobe Reader window is displayed. On the menu, click “Edit”, “Preferences”.

3. On the “Preferences” window, click “Javascript”, and then clear the “Enable Acrobat JavaScript” checkbox.

4. Next, click “Trust Manager” and clear the “Allow opening of non-PDF file attachments with external applications.”

5. Click the “OK” button, and close Acrobat Reader.

Speeding Up Internet Explorer

Thu, 27 May 2010 18:24:00 GMT

Here are the steps:

1. Click “Tools” on the menu.

2. Click “Internet Options” on the menu that is displayed.

3. A new window will be displayed. Click on the “Advanced” tab.

4. Click on the “Reset” button.

5. A new window will be displayed. Click the “Reset” button. Do not check “Delete Personal settings” – leave it blank.

6. Click the “Close” button.

7. A final window is displayed. Click the “OK” button.

8. The final step is to close Internet Explorer by clicking the red “X” in the corner to close Internet Explorer, and open it again. You should notice a difference!

How to setup wireless audio / video connections

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:49:00 GMT

Q : I want to locate my speakers in a place where it’s difficult to run wires from the sound source. How can I do this without wires?

A : Yes, here are a couple of different ways to do this. The first uses FM radio waves, and the second uses IR, or infrared. Each has it’s set of characteristics, and work with both audio and video – although it uses a composite connector, so it degrades hi-def picture.

I tested the Terk LF-30S, and found that my 2.4GHz cordless phone interferes with it. As long as the phone was on, the unit had a lot of static interference, and was unusable. The reviews at the Amazon page listed below are revealing as well, however I did not experience the interference with my wireless network that these reviews mentions. The sound was very good – more than enough quality to stream radio.

The above two products work with FM radio technology operating at 2.4 GHz.

Alternatively, there is a different product I found that uses infrared (IR) operating at 5.8 GHz. If you have devices that interfere at 2.4 GHz, then you would want to use this type instead. This also will transmit 450 feet, while the above products transmit up to 150 feet. Both will go through walls and floors without a problem.

Securing Our eCity – Catch the latest security info from ESET

Tue, 19 May 2009 04:10:00 GMT

That sums up the reasoning behind Securing Our eCity , a new security initiative created by ESET to educate business and home users about the increasing need for better cyber security.

http://www.securingourecity.org/

The website includes a variety of educational resources such as educational videos, podcasts, articles and best practices guides developed by cyber security experts to help users better understand cybercrime and how to protect themselves.

Videos, MP3’s and documents include:

Check it out! You’ll be glad you did.

How to run ScanDisk on your hard drive.

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 03:22:00 GMT

ScanDisk is a hard drive maintenance utility that comes with every Windows XP computer. Running it can be an important step in maintaining the integrity of the data on your hard drive. There are other, more capable hard drive maintenance programs available, but this one is good because it’s found on every windows machine.

We recommend that you run scandisk every 6 months on your computer. Run it in the most thorough mode available, and then just walk away from the computer – because it can take a while. If you’re at home, go eat something. If your at work, do it before you leave, and then go home.

Here are the instructions for running ScanDisk on your Windows XP computer:

Protect against surges!

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:11:00 GMT

Power surges happen in the blink of an eye, and can do major damage to your computer, printers, monitors, external hard drives, and more.

You may think you’re adequately protected, but you may not be. Many surge protectors do not block surges well enough at all. The effect that surges have on your sensitive equipment is cumulative. This means that many small surges, none of which are enough to damage your computer by itself, can each bring damage that gets worse each time it happens. Eventually, the computer will not boot up any more, or other strange behaviors can result.

In order to have enough protection, you need to learn about “Joules”. The effectiveness of a surge protector is measured in joules. The higher the joule rating a surge protector has, the bigger the surge that it can stop. We recommend surge protectors that are rated at over 3900 joules. Many common surge protectors are rated at between one and two-thousand joules. These do not stop nearly as many surges as one with a rating of 3900 or above. Many surge protectors don’t even state the rating on the packaging. Stay away from these. Play it safe and get a surge protector with a high rating.

An excellent, detailed article on protecting against surges can be found at the National Institute of Science and Technology web site: http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/practiceguides/surgesfnl.pdf .

Do you convert old movies to DVD?

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 18:37:00 GMT

We don’t, but I put together some info about how this is done. There is a very good introductory article here:

http://dvr.about.com/od/capturetvwithacomputer/bb/bybcc.htm

Should I upgrade to Windows Vista?

Fri, 23 May 2008 00:34:00 GMT

Question:

According to the material that came with my laptop, it is windows vista capable. Whatever that means [I think I know].

What have you heard? Any suggestions?

Answer:

By a “new version” of Vista, the author is probably referring to Vista Service Pack 1. That was released a few weeks ago. There were no significant changes in that release of Vista – I have seen no changes in recommendation for adopting Vista as a result of that release.

As for the term “Windows Vista capable”, there have been lawsuites against Microsoft resulting from the confusion caused by the actual meaning of that phrase, as compared to the perceived meaning. There are about 7 versions of Windows Vista. That phrase simply means that the lowest version, Vista Basic, will work on the computer. I wouldn’t touch that version with a ten-foot pole. It’s so stripped-down that almost all of the features the more advanced version of Vista are missing. It’s essentially Windows XP with a pretty face and a new search engine.

Many claim that they purchased a copy of Vista because their computer was “Vista capable” only to find that they couldn’t really get the benefits of Vista on their particular computer. I strongly recommend against upgrading an existing computer to Vista. It’s just not worth it.

I do have a laptop running Vista Business version. I do like it, but my “like” has come with time, and after climbing the learning curve. It’s not a completely smooth transition. Neither is it compatible with all software. There are many problems running existing programs on it.

As a result, I have recommended that people who install quite a bit of their own software on a computer – mostly business users – purchase new computers with Windows XP, which remains available for two more months: The last day of availability is June 30, 2008. The best place I have found to purchase computers with XP is at Dell’s web site.

Is Microsoft dropping support for Windows XP?

Thu, 22 May 2008 23:19:00 GMT

I read an article this week in which the author suggested people avoid Vista until the new versions comes out this summer. This writer went on to suggest that Microsoft might discontinue support to the XP program. Have you heard about this?

Answer

It is true that Microsoft will drop mainstream support on April 14, 2009, but they will continue providing software updates until April 8, 2014. This extended support recently ended for Windows 98 – that is when it became much less desireable to use Windows 98. But there are still several years left to go for Windows XP. Here is are the official scoop from Microsoft for Windows XP Pro. The dates are identical for Windows XP Home.

Products Released: Windows XP Professional
General Availability Date: 12/31/2001
Mainstream Support Retired: 4/14/2009
Extended Support Retired: 4/8/2014

This information is found at this Microsoft page .

How to view browsing history in Internet Explorer

Thu, 22 May 2008 00:34:00 GMT

How can I tell what web sites have been visited on a computer?

Answer:

The list of web sites that have been visited on a particular computer is called the “history”. It is possible to erase this history, but there is a way that is much harder to cover up. This history is kept in a file called index.dat for Internet Explorer. There is a program called “IE History Viewer” that will show you the contents of index.dat. You can download it from this web site:

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/iehv.html

The actual download is at this location:

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/iehv.zip

If you run it on the PC that was used to browse, then you just download and run “IEHV.EXE”, and it will show you where the person has been. It’s possible to defeat even this method, but the person has to be pretty serious about doing that. If they are defeating this program, it might be safe to assume they are hiding something. In that case, the only way that remains may be to view the router logs that may be available to system administrators.

It’s also possible to reach across a network and view the history from another PC, but the appropriate folder has to be shared before this can be done. It’s simplest to run it on the computer in question.